docholywood

Hi All!

What with getting married 'n all people want a wedding register but we obviously don't need more stuff to export and don't want uk appliances so we've hit upon the idea of instead of asking for money we'd ask for vouchers for stores in Los Angeles where we can buy everything to set up our new life!

Good idea, but we have no idea which stores would be good equivalents to suggest to people so for example say we needed furniture and electricals so in UK we'd say John Lewis vouchers but no idea what would be equivalent quality/ range in USA. I also like my purchases to be at the best price possible if I must get them from a store instead of the internet...

So where would you suggest for:
Bed linen / towels
Crockery and kitchen wares
Appliances (large)
Appliances (small)
Furniture

Cheers for help in advance

We thought maybe Macy's was one option

tonrob

Many companies' GCs can be used online as well as in-store.

Macys is good - good furniture and kitchen stiff and also has some great sales.
Target is a good all-rounder.
You'll be surprised what you can get on Amazon - often the best price (but not always).
Sears for appliances possibly, or Home Depot - although I know the latter's prices are not often the best.

It's also possible to get 'plain' AMEX or Visa GCs which are basically pre-loaded charge cards that you can use anywhere - they're increasing in popularity as gifts over here.

When actually buying all this stuff - especially if online - be aware that you can top up your frequent flyer mileage account(s) by going through the major airlines' shopping portals. This site gives a good general overview although it doesn't always have any limited-time specials showing on in. I literally earn miles on 99c out of every dollar I spend, and these have saved me lots of money traveling home etc. over the years. A great time to earn is when you have lots of money to spend!

penguinsix

Some good suggestions above.

Have you considered making an Amazon Gift List, or a WeddingChannel.com gift registry? That allows you to make a list across multiple stores and items. Your overseas users can just order online from many different stores, but all from one registry.

http://www.weddingchannel.com/weddin...try/index.html

nethead

I would 2nd the amazon gift list.

Jerseygirl

I would also add Costco to the list.

Something to think about...some US GCs have an expiry date...or a decreasing amount as the months go on.

limeynus

Bed bath and beyond would be good for bedding, towels and smaller appliances!

Jerseygirl

Since Linen n Things went to the wall...I would be very careful about getting gift vouches for BB&B. We had several hundred dollars worth of vouches for Sharper Image and lost them when they went under.

tonrob

One of the reasons I'd recommend the AMEX or Visa GCs if OP's gift givers were happy to go with this. Actually - thinking about this more - they might run into problems trying to buy this kind of GC with foreign CCs - if OP wants to ask for this as an option they would do well with trying to buy a small one themselves first to make sure the purchase goes through ok.

Jerseygirl

I hate gift vouches...I would rather give money. I hate being tied to certain retailers...which of course is the reason why GVs and wedding registries are offered. I realise though that the OP can't say 'give me the cash'.

tonrob

Just noticed that OP will go to CA. CA law now prevents fees and expiration of GCs:

http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/l...des/s-11.shtml

sir_eccles

Another vote for Amazon wedding registry.

It may have changed in the past 5 years (doubtful) but many US online stores struggle to accept overseas credit card payments (likewise UK stores taking US cards). Amazon on the other hand accepts both easily.

Weeze

Tonrob is quite right, you can't buy at Macy's online using a UK credit card. My mum was very disappointed last Christmas as she had picked lots of things as presents and then couldn't buy them.
I'd agree with Amazon, at least you know they are very unlikely to go bust, you can easily return things if you don't like them and Uk credit cards will work. I never like those specialist wedding list sites as I find the gifts are much more expensive that you could buy elsewhere. Maybe I have just been unlucky though.

Sally Redux

Thosse pre-loaded Visa cards are not so good - I think they do start incurring charges.

I'd say Amazon or cash would be best, you don't know what stores will fit your taste until you get here.

Bob

Ummm....what's wrong with registering with the sites in the US and have folks buy shit you want that'll be sent locally?

Bed Bath and Beyond - Household and furniture
Sur le table (sp?) - Quality kitchenware
Williams and Sonoma - as above
Crate and Barrel - Nice quality household and furniture
Home Depot - Appliances
Lowes - Appliances
Best Buy - Electronics and appliances
Target - Everything, but the furniture is crap quality
Macy's - Everything
JC Pennys - Household stuff
Brookstone - Fun toys and household stuff
Nordstrom - Bathroom and clothes
Lord & Taylor - As above
Brookes Brother - As above
Pottery Barn - Nice quality furniture and households
arhaus - Awesome quality furniture and household items

etc, etc, etc.

Register online and also you often get massive discount coupons to buy any stuff that wasn't picked up on your registry after the wedding, so worth doing just for that alone.

Best bet if folks don't want to buy direct, would be gift debit card, prepay what ever amount they want and you can use it where ever like a debit/credit card, much more flexible. We use TD Bank ones, because there isn't any cost for people buying them and there's also no expiration date on them, though once you start using the card, if there hasn't been any activity on it after a year, they charge a $2.50 monthly fee till the card is empty, but that's not a issue if you've been using the card. Much better than BoA giftcards, or the ones you find in most grocery stores etc.

docholywood

Brilliant folks that's awesome - I wouldn't have considered that people would have problems paying for gift vouchers from UK so the options of Amazon.com or loading a kind of 'charge card' are pretty brilliant ideas.

I am searching the respective websites now and think the TD Bank is great but you have to be a customer of the bank - but we just realised we have a Caxton $ card here in the UK so are investigating if just anyone can load money on to it or does it have to be us. So whilst TD might not be an option, it helped us think of what else we could do!!

Also,tonrob/Bob et al - thanks for hunting out a law on depreciating balances/fees on GCs and for taking the time to list places we should be spending our $$$!

I really appreciate the feedback and will be looking on their websites to see if there are any specific items that we would like to request - but as someone said it is probably best to wait til we get here to buy things as we just don't know what will fit / what style etc is suitable for our taste until you see the item in question.

Another concern I hadn't appreciated but should have remembered is that gift vouchers mean squat if the company in question goes to the wall as has happened all over the place in recent years! I just wasn't thinking amongst all the other stuff I am organising with visas / wedding etc must put my thinking cap on in future.

Thanks again everyone for your help