Hey guys,

Just applied for a Master's at UMN - really excited to see what happens.

Can you tell me what are the equivalents of these shops in America...?

1. Specsavers
2. Argos
3. Boots
4. Tesco/Sainsburys/Asda/Morrisons
5. Primark
6. Wilko

Would really help when picking out groceries, pots and pans etc!

Kind Regards.

Check and see if you have an IKEA anywhere near. My grad school programme ran a bus to our IKEA and it's where I got my pots and pans.
The answer to 2,3,4, 5, and 6 is Target.
And maybe a bit, nicer Walmart. Clothes and home stuff is nicer at Target. But a really big supermarket here will do pretty much everything.
Neither shop does the nicest fruit and veg, actually - but both are really good 'everything' shops.
I also got a LOT of stuff on amazon, because I could get it cheap, and get it delivered.

Dunno about #1.

There is nothing like Argos - use Amazon. Walmart sells a lot of cheap housewares - dishes, pans, and small appliances.

#3 is Walgreens, CVS, or Rite Aid, whichever is closest as they are all much of a muchness (FWIW Walgreens owns Boots, and some products are common to both),

#4 is local to whatever the groceries are in the region - grocery chains are rarely national. That said, Walmart (which owns Asda) is good for basic groceries - tins, jars, and packets of branded goods, but fresh produce and meat can be a bit hit or miss.

Primark! Seriously? .... Try Goodwill.

Never heard of Wilko.

I think boots own/have a majority share in Rite Aid. A lot of boots products (No.7, soap and glory.etc) can be found in Target also. Ulta and Sephora do a similar job too.

For Primark - Express, Forever 21, H&M.etc
- There is also Marshalls, Ross, Burlington and TJMaxx which I visit... a lot and do a similar job of cheap designer clothes (but main stream brands rather than just their own stuff).

Does Argos still exist? As Mr. P said - Amazon

#1 - If you have vision insurance you will want to check with them who you can use. Otherwise a large chain is Target Optical.

Close, but no cigar for you. ..... See my edited post above. I was thinking the same thing!

OH was really astonished at the whole concept of Argos. Far too "Soviet" to ever appeal to Americans she felt.

There is nothing like Argos here in terms of ordering with a catalogue number and waiting for stuff to come down a chute (have tried explaining it to The Husband but he can't see how it could work) but in terms of cheap housewares it's Walmart.

I used to love Wilko in the U.K. Not found anything here that comes close except some of the goods in Target. I always think Big Lots is just like Home Bargains in the U.K.

Well, there is the amazing B&H Photo Video store in New York City.

You can even take a look around the store and see the overhead conveyors in Google Street View:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/B%...3.996337?hl=en

Can confirm this place rocks, I use it regularly for work supplies!

Shoplifting makes Argos work, and that seems to be less of a problem in the US.

I believe the answers you are looking for are:
1. Walmart
2. Walmart
3. Walmart
4. Walmart
5. Walmart
6. Walmart

#1 LensCrafters

I found Dollar General (not Dollar Tree which is like Poundland, except it's not all a dollar 'cos you have to add on the tax!) really useful for household 'stuff' like buckets &mops etc. A bit like Wilko.

If you find yourself visiting the North East of the USA then the equivalent of Primark is Primark https://www.primark.com/en-us/our-stores