Shopping in the USA

USA is the dream of any real shopaholic! In this country, fantastic conditions await him: in thousands of giant shopping centers, millions of products are sold at very attractive prices.
Features of shopping in the US
Before you enjoy the numbers on the label, remember that in the USA it is customary to indicate the price without taxes, that is, 5-10 percent may be added to the initial price, depending on the state. In most stores you will be able to pay with both cash and plastic cards of the main payment systems without any problems.
If the purchased items have disliked you, but have not yet lost their presentation, you can easily return them back. In what time – it depends on the store. As a rule, merchants compete with each other, offering the most convenient return policy. Of course, for shopping in the US, it would be good to have at least minimal knowledge of English. However, people from Russia who speak the same language with you sometimes work in stores. And if you plan to spend an indecently large amount, then in expensive boutiques you will be happy to provide you with a Russian-speaking shopping consultant.
Where to buy
If you have little time, and you want to buy a lot, we recommend you go to the “capital” of shopping: in the east of the country is New York, Orlando, in the west – Los Angeles, San Francisco, in the south – Miami, in the center – Chicago.
Most often, you will meet Wal-Mart Stores stores selling all sorts of goods and products and belonging to one large network; almost in every district of the city you will also see Costco’s self-service self-service warehouses. In the very popular Masy’s scattered throughout the country, it is worth looking at clothes and shoes, although electronics are also sold there, but it’s better to look at Best Buy Co. If you are interested in products, then Kroger, The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company supermarket chains and small 7-Eleven are at your service.
Fans of the system “all at the same price” are waiting in the stores of Family Dollar and Dollar Tree, where, as the name implies, all products cost 100 cents (just don’t be confused with Dollar General – prices can be higher there).
The main types of stores in the United States
Getting confused in the names of various outlets in the US is easier than ever. Therefore, shopping lovers should decide which stores you need and learn a few English words.
Shop – the usual, usually a small shop.
Store – compared to the shop, usually a larger store with different goods.
Mods who love a non-mass product may be interested in Mom & pop store – a small private shop, usually located in the business center of the city. Items sold there, as a rule, are not replicated by millions of copies in all network department stores.
Department Store – a larger store with a variety of goods, department store.
Cash & Carry – in this store goods can be bought only in bulk and for cash, but at low prices.
And, finally, the richest selection of goods will be in the Mall – a giant shopping center, sometimes occupying an entire block, where there are many different shops, restaurants, cafes, cinemas under one roof. The only negative – as a rule, the malls are outside the city.
Shop opening hours
There are no strict legal time limits for stores in the United States, but each state may have its own characteristics. Small private shops usually operate on their own schedule, but most of them are waiting for customers from Monday to Friday from 09.30 to 17.30. Large supermarkets work from Monday to Saturday from 09.30 to 21.30, on Sundays – from 12.00 to 17.00, but there are also open around the clock.
Sales and discounts in US stores
Sales are held in the US all year round: shops are trying to get rid of the stale goods of old collections at the end of each season, be sure to reduce prices before major holidays, such as Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Independence Day (July 4).
The most large-scale actions take place in August-September and in December-January (the “black Friday” usually starts in winter). The biggest discounts (up to 60 percent) appear by the end of sales, but at this time the choice of products is very small, the right size may not be.
Also in the stores are “black days”, when all the goods can be purchased without taxes.
The main event of the year for all shopping fans is the so-called “Black Friday” (Black Friday), which is held after Thanksgiving Day (that is, the fourth Thursday of November). On this day, shops start working from early morning or even from late at night and exhibit the lowest prices. If you decide to take part in this general madness, be careful: since the first customers have time to get the most significant discounts, huge queues lined up before the shopping centers when the doors open, the real battles for each dress begin, and the next day they even report on the number of wounded .
Where in the US sell goods at a discount
In the US, there are several types of stores for budget shoppers.