Singapore Expats

Doc wrote:Hi,

I am going to move from the United States to Singapore this coming July. My employer provides me a big sum of relocation fee, which I think based on the stuff I want to move to Singapore is a little bit too much, as I won't move most of my furniture here to Singapore.

I know some of the stuff sold in Singapore has huge margin relative to the States. I have two kids, one 7 years old, and the other is 1 year old.

What would be the list of things recommended to buy in the States and ship to Singapore, assuming my shipping fee is covered by my relocation allowances?

Thanks a lot.

Hey buddy just a reminder to be careful on the number of brand new items you bring in because there's a chance customs will charge you tax for them. All personal effects shipments into Singapore are 100% spotchecked as far as I can recall.

eleewhm wrote:maybe i could add.. since i am a local here..

baby clothes are plentiful here.. if you dun mind the local stuffs shipped from taiwan... many cheap clothings at the local HDB/Housing Block markets.

a good area to shop is at the Yishun Chong Pang Market.. lots of shops.. and stores selling clothes... and its as cheap as 3 pcs for $10

Perhaps plentiful and cheap but I'd be concerned about the materials which may contain undesirable chemicals and lack the fire retardant required in the west. Goods made in China have few imposed safety and/or health requirements.

That's about the same as the baby toys you buy in the US. You know, the one's at toys r us, what's the famous brand? Had the lead loaded paint in the thomas the train? tank? whatever, last year. Seems like most of the clothes in the US are actually made in Taiwan and Hong Kong but with the "assembled in the US" added. So be careful what you are buying in the US as well.

i think it was mattel.

OMG- pls do a search - this topic has been covered so many times...
as of late the thing i would like most is children's pajamas!!! stock up on carters or baby gap or gymboree.... b/c it's very difficult to find non-embellished styles here unless you want to pay 60+ on petite bateau. there are several "odd lot" shops around that i find pjs.... but few and far between.

nakatago wrote:

eleewhm wrote:maybe i could add.. since i am a local here..

baby clothes are plentiful here.. if you dun mind the local stuffs shipped from taiwan... many cheap clothings at the local HDB/Housing Block markets.

a good area to shop is at the Yishun Chong Pang Market.. lots of shops.. and stores selling clothes... and its as cheap as 3 pcs for $10

uh, as it's been pointed out in many threads before, the problem with shopping for baby clothes is the choice is only between really cheap and really expensive. Note that there's practically nothing in between.

I think that's true for more things than just baby clothes!

intellectualsmuse wrote:
I think that's true for more things than just baby clothes!

Hey intellectualsmuse, good to see you're still lurking around here and not consumed by Singapore Inc

You can get George Foreman Grills in Australia though!

Hmmm things to get from America:

A good pecan and pumpkin pie recipe. Turkey is probably cheaper in the US too.Its only 6 months to Thanksgiving!

road.not.taken wrote:Halloween candy from COSTCO

Tylenol PM & other favorite over-the-counter pharmaceuticals

Ditto for health & beauty aids. If you like unscented deodorant you'll have a problem here. Even make-up is a lot more expensive.

Video games are lot more here too.

5 lb bags of nuts from COSTCO, and the big bottle of vanilla extract too

Clothes, clothes and more clothes.

Shoes, shoes and more shoes.

Books are very expensive here.

Good bulky stuff like a new cooler (expensive here), collapsable lifetime tables

I threw a foosball table into my last shipment and large hostess supply items from pottery barn.

Couldnt you get most of these items from Mustafa's over here

Clothes, especially for kids, foodstuffs that can last long, any Apple products you plan on having.

aster wrote:any Apple products you plan on having.

I've seen apple cider somewhere! And NZ Rose Apples, China & Japanese Fuji apples, Red Delicious from the US. There are plenty of apple products here!

sundaymorningstaple wrote:

aster wrote:any Apple products you plan on having.

I've seen apple cider somewhere! And NZ Rose Apples, China & Japanese Fuji apples, Red Delicious from the US. There are plenty of apple products here!

Apple cider vinegar you mean

Nice one, SMS!

I would think furniture and art might be some things you want to consider?

Yes, Singapore have Ikea and several cheap options. However, there isn't exactly much "in-between" and "good quality" furniture around (or I am looking at the wrong places). Also assuming that you plan to get a bigger apartment (with 2 kids), I find most of the furnitures here are quite small. A lot of 2 or 3 seaters, but very few 6 or 8 seaters that doesn't cost 5-figures.

And of course, you can find a fully furnished apartment/condo but very often, it will be furnished in accordance to the owner's taste and/or in cheap furniture.

For art work, I am sure many people will say you can get cheap art work in neighbouring countries like Thailand and Vietnam. Personally, I like unique modern art pieces and most often, art work found in Thailand & Vietnam are duplicates.

For mid-upper range furniture you can do Scanteak or Pickett & Rail.

Lots of these stuff:

Bath and Body Works
Aeropostale, Old Navy...
Triscuits

OMG - I forgot about Triscuits....

I just found a great place to buy Mexican foodstuffs including corn tortillas which have been out of stock here for about two years...Otherwise I would suggest that. Going to check it out after work.