STBCypriot

WMF cookware. It is the best. Haven't found much of a selection in the US. Depeneding on where you buy it, you may even be able to get the VAT refunded.

supermasterphil

Electronics, as mentioned are a little cheaper in the US compared to Germany. There is just one thing to remember. In Germany you get a minimum two year warranty (law), in the US it's most likely half year to a year.

So if going to both places a lot and price is about the same, I'd buy in Germany for a couple of reasons (sales tax return for US residents) and higher warranty...

Helena Handbaskets

Surely not together, I hope!

DTS

What I always have to bring with me when I visit my aunt: Tchibo coffee, Sabtil (in a collapsible tube, this is the only way she get's really dirty laundry clean with US washing machines) and Bepanthen (which I started to bring for me aswell when I travel through the US)

JBa

By searching the internet you find several stores that also do ship. There is a big deli in Dallas that has curryketchup. A little expensive, but still cheaper than a trip to Germany.

MariaSF

When I was there, I used to miss Lebkuchen, Gluehwein, Essig Reiniger, Milka cocoa, etc... until I found out I could find most of these German stuff at Amazon.com.

vysean

I always load up on Rittersport when I'm in Germany. You can get some varieties at World Market in the States, but there are so many different (and good/unique) varieties that are difficult or expensive to get in the States.

Friends and co-workers ask for Christmas-related carvings from Oberammergau and nearby areas, and my mom has purchased several pairs of shoes from there that the raves about.

Generally, I've not found clothes or electronics to be a good deal in Germany - I can always find something comparable for less back in the US. That said, my favorite t-shirts come from Germany...

I've also been asked to bring back liver soup (I think - have to check my email) from Vinzenmurr (might be an umlaut over the u - not sure if these are all over Germany, but they're certainly present in Bavaria).

tfar

WMF cookware is indeed an excellent idea. Good point.

As for warranty, I usually buy stuff with a CC that gives me an extra year of warranty. I find that a lot of electronics are really so much cheaper in the US that even if you subtract the VAT, it is still cheaper in the US.

The German Deli in Dallas in amazing, indeed. I have ordered sugar cones to make a Feuerzangenbowle there. They are reliable and have also other German products.

For example, I saw that I can even find Elmex toothpaste over the internet but it does cost almost double of what it costs in Germany. So I just brought a tube back with me.

Maria, not sure which Essigreiniger you mean, but usually you can simply use 6% distilled vinegar for your cleaning duties. I use that all the time. There is a little book called 500 uses for vinegar (or something like that). It's amazing what you can do with it. So probably it is not necessary to use the German variety.

In terms of wood carvings I was thinking of those little wood figures and carousels for Christmas from the Fichtelgebirge. They are very expensive even in Germany but they are indeed typically German and hard to find anywhere else, at least in the same quality. The Schwarzwald Kuckucksuhr would be another example like that.

I haven't even heard of Sabtil. What is it exactly?

For traveling, and general purpose cleaning, Rei in der Tube is a great all purpose cleaner. But with Marseille soap you can accomplish basically the same thing in a dry format.

Ecco, Mephisto and Arche shoes should all be cheaper in Germany, now that someone mentioned shoes. They offer a good range of models that are formal enough for business duty but comfortable enough for traveling.

vysean, what are your favorite t-shirts? I got some warm Angora/silk underwear from Medima when in Germany. Normally hard to get in the US, too. My HOM HO1 boxer brief underwear is almost impossible to buy here. So I always bring some back.

Till

MariaSF

I like to wash my WMF pots with "Frosch" Essig Reiniger (2 words), specially after cooking things that contain starch or boiling eggs. When in the US, I used to buy gallons of Heinz vinegar and used that to rinse my pots. The result was not the same.

soitgoes

It includes more than just vinegar--
http://detvo.werner-mertz.de/product...&pro_id=100291

mangoMan

We always bring back German honey. We particularly like the Rapshonig and Heidehonig. I haven't really found anything in the US that compares.

Also I love German mustard, particularly the 'scharfer' variety from Schwerter Senfmuehle near Dusseldorf: http://www.schwerter-senfmuehle.de/nav1024.htm Again, haven't found anything quite like it in the US.

supermasterphil

Trader Joe's carries honey that is pretty much like it, at least in the NJ/NYC area (not sure if they carry the same products all over the US)

DTS

Sabtil and Rei in der Tube is basically the same thing...

Kathrin

The trick about Saptil (sp!), however, is the integrated brush at the top of the tube that makes scrubbing stains easier.

I should open a mail order service, there seems to be a market for our German products beyond the pond.

ajax

Indeed, for portable electronics. For mains-based electronics, the voltage barrier keeps electronics from opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean from being useful.