Cheap in India, expensive in the US

stanr

Hi folks,

Long time reader (and admirer), first time poster.

I am going to Delhi later this month (for two weeks), because I was invited to my best friend's wedding. This will be my first trip, and IM was invaluable in getting myself mentally prepared. Thanks!

But, I am just a student, and the cost of the trip has hit my budget pretty hard. This has to be the first time ever that I bought a >$1K airplane ticket! Thankfully, I can stay at my friend's, so there's consolation in that.

So I was thinking, is there anything that I can bring back that, if sold, could offset the costs of the trip? Something that has good import value?

I have heard some information regarding gemstones from Jaipur, like emeralds. Except I don't know too much about gems, and I would likely get ripped off. But, maybe it's an option?

Do you guys have any experience with this? Do you know of anything that would pitch a pretty penny here, in the US?

Thanks!

Stan

bloodypeasant

Bring back Gemstones from Jaipur man you gotta be kidding - this has got to be a wind-up - surely. Bring back your wonderful experiences - they will sustain you for many moons to come. Unless you have any expertise in gems, jewellry, textiles etc. etc. - just bring back some presents for your loved ones and a few things for yourself and leave it at that - that's my advice and concentrate on enjoying India.

freenote

Sound advise .

stanr

That goes without saying! Of course, the experience will enrich me in ways that cannot be counted, and will last far longer than any piece of paper with a president's face on it.

But, unfortunately, this trip does have a pragmatic side effect of being more expensive that I can afford. Now, let's suppose that I can both enrich the soul and not have to chew bubblegum for dinner for the rest of the year (a metaphor, but to illustrate my point). Assuming that not all Americans are made of money (and I am one of the many that are not), can we lower ourselves back into the materialistic plane and perhaps consider the possible answers to my original question?

PeakXV

There is probably many areas where you can make a profit by importing into the states. However, best if you do your due diligence in a product which has a growing/needy market and where you feel the most knowledgable and comfortable higgling/haggling with experts in that particular field. Nothing is easy pickins in India anymore - do your homework - choose an area of specializing and even then prepare to pay a little tuition (by means of fleecing)- regardless if you are at the top of your game.

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

freenote

To make any decent money import/export works ,but on a large scale .Do you want to start a business ? you might make a bob or two bringing back small stuff ,fabric ,cheap silver jewelry etc and tote it around the markets when you get home but two weeks is not a lot of time to suss out the prices and purchase ,plus it is a lot of work .There is illegal merchandise but do you want to spend time rotting in some jail ? sorry all negative !!

MeCasa

I would think one of the worst problem would be reselling whatever you bought. If your purchase was speculative then you would be out the money until/if/when the item sold

You might find yourself wishing you had that bubblegum

bloodypeasant

Sorry I thought I gave you an answer - if you know nothing about gemstones and try to trade in them you will only be able to dream of bubblegum for dinner. Like others have said you might make a few bucks out of silver jewellry or textiles but if you are that keen to make money out of India in such a short time - that will make you very vulnerable and if you radiate that to most traders you will be in double jeopardy. Trust these posters and if you can't afford it consider not going.

stanr

Hmm, I thought all you did was spite me for being materialistic

I can't not go--it's a friend's wedding. So you see, I do have my priorities straight

stanr

True enough. But maybe there is a "sure thing" that someone can think of?

bloodypeasant

OK final post here - I think ou are being over-sensitive here - I know nothing about your view on material goods and of course your priority is to go to your friends wedding - everyone here is simply saying there are no fast bucks to be made out of India but there are a zillion ways to lose bucks fast - that's all. And if it's on your agenda to make money you will make yourself very vulnerable.

Sama

as for making money on things I've brought back from India, I have always made money. I am a yoga teacher, so my "market" is probably different from yours. My friends who are yoga teachers and my students expect me to bring things back for them so they can buy, they even put in "orders"!. I've been to India twice in the last year and always sold everything within 2 weeks of returning -- just stuffed a bag with everything I could bring back which were:

silk scarves, salwar kameez, kurtas, wool/silk shawls, paintings (on cloth), tableclothes, wall hangings, some jewelery, small statues of ganesh, shiva, etc.

My friends are always telling me to start an import/export biz, even my husband tells me to do it! I know a woman who has a yoga clothes business who travels to India 3-5 times a year -- she tells me, no, DON'T open a business like she did because it's a headache (she sources the material, tailors, etc.), that I should just keep doing what I'm doing, small scale.

by the way, I am honest and declare everything I bring back on the US Customs form that they give you on the plane coming back (I think the limit is $800), however, I know many people who don't say a word!

all I will say is that I have not made enough to pay for my plane tickets or anything like that, but I've made enough to pay my credit card bills for what I've bought for myself!

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MoritzK

A friend of mine, German-Indian, used to have leather jackets custom-tailored for a few people back in Germany. He'd take their measurements beforehand, take down their orders and return from his trip to India with the merchandise. He didn't get rich, but it was usually enough to pay for the plane ticket. However, this was several years ago, I don't know if it's still possible.

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Nick-H

There is no sure thing, or else everyone would be doing it.

A friend of mine in London buys stuff like scarves from her hairdresser. Yogagal's stuff gets sold to her students. If you have this sort of market, and you know the tastes and requirements of the people you could make some small money --- and perhaps anything is better than nothing.

One problem is that there is very likely (I saw several in Camden Market in London, UK) Kashmiri salesmen already in your locality selling stuff for not much more than the Indian price.

Anything that needs specialist knowledge: forget it. Trades like precious stones work on the guy who knows most making money: even within the web of contacts and established relationships that makes up a trade like that.

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

ladyvetphd

Hi Stan R

I understand your predicament and having lived in the uS know that a lot of things that are available cheap elsewhere are sold at premium rates in the US. I know I used to pay 30-40$ for trinlets like earrings/bags which can be bought for < 10$ in India. A few suggestions, you can look to buy T-shirts (splly Tantra T shirts) for < 5-7$ and sell those for 20$. You can buy silk scarves, ladies hand bags etc and sell them at higher rates.
Also home decor objects which are obscenely priced in the US.
BTW one other area is to buy medicines (generics) and sell them in the US. These are jus suggestions, for i have not done this ever. BUt whatever you buy in India, make sure you have your friend with you, so you are not ripped off here itself( whihc will defeat the purpose. YOu can also add to the list, spices like cardamom, pepper, etc which are very expensive in the US.