anyone in Singapore?

[Deleted]

My BFF is being transferred there for work. I want to give her a gift that can be added to their shipping container (Plenty of room). Was thinking a box of consumables not readily available in Singapore. Could be certain brands, types of products, decorations for "American" hokidays, stuff for kids, etc. She has school age kids and a baby.

Also, if your family regularly ships you things - what service do they use?

Thanks in advance!

[Brit]

I'm not in Singapore...I'm in Dubai.

Most of the things that we stock up on in the US are toiletries (deodorant, razor blades, unscented Dove soap, sunblock, toothpaste, moisturizer) and food (Sriracha, protein powder, corn tortillas, Gatorade powder mix). I also buy a lot of running gear in the US (Brooks shoes, GU, Nuun, Lululemon clothes). Diapers! Diapers here were just not the same.

Those are all really cool items, huh?

Even in a Muslim country, we can readily buy Christmas decorations. Valentine's Day is abound here already. Grocery stores have the stuff to make Thanksgiving dinner. The US embassy even puts on 4th of July parties here (although admittedly I'm too chicken to go - it feels like an easy target for troublemakers).

For shipping, we have had a few things FedExed, but it was crazy expensive. Plus, I have the privilege of living in a place without street addresses, so that makes things interesting - I never know if the item is really coming or not. The FedEx stuff did come. My USPS insurance cards did not come last year, but they arrived this year.

Hopefully other have better ideas than I do!

ETA: I had sport bras and surf board wax UPSed to India. Those did arrive as planned, but that was also really expensive.

ETA again: Kids clothes are much cheaper in the US as are toys. We do stock up on clothes there, especially if we can hit an end of summer sale. We don't stock up on toys because they can be bulky (not an issue for the initial shipment, but maybe an issue to hold them if she will be in a small apartment). DD just tends to have fewer toys than kids her age in the US would have.

[origami]

I've only visited Singapore, not lived there so I can't remember what they don't have. Can you buy US-brand puréed food pouches in Singapore? Those and jarred/boxed puréed baby food in general are very expensive in Korea and the local brands are gross. I have to buy the good US kinds online. Some US-brand snack foods are also horrifically expensive, like cheeze-its, Oreos and triscuits. Our cereal brands suck too. If her kids like certain kinds I would include that too. Even if it's sold in Singapore it may be ridiculously expensive compared to the US. (It's $14 for a box of Raisin Bran here.)

[MauMau]

USPS Flat Rate Bubble Mailers. Because you can shove a lot of stuff in them. In general, I ship with the flat rate boxes or bubble mailers since it's the best deal. Bubble Mailers you have to order from their online shop they don't have those available in store. They are free, it's really easy to order. They track well to certain counties. You can look on USPS they tell you which countries will have tacking once it leaves the US. Example: I know when packages clear customs when I mail to Germany and even if the package is being sent to the post office for pick up.

[Deleted]

Thank you for your replies!! Very helpful!

[Cicero]

Also give her this piece of info: whatever American food cannot be found in Singapore can be found a three hour drive north in Kuala Lumpur. Specifically in the three grocery stores that service the heavily expat area of Mont Kiara.

[GilliC]

My care packages from my parents typically contain spice mixes (enchilada sauce, chili, etc) for quick and easy comfort food, the cheese packets from Kraft dinner, and Cheetos. As for holidays, Halloween and Thanksgiving are the ones that are less common, though Halloween is growing in some places.

[rupertpenny]

Give her cases and cases of booze because drinking is $$$$$$$$$$$ in Singapore. I guess that probably wouldn't fly with customs though.