Bring with us or buy in STT?

I'm not sure about STT, but I found baby furniture to be far less expensive on STX than on the mainland. I was very surprised by that since most things are much more expensive.

SCUBA gear is more expensive here than on the mainland, although you can get basic snorkel gear in Cost-U-Less now and then when they get a shipment. You're still probably better off finding it at home and bringing it with you if you don't want to wait for months until you come across it in the store here. Prices at SCUBA shops are quite high and that probably isn't where you want to get the basic stuff.

Dear Ed and Shannan,

I bought my DVD player via ebay and it was cheaper than buying it on island but I also don't have a lot of time to check out house sales.

I'd suggest that when you get here you keep a lookout in the Island Trader or the Daily News for house sales where you can get REALLY good deals on electronics, baby stuff and all else. People leaving island don't ship TVs, furniture, etc. as the shipping price is huge.

CostULess, KMart and Pricesmart on STT offer competitive prices on many of the items you're asking about.

As far as Scuba/snorkelling gear is concerned, unless you're a really seasoned participant with a particular preference for something that you just HAVE to have, then wait until you get here. Basic snorkelling gear is invariably available at KMart and it's at a reasonable price while, as Alexandra said, CostULess has it off and on. Unless you're planning to get into Scuba diving major bigtime you don't need wetsuits!

I suggest you bring what you absolutely need just to get settled in, keep your shipping costs to a minimum and then do the sensible hunt and search when you arrive. Hope this helps!

Hi there,
We went to look at a new laptop on Tues at Officemax and they had a HUGE selection - all 2 OF THEM 🙂 so my advise is bring electronics with you.

You ask for opinions here and you get 'em!!

I try to support local businesses whenever possible. I have purchased all my scuba gear over the years from Chris Sawyer. Great guy and great service.

As to electronics...Things do not last long here, so you will end up buying stuff anyway! Make sure you put everything on a surge protector.

And if you are going to worry about the cost of everything, you will be unhappy. Stuff just costs more money here.

Hello is it Ed or shannon? We are Scott and Trisha. Scott here and just want to say "good questions". We are moving to STT in late november from Cali (So. Bay LA.) where are you guys from? We have a five month old boy and a pug we're moving with & we just finished our last garage sale to sell pretty much everything. Isn't the support of this site amazing! We get up early everyday, just to read about, what we're excited to soon call home. We decided that nothing we had couldn't be replaced if it was really needed. We sold a lot of stuff our boy got at his baby shower and he never got to use 🙁 we just keep reminding ourselves of the life we are hoping he will get to grow up in. Anyhow this response is getting a little long (and I'm sitting on one arm on the floor since we sold our computer desk ha ha) so I'll say good bye for now but would love to hear more of your adventures, if you care to indulge us!

I am due in early December and I finally finished buying what I have been told by my buddies with kids that I need...Well, you can find baby things here at Kmart and there is a few specialty places I found. Some things I have bought from people advertising in the Island Trader. I went to Kmart several times and they didn't have the mattress for the crib and the next time they didn't have the crib...I finally got lucky and know someone leaving island and is selling their crib. What kinds of things do you feel you can't live without for your little one??? There is also an issue of space for all the baby stuff if you are renting...

Hi there. Congradulations on your little one to be. Do you know if you're having a boy or a girl? We have a little girl, Savannah Elise, almost 14 mos. She's a cutie but wild (think it's the red head in her). So she requires many toys. We have a little tikes toy chest, I think we'll ship and a little tikes slide. But we are debating about the changing table and dresser and crib. I was thinking about a pack and play but she might be to long for it. And she never slept in the one we have (Graco travel lite). We are arriving on the 6th of December and would much rather purchase a crib there. If you know of anyone selling please let us know. Curious about how much were they at KMART? Well thanks for the chat. Shannan

Jenny Lind crib
$250
We are shopping for dressers soon so I will let you know the cost, but the Kmart ones were poor quality so we are still shopping around at other places/island trader. I will keep an eye out in the paper for a crib for sale...PM me and I will give you my phone number for when you arrive....Let me know what else you need "priced" out for kids stuff, etc...
I am having a girl and I have seen Onika's little one! Too cute!

Cost-u-Less has solid wood dressers (not pressboard) for about $130. You have to put them together... but that gives dad a chance to practice for all those future Christmas gifts that don't come assembled! 😉

We purchased our baby's bedroom set from IKEA, had it shipped to Florida and then forwarded to STT by Caribtrans. Even with all of the shipping costs it ended up being cheaper for a solid wood set than any set I would have been able to afford on-island.
If you feel like avoiding the shipping hassle, however, and have a bit of $$ to invest, Chiccos has some nice wooden cribs last I checked. They are located in the mall with Fruit Bowl.

Also, BabiesRus (through Amazon) and many EBAY retailers ship to the USVI for items that are broken down into USPS acceptable boxes.

Kellymac--thanks for the nice words concerning my Zaya!
Looking forward to meeting yours...6 weeks, no?

Hey, wait a minute Alexandra!

I don't need no practice and I don't need no stinkin' instructions! 😉

Oh, now.. I never suggested for a moment that you'd follow instructions! lmao

And maybe you don't need practice, but a lot of new fathers find the opportunity to assemble all the baby furniture and future Xmas toys to be one of the delights of fatherhood. Takes them back to their own erector set days and childhood wishes of being allowed to walk around the house with a hammer and a screwdriver messing with stuff...