Remember to always look at Colombian Docs 2 or 3 times over before leaving the window

goin_south says on Mar 28, 2007, 21:22:

that's funni, spigrimace you better keep her in Colombia, though; don't bring her go EEUU; she'll be gettin back atcha.. lol

Ciao! Gustav. Bienvenitos, Ike.

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mecca says on Mar 28, 2007, 22:18:

spigrimace, I feel you pain like you can't imagine. Checking peoples work over and over and over and... well you get the picture. We've got the 3rd set of tile layers re-doing some bathrooms now.

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goin_south says on Mar 28, 2007, 22:22:

any colombianitas, mecca? laying those floor tile? ...could be interesting to 'oversee'. maybe then, the 4th and 5th time would be even endurable :)

Ciao! Gustav. Bienvenitos, Ike.

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mecca says on Mar 28, 2007, 22:31:

ohhh, now there's a thought...(evil chuckle) I need a guy like you around feliz. I can't think of all of this stuff myself. I can just imagine 6 calenas laying tile in bikinis. AB, make some calls, get some over to the house, pronto!!!

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goin_south says on Mar 29, 2007, 00:02:

"Will Work for Food ?" ...not laying the tile; but if 6 Muñecas Calenas are, then I think it wouldn't be fair for them to be without an assistant, and.. 6 Calenas should not be on their hands and knees alone :O ) Mecca... mas trabajo, por favor~!

Ciao! Gustav. Bienvenitos, Ike.

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englishsettler says on Mar 29, 2007, 02:39:

very funny.
very funny.

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PennilessBliss says on Mar 29, 2007, 09:07:

Check out the commerce regulations I'm pretty sure I saw this in one of those Consumer Bulletins they air right before the news down here.

If any item is somehow marked twice, the supermarket must cover their mistake. In other words you are entitled to paying the lowest advertised price no matter what. So next time this happens just mention the "Codigo de Comercio" (I'm pretty sure that's the right name).

Another very common thing here is that you can never get a refund on returned items. Even if you walk right back into the place immediately after you've made your purchase. Some places will exchange your item, and Exito even gives you a voucher for the amount of your purchase, but seeing your cash again seems pretty much impossible.

Nevertheless a fellow expat recently walked into a men's clothing shop with a sweater that didn't quite fit, his receipt, and a copy of the Code. He says he simply pointed out the article where it is clearly stated that any item returned in original condition, along with proof of purchase will warrant a full refund. Voila, that settled it right there and then.

Guess we might all have to get a paperback copy and tote it around town.

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PennilessBliss says on Mar 29, 2007, 09:18:

Hmmmm... Well, about a year ago when I arrived, I figured that was the way to go. (DG, I would guess you've probably been around longer, though) Now I've simply given up on service down here. Most companies don't care because they know no one does a thing about it. Perhaps everyone here is just used to having things shoved in their faces, being ignored at shop counters, and, in general, getting awful service wherever they go (one look at the city owned Transmilenio will tell you that).

So in spite of my capitalist spirit, it would just be a handful of us trying to make a difference. I say, let's know what our rights are as consumers and do our best to enforce them.

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gringoloid says on Mar 29, 2007, 10:29:

Now that we're on the subject..... how can we prevent these rip offs? Does anyone have any strategies? DG, I know you are assertive and know the ropes having lived there so long......but I find myself being badly overcharged for everything no matter where I go. Pomona supermercado is the only place that does not over charge me.

Also, the lead post here talks about a 'hot headed' colombiana. That makes 3 posts like this in one morning. I do not see this in the women I've come to know here in Bogota. Are they concealing this trait? do you have to be married or living together before this comes out?......your thoughts please...

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mecca says on Mar 29, 2007, 10:34:

Double true DG about Colombia. Though they never learn by simple example, unfortunately. I think there are too many generations of poverty to think that changing habits or mentality would help. I think the population there now waits for a gov. change or something???

I love Colombia for all the great things (it's my favorite place). Still though, I thank god they do not participate in the International space station.

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PennilessBliss says on Mar 29, 2007, 10:51:

Haven't we all? True. In fact I'm famous among my Colombian friends for fuming and sometimes even storming out of places due to their service (or total disregard for it).

As for setting an example... honestly I've always hoped to achieve that, but when it comes down to it, locals will just glare at me. I don't know if it's got something to do with me being foreign or that they're simply too familiar with how things work around here.

I'll give Carrefour a shot, perhaps being a foreign co. makes them uphold different quality standards.

That, BTW, brings me to Carulla's recent ad campaign, in which they advertise their newly heightened sense of service. I shop there at least twice a week, and everyone is just as sluggish and unaccommodating as they've always been. Shop elsewhere? It's two blocks from my place and no capitalistic principle can get me to pay for transportation... :) I will try Carrefour though, a month's worth of groceries and a single cab fare might make more sense.

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PennilessBliss says on Mar 29, 2007, 11:06:

I guess you're right DG The attitude, the laugh, the look that says "I can see what you're doing so who's the fool now"... yup, all part of the package deal.

Go with the flow... that seems to be the motto for everything around here. :) I like the ass bit, though.

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PennilessBliss says on Mar 29, 2007, 11:16:

Funny you should mention that That's exactly where I grew up... I though of it but didn't quite go as far as posting it.

It's a dog eat dog kind of place, but hell, rude New Yorkers can be nice when it comes to selling you anything from coffee to real estate. The movies don't quite depict it right. Pretty much the same way they portray Bogota as having a warmer climate and two dirt roads. ;)

Just a thought :)

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PennilessBliss says on Mar 29, 2007, 11:37:

Pan cada dia... or something like that Yeah, everyday stuff...

As far as proving yourself a true new yorker... I wouldn't know, I moved out as soon as I had a chance ;) I called Denver, CO my home till about a year ago. That was more my kind of place. You know, laid back, snowboarding hippies. And then came Colombia... you gotta love this place, and hate it, all at once.

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PennilessBliss says on Mar 29, 2007, 11:38:

Pan de cada dia just got that corrected... an everyday occurrence

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manINred says on Mar 29, 2007, 12:49:

Exito I have never had an exito problem. They always seem to be fair enough. Cheap ciggies and booze, they seem to have everything. Maybe I go to the 'good' exitos in medellin, after all, isn't the company from Antioquia?

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mecca says on Mar 29, 2007, 12:55:

The family that owned el exito sold the stores. I think they are public now. Family still lives in Medellin. I've always had good luck shopping at exito also, though they are definately costco fast at checkout. lol

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Lowell says on Mar 29, 2007, 13:49:

Check I check my receipts everytime I get one. I do it for correct change and to see if the prices were right (especially sale items). I learned from my wife to have ALL electrical devices check for proper operation before leaving the store. Even light bulbs.

Last week the Hugo Hit distributer tried to overcharge us 44K on a 90K bill. I caught that one real quick and we got a quick refund.

When someone tries to short me I leave my hand open with the change and say "Entonces". Or another one is "mi dinero no es agua, por favor hacer correcto cambio" in as sarcastic a tone as possible.

DG is right making a seen only brands you as an unwanted Gringo. You also need to know how to use the currency correctly. And by all means LEARN as much CORRECT Spanish as you can. Try and talk baby Spanish to an average Colombian and they won't understand a thing you say. Half of the time when my wife talks she has to repeat herself at least once. It's not just an English thing.

We got bad service only one time in the meat market. Wife talked to the manager and now only a select few are allowed to help. They'll go into the back and pick out good cuts and the slice it up right infront of us. Being a Cliente frequente has its advantages. No many times I receive a 5-10% automatic discount of a few free goodies.

By the way pork was 700 pesos less per lb than beef the other day. It cooks up more tender and seems to have less shrinkage. We go thru at least 15 pounds of meat a week, so a savings of 700 K per lb helps. At Olympica I can buy 2 good sized chickens with vicera (sp?) for 12K. 15K with a package of chorizo.

When I'm disgusted by something or someone, I've left many a market with my half full cart still inside. I have the time to go elsewhere.

In my small barrio I'll only visit 1 tienda. The other 2 have screwed me and more so my son. I have a one strike ballgame with these people and they are starting to learn it. I chewed the wife of one of them out about it. Now they won't even look at me and refuse service to all of my family. Cool it's their loss. Fools.

Living in a fairly small town helps. I've been in just about everyplace that has interested me. I'll talk it up with the people there. Most people get a kick out of knowing a Gringo lives here. Now most of the people know me and know that I live here permanently. They also know that I'm not some pasty ass Gringo that likes to or has money to throw around.

Respect, respect and more respect, smile, smile and smile some more, plus a little propina (taxi, resturant, labor) when needed will get you along way in colombia. Even when you know that you aren't being respected, someone trying to take advantage of you...... It's a fun game to play. My oriental wife taught me to be overly kind to people who are oposed to you. I tried it on several neighbors and it worked wonders. I took all the wind out of their sails. I now use it as my main way of attacking people. My blood pressure and stress level is lower because of it. Also, a smile, even if fake release good chemicals into your body. A win win.

Gringo's and other non Colombians will always be in the spot light. DG is right, just because a Colombian does something, doesn't mean that you can do the same. You're living in someone elses country. Many eyes are upon us at all times. Never forget it. That can be a positive note too. I've learned that many of these people are watching my backside. Cool.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

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mecca says on Mar 29, 2007, 15:24:

DG, i'll have to watch more carefully for sure, next time in Colombia. I think the stores have all the chicas to preoccupy us from watching the prices. That's my problem for sure.

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