Starting to Believe DG's Inflation Philosphy in Colombia..Posted a few weeks ago

robi666 says on Apr 1, 2007, 07:18:

Inflation reached a 16-month high of 5.25 percent in February and is above the central bank's 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent target.
Nothing particularly strange with it... but nothing to do with gringos.

what we do in life... echoes in eternity.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

Brians says on Apr 1, 2007, 09:57:

the sad part is it is amplified for the gringo as the dollar sould have appreciated against the peso with inflation running that high.However other issues at play and i agree with robi "nothing to do with gringos". The economy is humming in Colombia and slowing in the US. Foreign investment from everywhere flowing into Colombia is the culprit not a fw gringos buying apartments and overpaying and buying more stuff. I believe this is a long term issue that will play out over te next decade (barring geopolitical issues which is a big if). Anyway shorter term it will be interesting to see how Colombia's economy and peso perform in light of slower worldwide growth which we are forcasting. Oil at these levels and rising this week with tensions in Iran will be an even higher tax on the world. Choppy trend but over a longer term Colombia is probably better positioned for growth than the US when all is said and done. Capital flows in a stable political enviroment (once again if) will determine the value of the peso. Raising rates a few weeks back was a good first start at moderatig inflation.

robi666 says on Apr 1, 2007, 10:13:

Yes Brian I agree on anything, but rising rates in a under developed country with an emerging economy will not moderate the inflation. Just the opposite. Raising the official cash rate will only attract further capital inflow, already very strong.

what we do in life... echoes in eternity.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

goin_south says on Apr 1, 2007, 10:33:

Why don't we, each and all, ..... adopt a policy of getting the best price and being better negotiators/diplomats, and being productive, and being frugal/thrifty, IRREGARDLESS of WHERE we may be, in the usa, or Colombia, or Europe or WTF you might be.

I MEAN, this issue with which you guys continue beating Colombia to Death, is really a PERSONAL, NOT A NATIONAL ISSUE.

U can run but you can't hide (from INFLATION, BECAUSE THE WORLD IS A GREASY, GREEDY GHETTO!)

and, thank you.

gringoloid says on Apr 1, 2007, 11:01:

I've mentioned this before, but there were no takers. For those of us that live in the major cities of Colombia, we could start a 'consumer guide' for gringos. It would be a listing of businesses that would have an agreed upon 'fair treatment' for goods and services. If they rip a gringo off, then they're out of the 'book.'

For instance, we could find a realtor that would do his best to find good, fair, and honest apartments for us, and then we would give him all of our business and favorable reviews, say here, in pbh.

I'd be willing to put this together with your help.....

robi666 says on Apr 1, 2007, 11:21:

That's a good idea. But, to be usefull, I suggest that to work on the contrary. Consumer guide in a sense of a black list. Should we put it in the Guide section? Should we divide it in sections (food, bars, real estate agencies, lawyers, taxis, etc.)?

what we do in life... echoes in eternity.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

goin_south says on Apr 1, 2007, 11:30:

better to do it gringoloids way, I think robi because that would be a very large black list book to start with. And, wouldn't you rather focus on THE FAVORABLES rather than the others?

and, thank you.

gringoloid says on Apr 1, 2007, 11:36:

I'm afraid we would we would then just use the Bogota phone book... i don't know about you, but I am constantly faced with attempts to rip me off. Let me give you a recent list:

A dentist tried to charge me $650 to clean my teeth. USDollars.
A lavandaria wanted to charge $135 USD for about three loads of ropas.
A potential maid wanted 100.000 COP to clean my 1 bed apt.
A spanish school wanted 47.000 COP per hour for tutoring.
A restaurante on Calle 109 charged me 38.000 COP for a martini.
Don Gringo has a taxi story from a night out we had.

And there is a whole, whole lot more than this.....
It is nothing more than rip off the gringo....I mean for chrissakes, these people think I'm Santa Claus.

So we could start there....maids, tutors, maybe a print shop, realtors, lavandarias, dry cleaners, and the list would just develop depending on what we all need.

rocinante says on Apr 1, 2007, 11:50:

one word: frontman

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

robi666 says on Apr 1, 2007, 11:57:

Well, it's just the contrary for me (does it help to be Italian?). They almost never try to rip me off, and when it happens it is usually on the coast, not in Medellin.
It happened many times with taxis in Cartagena.
It happened once with a maid in Santa Marta (she wanted 30mil for ironing my clothes, not an half day of work).
Never happened with dentist (but I use Sonria, which have a printed price list).
Restaurants must have a menu with price on it. Was that Martini price printed on the list? If not, I don't pay that much.
Happened with a lawyer in Medellin and one in Bquilla.
Happened with workers of the public services company in Santa Marta.
Happened with a officer of the public catastro in Santa Marta.
Happened with negros on the playa in Cartagena.

But if they try to charge me a strange price, they just loose it: I never bargain, I just say NO and I'm gone to the next. Funny to see their faces...

That's why I was suggesting the black list, thinking it could be easier to use and a less populated list. My black list would be less populated than a good one. And I would rather know where not to go than where to go.

what we do in life... echoes in eternity.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

southern151 says on Apr 1, 2007, 12:13:

most of the taxis I used in Medellin... had the prices printed in the car. The one that I used to return to the airport did and the man did not try to charge one peso more. He was kind enough to carry all of my bags in to the airport for me and sow me what line I needed to be in. I, of course, went against what many here say is wrong and tipped him a few thousand pesos. He was of great help to me and didn't try to rip me off so, I couldn't let him think that his good help and honesty wasn't appreciated.

rocinante says on Apr 1, 2007, 12:38:

una lista no es suficiente Both lists would need to be maintained, otherwise "untested" companies would fall into the omitted list by default. Assuming that a company not listed on the "bad" list is "good" carries obvious risk - and vice versa. JMHO

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

utopiacowboy says on Apr 1, 2007, 12:59:

Rocinante is right. I let my wife buy everything and I wait outside while chicas smile and wave at me.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

panthdave says on Apr 1, 2007, 13:27:

GF does the talking alot but I do fight more now I have fighting more now to get the old price. I like the idea of the pricing guide which I think will stop some of the overpricing to Gringos but the inflation in grocery stores,property, and necessary items we need to wait and watch to see what happens..Colombians are having a tougher time so they charge more to make ends meet for the month..I am not talking about the Peso being strong many items are not priced like they use to be.


panthdave Miami

panthdave Miami

Miguel_Clavo says on Apr 1, 2007, 13:27:

The peso goes up, the peso goes down, the peso goes up, the peso goes down........quite normal, actually....

Just my opinion...and brought to you by a kinder and gentler

Miguel_Clavo =).....Colombia es pasión!

"F.A.R.C..S.U.C.K.S"

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

goin_south says on Apr 1, 2007, 13:55:

so..... Another case for Self-Sufficiency.... and/or having a damn good Colombianita to take care of you - in these matters, and, therefore,...taking care of herself in return. Part of the symbiosis were looking South for, eh? Get that one covered (got it), and...learn spanish (working on it...si; muy despacio)

and, thank you.

Robert Jorge says on Apr 1, 2007, 18:50:

I never really got ripped off or paid "gringo" prices when I was in Colombia. BUT, most of my time was in Villavo, and for the first couple of months, my fiancee did all the talking and negotiating. I learned a lot from her just by keeping my mouth shut and observing. My favorite example was the last time I was down in Villavo. We were at a typical, outdoor, sit at plastic tables bar across the street from the stadium. I guy came by trying to sell hand-made, wooden, mini, harpas de llano. I asked him "cuanto es?" and he told me 45.000. Vivi immediately gave me the "not so fast look", and started negotiating. Long story short, we got the harp for 25.000. It definitely helps to have a local that looks out for you if you don't want to get ripped off.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

goin_south says on Apr 1, 2007, 19:04:

Hard to tell others how to do this.... but, it works. ((I learned a lot from her just by keeping my mouth shut and observing.))

and, thank you.

Mr. Hollywood says on Apr 1, 2007, 19:43:

Look Most of this is nonsense.

In Colombia and most of Latin America, it's assumed that you'll bargain. Vendors ASSUME a back and forth. They're not giving you the "gringo price", they're giving you their opening salvo. Fire back at will.

If you don't speak Spanish or you're shy or you don't have the time you'll pay the "gringo tax" but it's really not about you being a gringo.

And in terms of Gringos causing inflation in Medellin, you've got to be kidding. They're like what, .5 of one percent of the population there? Gringos could go totally apeshit with their discretionary spending in MDE and it would only probably cause inflation at Mangos.

coffee beaner says on Apr 1, 2007, 19:57:

"Gringos could go totally apeshit with their discretionary spending in MDE and it would only probably cause inflation at Mangos"

hahahahaha, awesome comment!!!

goin_south says on Apr 1, 2007, 20:44:

Inflation of what - jajaja - at Mangos? totally good perspective, mr hollywood.
Yer right; I hate to get 'in that mix', of bargaining back and forth; reminds me of Tijuana.
but, next time in Colombia, then I'm gonna go for it;
Of course, my novia will be oggling over my shoulder, if not in front, to make sure SHE IS HAPPY WITH THE DEAL.

and, thank you.