www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Any great suggestions for beds, couches, tables, refri, horner, sheets, bed spreads and even decorations (art?) greatly appreciated.

Looks lie HiperMas is best for kitchen appliances. I went to PLAY, prices were over the top.

Thanks,

Luck

Yes, Hipermas is best for appliances - both big and small. Also lots of home furnishings. You may want to check out a place called Casa Bella for small things (sheets, blankets, comforters). They have a place on Avenida Primera about 3 blocks west of the Marazan plus a location at Plaza Romerser. You may also want to check the Tico Times as many people sell applainces and furniture there. My favorite place for art was the small shop just accross from Park Marazan (west side) next to a travel agency. They speak english and will haggle.
LVSteve

_________________
Just an old horney, fat gambler.

Ahh Back in the day when I was helping out the local ladies with furnishing etc.. How I miss it.. (NOT)...

Wish I could tell you the name of this place but it is easy enough to find...

In Zapote 10 mins from downtown... Directly across the street from Multi Plaza Mall Thats Multiplaza in Zappote not Escazu.. There is a large 3 story building equivalent to that of a GIANT SIZED WALMART... 3 levels with just about everything known to man kind sold there, for Condo's etc. Pricing is always good.

Think Walmart then 3 levels they have 90% of what you will need excluding bedrooms sets etc.

_________________
The Boss of All Bosses!!! Hey I'm a drunk alcoholics go to meetings!

The store is Aliss. They also have locations in Mall Cariari and just south of of Multi Plaza in Escazu. Possibly also in the new mall in Heredia. However the largest one is the Curridibat location Capo mentioned.

I think it is far superior to Hypermas for the things you are looking for.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

ID, ( and resident CR members) aren't the prices for manufactured goods in Costa Rica like refrigerators, stoves, electronics, general househod items, etc. as expensive or even more expensive than US prices?

I wonder how the typical Tico family can afford a new refrigerator or stove or washing machine if the price is the same as it is here in the US.


They just do without, right?

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

No they get the daughter's latest gringo novio to pay for it.

_________________

Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

oops!

Paco that is so true! I thought about that as well if the average wage is in the 300-500 range and rent is 250-500, and food is almost exactly the same price if not more as the US, in fact chicken and milk and beer cost more all the time and all other items seem about the same (for me I spend well over 500 bucks a month on groceries and beer and meals out and that’s for one person).

TVs, electronics, computers and appliances are 20-40% more expensive! So what gives? How do they all have all this nice stuff and eat well. There is no way you can furnish a house, buy food for 3-8 K*ds, pay utitilities rent and living expenses on 300-500 a month. Lets not even get started on owning a car.

I know some live in unbearable living conditions but I have been coming to CR for 8 years now and I can tell you that many many families seem to be living in decent living conditions and making ends meet on this 300-500 wage. Something doesn’t add up there is some externality at work in the CR economic mystery. So......

Logic forces one to deduct that every family is somehow indirectly linked to a generous gringo through a novia. Thats why when you get a novia in CR you here this huge sucking noise get louder and louder and thats not you novia working on your package that is all the relatives who have heard there is a gold rush on at your novias house. Ever wonder why it seems your novias expenses and financial needs seem too high for what they should be? Well the afore mentioned is most likely the reason.

Two years ago I spent Christmas holidays (11 days), with my novias family, they had 6 people living in the house. It was a little crowded but I loved it! the K*ds were all so freindly and fun to play games with and they had a very loving and warm family it was one of my favorite Christmas’s in many years. I’m not complaining at all, but I tell you what though, I paid the rent on that house for about 6 months and bought groceries at price smart and the wal mart chain Max y menos. Spent 230 dollars on groceries and those lasted about 8-9 days I saw how fast that food gets inhaled first hand. Food is as expensive or more as the US for these families, I would buy their groceries a lot of the time and it was no small bill even at the discount grocers. The money didn’t bother me I’m single with not many expenses and make a good wage so the monthly financial drain on me was not bad, less than 3% (don’t tell your novia that though! They will up the ante on you pronto) I view it as my donation to a family that I could see really needed it, I saw where all the dollars were spent first hand and I bought the groceries personally. I normally give 5-10% a year to Salvation army and my university, I just gave a little less to those charities that year, I wonder if I could have written that off on taxes as a donation or head of household or something? Oh well too late, probably need a receipt or something and I never do Western Union, just cant get myself to do it.

An aside on the plight of the average Costa Rican single mother: the mother is a nice lady she was a single mom K*ds from 3 different fathers who all are irresponsible and don’t pay the pension for the K*ds so she has to call the police and put them in prison every six month for not paying pension for the K*ds. I have seen this situation in many other families as well. The Tico guys seem like very proud and macho men (the reality is they are rather small on average (110-140 lbs), weak, lazy, and pitiful fist fighters they fight like girls out of a bad movie (seen this many times… its good entertainment), just something you should know if you call their bluff and have to get into an altercation with one of them, but if they have a weapon (probable) just mind your own business and leave, in general its very stupid to get in a fight in a foreign country).... However If you ever watch them fight you should get it video taped and sent to america’s funniest videos, because YOU WILL WIN, this is a vast broad sweeping generalization but I’m just calling it like it is, I know there are exceptions here but the exception proves the rule, doesn’t it). On the flip side I have met very many Tico guys that are not like this and are very good, hardworking, nice people. This rubbish that I’m spewing is a merely a broad generalization that explains why you have so many single mothers that are in financial trouble, just look around and observe they are so so macho and manly… but when it comes to taking care of their families…. they run for the hills, seems like that’s what they do best, its really sad because they leave behind families in very real trouble financially and role model wise. I have seen this over and over and over again. Later the mother wanted me to find her an American boyfriend because she said she would never have anything to do with a Tico ever again, simply cant afford to. She is very nice and pretty but tough to find an American that would want that yolk around their neck paying for three other Ticos irresponsibility who are meanwhile starting the whole cycle over again with other younger Ticas. Then the well meaning gringo continues the cycle by trying to pick up all the pieces and fix things best how they know (RollTide comes to mind, nice guy wants to fix things) and meanwhile opening himself up to get taken advantage of.

Where is Rolltide we should warn him about that huge sucking sound he is going to be hearing soon. However I don’t think he wants to hear about it, I think he’s taking some moral high ground or something, he doesn’t want to correspond with people of our ilk these days. I apologize in advance RT for anything direct or caustic that I have written I just have been there and done that, seen similar situations play out over and over again, maybe some small nugget I have written can help you down the way, best of luck… get ready for the roller coaster ride of your life your highs are going to be high but your lows are going to be hard hitting.

Back on topic to Costa Rica voodoo economics: the wages of 300-600 just can’t support what is cost to live in CR today…. higher priced groceries appliances electronics etc, there is some mysterious economic externality in the Machine.
Oh wait that externality would be us……….

Assume that was a sarcastic answer



Possibly the most illogical answer to the question. Do you really think that every Tico family who has a refrigerator or a washing machine acquired them through a gringo?

Ticos do not have the same values as gringos. They do not need a 25 cubic foot, frost free, ice & water in the door, top of the line refrigerator. They do not need a 36" stove with timed cooking and built in microwave.

They need a 14 cubic foot Atlas or Mabe fridge with a very small freezer section. Not much frozen food here. They have a 2 burner propane hot plate type cooker, no oven. They do not have a washer and dryer. They use the pila and hang the wash out.

Anyone who lived 11 days with a typical Tico family would understand that living in the same casa is the extended family. They all work, for low wages, and contribute to the family. They share the wealth, the work and are happier than the average middle class, keep up with the jones, gringo/a family.

My dos colones and apologize for the rant but really get tired of hearing how Ticos suck off the gringo monger/tourist.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

good post Irish Drifter

some of these posters need a good bitch slap or more for their downright ignorance and bad attitude

You make a very good point ID. Most latinas I have met in numerous countries live with the family including unmarried sibblings. They all live in the same house until they have their own family. They also live in basic small homes. There are PFP providers who have sugar daddys but we are talking about the more general population here.They live together and share the better things in life to all have more comforts.rbc100

_________________
In Search of Fine Kittens,
Please... Bring back the Muff

'Logic forces one to deduct that every family is somehow indirectly linked to a generous gringo through a novia"

That was a joke to make a point, of course thats not true, but it does happen and I have seen it happen often.

ID I'm not disagreeing with you nor trying to get in a flame war, yes some do live with multiple extended family you are correct.

But I have seen multiple family situations here in CR and not all family members contribute.

"They all work, for low wages, and contribute to the family. They share the wealth, the work and are happier than the average middle class, keep up with the jones, gringo/a family."

Why dont we paint a norman rockwell painting and sing Kumbaya by the camp fire and call it good. That is just not correct, many Tico guys do not work and come back and leach off of their mom or siblings or girflfriends. I have seen this again and again and again. Do not try to whitewash this or deny it sweeping it under the rug. Instead of flaming this and that do some work and go do your own polling....Just ask some of the Tica girls what they think about Tico guys, you will hear exalty what I'm telling you.

I have stayed with 9 different families in CR over the last eight years and I loved living with them, they are warm loving people and it doesnt take much to make them happy in terms of material things...correct.
The point of the board is for people to share what they have observed in Costa Rica, quite simply I'm telling you what I have seen first hand. I'm not trying to put some slant on it or like ID trying to whitewash the dirt. Now you can say this and that is not true, but it is what it is. It is what I have seen. If you have seen something different then share. My sample of 9 families certainly does not establish statistical significance (it would have to be over 25 for a valid sample with 95% accuracy) so my experiences that I have seen could in fact not be representative of the general population.

Anyway if you read the my post carefully I told you I was just spewing rubbish Im just shoveling BS..... now pull that buttplug out of your arse and lighten up. I think CRbound has two buttplugs stuck in there from a pissed off hooker that he shaved to close with his treasured gillette razor.

Yes of course that was a sarcastic answer, no bitch-slap required. Forgive me I didn't mean to insult any chicas currently leeching off paying novios, novios sending money, ignorant posters with bad attitudes, or turn the furniture thread into an argument. In fact I have asked the same thing as Ca-dude before and wondered how Ticos survive or can afford certain things on such low wages. Thanks ID and NW for providing some logical answers.

Not going to get into a pissing match with you NW because obviously our take, formed by our experience and observations, are totally diffrent.

One thing in your post however has intrigued me enough to reply. I have a hard time understanding how just 25 families would be a big enough sampling to yield a MOE of +/- 5%. I would appreciate you sending me a PM detailing your methodolgy. Never to old to learn something new. Thanks.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Actually, there are two ways Tico familys acquire large appliances like stoves and refrigerators: One is they buy the small ones (like ID mentioned) and they buy them used. Recently, my novia moved into a new house and needed to buy a stove and fridge. No, she did not come to me. She bought both for $50.00 and had her Dad pick them up.

The other way is CREDIT. The appliance stores like Verdugo and White House offer them on time payments. 30 - 40% is not uncommon.
LVSteve

_________________
Just an old horney, fat gambler.