www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Interesting comments on mediocre customer service above. One thing I noticed in the big supermarkets in Lima recently was people everywhere throughout the store just waiting in the aisles to help people find the things they need. This was consistently the case in the big superstores and prices were very reasonble. Definitely cheaper than CR in general.rbc100

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

Wal-Mart did not close their stores in Germany they sold them. Why? A business decision. They were not making money and a turnaround was not in sight. Contributing factor to the selling of the German operation a desire to be cash heavy to place what became a successful bid to take over a major retail operation in China. Same reason they sold the Korean operation. Am not aware of any Wal-Mart operation at any time in France are Switzerland.

A business reality: people do not shop a discount retailer for service they shop for price and convenient one-stop shopping. What makes Wal-Mart a successful operation is their ability to acquire merchandise in massive quantities at economical prices and then used there worldwide transportation system to get that merchandise to the shopper cheaper than anyone else.

Yes quite often the competition sales at prices that are comparable to Wal-Mart's. Where the massive purchasing power and self owned transportation system comes in is where the competition is selling an item for a $1.96 and Wal-Mart is selling the same item for a $1.96 the competitor's profit is $.45 Wal-Mart profit would be $.75. As in any business it's not price its profit.

Lee

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PS: DO NOT SEND MONEY!

Hey now you MMen can use your RFM requsts from your Novias to send them "gift certificates" at Wal Mart instead of cash. This way you can proudly tell all the guys on CRT that you DON'T SEND MONEY.

It seems to me that WAL-MART will also be able to handle the actual RFM. I was in a WAL-MART the other day and noticed a sign in the customer service area which indicated that WAL-MART has some sort of money transfer service similar to Western Union. Anybody have any further input on this?

Zebra

"...These stores are still staffed with low paid, non English speaking service people...."

Tman,

I cant figure out if you're referring to the WalMart in Costa Rica or the one near where I live in the states.

I think he was referring to ALL of them..In the US or Latin America

I have 3 of Walmart's within 10 miles of where I live and you would be hard pressed to find an employee who speaks english as their 1st language.

Zebra

Although have no experience using it, I understand they are much cheaper than WU.....They use the MONEYGRAM service in many of the Wal Mart stores

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=103814

Irish Drifter wrote:

In The World Is Flat, Tom Freidman quotes Xu Jun, spokesman for Wal-Mart China: "If Wal-Mart were an individual economy, it would rank as China's eighth biggest trading partner, ahead of Russia, Australia and Canada"

And--good news for all you RFMers--according to Friedman, the check cashing/money transfer service was initiated specifically in an attempt to capture a larger share of the Hispanic consumer market and the prices are considerably lower than Western Union.

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It's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money--Tom T. Hall
No man is a failure who is enjoying life--William Faulkner

Interesting discussion on service, Unlike the US the best service in Costa Rica tends to be American fast food chains (The McDonlads and KFC) are actually filled with hustling Ticos. It shows that management expectations can overcome cultural leanings.


BKTUNA
I am never going home

Bk,

Good point about the American fast food chains. I noticed that as well....even to the point that I think the chains in Costa Rica DO A BETTER JOB WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE than their counterparts in the U.S.

Zebra

Well....now I wonder if Vegas Bob will bother to come all the way in to San Jose for Happy hour; or will he make his daily chica selection from the chicas' coming in to pick up their Money Gram. Also will the checkout girls be sporting little FBVB buttons.

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My life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming...." MAN....WHAT A RIDE!!!!"

Gringo Malo...since to see you have your sense of humor back.You must be feeling better. Has the trial of our former "friend" started yet?