Managua Shopping Tip #2

I know from scouring various malls in Managua (there are many which in most days are depressingly empty), that there are, so far, 4 Benetton outlets in the city:

1. La Galeria
2. Centro Commercial Managua (2)
3. Centro de Las Americas (Huembes Road, near the turn-off to the highway that leads to the airport)

What I have found out recently, though, is that their products move between these outlets depending on turn-over. The primary outlet, obviously is La Galeria as it caters to the high-end market and all new products are therefore introduced there at regular (outrageous) prices. Although it may seem that they hardly mount any 'sale' campaigns, they actually do, only with very light discounts (5-30% off) that still comes out expensive due to their high profit margins (I have compared prices between the US, Italy, Denmark, Colombia, Panama and Nicaragua). At the end it really doesn't feel like they are having a sale.

It's not fair for me to have judged them in the past because upon visiting the 2 other stores, I realized that the products that are not doing well are moved to store #2 and sold at 'regular' prices lower than in store #1 or put up on sale with bigger discounts, to cater to mid-market consumers. Ex. a suitcase in store #1 would be priced between $215 - 240 plus 15% sales tax, while the same suitcase after maybe (1 year or so - yup, that's the kicker, but who cares, I certainly don't) will be sold for about $120. As to store #3, you'll find there all other discards (children's clothes, shirts /pants /skirts (men & women) but no big ticket items like suitcases) on huge discount, ex. a Sisley dress for $30. If I remember correctly the Benetton franchise here also sell Esprit and Sisley.

I highly recommend checking out the Benetton shop at Centro de las Americas as it's hard to differentiate between 'new arrival' fashion and old stocks (if you ask me)...they kind of have the same look to me.

Banking Nicaraguan Style

I have heard from many expats here about various problems in opening accounts or applying for credit cards in local banks due to requirements close to impossible for some to comply with (like a local personal guarantor - who's going to do that for someone they barely know and who is staying for only 3 years?). Therefore, most expats I know use only their international credit cards issued by their banks abroad. Credit card fraud, so far, is still non-existent in Nicaragua...well, not that I've heard of anyway. Almost all restaurants, shops, personal services and even the cinemas in La Galeria accept credit card payments without surcharge. As to cash requirements, ATMs abound in most of the country using the VISA / Cirrus systems and is therefore also not a hassle except for the withdrawal charges. But I've known some who has never had a local account.

Nicaragua (as I've said so many times before), for its economic standing (2nd poorest in the Western Hemisphere after Haiti) is a rather expensive place to live in - I once had my hair trimmed and coloured for $120 which I would have paid for less than half in the Philippines. Depending on what you buy, some groceries (mostly imported) can cost the same as in Denmark and definitely a lot more expensive than Asia. This is where our local bank comes in.

or Banco de America Central (BAC) is an institution present all over Central America, the US and has presence in the Caribbean. We have never had any problems with them and in fact have benefited from their many imaginative promotional activities. In La Colonia, with a BAC Credomatic (credit card) you always get an additional 5% discount on all your purchases on top of other promos or discounts the Supermarket offers. On Valentine's day, even if T & I didn't want to join the melee of lovers out to prove just how much they (still) love each other, we went to try a recommended restaurant anyway because BAC had a 50% off promo on restaurant bills that day. Meaning that even if you get a bill for, say, $100 and signed for it using your BAC card, you will only be billed $50 on your next billing. This promo was repeated this Mother's Day, 50% off on all salon services in any salon - no, I didn't have anything done just for the heck of it even if I'm a sucker for 'rebajas'. Add to that their various 20-30% off promos in different shops at different times of the month - you know, a weekend sale here and there except that they are regular items carrying regular prices but discounted when using BAC Credomatic.

Just the other night we watched a movie for $3 for 2. Tuesday is a movie night. La Cinemas de Galeria offer discounts on this day. Recently, BAC has joined the party by giving discounts on cinema tickets purchased through the Credomatic (Tuesdays, Thursdays and one more day which I don't remember). Imagine my discomfort signing for $3.

For all the complaints I've heard about banking here in Nicaragua, I can't say that I can sympathize but I sure can recommend BAC anytime.

Phew!

I think I'm done redesigning the blog for the moment. I'd like it cleaner but I'm kind of 'blidget' (blog widgets) crazy at the moment....at least I now have the space for them. In reality, I only really added another column (on the right), did away with the 'harbor background' for a much clearer slate and added one more widget: the Recent Comment widget (not that I get many of them) courtesy of Amanda. Oh and a new signature too. It's easy enough on my eyes and I hope it is too on yours.

Now let's see if this new layout will create the magic I need to post regularly (I highly doubt though).




Edit: I reverted to my old signature...I thought it is more, well, me.

Mind your head

You may continue browsing just try to ignore the mess.
I will try to be quick but I'm afraid this could take forever...literally!

What were they thinking while naming....

WARNING: Adult content. Swear word to some but apparently a place to live for others.

I believe M (who happens to be a Brit) outdid himself this time in forwarding us this hilarious piece:

It appears that in Austria lies a town called....

where the Brits and the Germans often agree to disagree:

Please don't miss reading this article as this is the 'heart' of the post! Click to view enlarged version.

This trivializes a town called 'Middelfart' in Denmark...
and this restaurant in Bornholm:

where we did not eat, by the way.

This is the post that had me in stitches while working on it. Before I can even upload these images, I first had to download (they were sent via email) and save them...how the h*ll else can I identify the images but by naming them:

F**k*ng map
F**k*ng sign
F**k*ng article