Chinese supermarkets for dummies?

[Davidglen77]

Just so you all know the facts, all of these rumors about Chinese supermarkets and chinese residents / citizens of Argentina are NOT TRUE. They pay the same tax scheme, IVA, Ingresos Brutos, Ganancias, as every other small business, they have the same migraciones rules as North Americans and Europeans (non-mercosur) and the Chinese government does NOT give them money to leave. They are resourceful and hard working and that is why they are able to come to a new and difficult to navigate country like Argentina and have a business of their own in a relatively short period of time. No magic, just hard work and sacrifice.......

 

[CarverFan]

Any more info about how they find the jobs and if it's usually family owned? I used to chat to a woman who worked in one down the road, her husband worked in a supermarket in Tigre and she only saw him a few times a year. Her 5 yr old daughter was back in China and she only saw her every few years, now she has gone back to China to give birth again and is returning in a few months. Terrible life....

 

[Ashley]

Just so you all know the facts, all of these rumors about Chinese supermarkets and chinese residents / citizens of Argentina are NOT TRUE. They pay the same tax scheme, IVA, Ingresos Brutos, Ganancias, as every other small business, they have the same migraciones rules as North Americans and Europeans (non-mercosur) and the Chinese government does NOT give them money to leave. They are resourceful and hard working and that is why they are able to come to a new and difficult to navigate country like Argentina and have a business of their own in a relatively short period of time. No magic, just hard work and sacrifice.......

I'm actually surprised to hear that this isn't true. I'm sure I read about it somewhere fairly reliable! If there is no agreement then, I wonder how barrio chino, for example, get's around all of the import restrictions. The shops there are always so well stocked...while imported stock everywhere else seems to be dwindling quite significantly.

 

[mini]

Just so you all know the facts, all of these rumors about Chinese supermarkets and chinese residents / citizens of Argentina are NOT TRUE. They pay the same tax scheme, IVA, Ingresos Brutos, Ganancias, as every other small business, they have the same migraciones rules as North Americans and Europeans (non-mercosur) and the Chinese government does NOT give them money to leave. They are resourceful and hard working and that is why they are able to come to a new and difficult to navigate country like Argentina and have a business of their own in a relatively short period of time. No magic, just hard work and sacrifice.......

No one said it was "magic" or they didn't work hard. What I heard is that there is a push from the Chinese gov't to help set up companies around the world, more like a chamber of commerce of some kind than a fairy godmother.

It would be interesting if there were something like that. And I still wonder wonder how on earth all they end up in literally middle of no where Portugal.

 

[Bajo_cero2]

Can someone explain what's behind this phenomenon? Who owns the supermarkets, how do these immigrants afford their travel, do they have to work a certain amount of hours to pay back loans. What kind of visa do they have, some govt special? The Chinese workers I've chatted to have to work at least 14 hours a day, 6.5 to 7 days a week, 363 days a year. I've heard lots of stories, can anyone enlighten me? Thanks!

Chinese supermarket belong to families. They are under the name of who has legal residency even the owner is another relative. This is legal in this country and is regulated at the Civil Code as simulacion licita.

They used to come with tourist or student visa but they are not welcome any more by the Foreing Office and the DNM.

Nowadays they come by Bolivia, crossing the border by night. It cost 10.000 USs and they pay when they arrive.

Some others come with fake visas.

Why do they come? They are from Fujian, the poorest state in China. They come from Fuqing city mainly. They are farmers of fisherman there and poor.

Fujian is an underveloped state with high rate of unemployment.

To open a supermarket in China cost 1.5 million dollars and the profit is 10%, here cost 100.000 USs and they make 40% profit.

So, usually, when they just arrive they work with relatives as partners and save money until they can buy they own supermarket.

The way they work is normal in China but here they can save money while there they can just survive.

Everybody work like that in China, that s why Western economies are sinking.

Regards

 

[MasChicoTenes]

I really like the chinese supermarket people, I met a very cute girl one time who i actually went out with for a while

I know two phrases in chinese: "how are you" and "fu*k you" which always get a lot of laughs when said one after another, and has lead to good times

 

[sesamosinsal]

My partner works with importers from time-to-time, and some of them are from China. One woman who he knows from China received financial assistance (i.e., a loan) from the Chinese government to setup her business. As far as the supermarkets, they have their own association (CASRECH) to advance their interests. So, let's do-away with this notion that they come here, just work their tails off, and end up having a successful supermarket. It's such a (American) fairy tale, which is ironically really not even applicable in the U.S. As it turns out, the Chinese community in Argentina gets a lot of assistance from other Chinese residents in Argentina, their own government, and even the Argentine authorities. Just sounds so socialisticky though...

 

[MasChicoTenes]

the supermarket chinos work damn hard, more than their argentina counterparts

if they get any breaks from the chinese govt. they deserve them

 

[steveinbsas]

To open a supermarket in China cost 1.5 million dollars and the profit is 10%, here cost 100.000 USs and they make 40% profit.

Is the profit margin in a supermarket in Argentina 40%?

To this former retailer that is unfathomable. Please elaborate

The way they work is normal in China but here they can save money while there they can just survive.

Everybody work like that in China, that s why Western economies are sinking.

The most amazing thing about life outside of CF is the fact that almost all businesses (except for restaurants and stores in shopping malls) close from about noon until 4PM every day. My favorite mini mart closes at 2PM and reopens at 6PM.

Ironicaly, the Chinese market next door to my PH in Nunez closed every afternoon, too.

 

[Ashley]

Are you aserting that the profit margin in a supermarket in Argentina is 40%?

To this former retailer that is unfathomable.




The most amazing thing about life outside of CF is the fact that almost all businesses (except for restaurants and stores in shopping malls) close from about noon until 4PM every day. Some business don't reopen until 6PM.

Ironicaly, the Chinese market next door to my PH in Nunez closed every afternoon, too.

I wouldn't be surprised if the profit margin was that high. I know producers that supply products (dairy, in this case) to local supermarkets. The price that they are being paid for milk (for example) is 5-10 centavos less than last year (I think they get paid 1 peso something a litre)...yet milk prices have gone up by about 30% in a year...someone somewhere is obviously making a lot of money...and its not the producers.
I was also at the vets the other day, looking for specialist cat food options. The vet showed me the book of kibble that suppliers provide to pet stores. The brand of cat food I currently buy is 88 pesos for 2 kilos. The pet store only pays the supplier 40 pesos. That seems like a big mark up to me...