gpop
Registered
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2011
- Messages
- 617
- Likes
- 744
I was quoted 120 pesos for a pack of 20 ordinary balloons yesterday in Mataderos. I almost foamed at the mouth before politely telling the old buzzard behind the counter that the price was too high for my liking. I can't make head nor tails of it all. This place is already seriously expensive and yet as the peso dollar rate continues to slide, prices (i guess in anticipation of the cepo being lifted) continue to rise. I wonder how many everyday products will suddenly rise alongside the official dollar as the cepo is lifted.
I think that a portion of what constitutes a price-hike is speculation by opportunistic sellers. Mercadolibre is a prime example of some folks just making up prices and justifying exorbitant sums as the fault of the exchange, tariffs, tax, 'handling'. It's exactly this unrealistic manoeuvring that has made it so expensive to live here.
EDIT: this, as explained to me by several young Argetines; is how things are done (es lo que hay) and they are not ashamed of it. They admit to being opportunists to the point of taking pride in it. I even had a boss that told me: In Argentina, and honest man is a stupid man.