Thread: Where to find in PC?

Hi,
I will be in Panama in a few weeks to take a look.
I will be staying in El Cangrejo area.

I will be checking these out. Where/which shops/area should I start?
(1) Grocery and day to day stuff. Do people usually go to mega marts (like in US), or small tiendas?
(2) Furniture shops
(3) Electrical goods - kitchen items, cameras, etc.
(4) Music shops that sell pianos

One of my objective is also to check out the price/quality/selection in Panama. If I should buy in US or in Panama.

Thank you!

Hi!

Welcome to the forum!!

A lot depends on where you are moving to in PANAMA. Some things are good and some are bad. Are you planning on bringing a container and figure the costs. The prices on moving a container are all over the board!! Some friends brought a 20' container from Florida and it cost them over $12K - I am POSITIVE they got ripped off!! Another friend came from Montreal and paid $7500 for a 20' container, while another friend also came from the same area and paid $16K (I am POSITIVE he also got ripped off!).

I moved from Chicago 6 years ago and brought a 40' container with my PT Cruiser and we paid less then $11K, including the fees for importing the car!

I have found over the years it is better to purchase ELECTRIC appliances in the states - better quality and much less expensive. For gas appliances it was better to purchase them here because of the "gas" that is used down here vrs. the U.S. Also I wish we would have purchased remote control ceiling fans in the U.S. - they are much more expensive down here.

I have found cameras to be about 35% higher down here for the same make and model as they sell in the U.S. I had a new desktop built to my specifications down here for around $280, including ENGLISH installed programs. Laptops were also more expensive then the U.S.

Unless your furniture in the states is used to the high humidity, I would purchase everything down here. Also termites love people that bring their furniture from the U.S. and don't initially put an extra couple of coats of varnish on them (LOL)!

I hope this gives you a start.

I also have a cheat sheet of what to bring down if moving from the states if you are bringing a container.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Originally Posted by Liont

Hi,
I will be in Panama in a few weeks to take a look.
I will be staying in El Cangrejo area.

I will be checking these out. Where/which shops/area should I start?
(1) Grocery and day to day stuff. Do people usually go to mega marts (like in US), or small tiendas?
(2) Furniture shops
(3) Electrical goods - kitchen items, cameras, etc.
(4) Music shops that sell pianos

One of my objective is also to check out the price/quality/selection in Panama. If I should buy in US or in Panama.

Thank you!

My 2 cents are what we did when we moved here 6 months ago:

1) No, grocery shopping is regular style US supermarkets. There isn't a "Walmart" type store, but there is a PriceSmart which will look and feel just like CostCo. Very good place and there is one near your area. Supermarkets: "El Rey" and "Riba Smith" are very good US style stores. Once you become more local, you may find a "tienda" or two that will sell cheaper fruits and vegetables - but the regular stores are perfect.

2) Albrook Mall - you will find every kind of furniture store you can think of, from cheap to imported from Italy stuff. You'll get everything you need here from all price levels.

3) PriceSmart is where we got our TV's and other electronic stuff, including some kitchen things. For every kind of kitchen gadget, Do It Center and Novey have it all. They each have a location at Albrook Mall. (Novey is at the mall, but just outside it in the parking area across from Do It Center). Think large Ace Hardware, not a mega Home Depot. But they each have it all.

4) There are two great music stores in... Albrook Mall. The best is on the second floor by the middle food court (this mall has 3 food courts) and another one on the lower floor on the other side. It will be expensive because it was all imported - but quality you would normally expect in the US. (I've purchased many musical items from here).

So, bottom line: you'll get whatever you need right here in Panama. I'd go to Pricesmart (membership place, but well worth it) and Albrook Mall. Bring good walking shoes for Albrook Mall because its huge and they have 3 of every kind of store you can think of - plus a million people. But its a great "one-stop-shop" place.

Hope this helps.

Thanks all!
I will probably have a 40ft container. But that doesnt mean I'll fill it up - we will be moving into an apartment in Panama City, so space is limited.
Thanks about the tip on termites. Is termites a problem in high rise?
Seems like Allbrook is a good place to start. I will do just that. Thanks again.

You should have a pensionado visa first. Do you have that?

No.. no, I am not a retireee.
My husband will be posted to Panama City. I am a trailing spouse with 2 kids.