Shopping in Paradise

Good, now I have the women's attention.

If this was Star Trek and you were transported into PriceMart, it looks the same as one in the good ole USA.

At first, the store looks similar to American counterparts. The differences start to soak in when you pick up a printer cartridge box and realise it is empty. What the hell?

When you go through the checkout line, they go into a locked back room and get your cartridge or any other small, expensive items.

Theft rules here. And, you will see all sorts of retail theft deterrents.

I went into a sports store at the Chirique Mall. (I know images of USA malls comes up but banish those images---this isn't the same type of mall) I picked out a box of shoes, opened it only to find one missing. They looked everywhere and never found it. What does someone do with one shoe?

We purchased lights for our house at Lumicentro, a great lighting store with thousands of light fixtures. There is always at least one English speaking clerk in most stores which helps this bilingually challenged soul.

After we loaded all the fixtures on a cart, they directed us to a desk where they opened every box, showed us that all the parts were included and nothing was broken. They tested all the light bulbs to make sure they worked.

Then, we paid for everything.

This is typical in Panama.

There are several reasons. First, they will break open a package and sell one of a set. No kidding! If you buy a set of guitar strings, beware...always check to see if all the strings are included. Second, people steal parts from boxes. (And a shoe!) Third, to insure that everything is unbroken prior to leaving so you can't come back and make a claim.

Another idiosyncrasy. Frequently, you are directed to a protected both to pay, then you take the receipt to a desk to retrieve your goods.

Many stores have armed guards. They don't look very dangerous but they are armed. Banks have two guards, one at the door and one inside. Mainly, they open the door for you and greet you.

I don't know what they think will happen. Or, what has happened in the past, but these guards don't look like they will stop trouble.

Oh, by the way. I wear a size 12 shoe in a country of small people. This is a problem. Not many 12's around.

OK, ladies, you thought I would tell you about some good deals, didn't ya. Sorry. This was just about the quirks of stores. I tricked you with the word "shopping."