What kind of business or service do you think Buenos Aires really needs—or one you wish existed here?

[kenobi]

Whether it’s something that would make daily life easier, a fun new concept, or a twist on a familiar service from abroad, I’d love to hear your ideas! From your experience living here, what’s missing in the city?

 

[dark]

Good question! I think Amazon or a similar service could really make a difference here. The whole tax and import system needs a serious overhaul, it’s really holding the country back.

It would also be amazing to get basic medicines in convenience stores, like gas stations or corner shops. In the U.S., for example, if I feel a cold or flu coming on, I can usually grab cough medicine, ibuprofen, or other basics at a gas station. It doesn’t happen everywhere, but it’s convenient, especially since pharmacies close early and sometimes a gas station is the only place open.

Many stores here still operate like a general store from the 1800s. Hardware stores are a perfect example. In the U.S., I can walk down the aisles, find what I need, and ask an employee for help if necessary. Here, almost every hardware store has a line stretching out the door. There’s usually only one employee, you tell them what you need, they go to the back, and come out with something similar—it works, but it’s not exactly efficient.

On a lighter note, I think a pizzeria where you could design your own pizza, choosing exactly the cheese and toppings you want, would be a huge hit. Something like that, combined with delivery and online ordering, could really catch on here.

 

[roland]

Totally agree with some of your points! Just to add: for hardware stores, Easy works more like what you’re used to in the U.S., you can actually grab what you need off the shelf. As for pharmacies, there are Farmacity locations all over the city, so getting basic medicine is easier than it might seem.

Instead of Amazon, Mercado Libre is the local equivalent and it works really well, though it’s true that international products can get much more expensive once shipping and taxes are added.
And when it comes to pizzerias, there are actually tons all over Buenos Aires, not just on Calle Corrientes. Some even let you customize your pizza, though delivery and online ordering definitely make it more convenient.