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What kind of business or service do you think Buenos Aires really needs—or one you wish existed here?
- Thread starter kenobi
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Content Provider
Well-known member
Good topic, but I think any type of business could flourish here if they just took two words seriously:
Customer Service
Customer Service
GlasgowJohn
Well-known member
But those two words dont exist in the Argentine Marketing Handbook
I Love Mate
Member
The customer service here is terrible. I didn't know how bad it was until I went to the USA to study for 2 years. Everything there works perfectly! Amazon is so much better than ML. Only bad thing is that I spend too much money ordering things! I wish we had Amazon here. ML would go out of business.
VINO
Well-known member
Amazon is what I miss most about living in the USA.
Dirk Diggler
Member
But I thought I read a few posts where Amazon ships things to BA? Is this not true? I just heard taxes and shipping take a while. I also read some posts about used stuff arriving or broken. That would be a problem. In the US, I can send back anything I want. Sometimes my wife uses things and just ships it back. I have 4 kids and we bought Halloween costumes and then returned them all after. I know terrible but no problems.
I would miss Amazon. We use it daily here.
GlasgowJohn
Well-known member
Amazon does deliver and occasionally has deals on certain products with lower deleivery costs .
But if the product is faulty , you are on your own....
Betsy Ross
Well-known member
I would avoid it based on my experiences. It is NOTHING like in the US. I ordered also all the time in the USA. I have had mixed results here. Some stuff came but it took a while. Some times it got lost or stolen. A few times the items were used. And it was a pain shipping back. Nothing like home.
It is terrible but when I need things I will ask friends that come down. A few times @earlyretirement and @Johnny brought things down for me which I am very grateful for.
Totally agree! I really hope this improves because in general the people here are so friendly but when it comes to customer service, they simply ghost you or take ages to answer,
Spend Thrift
Well-known member
People are "friendly" but that doesn't mean squat when it comes to true customer service. Here in Brazil and even Colombia people are friendly and want to help and good customer service. I don't know what it is about Argentina but no one really seems to care too much. Everyone are flakes from realtors to bankers to professionals, waiters and people working in stores.
Uncle Wong
Well-known member
I think the businesses that really offer customer service do very well. I'm dealing with @BuySellBA for help with buying my apartment and they are very good! They answer my messages/emails almost instantly. It seems like if people offered US style customer service the sky is the limit.
Johnny
Well-known member
Seems like it is like this in Mexico too. My bank account took forever to open in Mexico. One nightmare after another even though I got residency there. They filled out a form wrong and entered my RFC # wrong. Then I had to go back. Then they entered some form wrong and had to go back. It took almost 1.5 months to open up a simple bank at HSBC. Terrible!
The realtors also take forever to get back.
I think the companies in Argentina that model their business to cater to deal with foreigners understand the thought process. The developer that I bought with is always on the ball and answered right away when I had questions. Same with the lawyers that I was recommended.
It just seems like many in Argentina are allergic to work and many don't really care about making money. They would rather just chill. I don't find anything wrong with that but then they will complain about not making enough. Any one with a good attittude and wants to work there can make money. Just my property manager I know does well just doing some check-ins and outs. I see how much I am making on my rental income on my Airbnb and I know they are getting a % of that so you can earn well if you have a good attitude.
James Bond
Well-known member
There are definitely some great opportunities to make money in Buenos Aires. The problem is that not many want to invest or take the time to set things up right. But this is a good example of someone that can do well making money. I just took a look at that Airbnb and booked solid and very high ROI but if you take a look looks like Mike invested over $1 million for that house when it's all said and done. Not many will do that.
earlyretirement
Moderator
So so true. There is no good customer service for the most part in Argentina and even many parts of Latin America but it's especially bad in Argentina. I always joke for the past 24 years that Argentines are allergic to work and making money.
There are many opportunities to make money in Argentina if you take the time to work hard and willing to invest. My company and I have been doing it since 2002. I built up a solid company and even got acquired by a multi-national company. No easy feat but it can be done.
BarryBloomWwf
Active member
My dream would be an ultra strict and efficient supermarket, soup nazi style from Seinfeld
- 3 cashiers open at all times, even if the store is empty. They get paid a pittance anyway
- Cashier phones are confiscated when they arrive
- Cashiers forbidden from leaving their station to walk around aimlessly or talk to each other
- Customers must have their Mercado pago account open and ready to pay immediately once items are scanned. A 10 second timer displays then they are banished to the back of the line or ejected by a large security force
- Any excuses like "my phone isn't working, give me a minute" will be ejected and given a two week store ban
- Attempts to start a conversation with cashier will result in a stern warning and silence
No privileges for the elderly
- 3 cashiers open at all times, even if the store is empty. They get paid a pittance anyway
- Cashier phones are confiscated when they arrive
- Cashiers forbidden from leaving their station to walk around aimlessly or talk to each other
- Customers must have their Mercado pago account open and ready to pay immediately once items are scanned. A 10 second timer displays then they are banished to the back of the line or ejected by a large security force
- Any excuses like "my phone isn't working, give me a minute" will be ejected and given a two week store ban
- Attempts to start a conversation with cashier will result in a stern warning and silence
No privileges for the elderly
Betsy Ross
Well-known member
That is what I miss the most about the US. The great supermarkets and amazing customer service and efficiency. There are too many lines here and the supermarkets are terrible here.
The salaries ARE terrible here so not sure why they don't staff more people. They would sell more. Half the time the ones working seem like they are fiddling around or fixing the tape on the receipts. Many people after standing in line so long never have their payment ready.
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