Shipping Your Belongings Versus Buying New In Panama

The question comes up often, “Should I pay to have everything shipped to Panama? Or should I just ditch it all and start over fresh?”

In this article, I’ll try to help you answer that question as it was honestly one that drove us nuts when we started planning for our move to Panama. Marlene wanted to take everything with us. We had tons of baby stuff (the boys were just starting to crawl), furniture we loved, and other things we weren’t sure we were ready to part with. I considered just having a few things shipped, like my DVD collection. So we explored all options and several different angles. We considered shipping just a few boxes, we considered renting space in a container, and we checked into the costs of loading a full container. In the end, we decided to ship it all and it was a decision that twisted my stomach into knots throughout the move. Should we have really spent the $7,000 (or around that) to ship a full 30-foot container?

Trust me, when you have to fork over $7,000, it seems like a bad decision. That’s a lot of cash to hand someone, just to move stuff that already belongs to you. Then, I have to admit, once I was in Panama, and I was waiting for our container to arrive, I was satisfied that we’d made the right decision. I couldn’t wait to relax in my comfy king-size bed, or chill out on the sofa in front of my surround-sound system. These were the ;ott;e treats I was used to, like comfort food, and living without them made me stir crazy. Now, nearly 5 years later, I’m back to thinking it might’ve made more sense to just scrap it all and start over from scratch. Over the course of this half-decade, we’ve gotten rid of most of what we brought with us. Some of it we gave to family and friends, some we donated, and some of it just broke down so we junked it.  So, with all this in mind, I set out to investigate some of the stores in Panama City, to find out if I’d made a good investment.  Should I have saved my money and bought here in Panama?

Teaser alert! You’re going to see lots of photos coming up with prices on items, to give you an idea of what it would cost to buy everything here. So if that bores you, and you have no interest in seeing the current prices of furniture and appliances in Panama, skip to the bottom where I get back to the subject of shipping your belongings or buying new.

First, let’s discuss furniture. Furniture is not low cost in Panama. It just isn’t. Overall, furniture is quite expensive here, and most of the time the quality isn’t going to be what you’re used to buying. Don’t get me wrong, you can find some affordable bachelor pad style shelving in places like the Costo furniture store in Metromall, but to buy anything of decent quality, you’re going to spend a little bit. 

Now, I know, you're probably thinking, "Can't you just buy handmade furniture from a local artisan?" Sure, you can, sometimes, if you can find what you're looking for, but even that isn't going to be super cheap. For this article, I'm going to stick with the stores.

I’ve been to many stores that sell furniture, like Conway, which is probably one of the best furniture stores here, but for research purposes for this article, just to give you some photos and ideas of what you’ll be dealing with, I visited the Furniture City in Costa del Este and Econo Precios at Los Pueblos.

Furniture City has some decent furniture, brands you’ll be familiar with, like Ashley. It’s definitely not bargain shopping though, at least not what I’d consider super affordable. I saw the table in this photo (which was one of the least expensive), with six chairs, going for $999.

This sofa and love seat set was priced at $1,149.

This queen-size bedroom set (headboard, footboard, rails, and 2 nightstands) was priced at $1,199.

And lastly, this bookshelf was priced at  $849.

At Los Pueblos, the outdoor shopping center I mention often, EP Furniture (Econoprecios Furniture) is one of the best bargain furniture stores you’ll find. There is a store on Via España in Obarrio, for anyone in that area. Ericka Phillips, who assisted me at EP, is someone you should seek out if you happen to stop by the store. She spoke English and was very nice.

Econoprecios has three floors and you’ll find all sorts of goodies in there. Where Furniture City had better quality furniture, EP had more variety and some unique items. Plus, the prices didn’t scare me so much. I found furniture like this shelving unit for only $179.95.

I noticed they had some pricier stuff, on par with the costs at Furniture City, but they also had a lot of lower priced items that would be better for those shopping on a tighter budget. Here’s an example of one of the more costly items. This bedroom set, which consists of the headboard and two nightstands costs $1,299.

This dresser with the mirror costs $695.

Back to the tighter budget items, this full-size bed (the one on the left, which is just the headboard and rails) was priced at $295.

If you're moving to Panama with an infant, you'll be happy to know this crib was only $175.

The prices on tables and sofas were similar to those at Furniture City. Maybe a little less. This fancy table with six chairs was on the costly end at $1,895.

I like this one, with six chairs, for $1,195.

This cool little dinette set was only $250.

If you decided to leave your sofa and pick up a new one in Panama, you could get this sofa set with the end tables and coffee table for $1,395.

Sometimes you’ll find good deals at the member shopping store, PriceSmart. I found this really cool bunk bed set, with a 3^rd bed hidden underneath, for only $479.99.

Moving on to appliances, one thing you need to know about Panama, is that most homes will not come with them. When we bought our house in Ohio, it came with the kitchen completely ready and a brand new washer and dryer on the second floor. For the most part, it’s not like that here. Sure, you’ll find some fully furnished homes for rent/sale, and in some of the newer developments you’ll probably find some units with a fridge, stove, etc., but if you move into any home that’s not brand spanking new, chances are, you’re going to have to bring in your own appliances.

When we moved to Panama, and I had our container packed up, I didn’t bring the appliances. I just figured it would be easier to sell the house without gaping holes in the kitchen. So, when we rented our first house here, we had not a single appliance. I had to go out and buy a washer, a dryer, a refrigerator, a stove, and a microwave. Dishwashers aren’t common here, so that’s something else you’ll need to get used to or have someone set up the connections for you.

So, considering you’ll probably need to buy appliances, let’s talk about the costs associated with that. Most people use gas stoves and dryers here. You can find electric, but your options will be much more limited and your electric bill will be quite a bit higher, so I definitely recommend you go with gas. Plus, when the power goes out, which it sometimes does here, you’ll be glad you went with gas.

To start my appliance prices search, I stopped by Rodelag at Los Pueblos. Rodelag isn’t the cheapest place in Panama, but it’s probably a good place to get a fair estimate. Security was on to me quickly, so I was only able to snap a few photos there. Here’s what I found. This Mabe brand, six-burner gas stove was going for $384.99.

If you’re wondering how much an air conditioner will run you in Panama, remember that most homes won’t have central air. So, if you’re looking to pick up a split unit, which will only cool one room in your house, here’s a photo showing you the costs of the Panasonic units at Rodelag.

You'll notice the prices rise with the sizes, and the larger the room you're trying to cool, the larger the unit you'll need. Here are some Sankey ones on sale.

One place I definitely recommend checking out is called Centro de Agencias. You’ve probably never heard of it and it can be easy to miss. It’s located on Ave. Domingo Diaz (Via Tocumen), near the entrance to San Antonio (on the right hand side just past Los Pueblos if you’re coming from Panama City and headed toward Tocumen).

For anyone who has lived in Panama for awhile, but doesn't know where it is, it's right where all of the smoothie (batido) shacks used to be. They're not there anymore, but right in front of this store was the long line of fruit and veggie shacks. Right now there's a lot of construction going on in front of the store. 

This is the best place I know of (other than buying from someone selling their stuff in a Facebook group or other online garage sale) to pick up lower cost appliances. Centro de Agencias sells new and refurbished appliances. Oftentimes, you’ll notice the cost of an appliance is lower just because it has a scratch or dent it it, like the dent you see at the top corner and lower side of this $235 deep freeze.

What’s great is that the refurbished appliances are marked on the price sticker and inside the appliance you’ll find a form listing exactly what parts were replaced. An assistant at the store showed me that the thermostat on one freezer had been replaced.

This four-burner, Mabe brand, gas stove was priced at only $189. It’s a smaller stove though, great for a small apartment.

This six-burner, Nisato brand, gas stove was $175. I don't know anything about Nisato, but you could buy four of these things for the price of one stove at PriceSmart.

This tiny stove was only $79. Stoves like this are perfect for some of the really small apartments in and around Panama City. Probably not the best stove for making your Thanksgiving Day turkey, but good enough for the daily grind. 

If you need something a little more modern and sleek, this one’s going for $480.

These brand new, Frigidaire brand, 30lb. washer and dryers were priced at $499.95 each. 

So you have something to compare this with, at PriceSmart, a similar new washer, Whirlpool brand, was going for $429, so it seems that the real deals at Centro de Agencias are on the refurbished appliances. The combo unit you see below costs $879 at Centro de Agencias.  

The Whirlpool combo unit you see below was at PriceSmart, priced at $1099.99, so about a $200 difference between it and the one from Centro de Agencias. I don't know all the specs on the Whirlpool unit. Maybe it was larger or had more bells and whistles. 

This regular, Mabe brand, refrigerator was $349 at Centro de Agencias. Similar ones at PriceSmart, Frigidaire brand, were going for a little over $500. I'd never heard of Mabe brand until I moved to Panama, but I've had a Mabe gas stove for over four years now and it still works great.

This bigger one with an ice maker was priced at $899.95.

And they even had mini-supermarket style refrigerators, great for businesses, repaired (or refurbished), going for $660.

I bought a deep freeze from this place when I first moved to Panama and it worked great. The only drawback was the store’s lack of deliverymen. Instead of having an actual delivery service, you either have to haul the appliance off yourself, or sometimes there will conveniently be a guy right outside who will take cash payments to load your appliance in the back of his pickup and take it to your house. That’s what we did.

What’s the verdict? Is it better to ship your belongings or buy everything new in Panama? 

Looking at the prices I’ve listed, I honestly don’t know what's the best decision. I think it depends on the person. It depends on you and what your personal needs are. You could buy the sofa and love seat set at Furniture City for just over $1,000, then go get the full-size headboard and rail set at EP for just under $300, find a cheap mattress, then head over to PriceSmart and get the $500 bunk bed set for the kids. You’re probably just over $2,000 with the mattresses. You get the point. You’d have to shop very wisely though, to replace everything in your home, for under the $7,000(ish) shipping costs.

Plus, one other thing you have to keep in mind, if you're planning to buy a bunch of expensive items in Panama, is the international transaction fee your credit/debit card might carry with it. There are banks out there with no, or very low international fees. When I moved here, I was paying 5% for every transaction. That adds up. So make sure you know what you'll be charged before you start racking up the fees. 

I think the real question is, do you have things in your home now that you absolutely cannot live without in Panama? If you bought an amazing credenza at an auction, chances are, that won’t be replaceable here.  If you’re someone who furnished your home with Ikea stuff (like we did in our tiny apartment in Chicago), you could probably just ditch it and buy everything again when you get here.

It’s the stuff that hits close to the heart you won’t be able to replace, like heirlooms passed down through the generations, boxes of family photos, and old high school trophies. So maybe the decision can be a happy medium. Maybe you ship some of your stuff, packed in with other shipments (share a container), and sell or donate the rest.

Some people have nothing they care to keep. The kids are grown and out of the house, or they’ve just lost most of the important stuff over the years…whatever the reason, they have no desire to bring a bunch of clutter. Getting on a plane with nothing but your suitcase can be an invigorating experience. With no weight on your shoulders, nothing tying you down, you can truly start anew. Some people desire exactly this.

Whatever you do, make sure you shop around, get several estimates from moving companies, and research your insurance options before moving anything. The moving company I went with tried to convince me to go with the 40-foot container, and I was convinced everything would fit in the 30-foot. I can’t remember what the difference was in cost, but I know it was pretty substantial. In the end, I stuck with my gut and went with the 30-foot and it all fit, saving me a couple grand at least.

I hope that seeing and reading about the costs associated with buying everything new, and comparing it with what the shipping companies give you as an estimate, will help you make an informed decision about which route is best for you. Good luck. And thanks for reading. 

Chris

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Real Bargain Shopping in Panama City, Panama

Good morning,

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the real cost of living in Panama and the real supermarket prices. After I published these articles, I got several emails and noticed several Facebook posts talking about how, after reading my articles, people were beginning to think that Panama isn't any less expensive than their hometowns. That was kind of the point of the article. It wasn't my intention to scare anyone, but I think it's important that people realize that Panama, just like anyplace else, is going to take a little bit of work. It's not as cheap as you might have heard. But if you look closely at the supermarket prices I laid out and read the cost of living report, you'll notice that I showed you not only local Panama brand prices, but also prices on things such as Oreos and Corona beer. Because you need to see what you'll spend if you buy imported goods.

How you shop and how you create your budget is completely your business. You might not care about living on a low budget. You might have a seemingly unlimited funds purse. But that's not the case for everyone. A good portion of people planning to escape to Panama, will have limited funds, a monthly allowance, that, if they go over, they'll be in trouble. So, as I've mentioned many times, it's important to abandon your current idea of shopping. You can't buy the brands you're used to if you want to save money here. And you can't simply clip coupons to keep buying what you're used to. You need to adopt a new shopping mentality and learn to shop like the locals.

Buying shoes at the La Onda in Villa Lucre will cost a lot less

than buying from the Jimmy Choo in Multiplaza

That's why, in this article, I'm going to introduce you to 3 bargain shopping playgrounds in and around Panama City. Sure, you could go to one of the malls. Multiplaza, the most upscale mall here, has great shopping. You'll see stores like Tiffany & Company, Cartier, Forever 21, Kenneth Cole, Zara, and Victoria's Secret. At Albrook Mall you'll find Gap, Gymboree, Banana Republic, etc. And even at Metro Mall you'll find Nautica, Claire's, Moose, Izod, and a handful of other stores you're familiar with. But that's not budget shopping. Sure, you might find incredible deals at random times in these stores, but I'm talking about your regular day-to-day shopping. 

Los Andes (Centro Comercial Los Andes) - This is one of my favorite shopping centers, and if you live in Las Cumbres or Villa Zaita, you're probably familiar with this area. It's a hodgepodge of faded colors and busy walkways as you'll find an eclectic mix of shops here. 

You'll find everything here, from clothing stores 

to electronics stores to a supermarket

Los Andes is located on Via Transistmica on the way to Las Cumbres. Getting there, especially if you're not familiar with Panama City streets, can be a bit tricky. Luckily, a Metro train station is being built right at the shopping center entrance, which should make getting there much easier. 

This new train station should make getting here much easier

My favorite store in Los Andes is Dorian's, which to me, is probably Panama's closest thing to a Marshalls or TJ Maxx. In this store you'll find some amazing deals, but be careful. Like Marshalls, you need to check your clothes before buying them. You'll find American brand names you'll recognize, but just check each item carefully. I've found several T-shirts I was interested in, only to have to put them back when I noticed a stain or a rip. 

See? Look at these prices

Marlene loves this place. If there's a Dorian's in the shopping center, she's there. You'll also find one in the Albrook mall, close to the movie theater. At stores like this, it's common to see prices as low as $1.99, $2.99, and $3.99, especially on T-shirts. Just make sure you try everything on first, as some clothes are built weird and fit super tight in the oddest of places. I think I've told you my experience with the jeans that gave me an instant wedgie. 

$6.99, $9.99...oh my!

Dorian's is also great for picking up the small things. If I'm going to the beach for the weekend and don't have flip flops, I'll go buy cheap ones from there, or if I need a new belt and don't want to spend a lot (I rarely dress up), I'll get one from Dorian's for somewhere between $5 and $10.

The first place in Panama where I found (bargain priced) size-12 shoes

Three other large, bargain department stores you'll find in Los Andes are El Titan (one of the best places to buy school supplies), El Costo, and El Campeón. In all of these places, you'll find clothing, shoes, makeup, office supplies, purses, hats, and even some home goods. You'll find fans, dishes, blankets, and other things of that nature. 

Another great bargain shopping store

If you have kids, you're sure to find great deals on children's clothes. I have to keep it real though. Oftentimes, the fabric is not the strongest. You get what you pay for, so the material will not be as good as what you'd get at Gymboree. Still, sometimes, especially with something like pajamas, it's nice to pick up a $5.99 pair rather than a $29.99 pair. Or a pair of $.49 underwear like you see in the photo below. 

Check out these prices on kids' underwear

And if you're artistic and like to sew your own clothes, you'll find a fabric store in Los Andes selling items at super low prices. 

Buy your clothes, or make your own

This place sells fabric that's great for clothes, uniforms, curtains, tablecloths, etc., and look at the prices: $1.49? $2.99? $1.99? You won't find prices like that at Multiplaza. 

No shortage of birthday party supply stores here

If you find yourself getting hungry at Los Andes, don't worry, as there's plenty of little restaurants and even a Wendy's on site. Plus, if you head up the stairs that are right next to Wendy's, there's even a little food court. You have to try one of the smoothies from the kiosk you see at the center of the food court. They're like $1.50 or $2.00. The prices vary depending on the flavor you choose, but you'll see banana, chocolate, strawberry, mango, cornflakes, the list goes on and on. 

Los Pueblos - 

One of my favorite places to shop, when I'm in a super-chill mood and don't mind the swarms of people and concentrated traffic I'll find when going there, is Los Pueblos. I mention this outdoor shopping mall often. Located in the Juan Diaz area, at the far end of Via España (opposite end of downtown Panama City), you'll know you arrived when you see the TGIF on the left hand side (you can also get there by traveling Ave. Domingo Diaz, it's right across the street from Metro Mall). 

You need to understand Los Pueblos for what it is, before you head out there. It's not a high-end mall where people are going to cater to your every need. It's not that at all. In fact, it's a hectic mess at times, especially on the weekends, as hordes of people descend upon the shops, all looking for the best deals. So be ready to rub elbows, shove your way through crowds, and stand in lines to get to the real bargains. 

A police trailer is located right at its center

If you're ready for this, you'll find a ton of stores at Los Pueblos, stores like Saks (no relation to the 5th Avenue store), which is a lot like Dorian's. The Saks in Los Pueblos is another of my favorite stores. I buy Silver Jack brand blue jeans for about $15 a pair (sometimes on sale for $10). Again, just check the clothes before purchasing them, as my wife recently bought a pair of pants that was missing the zipper. 

The best toy store in the city (on the right)

The Felix Outlet at Los Pueblos is one of the best toy stores in Panama. One side of the store is devoted to only toys, while the other has clothes. You'll also find an Estampa, La Onda, Oca Loca, which is the store I always associate with great Halloween shopping, Gran Morrison, Conway, El Campeón. You definitely have your pick of bargain shops.

You'll find clothing stores, household good stores, a Do It Center (do it yourself store), lighting stores, electronics stores, shoe stores, and even a couple of casinos. Los Pueblos is home to a Payless Shoes, a DDP outlet store, Adams, and lots of places to eat lunch.

A small pizza and a soda for only $3.99

Los Pueblos is where I go whenever I need to pick up a cheap charger for my cell phone or to buy covers or any other phone accessories. And it's a great place to get fresh coco water or pipa. This guy in the photo below will grab a coconut from his stash, slam it down onto a spike, then pour the fresh juice into an instant refrigeration machine and out into a brand new bottle. It's delicious.

Fresh pipa!

If you walk the shops of Los Pueblos, you're sure to find a deal. Again, always try on clothes before buying them. I piled up maybe 20 shirts the first time I visited here, all right around $1.99. I went nuts and since they were all XL size, I was fairly sure they'd fit. At the last second, I decided to go ahead and try some on. Out of the 20 shirts, only 3 fit. The rest hugged my body a little too snugly for comfort. When things are on sale at Los Pueblos, it's almost like being on a shopping spree. A hundred dollars seems like it'll last forever in some  stores. 

Lastly, on the subject of Los Pueblos, I have to mention that this is one of the best places to go to buy party supplies and piñatas. Even for bachelor and bachelorette parties. Watch out though. I've written about this before, long ago, in a blog post. 

These were staring my kid right in the face at the cash register

I went with my daughter once to get a piñata and had no idea what was in store. There, hanging from the ceiling, right next to the Disney princess castle piñata, was a group of butt naked piñatas, very well endowed dude piñatas too. These bachelor/bachelorette party piñatas are hung (pun intended) right next to the other kiddy kind of piñatas. 

See? I told you so! Try explaining that to your kid

I was half expecting my daughter to yell out, "Daddy, I want the princess with the black bikini." 

"Umm, that's not a bikini babe."

El Dorado - 

On Tumba Muerto, near Bethania, is the area called El Dorado. You'll know you're there when you see the big circular cake and smoothie shop at the corner of he parking lot and a casino on the other end. Farther back in the lot is the shopping center itself, and next to it is a KFC and Taco Bell.

You know you're in El Dorado when you see this building

El Dorado seems to be most famous for its electronics shops. No matter where you go to get your phone fixed or your Blu-ray player fixed, or your Playstation fixed, if the technician can't handle the job, he or she will tell you to take it to El Dorado. They can fix just about anything there. 

I got this rubber cell phone cover in El Dorado for $5

It's also a great place to shop. El Dorado is still on the lower end of the shopping scale, but it's rapidly improving. The mall management team is cleaning the mall up nicely and it's actually starting to look like the other malls in Panama City. At El Dorado you'll find a Conway furniture store, which is one of the best furniture stores in Panama. You'll also find a Saks, a Gran Morrison, a Rey supermarket, and many other small shops. 

This mall is starting to clean up nicely

I set out one day to find a suit for a wedding. I used to wear a suit every day back in the U.S., but I never wear one here. Who wants to wear a suit in Panama? Well, I've lost a lot of weight since moving here and none of my suits fit me. I looked ridiculous trying them on. I tried to find a fancy getup in Los Andes, but it's not the best place for that. I tried a few places actually, and I didn't want to spend much, because I knew I'd probably wear the suit once and never put it on again. I decided to check out the mall at El Dorado, and I'm glad I did. I found a suit for only $49.99 at the RM.

Very affordable suits at the RM in El Dorado

Plus, they had great prices on accessories. Shoes were inexpensive, belts, shirts...I got everything I needed in one store, after driving around all over the place. Now, I know this sounds like a commercial for them, lol, but it's not. The quality of the suit I bought was okay. I'm not sure it would've lasted through the long walks and varying temperatures I encountered in Chicago, but it definitely worked well for the wedding. 

Shirts, two for $12.99

If you want to find real bargains, don't just stick to the enclosed mall though. Make sure you check out the shops that surround the mall. You'll find tons of little electronic stores and other cool places. El Dorado even has a bowling alley. Plus, if you're into the kinky stuff, you'll find a couple of sex toy/video stores in El Dorado too. You can see one on the left in the following photo. 

It's on the left, right next to the tree...I know you're looking for it!

Hopefully, after reading this article, you'll realize there are some real finds out there, if you just get out and immerse yourself in real Panama living. Don't be afraid to go out and shop like locals because you're not going to save money shopping in the higher-end malls. 

If you're wondering about Avenida Central (down by Casco Viejo), yes, that's a bargain shopping destination, but I was trying to put shops on this list where you're not likely to have to finagle your way into a good deal. These aren't tourist shops, not really. Avenida Central kind of is. In Los Andes, Los Pueblos, and El Dorado, the price is right there on the object. You don't have to ask what the price is and try to figure out whether you're getting the real deal or the gringo inflated price.

If you live in any of the small towns in Panama's interior, you might not have a choice but to bargain shop, as it's rare to find the bigger chains outside of Panama City (except maybe in Chitre, Santiago, and David). That's a major factor in why it's much cheaper to live outside of Panama City. Sometimes you're forced to shop and live like the local townsfolk (unless you're out there cheating and ordering everything online...come on...we all do it from time to time). 

Oh one more thing. I'm sure some people are going to write to tell me that you have to be careful in the areas I mentioned. That is true. Just like anywhere else, if you shop in Los Andes, Los Pueblos, or El Dorado, don't flash your money around. Know how much cash you have before you set out so you don't have to pull out a wad of bills on the sidewalk. 

Police are everywhere, especially in Los Pueblos and Los Andes, so I wouldn't say these areas are unsafe. But you have to know that if you're shopping where there are true bargains, you're shopping with other people who are shopping on a limited budget. So don't be flashy, and it's probably better to shop during the day than at night in these outdoor shopping centers. 

Thanks so much for reading,

Chris

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