Comments on: Recent study reveals drastic differences in cost of “shopping basket”

By: Ken Morris

Ken Morris — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 20:33:43 +0000

I’m not so sure that the information this research reveals is especially helpful or that government money should be spent to find it. People shop for different things, making the basic basket a little misleading. Meanwhile, many retailers use the “moving price” strategy, I assume to keep shoppers destabilized. (The only way Walmart can have “falling prices” is after all if they also have “rising prices” for the same items on other days.) Most shoppers probably get a sense of the range of prices on their regular purchases at their regular stores, and stock up when those prices are low. Many of us probably shop at 2-3 different stores too. There are also issues of selection, ownership, and convenience. Automercado does for instance tend to have higher prices (though not always) but usually has a better selection, is locally owned, and usually has shorter checkout lines. The notion that a snapshot comparison of prices provided by the government is helpful strikes me as a bit fanciful.

By: Mike Lilla

Mike Lilla — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 19:18:37 +0000

Or…….Menos por Mas

By: Mike Lilla

Mike Lilla — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 19:18:37 +0000

Or…….Menos por Mas

By: John Holtz

John Holtz — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 19:18:37 +0000

Make that “Mas por Mentiras” LOL

By: John Holtz

John Holtz — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 19:18:37 +0000

Make that “Mas por Mentiras” LOL

By: Mike Lilla

Mike Lilla — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 16:49:02 +0000

I shop for proteins only at Auto Mercado because the quality is much better. The rest of my items I purchase at Mas Por Menos simply because it’s close to home. In any case, the cost for groceries has doubled in the last four years!

By: Juan Patricio Mora

Juan Patricio Mora — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 16:33:42 +0000

Ths specifics may be found here:
http://www.meic.go.cr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=631:meic-difundio-nuevo-estudio-comparativo-de-precios-en-articulos-de-la-canasta-basica-junio-2012&catid=61:ultimos-estudios

By: Jean-Sebastien Gauthier

Jean-Sebastien Gauthier — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 16:19:03 +0000

I lived from 2007 to 2011 in CR and Automercado is the most expensive place regardless. On the other hand it has better food quality and diversity so you pay for what you get.
Cheapest place remain Pali but if you want to go into the middle then aim for Walmart where I use to do most of my grocery

By: Doug Smith

Doug Smith — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 16:18:56 +0000

lil side note I found that the chicken was fresh at Automercado Escazu and 1/3 less than a local place Tico owned up here.

By: M Rey Waters

M Rey Waters — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 15:48:48 +0000

I agree with John about giving more specifics. During my visits to CR I have shopped several times at the Automercado (because it was very clean and offered a wide variety of products) I would like to know which brand products were more expensive and by how much. What other markets is the same area offered for less. When we make our move next year market shopping will be very important. We will be living in Heredia and would like to shop wisely.