OK. So I am in the market for a flat panel monitor. I already have two laptops that I use regularly but I have a lot of research/writing that I need to do and a nice big flat panel monitor and external keyboard will make the perfect workstation for my apartment.
So. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed I went off this morning to do my errands. While at Plaza Llama for other things I decided to browse through the electronics. (for all of you DR1ers that live here...please take note that I was there for other things and decided to browse the electronics...I was not dumb enough to think PL would be good for anything other than toiletries and dog food).
A 60 gig IPOD...old model...nothing special was priced at almost RD$22,000. Outrageous. Offensive. Incredible that the posted price could be anything close to this in the free world.
They also had an average desktop systems...nothing special....35-45,ooo pesos...unreal.
Later in the day, Robert and I went to Pricesmart...nothing special...very expensive.
Then came the coup de tat...Samanel. A 15" flat panel monitor...nothing special...Brand name: Soyo...RD$15,000. WTF? That's about USD$500. For a crummy little Soyo. They should have named it "Soy junk".
In the real world, for $500 dollars you can get a complete desktop system with a DVD burner and more disk space than you will ever need. I do not need a whole system. My two laptops have more "computer" than I need. I just want a more comfortable workstation (monitor and keyboard).
Robert and I shook our heads...ate some pizza...then both went home. I ended up going online and buying a 19" inch DELL, flat panel with a 3 year warrantee for USD$314. Shipping was a few bucks and I will have to pay something to pick it up in Santo Domingo. BUT I will still end up paying less for it than I would have if I bought the "Soy junk".
Ok. I feel better now. Highway f'n robbery. No wonder such a small %age of the DR population is connected to the internet.
We all know the best ways to get stuff into the country but I wonder if and when this will get better for the general population. Most Dominicans do not have the means to do what I did (intenet, credit card, shipping services).
Thoughts?
Scandall
"Professor of Consumer Activism"
So. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed I went off this morning to do my errands. While at Plaza Llama for other things I decided to browse through the electronics. (for all of you DR1ers that live here...please take note that I was there for other things and decided to browse the electronics...I was not dumb enough to think PL would be good for anything other than toiletries and dog food).
A 60 gig IPOD...old model...nothing special was priced at almost RD$22,000. Outrageous. Offensive. Incredible that the posted price could be anything close to this in the free world.
They also had an average desktop systems...nothing special....35-45,ooo pesos...unreal.
Later in the day, Robert and I went to Pricesmart...nothing special...very expensive.
Then came the coup de tat...Samanel. A 15" flat panel monitor...nothing special...Brand name: Soyo...RD$15,000. WTF? That's about USD$500. For a crummy little Soyo. They should have named it "Soy junk".
In the real world, for $500 dollars you can get a complete desktop system with a DVD burner and more disk space than you will ever need. I do not need a whole system. My two laptops have more "computer" than I need. I just want a more comfortable workstation (monitor and keyboard).
Robert and I shook our heads...ate some pizza...then both went home. I ended up going online and buying a 19" inch DELL, flat panel with a 3 year warrantee for USD$314. Shipping was a few bucks and I will have to pay something to pick it up in Santo Domingo. BUT I will still end up paying less for it than I would have if I bought the "Soy junk".
Ok. I feel better now. Highway f'n robbery. No wonder such a small %age of the DR population is connected to the internet.
We all know the best ways to get stuff into the country but I wonder if and when this will get better for the general population. Most Dominicans do not have the means to do what I did (intenet, credit card, shipping services).
Thoughts?
Scandall
"Professor of Consumer Activism"
Last edited: