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Attention Walmart Shoppers!

April 12th, 2011

Walmart of Central America and Mexico announced today that they plan 24 new stores for Costa Rica and that will generate 800 new jobs.

Hipermas  will actually be changing the name of their stores from Hipermas to Walmart in the near future.

With the new stores, Walmart will have over 11,500 Ticos on the payroll.

That’s it… now be sure to read my superb post (below) on ICE part II!


8 Responses to “Attention Walmart Shoppers!”

  1. Janie on April 13, 2011 5:57 am

    Isn’t Walmart just another monopoly that will change the consumer landscape in Costa Rica? While offering jobs, won’t its expanded presence also adversely affect small, family owned businesses?

    Ciao!
    Janie Sohmer
    Santo Domingo de Heredia

  2. Tim on April 13, 2011 7:14 am

    Hi Janie

    No and yes… A monopoly is the exclusive possession or control of the supply or trade in a commodity or service, and they will never have that in Costa Rica or anywhere.

    However, it most assuredly can affect small family owned businesses.

    This topic has been raging for many years. Walmart (and the many other huge companies) can hire many hundreds of employees, offer them far better benefits than can a small mom and pop operation who can only perhaps offer CAJA, pay a better salary, offer better training that can further a career, etc

    There of course is the key. The loss of the small mom and pops can be sad… while the improvement in working conditions and number of jobs has a profound affect on the economy. Now… you choose which is best for the people of Costa Rica.

  3. Steve Truesdale on April 13, 2011 8:21 am

    That is why Walmart hires all those people as “part-time” employees, so they don’t have to pay benefits.
    The Hipermas in Grecia is not frequented by many locals because they realize the devestation Walmart will rain down on the community. It happens most every time and everywhere.
    Another aspect is that this is just another “Americanization” of Costa Rica.
    Avoid Walmart, please.

  4. Tee on April 14, 2011 12:40 pm

    The converse is also true, that increased competition and buying power of a Walmart could result in downward price pressures and increased consumer surplus for the economy as a whole. This is an international trend, yet without a viable domestic alternative.

    Cheers,

  5. Wes on April 15, 2011 4:03 am

    What towns will recieve these stores?

  6. Janie on April 15, 2011 8:21 am

    Hi Tim,

    I do hear what you are saying about the benefits. I just can’t get behind Walmart. I’ve seen the sad results of it moving into communities in the states. Unfortunately, it may be the faster way to jump start the economy here but I wish there was another way. If it were Target I would be more excited. On Wednesday, I was talking with my tica neighbor and this was her comment: “I’ve been to the states and been to Walmart and don’t like it at all. People here are excited about it moving in because they don’t know the kind of business it is.” Then she said, “Where are they going to put 24 Walmart stores in this little country?”

    We live in Santo Domingo de Heredia and I really hope we aren’t getting one. Santo Domingo, so far, has successfully avoided the U.S. chain stores and fast food. We have Pali and Mas X Menos, which are also partly owned by Walmart and carry their Equate products, but that is it so far. One can always hope!

    I do appreciate your points and hope it will turn out for the good of Costa Rica. Heading down the norteamericano pathway isn’t my idea of paradise, economic or otherwise.

    Thanks, as always for your site and blog. Great stuff.

    Janie Sohmer

  7. Belinda Badalamento on April 25, 2011 3:06 pm

    As a mom & pop shop owner, I say avoid Walmart and support the local small businesses. Corporate America has destroyed the local drug store owner as well as hardware store and 100 other local businesses who personally know their customers. Shopping at Walmart means putting money in the corporations pocket and they are the ones who control our goverment. Don’t do it Costa Rica.
    Walmart represents what most expats left behind.

  8. Wilson on May 9, 2011 4:08 pm

    Hello,
    Do you know any contact number to reach the Human Resources Department? I am costarican and bilingual (Spanish/English). If Walmart is opening another store in Costa Rica, I would like to know if there is a good position in Walmart for me to be part of it.
    Thanks,
    Wilson