Job Discussion Forums

[MikeyG]

I need a couch, a table, some chairs and cupboards etc. Anyone have experience ordering these things over the internet? Would it be wise to buy them that way?

[Guy Courchesne]

Over the net? To be shipped to Mexico from where? You can't find good prices locally?

For such large items coming in from abroad, I would expect you to have to pay duty on them. Unless you mean to have them shipped from another point in Mexico...

[MELEE]

If you can't find anything you like in the furniture shops, you go to a carpenter. Ask for recommendations. In my town the carpenters very a lot in price and quality of work, you get what you pay for. If you want the cheapest possible table you go to X. If you want a replica of a super cool scandinavian table that would cost thousands in the US, you go to Y, and you pay a lot more than you'd pay X but a lot less than you'd pay in the US. For sofas, you can get things recovered fairly cheaply, or you can also get the welders to make those rustic ironwork type and the curtain makers to make up the cushions for them.

[delacosta]

Where in Oaxaca are you?
I've had all my furniture made by carpenters, or bought at the market. Tables, chairs, beds, etc. are brougt down from the mountain and are very cheap. They're not the best quality but with a coat of dark varnish they look pretty good. I had a sturdy queen size bed made for 800 pesos last year.
The furniture that I use by far the most isn't made of wood-it's my hammock.

[MikeyG]

Thanks for the tips. I'll check out the markets and the carpenters. I'm in the Isthmus and I haven't liked anything I've seen in the furniture shops
( neither appearance nor price ). I suppose internet shopping is not too practical here. I'm still aclimatizing!

P.S: Is it true what they say about Zipolite?!

[delacosta]

Ummm, what exactly do they say about Zipolite?
SO you're in Tehuantepec then or Ixtepec. You will most definitely have a market day where vendors converge on the town and take over the streets and sidewalks with their stalls (also causing massive traffic jams). Somewhere in there you will find a group selling furniture, beds, etc. Check for quality and you will usually have to do all the varnishing/staining yourself. And don't forget to haggle. Ask other profs or friends how much they pay for stuff.
And yeah I stay away from the overpriced tacky ugly crap they sell in department stores like Elektra.

[Guy Courchesne]

[lozwich]

Don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for guys walking down the street carrying furniture on their backs. I used to marvel at the fairly slightly built men who used to regularly walk down my street with a 6 piece dining setting strapped to their backs yelling out for people to come and buy it.

[MikeyG]

Yes, its the nudism/ hedonism I was thinking about.
Will try out all the afore-mentioned places so thanks for the help.
I found this private message to be particularly useful ( and hugely entertaining to say the least ):

[M@tt]

just a warniing about the beach. i've never heard anything good about it from anyone, not even people who like that kind of thing. not sure why, but the nude beach concept does not seem to work well in mexico. i've never been to one to investigate, but i can imagine it being full of drugged out foreign backpackers.

[lozwich]

Sorry, but I can't resist this one....

from dictionary.com

ac�cli�ma�tize
v. ac�cli�ma�tized, ac�cli�ma�tiz�ing, ac�cli�ma�tiz�es
v. tr.
To acclimate.
To adapt (oneself), especially to environmental or climatic changes


ac�cli�mate
tr. & intr.v. ac�cli�mat�ed, ac�cli�mat�ing, ac�cli�mates
To accustom or become accustomed to a new environment or situation; adapt

Can you say synonym?

And M@tt, I was just at Mazunte which is next to Zipolite and the only nude sunbather I saw was a very Mexican looking man!

[cwc]

I left out a letter. Big deal. I still think it is funnier to think about buying furniture over the net. Anyone that has more than a few days here and half a brain knows that is a losing prospect. Any other stupid questions? Would you like to buy a Rolex? Maybe some gold coins?

[Guy Courchesne]

How about a bridge or a swamp? I'm in the market to buy...

[delacosta]

Zipol does have a seamy side, for sure,and trust me, what city or town in Mexico doesn't, but it's not all like that. There are lots of people here who are into healthy living and don't partake in all the drug stuff. But yes, it's all there if that's what someone wants.
It's a very tolerant place. I guess since the hippies arrived back in the sixties the locals became accustomed to not being surprised or offended by excessive freakiness. Really why would they care if a bunch of scruffy people smoke ( and bought from them) weed and swam naked? Hippies were probably a pretty nice bunch of people back then.
There isn't a police force in Zipolite so p�rhaps that's why the drug trade is how it is. But people shouldn't think that its a drug free for all down here, whenever police form other towns are a bit short on cash they come around and scare up a healthy amount of payoffs from all those unfortunate enough to be caught.
Perhaps the lack of police also encourages criminals to come here and set up business ( although to set up business would necessitate permision from other police forces). The drug trade is definitely a part of the local economy.
As for the nude beach, it's a huge selling point for backpackers and especialy Europeans. It's just another niche in the tourist market. Swimming naked feels great! I love it, but only in more private locations. Can't show all to the students you know..

[Guy Courchesne]

There's drug trade no matter where you go in Mexico. What sounds good about Zipolite may be that it's not like the violent turf battles you get in the cocaine trade up in northern cities. Laid back?

Topless or nude beaches aren't that common in Mexico are they? I saw a couple of women I assumed to be European doff their tops on a beach outside of Acapulco. They put them back on after quite a bit of ogling by all the guys.