Page 302 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

300  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

SHOPPING IN ARGENTINA

Shopping is tremendous fun in Argentina high-fashion boutiques that stock
and reason enough in itself to visit the imported goods and brand names. In the
country. Foreign visitors will find that country’s inte rior, several small towns are
prices for locally produced goods, including renowned for their colorful and atmospheric
luxury buys such as leather items and artisans’ markets that usually take place
jewelry, are very reasonable. Added to this over the week ends. They sell locally made
is a great variety of shopping centers: in products that include crafted gaucho
the major cities there are swanky, modern paraphernalia and high-quality weavings
malls, department stores, and exclusive and ceramics.

Bargaining
Bargaining is much less
common in Argentina than
in other Latin American coun­
tries. Try the question Cuanto
vale? (How much is it worth?)
in place of the usual Cuanto
cuesta? (What is the price?)
Only at crafts’ markets and
antiques shops do vendors
sometimes start at a higher
price than the one they accept.
Visitors may feel confident
enough to make a lower offer
here, particularly when
The glittering interiors of Galerías Pacífico, Buenos Aires (see p95) purchasing a combination
of items.
Opening Hours Visitors are able to reclaim
In cities, malls usually open IVA on their purchase when Shopping Malls and
from 10am to 10pm daily. Food buying prod ucts made in
courts and cinemas within malls Argentina worth AR$70 or more Boutiques
stay open later. Street shops from shops dis playing a Global Shopping malls, ranging
usually open from 9am to 8pm Refund logo. Ask for a factura from modest buildings to
on week days; some close at (receipt) and a Global Refund plush, air­conditioned
1pm on Saturdays, and remain cheque when making a establish ments, are ubiquitous
shut on Sundays. In the small purchase. These should be in Argentinian towns and
towns of Argentina, store stamped at customs prior cities. Some, such as the
owners usually close for a to departure; you will then Galerías Pacífico (see p95) mall
siesta between 1 and 4:30pm. be sent to a puesto de pago in Buenos Aires and El Palacio
for the refund. These desks in Salta, are housed in lovely,
are located at several old landmark buildings. Many
How to Pay Argentinian airports. of these malls have multiplex
Cash is universally accepted, cinemas, food courts, and also
preferably the Argentinian peso. play areas for kids. High­end
Many places also accept US international brands of clothing,
dollars. Credit cards are widely perfume, and jewelry can be
accepted in cities, unlike small found in boutiques on the
towns in Argentina’s interior. main avenues in big cities.
Preferred cards are MasterCard In Buenos Aires, the trendy
and Visa, and to a lesser extent neighborhood of Palermo
American Express. Viejo is known for its chic
boutiques run by independent
Argentinian designers.
Taxes and Refunds Some designer names such
Argentina’s local sales tax is as Ricky Sarkany, Prune,
called Impuesto al Valor Agregado and Bensimon have shops
(IVA). The current rate is 21 per­ in Buenos Aires and branches
cent and is included in the Handicrafts shop in Quilmes, Tucumán across the other major cities
adver tised price for goods. (see p193) of Argentina.

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Date 5th March 2013
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