Cyprus-Forum.com

[Jerry]

Shopping centres (malls is not English, it's American) are the scourge of the British economy so watch out Cyprus! They encourage us (not me personally) to buy mainly imported crap that we don't really need and probably can't afford except with a credit card that we can't repay. Nothing is made in the UK anymore, the little that is has foreign owners.

"Retail therapy" the saddest phrase in the English language.

Bah humbug!

[Paphitis]

jewellery shops where you always get a good price with real rialia.

Of course you get a better price with real rialia! For starters, the retailer saves on any tax and passes some of the savings to you.

Easier to rip off the RoC!

[bill cobbett]

Mrs BillC came back from yet another shopping trip the other day.

She made the mistake of asking for her hubby's opinion on yet another allegedly designer hand-bag she'd bought for mega GB£s.

BillC made the mistake of telling her that if she'd gone down to the local supermarket, the girl on the check-out would have given her a more stylish one for nothing.

(ouch)

[Paphitis]

Mrs BillC came back from yet another shopping trip the other day.

She made the mistake of asking for her hubby's opinion on yet another allegedly designer hand-bag she'd bought for mega GB£s.

BillC made the mistake of telling her that if she'd gone down to the local supermarket, the girl on the check-out would have given her a more stylish one for nothing.

(ouch)

Did you get a discount for real rialia?

[GreekIslandGirl]

... and probably can't afford except with a credit card

The worst thing about these credit cards is that goods are priced up some 4% to cover their charges. And the shops are discouraged from giving you 4% off for using cash as it then puts off those who can only use a credit card from making further purchases. Too many idiots think the only way to pay is with plastic. Can't win.

[Paphitis]

... and probably can't afford except with a credit card

The worst thing about these credit cards is that goods are priced up some 4% to cover their charges. And the shops are discouraged from giving you 4% off for using cash as it then puts off those who can only use a credit card from making further purchases. Too many idiots think the only way to pay is with plastic. Can't win.

Probably! But most transactions are done electronically these days so retailers have to factor in their Merchant Facility costs. It is more like 1 to 2% though.

The bigger issue for retailers is 18% VAT! This is where the real savings are to be had with real rialia!

The positive thing with electronic transactions, particularly for Greece and Cyprus, is that the Tax Office will have an excellent audit trail.

[Cap]

There's a difference between progress and building Little Britain
Don't get me wrong, there's nowt wrong with a bit of glitz and glamour to go shopping in, its just so generic and not that stylish. It's very rarely I step foot in places like that here. You have to have a healthy balance of old and new, or the new just takes over and kills off anything local that might be trying to flourish.


Cap, I'm not the typical Brit. It's a shame you tar me with that brush. Retirement? Frickin Nora I was kind of planning to be there well before then!

Wasn't being personal, it's just a general thing I picked up on. (and no you don't fit the profile)
I apologize.

[Milo]

As the number of Russians now living in Cyprus is much higher than the British expat population ( triple the numbers ) I understood from my very well informed Cypriot friend these Malls will serve the middle class Cypriot and the well healed Russians! Plus it's ready for the onslaught of bigger cruise liners heading soon into the deep water marina in Limassol. The early retired Brit tbh tends to shop online and get it delivered, as it's still cheaper than buying in many Cyprus shops! In fact I don't know many that don't buy from Amazon, Tesco direct, M&C, etc. and have been doing so for years, we bought a lenovo pc computer online even delivered it was nearly half the price that it was in Cyprus !

Also for those who prefer window shopping, the air conditioned Malls are essential to enable you to shop in the long boring extreme heat months. So bring on the Malls! An American term of course..

I must admit to disliking shopping Malls too, I prefer outside of town big glossy shops that sell exactly what you want at much cheaper prices, with loads of free car parking spaces alongside, then a trip to the cinema after, then a quick all you can eat Chinese buffet for £12 now that's shopping !

Cyprus though very much needs these Malls, any other form of shopping in Cyprus was astrocious, with forty shoe shops ten bakers, fifteen kids clothes shops in one small town, all overpriced, in resorts, nothing but Chinese tourist tat, the best shop for really good authentic Cyprus goods is in Larnaca airport!!! When you're leaving.....I've bought my favourite items from there.

I don't think many two week tourists will visit a shopping mall, cruise liners will do organised excursions to see the sites or to go shopping! That's how they operate, the Mall will need to rely on residents to use it, as does the one in Nicosia near to Ikea.

[Flying Horse]

There's a difference between progress and building Little Britain
Don't get me wrong, there's nowt wrong with a bit of glitz and glamour to go shopping in, its just so generic and not that stylish. It's very rarely I step foot in places like that here. You have to have a healthy balance of old and new, or the new just takes over and kills off anything local that might be trying to flourish.


Cap, I'm not the typical Brit. It's a shame you tar me with that brush. Retirement? Frickin Nora I was kind of planning to be there well before then!

Wasn't being personal, it's just a general thing I picked up on. (and no you don't fit the profile)
I apologize.

Well that's ok then, you are forgiven

[Jerry]

The new mall has no chance against this temple of consumption in the “trnc” The “vision of President” message (home) says it all really, what chance do the Greek Cypriots have against presidents of his calibre.

http://www.bigoldbazaar.net/?p=gallery

The “Big old Bazaar” is a shining example of how these places should be - empty