Crossing lines put damper on good bargains in Los Algodones By NICOLAS TABOREK, Imperial Valley Press Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 10:41 AM PST
TODD KRAININ PHOTO
Shoppers crowd Liqui’s Pharmacy in Los Algodones, Mexico, on Friday.
TODD KRAININ PHOTO
Mexican pharmacists in Los Algodones blame this year’s downturn in business on the long waits at the border crossing — often three hours for commuters looking for bargain pharmaceuticals.
LOS ALGODONES, MEXICO — The jumble of shoe shiners and dentists, souvenir shops and discount pharmacies in this border village 50 miles east of El Centro seems to be a world away from the industrial maze of Mexicali.
But at least this time of year, the two cities have one thing in common: painfully long wait times to cross back into the United States.
On Friday afternoon as vendors were gearing up for Los Algodones’ winter crowds, the wait for car travelers to cross the border was more than two hours, and the line of pedestrians stretched out of sight.
As thousands of “snowbirds” flock to the Imperial Valley and surrounding areas for the winter months, many head to Los Algodones for good deals on generic medicines, cheap dentist visits and tourist-friendly shopping.
While long lines at the border mean the return of customers to the city’s shops, vendors on Friday said increasing wait times have hurt business in the last several years.
“Every year (there are) less people. Every year we have more problems in the border,” said Agustin Andrade Ventura, who manages one of the Liqui pharmacies in Los Algodones.
Loyal customers, though, like John and Nancy Winscom, who spend part of the year in Quartzsite, Ariz., continue to come to town for the bargains.
The pair has been coming to Los Algodones for the last 10 years to save on discount medications and glasses. On Friday, John bought bifocal sunglasses for $70 — half the price they would have cost him in the United States, he said.
Paula Nichols, a first-time visitor from Washington state, was carrying several less-utilitarian purchases — jewelry and pottery — toward the border crossing Friday afternoon. She said she appreciated the Los Algodones vendors’ laid-back approach to salesmanship.
“I didn’t feel like anybody was pressuring me to buy anything,” she said.
Don Thonger and Lyn Hendricks traveled from Phoenix to shop in Los Algodones. Though it would have been a shorter drive to the border town of Nogales, they said a travel advisory convinced them spending more time in the car was a good idea.
The latest travel advisory on the U.S. Department of State Web site reads in part: “Cuidad Juarez, Tijuana and Nogales are among the cities which have recently experienced public shootouts during daylight hours in shopping centers and other public venues.”
Overall, though, merchants in Algodones said sales have been declining in recent years.
“A lot of people look, but they don’t spend,” said Francisco Rodriguez, who sells leather goods and jewelry. By afternoon, he said he’d sold only one necklace.
Standing outside his jewelry shop, Ralph Clota agreed: “Many people don’t want to spend like they did before.”
While most said 2008 could be a difficult year, Andrade Ventura, the pharmacy manager, saw at least a shred of hope in the U.S.’s weakened economy. With bargain-basement prices on medications, a trend toward frugality could benefit Los Algodones, he said.
“(People) need to buy cheaper medicine, cheaper everything,” he said. “So it’s a good opportunity for this town.”
" Be aware that the word "generic" means "similar" to some Mexican pharmacies. I recently bought a generic that did not work for me. Later I found out it contained only herbs instead of the genuine medicine formulation. "
holababy wrote on Jan 9, 2009 12:25 PM:
" talking about nazi's, cbp is about as close as it gets. "
indigo wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:01 PM:
" I just crossed by foot the other day and was detained for a thorough "personal" inspection for about 30 minutes. This was after waiting in line for about 30 minutes. The agents would not allow me to talk or to move and finally after they found everything to be in order, they let me through. This is not an experience I want to repeat. I recently had a similar problem in Mexicali/Calexico. I wonder if there is some supervisor ordering a crackdown on people over 50? "
ras6057 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 1:44 AM:
" Los Algodones is a great place to buy generics at a great prices. These same generics can not be found in Mexicali.
The problem is crossing the border by foot. The Andrade/Los Algodones Port of Entry has three booths for pedestrian inspections and only use two no manner how long is the wait to cross. The public restrooms and kept locked located behind pedestrian port of entry. The elderly, disabled and handicap are not allowed to walk ahead of the line like the Calexico/Mexicali Port of Entry. CBP has been known to confiscate medication at the Andrade/Los Algodones Port of Entry from the elderly, disabled and handicap. The pedestrians are told to stay quite while crossing or they will be incarcerated. A 60 year old disabled Vet was beaten up in secondary by the CBP (this is not good) and then only to be released the same day. It is no wonder why business has dropped off in Los Algodones. "
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alvo wrote on Jan 12, 2009 5:31 PM: