Dragon Mart

[T.J.]

I was joking. Too soon to eat there.

[perceived beauty]

Dragon Mart will be located in the area of the wind generator on Autopista 307. The only thing being done at present is dirt work...no construction. I have heard they need another signature before construction begins.

[V]

...drive south on Autopista 307 and watch the trucks moving the earth.

Beauty, is there a sign or anything there that identifies the site as the future home of Dragon Mart?

[V]

I've been to and from Puerto Morelos, but I missed the site. Is there a sign or anything that gives it away?

[V]

I still haven't seen the site, but the spokesman for it says it will have a grand opening in December, this year. Below, is their official website.

Chinese Products (Cancun) Long-term Exhibition

Anybody seen what's happening on the ground?

[perceived beauty]

There is no sign on the Autopista...just a chain across the entrance and a small, non-descript guard house. Crews are currently working 12 hours a day and the project is progressing on the new schedule. People continue to talk about the damage to Puerto Morelos when, in reality, the facility is within shouting distance of Moon Palace by the wind generator. While that is now in the jurisdiction of Puerto Morelos, it is half way to Cancun from Puerto Morelos. If you go the the website that V published in his response you will see that the opening is now scheduled for Summer of 2013. I had lunch with one of the project partners and the general contractor about ten days ago and they are pleased with the current progress. It has been approximately 30 days since I last visited the site but 30 days ago, the progress was substantial. Additionally, there is equipment on site that makes small stones out of large boulders. The stones are bagged and sold to other construction sights. The general contractor is a really sharp man with projects currently in Cancun, Carillo Puerto, Mexico City and Tijuana. He has also completed projects in the Cancun Centro, Cancun Hotel Zone, Riviera Maya and the Cancun Airport. The smart money sez he will finish this job also.

[gabesz]

Knowing the Chinese, they will get this project done one way or another. And if they have to pay extra for getting it done on a timely basis then so be it. This is not good for Cancun or Mexico in general. The Chinese will make Mexico one of their suppliers as they have done with the US. They will beat any prices the Mexicans can offer for their home made products. Just a bad idea for Mexico to allow the Chinese to take over as they are doing.

[CancunMole]

According to this Puerto Morelos Blog info, it will not open until mid June 2013.

Puerto Morelos Blog: Dragon Mart Update

[perceived beauty]

Originally Posted by gabesz

Knowing the Chinese, they will get this project done one way or another. And if they have to pay extra for getting it done on a timely basis then so be it. This is not good for Cancun or Mexico in general. The Chinese will make Mexico one of their suppliers as they have done with the US. They will beat any prices the Mexicans can offer for their home made products. Just a bad idea for Mexico to allow the Chinese to take over as they are doing.

Before you tar and feather the Chinese, it would help to remember that not so many years ago Japanese products were considered junk. Times change and as the China economy grows, the quality of their exports will improve. The Mexican economy is already saturated with South Korean electronics that offer excellent quality and pricing. I cannot see where the Chinese, as you say, are going to "take over". I have always worked in a very competative environment and I feel competition is a good thing. What about Costco, Walmart and Sams Club. They are competing with Mexican corporations for the Peso and many feel they are probably winning. Go in to Walmart then go into Mega, do a headcount in both stores and then decide. I would venture to say that most people in the area that read this forum shop at one of the above and no one is upset about that. Most appreciate the improved merchandise choice. Life happens...enjoy your Japanese, Spanish, French, Italian or US car....ejoy your US, Korean, Chinese or Japanese computer, cell phone, tablet, air conditioner, MP3, watch, stereo, hair dryer, hand tool or what ever and simply accept that life happens.

[V]

Beauty, thanks for the report on the work, and the better description of exactly where this work is taking place.

This is now clearly coming and it may be better to focus on the projected benefits- increased visits to our area by businessmen and their families from Latin America, and increased visits from China.

With this just the second such site in the world, Dubai is the other, it will attract a lot of interest on the Chinese side. Foreign direct investment will begin to flow, with Chinese buying property here, and Chinese businessmen seeing opportunities to establish businesses and invest here in other ways, as well.

[CancunMole]

Comments on the Dubai Dragon Mart:

Dragon Mart - Dubai - Reviews of Dragon Mart - TripAdvisor

[gabesz]

Originally Posted by perceived beauty

Before you tar and feather the Chinese, it would help to remember that not so many years ago Japanese products were considered junk. Times change and as the China economy grows, the quality of their exports will improve. The Mexican economy is already saturated with South Korean electronics that offer excellent quality and pricing. I cannot see where the Chinese, as you say, are going to "take over". I have always worked in a very competative environment and I feel competition is a good thing. What about Costco, Walmart and Sams Club. They are competing with Mexican corporations for the Peso and many feel they are probably winning. Go in to Walmart then go into Mega, do a headcount in both stores and then decide. I would venture to say that most people in the area that read this forum shop at one of the above and no one is upset about that. Most appreciate the improved merchandise choice. Life happens...enjoy your Japanese, Spanish, French, Italian or US car....ejoy your US, Korean, Chinese or Japanese computer, cell phone, tablet, air conditioner, MP3, watch, stereo, hair dryer, hand tool or what ever and simply accept that life happens.

I am not sure where you are from, but Japanese goods were never considered junk. They were always considered not really necesary and overpriced till we got so used to them we are now living with them every day and the prices are looking more and more reasonable.

There is a huge difference in Japanese and Korean manufacturing vs. the Chinese mentality in whole. The Japanese and Koreans are proud of what they make and make it always a high quality and charge a lot for it. The Chinese on the other hand make everything cheap and if they can find a way to make it cheaper they will.

Look around your home and if you were to take out everything that is made in China what would you really have left? Probably not much other then the bare floor, and you may even have to remove that as well since it was probably made in China.

The Chinese want to take over the economy of every country. They will sell anything they can to anyone at a low price. They do not have the interest in your national security or to be involved in your politics. They want to own you in every other way though. And they are really succeeding at it. If you think they will improve their products when their economy is slowing down you are very misguided. Their products will remain cheap and poor quality and we will keep buying it because its cheap. Nobody wants a good chinese product. They want a cheap chinese product where they can spend less than any other brand or country of origin. And the Chinese know this and take full advantage of this.

The Chinese can and will beat any price of any country on any product. It is part of their way of business. If they have to pay nothing for labor then so be it. The workers do it for pride and for having China succeed outside of their own country. Once they start demanding higher pay and better conditions than things will start to change but the way things are going its not in our lifetime. If you find the worse working conditions in Mexico the Chinese have it much worse and they will make the poor conditions look like a 5 star hotel comparatively to what they do in China.

Do not underestimate the Chinese ideology. They will take over any economy (the already own the US) that they can and will not rest till they own the whole planet.

[perceived beauty]

Gabesz, never is a very encompassing word and dangles a pretty big Matzo Ball. Additionally, I have been unable to find research or White Papers that offer any support to your position.

I have worked and lived in many parts of the world, including Japan and Japan is a beautiful country. I am also old enough to remember when Japanese imports were very low quality items (post war 50's). There are two ways to learn about history...one is to live it and the other is to read about it. When it comes to the quality evolution of Japanese exports, I have done both. But for those that did not live through Japan's export evolution, here is a quote from "Japan's Quest" by Hunsberger (1964): "The Import hunger and buyer initiatives solved a problem that had previously afflicted Japense exports of factory products: Low Quality, which had caused many people, especially in the United States, to regard Japanese products as cheap junk. These earlier low quality Japanese exports had been designed and produced by Japanese makers who had only limited knowledge of American tastes and standards and who were competing mainly by low prices".

And from "The Allied Occupation and Japan's Economic Miracle" by Dees: "Before WWII, far too large a fraction of the exports from Japan had a well earned reputation of being shoddy."

No one is going to be forced to buy Chinese products. Except for the TV flipper on my desk and the land line phones in my house, I do not own anything Chinese...but...I do not want anyone telling me who I can or cannot buy from. I have earned the right to make my own educated decissions.

In the final analysis, I agree with Rawkus...prices in the Riviera Maya continue to rise. Competition is a good thing! It is time to shake the trees and see what falls out.

[ToriB]

Instead of arguing over what each other thinks is gonna be in our future, how about reading CancunMole's Tripadvisor link. Based off the reviews, it's pretty average. Too big, Chinese junk, knock off's, no guarantees.. yada yada. Where I am from, there are tons of these "flea market" malls set up. No thank you!!!

Originally Posted by CancunMole

Comments on the Dubai Dragon Mart:

Dragon Mart - Dubai - Reviews of Dragon Mart - TripAdvisor

[pocodinero]

龍沃爾瑪正在到來。喜歡還是不喜歡，沒有太多的，我們可以做些什麼。至少有可能是一些 政客與更多有口袋中的比索。

"The Dragon Mart is coming. Like it or not, there isn´t much that we can do about it. At least there are probably a few more politicians with lots more pesos in there pocket".

I will headed to the Tianguis this weekend to find a pirated copy of Rosetta Stone:Chinese edition.

[rawkus]

Considering how average todays products in Wal mart and other places already are, I see no difference.

Customers will decide if Dragon Mart stays or goes - its up to all of us.

If one doesnt like it, then dont go. Its a simple as that, and its called freedom of competition, haha

IF it can help bring down then Mexican food makers monopoly prices, then... all hail Dragon Mart.

Probably wont ever buy anything there, unless I really like it, but just their presence might shake things up with the big Mex and American companies - thats a win for me, personally.

The local makers push prices on a yearly basis - now they are pissed off that someone else enters the race.

Well, suck it up.

To many, I think its hard to adjust to the thought of USA not being the main powerhouse anymore. Times change though.

[gbchayctca]

Probably slightly off topic, but I always wondered why the Chinese have opened factories in Mexico. While the pay is terrible, I can't imagine that they are paying even less to the Mexico workers than they do their own workers in country.

I can't remember if it's the Maidenform or the Gap factory just outside Valladolid that is Chinese-run. The pay is, of course, terrible and the manadatory work week was (when my SIL worked there) just under 60 hours per week. Yet for the Mayans who don't speak any English or don't want to move to Cancun to work, it is considered a pretty cushy job.

[rawkus]

Originally Posted by ToriB

Instead of arguing over what each other thinks is gonna be in our future, how about reading CancunMole's Tripadvisor link. Based off the reviews, it's pretty average.

So whats the difference between arguing between us and what other customers in the Middle East think?

Why judge a place in Dubai(!) when it comes to Puerto Morelos?

Considering the HIGH quality of life most Westerners enjoy in Dubai, a economic-outlet might be a bit too low, just like I look at Wal Mart here in Centro.

Cancun is not even close to the standards of Dubai, and will never be, so the gap for them, over there, might be bigger than for the people here?

My suggestion is: Wait for it to come, go there and THEN make up your minds if its "sh*t" or "Brilliant".

If I can find something half-*ss at Dragon Mart cheaper than something of the same quality/lack of quality at Wal Mart/Ched/Home Depot etc. then thats great.

[gabesz]

Originally Posted by perceived beauty

No one is going to be forced to buy Chinese products. Except for the TV flipper on my desk and the land line phones in my house, I do not own anything Chinese...but...I do not want anyone telling me who I can or cannot buy from. I have earned the right to make my own educated decissions.

In the final analysis, I agree with Rawkus...prices in the Riviera Maya continue to rise. Competition is a good thing! It is time to shake the trees and see what falls out.

Regrettably I too am old enough to remember when Japanese goods started to invade the US. I also remember that the Japanese took over Hawaii with their investment on the islands.th And they are still there though they have lost some of their investements value due to our economy and the poor yen which did not improve over the years. And that is from sub par stuff? Sorry but I never remembered having seen subpar items from Japan. They take pride in what they made. Did they make cheap stuff, sure, but not like the Chinese who make anything and you can go in the US to any Dollar store to buy their junk. True the Japanese had a limited knowledge of what we wanted to start but they learned fast. The Chinese even learn faster and have us supply the ideas to them as to what we want made. They are very fast learners and have put many small business people out of business due to underpricing the market for everyone.

Indeed nobody is forcing anyone to buy Chinese, but I am still willing to bet that if you look at everything in your home today that is less then 15 years old, you will find far more items made in China then you really think you have. Just look at your food items and what you buy in the grocery store. See how many are made in China vs. Mexico or anywhere else?

Competition is good for business that is very true. However the Chinese practice unfair competition. If you try to compete with them they will out price your product in a drop dead second just to take over the industry as they have done to thousands of other companies in the past few years. Look at how many businesses closed due to the comptetion from the Chinese and you will understand. Wal Mart is an ideal example of such. Though an American Co., they sell most of their items made in China. Why? Because its cheap and you buy them because they are cheap.

The only solution here is simple. Avoid buying Chinese products. Buy Mexican, US, Carribean, South American, European products and stop buying anything made in China. That is the only way the Chinese will realize that they will have to compete fairly. Till that happens they will control what we buy and how much we pay for it. Sorry but this is the reality of life and no getting away from it. And I am really afraid that they will try to take over the Mexican market pushing Mexicans out of business as well. They have done it in the US why not in Mexico.

[CancunMole]

Another 4 years of BO's debt spending and Japan and China will own the entire USA.

Japan on Track to Overtake China as Top Foreign Owner of U.S. Debt | CNSNews.com

Also, the comments on the Dubai Dragon Mart are by world travelers.

[gabesz]

Originally Posted by CancunMole

Another 4 years of BO's debt spending and Japan and China will own the entire USA.

Japan on Track to Overtake China as Top Foreign Owner of U.S. Debt | CNSNews.com

Also, the comments on the Dubai Dragon Mart are by world travelers.

I think China already owns the US. Mexico could be next in line.