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Another great video. And, I totally agree with the "on edge" statement. In our case, we had to throw out the entire contents of a frig due to spoilage and then had to thoroughly disinfect it. We know four people who have had major appliances ruined by power surges (please use a grounded surge protector -- it will prevent most damage). With modern washers and dishwashers, a power outage during their cycle means you have to start all over (wasting water and electricity). We've been here for over ten years and almost every day we expressed our thanks for our decision. Now, due to inept (past and present) politicians we are likely to leave. The generators are greatly increasing pollution and noise. This drought will end, but there will likely be one or more for many years to come. Some comments on the electricity problems. One of the main sources of power is the Mazar dam complex of three dams. The electrical experts would recommend a longer daily blackout to build up the water level. The politicians would say lets use it to the minimum since we can provide power now. The result -- sudden fluctuations of 4 hour cutoffs one day and 12 the next. Instead of smooth and more predictable times, blackout durations have varied wildly. This is the "drunken sailor" electricity planning technique. The President (Noboa) who is running for reelection has generously agreed to greatly reduce (or eliminate) electric bill charges for the three months prior to his election. Hmmmm. Econ 101 suggests that if you lower the price of something demand will increase. A truly genius move. Finally, for those who can afford it, EcoFlow has a sale on a wide range of products to power everything from small appliance to whole house systems. They seem to be half off at the moment. We ordered a $1,000 unit that should power everything we need. Shipping, taxes, etc. are another $500. If you just need to power your computer, modem etc, you might want to consider a small unit with a solar charger. NOTE: I have not used their products, so please do you own due diligence before spending too much.

Very informative--thank you!

It has been extremely stressful not having definite schedules. On the coast we have had weeks of fourteen hour power cuts per day, then six hours, now we are at twelve hours per day. We are retired and I couldn't imagine having to work during this madness.

It’s definitely been tough living through these blackouts. I had an online job interview the other day and kept having connectivity issues, for most ecuador nationals like myself leaving the country is the most attractive option.

Get starlink, eco-flow+ solar. No issues anymore.

Wow, I had no idea. I spent about $60 last year for something that's now free.

Has anyone found a way to purchase a solar generator online and get it shipped here?

You can rain dance. The rain will benefit everyone.

Before we came here to care for mi suegra, my wife insisted we get a good generator and connect it to our whole house. Really glad I listened. But I feel bad for those that do not have that as option. I do not feel bad for my neighbor who does Karaoke for 48 hours straight when he does have power. No....I do not.

Hey jason, i really enjoy the clear ideas given in your videos! Youre a great public speaker. Im a Digital nomad that came on a 🏍 from USA and am currently in Cuenca making some content for my channel and telling stories of some expats living here. Do you have any interest in meeting up for a quick chat?

Let me put it this way. I believe the authority scheduling the power cuts, if they crapped their pants they would change their shirt. There needs to be a rhyme and reason not a dartboard approach. Buying a generator only exasperates the pollution problem here in Cuenca. Now with the Cajas burning paradise is slipping into a dry river basin(pick one).

sounds like ecuador might not be the place to be

Are you starting to see any solar being added to apt buildings even if this a long term investment? Living in Florida we have been seeing a boom and the local power company is trying to head off individual production by putting in solar farms.

Thanks, Jason. Excellent video.

it's been tough down here south of Loja for the past couple of months also. The fires are an even worse problem. 😞

I’m assuming most of your viewers are North Americans , so it might be interesting to also include flight times & prices from major US/Canadian cities to each of these towns. There is a price to pay for convenience.

Your black baseball cap was likely a Mexican “designer” brand.

It seems that Amazon has suspended the $5 flat rate shipping to Ecuador

And the cost is?

I don't see these listed on your website either short term or long term.

What is that weird thing in the kitchen above the range?

Nice.

Many expats are attempting to reverse engineer what they experience with various items. Vendors provide to Amazon along with what we can view of the product detail: price, weight and dimensions the Harmonized Tariff Code (HTC), which is a standardized international system of a product classification code used by countries to identify and categorize goods for customs purposes, tariffs, and statistical reporting. If in the split second of the product search results page Amazon's system cannot determine the import to Ecuador status, due to vendor error of the item details perhaps, then all it can display to the customer is a standard error of "this cannot be sent to Ecuador". Amazon can estimate Cat. C 1000kg $5,000 limit imports, which are somewhat standard: 30% advalorem, (but % does depend on commodity hence need for the HTC) 15% IVA, .5% to the orphans (really). The other exclusive shipper, SkyPostal, only receives the customer's email, not EC phone, as a customer contact. Still lots of kinks to be worked out!

Update: We received our package on the 9th October, delivered via DHL. This took 18 days, 2 less than their estimate. But to be fair, it probably could have arrived 3-4 days earlier if I was monitoring my emails. They sent an email requesting my cedula number - which is a little weird considering I already provided it to Amazon with the order. They ended up phoning me for the cedula number. The other interesting email I received basically said that Amazon had paid my $20 waybill import fee. Amazon is clearly losing money with these $5 shipping deals. Lets hope there is enough competition out there for them to keep subsidizing shipping like they seem to be doing.

is CD rate same for expatriates , can a man from India gets the same rate as locale?

I ordered 3 products (under the 4X4 provisions). They provided an anticipated delivery date (by 8pm), and a tracking number. The scheduled day of delivery (after 8 pm), there was no product. The website, provided a new "no later than" delivery date, and said if I hadn't received the products by then, I could ask for a complete refund. The products were delivered the day after the original scheduled delivery time. So, not bad! The driver said that if you are not home during the attempted delivery, that they would call your cell phone to reschedule. Over all, a very nice experience.

What a great growth story and brave decisions! Smart people learn from their mistakes and move forward. Fly high! 🤗

How about Spanish for citizenship requirements? do you truly need to be fluent or can you squeak by with what you would learn in a couple of years just interacting in public? I hate Argentina, but there are no requirements there.:rofl:

As residents of the completed Kira, I'd point out three things that I would think carry over, but important to confirm: 1) both construction and post construction managers have been very good; 2) in these times of power cuts, having a full-building generator is a huge plus; and 3) CityCom fiber internet to the building has been very reliable.

Very nice.... HOA fees?

Thank you sir. I always try to find something here first but if I can’t find it after going to 10 different shops I’m just going to order my smaller things.

What's the rental cost?🎉

Great video, great property!

Very informative video!! Thanks for making it!

I am U.S, retired and have lived in Quito 16 years. I found the best, safest for my products and least expensive, is to just order from Amazon and have sent to my Miami hotel that will hold products for me. I fly up, sometimes go to Costco, stay a night or two, pack products in suitcases, and return to Quito with no customs problems and/or charges. Sometimes I can defray the cost of the trip by bringing back items for others and/or expensive in Ecuador items such as computers, smart phones, etc. and selling online in Ecuador. I have actually made money, made a profit, from some trips. I am actually writing this comment on my M1 Mac connected to Apple's best monitor, Bose desk speakers , all bought in U.S. and brought back in suitcases. Also, it seems like one or more of my Ecuadorian wife's extensive family goes to the U.S. several times a year and are not bringing much back; so, I provide an extra, large suitcase and pay whatever airline charge there may be and have them bring back products for me. Best wishes.

Isn't Mercado Libre the hot ticket in South America?

I have a cedula and a RUC number. Do you know if it makes a difference which I use? I am guessing the annual limit of $1600 per person will apply as well.

do they gave you a tracking number?

I placed an order yesterday and received notification from Amazon that it shipped today. I'm wondering who will be delivering. Servientrega? I think Amazon must be concerned that they are rapidly losing business to Temu which is slated to do several $100 million this year in Ecuador.

This would be a reason for me not to move back to Ecuador

With regards to cell phones …. Direct from Amazon in the past I’ve ordered soaps that were rejected at customs as well as items that were interpreted as food that customs WANTED to reject. Rejected items were shipped back to Amazon and they refunded the times that happened …. After I asked them to

Un zapatero hará sus zapatos a su medida. Go to a zapatería, or shoe store, ask him to make a pair of shoes. 👞. You will bring the model and they will make to order.

Size 12 shoes not possible in Ecuador.

I had a natural birth in a private Cuenca hospital in 2023 with my spouse and doula present and was happy with my experience. Definitely agree that it goes against the grain here. What I tell people is to negotiate with your doctor and don't be afraid to push back. It's a culture of negotiation, after all, and that can prevent things escalating later. Unfortunately, so many things from the consent form to the layout of the brand new delivery room were focused on the doctor's convenience rather than the one giving birth.

$$$$ whats the cost

Excellent interview. Very interesting and informative. I really appreciate the honesty and details of the explanations provided by the doctor. Best wishes. Thanks