Yergir Trakhdavayr?
Uremn, the heat continues. As you can see, it's 1pm and I am being a smart Armenian and staying indoors for another 3 hours! :) This is supposed to be trakhdavayr.. ... :)
So the weeks are passing quite quickly! It's already August, and there is only one more month left for my trip. That's right, I've decided that it is a better idea to go back to Cali for another year, and return when my house is ready. I didn't think it would be right to stay and give 90% of the money I make to rent. I will go back, take some classes at the university, and save some money for my furniture... this is better.
Someone told me about a new law that Armenia has regarding repatriates. The law says that each spyurkahye moving to Armenia, may bring a container (containing one car) and not pay the 30% VAT. This is a huge deal! Good job Armenia!!!!! They are actually encouraging people to move here. There is an expiration date to this kindness though... 2 years within your move. I think that's fair! I will definitely be using this.... A friend of mine is in the process currently, and although he said he is having some difficulty, he said that as more people do it, the customs/cargo people will become more accustomed to it.
Last week I opened a bank account in Armenia. It was a very interesting experience. I sat on Marshot #50 and headed down Mashdots to go to a bank that a friend referred me to. The task was simple.... to open a bank account. I found the bank and walked in, and told one of the teller girls, "Ouzoom em hashiv patsel." She said, "Inch desag hashiv?" I wanted to say, the kind you put money in (DUH)... but I held back. I said, "Inch desag account-ner unek?"
She said, "Fizikagan account ek uzum?" ... Not knowing that there are imaginary vs. physical accounts, I looked at her with a blank/frustrated look. She laughed (at my face-rudely), and asked the guy next to her.. "Hasganum es?" .... Yes, I was beginning to get a bit frustrated.
After repeating the above question/answer session with the guy, finally a man from behind a desk--behind the 2 tellers, approached me and helped me out. He explained to me the different kinds of accounts, all the terms, and everything I needed to know. Then as we sat in the conference room, he helped me fill out the 5 forms he had brought out with him. Very helpful man! Finally, he informed me that they needed 24 hours to validate all the information and that I should return tomorrow to receive details about my account. I returned and found the same 2 incompetant tellers staring at my face. Finally, my customer service king appeared and I was able to finalize my account. I have an account... with $0 in it. Hahahahahaha
Last night I experienced THE RUDEST taxi dispatcher. I've been calling this same company for many years now. The dispatcher during the daytime is so nice and courteous, but last night I called and another female picked up, I'm assuming she is the evening one. I told her we needed 5 taxis, and gave her the address. She told me.. that's not how you say the address. (Does it REALLY matter if u say the number or street first???) Then I tried to explain where it was, and she rudely interrupted and said.. "I didn't ask for directions". Thennnn I asked her, how long it will take and she said, just wait. (again, rude). I called back 10 min later to find out the status, as 25 people were waiting on the street, and she hung up on me. WHY??? Do they not need business? So I guess people shouldn't call ELITE TAXI at 544-222.. since they are tooooooo good to answer customer questions or deliver service. Needless to say, we changed our destination and walked to another restaurant... and I didn't even bother answering her phone call when her 5 taxis didn't find us.
But this is Hayasdan! And we still love it! :)
TSUH! :)~
So the weeks are passing quite quickly! It's already August, and there is only one more month left for my trip. That's right, I've decided that it is a better idea to go back to Cali for another year, and return when my house is ready. I didn't think it would be right to stay and give 90% of the money I make to rent. I will go back, take some classes at the university, and save some money for my furniture... this is better.
Someone told me about a new law that Armenia has regarding repatriates. The law says that each spyurkahye moving to Armenia, may bring a container (containing one car) and not pay the 30% VAT. This is a huge deal! Good job Armenia!!!!! They are actually encouraging people to move here. There is an expiration date to this kindness though... 2 years within your move. I think that's fair! I will definitely be using this.... A friend of mine is in the process currently, and although he said he is having some difficulty, he said that as more people do it, the customs/cargo people will become more accustomed to it.
Last week I opened a bank account in Armenia. It was a very interesting experience. I sat on Marshot #50 and headed down Mashdots to go to a bank that a friend referred me to. The task was simple.... to open a bank account. I found the bank and walked in, and told one of the teller girls, "Ouzoom em hashiv patsel." She said, "Inch desag hashiv?" I wanted to say, the kind you put money in (DUH)... but I held back. I said, "Inch desag account-ner unek?"
She said, "Fizikagan account ek uzum?" ... Not knowing that there are imaginary vs. physical accounts, I looked at her with a blank/frustrated look. She laughed (at my face-rudely), and asked the guy next to her.. "Hasganum es?" .... Yes, I was beginning to get a bit frustrated.
After repeating the above question/answer session with the guy, finally a man from behind a desk--behind the 2 tellers, approached me and helped me out. He explained to me the different kinds of accounts, all the terms, and everything I needed to know. Then as we sat in the conference room, he helped me fill out the 5 forms he had brought out with him. Very helpful man! Finally, he informed me that they needed 24 hours to validate all the information and that I should return tomorrow to receive details about my account. I returned and found the same 2 incompetant tellers staring at my face. Finally, my customer service king appeared and I was able to finalize my account. I have an account... with $0 in it. Hahahahahaha
Last night I experienced THE RUDEST taxi dispatcher. I've been calling this same company for many years now. The dispatcher during the daytime is so nice and courteous, but last night I called and another female picked up, I'm assuming she is the evening one. I told her we needed 5 taxis, and gave her the address. She told me.. that's not how you say the address. (Does it REALLY matter if u say the number or street first???) Then I tried to explain where it was, and she rudely interrupted and said.. "I didn't ask for directions". Thennnn I asked her, how long it will take and she said, just wait. (again, rude). I called back 10 min later to find out the status, as 25 people were waiting on the street, and she hung up on me. WHY??? Do they not need business? So I guess people shouldn't call ELITE TAXI at 544-222.. since they are tooooooo good to answer customer questions or deliver service. Needless to say, we changed our destination and walked to another restaurant... and I didn't even bother answering her phone call when her 5 taxis didn't find us.
But this is Hayasdan! And we still love it! :)
TSUH! :)~
posted by shooosh at 12:55 PM
13 Comments:
Shooosh, although I promised myself not to use them because they are allegedly owned by a senior government minister (but then again, what isn't?), I now always use American Taxi out of choice. Service is always good and the prices always seem to be cheaper than the others. Well, there's 2 other firms I use that are the same (if Garo is reading this maybe he can post their name and number) and I haven't been ripped off once and the service has been great.
I usually used Galaxy Taxi until I had a BIG problem with one of their drivers when I was going home alone at about midnight a few months ago. Needless to say, they lost two good clients after this incident (my boyfriend had been using their service for several years, because they used to have their offic near his/our apartment so there were always cars available there).
There are a few other taxiservices we now use, but I prefer Taxi Santas, they have good service and normal prices. The only "problem" with them, is that one of their dispatcher women thinks she knows what I can and cannot see from our balcony.;) Once she kept insisting that the car was already there, though I could clearly see from our balcony that it hadn't arrived yet.
BTW, I love the names some of those taxicompanies have!
Kudos for ditching the taxis. You should have called back the next day and informed someone in a higher position what happened so they would reprimand her for her unecessary attitude. (I bet she didn't even know the date or what day it was!)
Maybe it does matter how you tell them the address. Remember the driver who wasn't going to make a right on Toumanian because we had said Apovyan/Toumanian instead of Toumanian/Apovyan? Maybe its us!
Has anyone noticed our city looking more and more like NYC?
There are cabs everywhere! People everywhere! Trash everywhere! I doubt any other city has this many taxi companies.
I found a cab company next to my street, and Shooosh knows how cheap they are. The cab picked me up once, went all around the center of Yerevan just to get to Shooosh, then down to Teryan and Sayat Nova at my fave pizza joint, which I can't stop talking about TIFOSI, and it cost 500 drams. We gave him double that. I call them up and they are at my place in 2 minutes flat. It's all a matter of time just to find the right one, but then again, we all know how inconsistent things are in Armenia.
Cabs-good. People-good. Trash-BAD!
Shoosh, now that you opened a bank account, what are you going to do with it when you go back to Cali?
And in general... say I wanted to ship my afto to the Stan... would it be cheaper than just buying a new car there? And is it worth it. I remember back in the day someone was recommending getting a Russian car because they have the parts for when it needs to be fixed. Do you think at this point there is a diversity in cars that they are able to fix... say... a Toyota easier than they could have 3 years ago?
Lor... I did call this morning and told the manager about her rude behavior, and apparently I wasn't the only one.
Ars... I think it would be better to ship your car here, depending on what condition it is. Now there are many foreign car auto part centers, and i don't think parts should be a problem at all.
Wow - interesting stuff. Which magical company took you around for 500 drams, Der Hova? I have tended to use City Cab in the infrequent case that I call a cab... I have just gotten a bit tired of smelly cabs.
Shoosh - I also have an account here at a local bank. I usually get very polite/friendly service, but often am amazed at the amount of paperwork they generate and some of the stupid procedures and slow speed. I'm thinking of opening an account at the new Cascade banks, which I assume will be more western, but still treat you like they want you as a customer (unlike HSBC with its HUNDREDS of dollars in fees, and zero interest).
This free import of one car is great - are you sure about it? It would be the main reason I would have recommended against importing your car. (not that shipping is cheap)
I know of someone trying to take advantage of this tax-free law right now, and has been stuck at customs with his container for 2 weeks already, but they are giving him a hard time.
Like Shooosh mentioned it will take some time before it all goes smoothly and these officers start respecting the law.
Raff, City Cab (T-A-X-I) was my fave, and I had praised them on my logs a while back, but they have been so busy this summer, and in these past couple of weeks I’ve called them a few times and they’ve said there are no cars available and that I would have to wait. Sure there are ones that are stinky, but the cheap one by my place is quite decent.
Arsineh, I'm not an expert on what car parts are available in Armenia, but I doubt a lot has changed in the past couple of more years. I still think getting parts for foreign cars (except Russian made ones) will be difficult or might take some time.
BTW, we have a Porsche dealership now!!! :-)
Der Hova.. and Ars... the reason I say the parts thing is happening now, is because I know someone who has a foreign car, and was able to find all the necessary German products (at of course the german/american prices). If you have the money, the part exists.
Foreign cars don't break down as often as the Russian cars so they wouldn't need parts that often unless one drives on rural or potholed roads.
That was my consideration, but in the many occasions I plan to take trips to say... Kharabagh... and I break down somewhere in Kelbajar and the nearest village only has Niva parts, I don't think I'll be very happy. But otherwise, I'd ship in my reliable Toyota in a heartbeat. That, and don't want to learn how to drive "mauel" or "stick shift" cars.
Another thought... you can't drive around easily without insurance around here. I remember there being some rediculous laws about accidents etc. in Armenia. I'm assuming the concept of car insurance is a joke there along with all other forms of insurance. But then how would you deal with that situation? Don't they take away your license for like 6 months or something?
Sorry if I'm asking stupid questions... but sadly these are the details I wonder about that entertain me. And in a way, I think if people who have never been to Armenia start hearing about these these details, the concept of moving there switches from fantasy to reality.
I find if odd that we already have Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Nissan, VW, Peugeot, and Russian made car dealerships, but no Toyota.
Arsineh, as far as insurance goes, I want to mention a funny story.
My relatives were once looking to insure their cars, mostly for the sake of theft protection. The insurance company asked them if they park their cars in garages, and my relatives answered no, and the insurance company said they only insure cars that are parked in locked garages. HUH?
Another story ... someone’s insured car was broken into, and a few things were stolen, but the deductible was 3-4 times higher than the cost of what was actually stolen.
The taking away of licenses for 6 months I haven't heard of. There probably is such a thing, but I've never heard anyone go through that.
Insurance companies are slowly popping up across Yerevan, but I'm thinking most locals are interested in insuring their homes before anything else.
American Taxi is owned by a high ranking person at the Prosecutor’s office whose car with “333” in the license plate is parked outside of their office on Gomidas almost everyday at some point. They probably were able to have the nice American made cars shipped over to Armenia with their profits of trafficking Armenian girls.
As for foreign made cars not breaking down as often, this all depends on what kind of gasoline and engine oil you end up using. Armenia is known for having spells of bad gasoline and engine oil, which destroy car engines. This is why the soviet made cars are favorable.
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