News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]

Polonius3, a simple example. Look how Biedronka began in Poland. They started from the beginning, with low prices and goods of a reasonable standard. They destroyed local shopkeepers. Over time they built their reputation and lifted their prices. Ask the average Pole and he'll tell you Biedronka is Polish! Thats how theyve managed to engrave their way into Polish everyday life. The gap in the market could have been filled by anyone. Its always filled by the fastest most forward thinking entrepreneur and entrepreneurs are lacking in Poland. Often Poles dont want to take risks with money, although Id say they take risks in other walks of life, so its not a pure risk averse thing.

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]

Often the problem is in your own backyard and reluctance of local council to help. Above all the Pole is looked down on and treated as untrustworthy by urzedniki. But of course a lot of the grants that the government has provided, courtesy of the EU, have been wasted as it wasnt properly policed by the urzedy

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]

Private owned and run shops are pretty rare even in smaller town centres, maybe some Indian/Pakistani owned in the suburbs. You do get more in the villages particularly the tourist spots around the Peak District. But rents are way too high for the average person to afford a good spot. In any case there are so many waterdown supermarket or convience stores owned by the giants either directly or through franchise, making it hard for a one off shop to compete.

In Poland the smaller towns got hit the most as in came the Biedronka and took all the local business as often Biedronka was the only market in town, so naturally drew all the business thanks to choice and price. In these cases the biggest effects of money leaving the local economy are seen. Normally local shopkeepers would spend their small earnings in the own itself but Biedronka didnt and so other local businesses suffered as a result. Its one of the many reasons why the much smaller towns have been left behind and some are in worse condition than 20 years ago.

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]


From me it was an observation of what happened. Those lost jobs havent been filled which is why most Poles are offended when you mention the average wages is about 4500 brutto.


Baffled as why they all finish class by 12:30/2:30, a lot sooner than when I was a lad in the UK. From what I see from some of the kids here, a few more hours in school are desperately needed! And you cannot beat a good British private school btw.

Life / Why is Orange Poland such a crappy / expensive network? [53]

I dont know, Ive been with them for 12 years. To begin with I was paying over 500 a month on calls, paying for every call and no internet. Now I pay 100 get free everything and a new Iphone every 2 years. But its probably the case with most networks now, deals are much the same just packaged differently.

Life / Why is Orange Poland such a crappy / expensive network? [53]

All operators offer a similar deal now. free calls/texts plus 2 - 5 gig internet, depends where you go. You can pay less if you dont take a phone, probably less than half the 100/m. I have to as I work my battery quite hard but you might not. But if you take a new phone every 2 years you'll pay around 100 a month and up front 800 to a grand for new iphone but you can always sell the old model for about that so you end up with a free phone evry couple of years. Ive timed my contract renewals for the end of the year so its give them time to get new models in (usually nov/dec while the germans get them oct).

Life / Why is Orange Poland such a crappy / expensive network? [53]

For business contract is the only way. Probably 5 or 6 times cheaper for me.

Life / Why is Orange Poland such a crappy / expensive network? [53]

they ring you for renewal and you tell them the one you want - simple. Cant see how you dont get value. If you make a lot of calls it the way to go. You can get contracts all in for 40zl/m as long as you have your own phone. Free calls texts and a few gig of internet.

Life / Why is Orange Poland such a crappy / expensive network? [53]

Mine come by courier and I always open the box and sign the contract with him. If you think about it you get a new phone worth 2500/3000zl and pay 100/m for 2 years which you would do anyway as you have to make calls. It makes sense. The upfront fee for a top line phone is about a grand but you can always sell the old model for about that money if you keep it in good nick.

UK, Ireland / Britain's moral collapse? [99]

If you replace the words Poland Poles etc in Crows comment for Islam it would very much make you sound like an ISIS fanatic.

Life / Why is Orange Poland such a crappy / expensive network? [53]

Shhh, I have to charge my new one or twice a day. But no I dont get rid in quite that state as 3 or 4 times. Hey as long as the guy at the phone shop wants to buy it off me its no problem.

Life / Why is Orange Poland such a crappy / expensive network? [53]

Maybe Im not a demanding customer. I use and pay my bill.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

dolny are you talking about that awful Biedronka beer? I swear you could use that stuff to degrease engines.

News / Why has the US dollar reached almost 3.99 zł in Poland? [56]

I see zloty weak all year. More vs euro and maybe gbp, less vs dollar. Normally gbp would be well over 6 like the rest of them, but because of Brexit fears, the gbp has been just as weak or weaker.than the zloty. This may change very shortly and we will see pound move a little over the 6 mark. If the Brits vote for no Brexit, then you might see the pound as high as 6.50. But if I had pounds to sell, Id sell above 6 as the referendum isnt a foregone conclusion and really 6 is what you got about 10 years ago, so a pretty good price anyway. The main problem the zloty faces is outflows from emerging markets compounded by a less investor friendly government, while neighbours Hungary are improving relations and give ample opportunity to make the switch for those that want exposure to the CEE region but dont want the risk of more political woes.

We might see 4.70 but Id think ahead of 5 euros there should be a lot of value investors hunting. Dollar might have its own problems so dont see it too much higher.

UK, Ireland / Britain's moral collapse? [99]

The UK is diseased by too much political correctness. The everyone is a winner mentality. You tried your best but failed, but its ok, here is a prize anyway. Most people are afraid to do or say anything that might appear out of line as their jobs depend on it. Social media and kyboard warriors have only made the problem worse. So I dont think the UK is able to stop the tide even though most know we crossed the line.

UK, Ireland / Britain's moral collapse? [99]


Dont know where you have been looking but there are probably more Polish multicultural relationships in the UK than the whole of Poland.

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]

Thats the point, they dont teach to the same standard. Fee paying schools in Poland seem to have an even lower standard thanbregular. Common sense seems to be lacking more than anything else. A lot of the times you can predict outcomes to events and some people are genuinely surprised when things happen the wsy they do. Its like a slow moving car crash.

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]

Life in larger cities has moved forward hugely, its almost incomparable to 30 years ago. Nearly 50 billion invested in infrastructure has made the likes of Wrcolaw Poznan and others look no different to other european cities. However, the small towns and villages, in many cases, are worse than the 60's. And alcohol and cheap dangerous drugs are a real problem in places like that. But its also the mentality of some the people. I can give an example of a father that arranged a good job, a flat and a car for his son in Wroclaw, but the son ran away back to a slum village with 50% unemployed. He felt better hanging around with his mates on his housing estate.

Here re educate yourself. Over 100bn 2014-2010

msp.gov.pl/en/polish-economy/economic-news/4015,dok.html

An extract below underlining need to spend wisely:

Economists call for long-term vision in EU funds spending, underscore the need to invest in innovation

Obviously, economists point out, getting the EU money is one thing and spending them in a sensible way is another. PISM chairman director Marcin Zaborowski, alongside many others commentators, underscores the need to use the EU money to support innovativeness. "In the new [financial] perspective, a greater emphasis should be put on innovativeness. The government should pay much attention to this matter. Poland spends little on research. It is an aspect that does not have much support of entrepreneurs, and so the state should provide incentives," he argues.

News / Germans: Geh raus of Poland's business! [61]

How old are you 16? Poland was bankrupt after the fall of communism. The zloty was worthless. It needed foreign investment to get on its feet. Without that Poland would not have moved forward in anyway. There are some isolated examples in Poland where there has been no real investment in 30 years and in these cases the towns have gone backwards.

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]


Is it a crime to raise prices? In a free market the seller, if he can find a buyer, should be able to sell at the price he deems fit. Now if the government wants to subside lower prices then thats another matter, but I dont belive they do. Or at least I dont believe they are willing to spend their own money doing it.

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]

Because the little guy is hell bent on lining his own pockets and not declaring earnings to avoid paying taxes, so the government doesnt benefit from his good fortune. So there is nothing to build on. The corporates at least stick to the rules. Any loopholes used as loopholes the government allows and chooses to leave open.

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]

There are millions of self employed Poles under declaring and even more paying paid cash in hand. The two often go hand in hand together since lower wages mean higher profits, the profits must be under declared, then both employer and employee happy but urzad skarbowy cheated. This is of course why you are guilty until you prove your innocence at the Polish tax office.

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]

That is you dolnyslask, you are from the UK and thats the way things tend to be done, most prefer to dogadac sie. And dont even get me started on guarantees!

Anyway the receipt lottery is being expanded to include doctors. I cannot remember when I last got a receipt from a doctor when I have gone private.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

The economy is going to do worse over the next couple of years. No fault of the current or past government if one is brutally honest. But moderate governments can add or shave about 1% on GDP. Now isnt the time to chase investors away as there are enough capital outflows to deal with.

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]

Their is a lack of entrepreneurship amongst Poles, they are often too cautious and lack ambition because of it. Foreign companies move into spaces where they see a gap in the market. If the Poles had filled it they wouldnt be able to compete to the same manner. A lot of the time I find Poles worry about getting paid today, but not what happens tomorrow.

Law / Where can I check in Poland my company formation status and tax number NIP and REGON? [95]

for a start, you can try the online directory as long as you have some basic information
prod.ceidg.gov.pl/ceidg.cms.engine/

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]


Never a truer word spoken. Im undecided as yet. A proper dip in the uk property market might convince me as presently yields are awfully low for the red tape you need to jump through. I certainly wouldnt rely on a state pension here in Poland, but you can set aside for that. Health is another matter, emergency services are truely awful especially for elderly as you say. My grandmother fell into their hands recently and had no chance.

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]

London is about 3% now and top outside that about 5%. Im talking top location where resale is a matter of a couple of weeks. In terms of outlay theres is a chasm in price and what you can buy. Here in Poland you can get 9-10% on a long term commercial, thats before squeezing the offer price which i think this year you will be able to do. The capital return aspect should start to outperform within 5 years and run between 5-10% for the following 5 years.

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]

NocyMrok if you have paid hundred of thousands into the system, you are entitled to claim. The problem comes when someone tries to claim from day 1, without ever having contributed.

Real Estate / Details about purchasing a land for commercial use in Poland [5]

Nothing ever is a formality in Poland until you have it on paper. Its possible the estate egent is right, but quite possible that they will say anything to secure the sale as they are no longer accountable after the akt is signed at the notariusz.

If you are not buying land with building permission already secured (pozwolenie/warunki na budowe) I would contact the gmina/local council office and see what they have to say about your plans. Take all projects and architects plans with you. They wont be able to give you permission to build on someone elses land (which it still is) but you will have a good idea of the likelihood of getting permission to do what you want to do. You will likely have to contact the starostwo as well as they will probably be the ones that sign off your building. Your architect or firm involved would generally handle all of this so I would speak to them.