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CasaManzana
Nomad
Posts: 398
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Was Mulege:Posada Beach/now Zihuatanejo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Naykid
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Santa Rosalia Pemex rip-off- exactly how it happens-1st hand report from last night
After living here for almost five years 24/7/12, and after hearing all my guests say the Santa Rosalia Pemex got them, this should not have happened
to me yesterday.
Here's exactly what they do- I pull in and ask for a $300 peso purchase. I KNOW the routine of watching the zeroing-out of the pump like stink on
you know what. The guy is programming the 300 peso limit into the pump and I am watching carefully...duh...as usual. Just then, as this is being
watched, I hear the sound of my drivers door being opened...ding...ding...ding. I turn around to find someone in my car looking for the hood release
to "check to oil". We all know that is a red flag down here so my hair is standing up on end at this point. I work on getting him out of the car as
someone is telling me I have a soft tire. I look and find that it is fine. At just that time, the fat 12 year old that is washing the windshield,
"bumps" the pump handle and it makes a shut off sound..."cachunk". He says "oops...sorry". I look and it says $223 pesos delivered. They say "OK,
re-start the pump"...I say NO, that's enough. I pay them the $223 and leave. My gas guage does not immediately respond to the increase in gas, thus
it was a mile or two before I knew no gas was put into the tank. Obviously, I did not see the pump zereoed out because of their routine. Super
peeed, I turned and went back to the station. When pulling in, the window washer-kid and the attendent headed to the break room. A totally new guy
says "what do you want". I says, in English only "give me $220 pesos and have that little fat buttcrack kid pay for it". He says "Si Senior'. He
put the gas in and walked away. No contest-no discussion-no problem. Good team work. Six of our guests buying gas there have been riped off in the
last three years.
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Markitos
Nomad
Posts: 218
Registered: 1-4-2004
Location: San Diego/La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: let me check
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No way! And they made the little kid pay up? Funny thing how my gas gage dosnt work down there sometimes too  But no ones ever admitted it.
All that wonder are not lost
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
Member Is Offline
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Good post Manzana
sounds like with a little help from Antonio, something could probably be done to curtail these rip offs. Like a set up or something. And some
baseball bats out back to teach them not to try it again. 
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tim40
Senior Nomad
Posts: 574
Registered: 3-29-2004
Location: Manhattan Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: There yet?
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After reading these posts, I wonder to myself how many times I have been taken and not even smart enough to know it..... I would think that this
location would get nailed sooner or later!
When searching for the end of your rainbow you only have until dusk....
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6741
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
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Gas rip off
Me too. I know better and still they get me. Both Santa Rosalia & Melege are notorious for the distraction game or resetting the pumps. A friend,
Mexican filled up the truck and got boat gas and paid. Then put 4 liters, in an official type container while the manager and others in line watched
and got 3.5. Made a big stink while others joined in and everyone got the corrected price for their gas. It's not just the tourist they rip off..
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
Member Is Offline
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Nope
They're just a lot easier !
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64476
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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JR, is it possible that these (Santa Rosalia & Mulege) MEXICAN Pemex station operators might not be "human"??? Maybe they are from Southern
California??
We can be relieved that at least one Pemex is owned by a really honest 'human'... "BajaCactus". However, keeping his employees honest is a major issue
he deals with (maybe they are from Southern California, too?)...
Good and bad exists everywhere JR.
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
Member Is Offline
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Now this could get complicated
as to the reasons they are or are not human but, I'll give you any odds they didn't start their crookery because of the Mexicans attitudes.
And I'll bet they aren't even from there if they are ripping people off. At least the Mexicans anyway.
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FrankO
Nomad
Posts: 301
Registered: 11-10-2002
Location: Ocean Beach
Member Is Offline
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Dude,
you couldn't be more full of chit. Runaway.
[Edited on 10-8-2004 by BajaNomad]
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jrbaja
they didn't start their crookery because of the Mexicans attitudes.
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B.S. Attitude has nothing to do with it. Thieves are dishonest and will steal from anyone and everyone.
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synch
Nomad
Posts: 316
Registered: 9-14-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: wandering...
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So you can try and prevent these problems by locking all doors before you get out of your car (I have power door locks), then using a locking gas cap
so you physically have to be at the tank prior to filling up, then standing there the whole time during pumping.
What a hassle....
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
Member Is Offline
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Franko, grow up !
I don't expect many of you to understand what I am saying. But, I highly recommend checking out places besides Rosarito or the gringo enclaves to
see what I am talking about before calling names and attacking.
All you are doing is proving my point.
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Wireless Willie
Newbie
Posts: 3
Registered: 10-5-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by synch
So you can try and prevent these problems by locking all doors before you get out of your car.....
What a hassle.... |
This also applies at the Army checkpoints when traveling alone. When one wants you to open the camper, another will come from out of no where to go
through the front of the truck.
Always vigilant.....
WW
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Baja&Back
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 9-10-2004
Location: Vancouver, Canada / todo de Baja
Member Is Offline
Mood: Rarin' to go South!
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Casamanzana:
A hearty "Me, too" from this corner.
I KNOW that the pump closest to the office has a little pushbutton switch mounted up the hole where they replace the nozzle. It shuts off the pump
even though the dials are spinning! How do I know? I reached up there after threatening to deck the manager. Never got my money or gas from him. All
the customers in the lot cheered & clapped, tho.
Despite being fined & apparently even closed down several times, these guys have no scruples.
A harsh letter to Pemex got me a $250 peso credit and a complaint form I sent off to PROFECO. Never heard back from them.
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LOVE2GO2BAJA
Newbie
Posts: 10
Registered: 8-23-2004
Member Is Offline
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LIFE'S LESSONS ON GAS IN BAJA
10/9/04
One of the things I enjoy most about Baja Nomad forums is reading about everyone?s experiences while in Baja California. I wish there had been a forum
like this when I first started traveling throughout the Baja peninsula it definitely would have saved me lots of time and trouble instead of learning
the hard way through my many difficult trials and tribulations that I experienced along the way. On account of it wasn?t that long ago when there was
no such thing as the Internet to inform you (first time travelers) of the pitfalls of not watching your gas station attendant zero out the gas pump
before he started pumping your (nova) gas. In addition, myself and so many others before me didn?t have the pleasure of always stopping at the local
gas station ?Pemex? when traveling south of El Rosario, because they basically didn?t exist virtually they were only located sparsely throughout the
Baja peninsula in some of the larger communities or pueblos? which were far and few between. Looking back having to sometimes backtrack out of your
way to get gas was a common occurrence. Before Highway 1 was completed gas stations were equal to looking for chicken?s teeth south of Ensenada. More
often than not when in need of gas you most likely had to find a rancher?a, mechanic, or local who would be willing to first part with this valuable
commodity and sell you some gas out of their 50-gallon drum or 5-gallon gas can. Thus, you weren?t so worried about the accuracy of the pump as you
were feeling a sense of relief that you were lucky enough to find gas. Likewise, even if you were lucky to find a Pemex station it didn?t necessarily
mean they had gas either that hour, day, or week. Thus, you had to rely heavily on talking with the locals every chance you got from everything, about
road conditions to where the next place you could possibly find gas, water, and so forth.
Furthermore, there was no Internet forums to inform you of the advantages of paying for your gas in pesos, not dollars or Traveler?s checks because
more often than not service station attendants or others selling gas didn?t have dollars or even change sometimes for that matter. Heck even
exchanging dollars (travelers checks) for pesos south of Ensenada was not one of the easiest things to do even 30 years ago because many banks (if you
could find one) would only exchange pesos for dollars and or traveler?s checks during certain hours they were open.
I like many others have also had the unfortunate experience of being rip-off at a Pemex station but I quickly learned a few simple rules to live by
where ever I travel in Mexico. Such as always get out of the car when stopping for gas and watch them zero the pump if they have one, pay for gas in
pesos, never leave valuables unattended or out in the open. Think of it as a good time to practice your Spanish and ask any pertinent questions or
just being friendly. That being said on the other hand I?d like to mention I have also been ripped-off more times than I can remember in the U.S. at
the local supermarket being overcharged for something I purchased.
Basically use your common sense whenever or wherever you travel whether it is locally or in a foreign country. Fortunately all of my life?s lessons
learned while traveling throughout Baja have definitely made me a better and knowledgeable person. I look back on all of my experiences now and laugh
but some of them surely didn?t seem so at the moment. Today, how lucky we all should feel that there are so many knowledgeable and experienced people
out there willing to give you invaluable advice on traveling throughout Baja or anywhere in the world for that matter at the touch of a computer
button.
Love2go2baja
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synch
Nomad
Posts: 316
Registered: 9-14-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: wandering...
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La propina primera?
What about if you start the transaction with the tip?
I've heard many here say they usually tip the attendant so why not give it to him first in hopes of a truthful pump reading.
Think it would work?
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
Member Is Offline
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Absolutely Not !
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JESSE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3370
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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You can file a complaint directly with the Federal Consumer Protection agency in Mexico:
"Attention to Foreigners
Profeco is commited to always provide the best service. We extend our protection to the people who do not live in Mexico and acquire any product or
service from a Mexican supplier and are not satisfied with the good or service.
This is a totally free service and does not require the presence of the consumer in the procedure.
The complaint can be submitted in any Profeco office, Embassy, Consulate or any other official representation. The Profeco address is Av. Jos?
Vasconcelos No. 208, 6? Piso, Col. Condesa, M?xico D. F. C.P. 06140
The information you must submit is: your name, complete address, telephone and fax numbers, and office hours for contact; supplier?s name and address;
a short letter explaning exactly what the reason of the complaint is and the amount requested; copies of all documents as evidence of the
transactions, and all other available documents to support the claim.
For further information you can contact us at the following numbers: 55-68-87-22; 01-800-468-87-22 or E-mail: extranjeros@profeco.gob.mx"
A complaint sent to Profeco will definately make it all the way up to the owners of the gas station, as well as Pemex, who has just recently started
to cancel the franchises to many gas stattions that are doing this to customers.
http://www.profeco.gob.mx/html/inicio/inicio.htm
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synch
Nomad
Posts: 316
Registered: 9-14-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: wandering...
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| Quote: |
jrbaja wrote:
Absolutely Not ! |
LOL - jrbaja does not succumb to kidnapped pesos!
OK - Well how do you thwart these tricksters at the pump?
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
Member Is Offline
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I get out
unlock the gas cap and either pump it myself (usually) while they clean the windows or chat with them while they are doing it.
They are either fascinated by the dogs or the bamboo rack, depending on which I am driving.
I have learned that paying in advance for anything down here is no remedy for anything.
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