Recent threads on gas pumps at Pemexs(or is it 'Pemixii'?) reminded me of a recent issue I had at the ocean-side Pemex in BOLA, the one closest to the
traffic circle.
This is a self service station where you prepay and then fill-up, returning for your change, if any. As is my usual procedure when first pulling into
town, I stop at this station to fill the truck, a few gas cans, get ice and some cold beers before heading to our cabin. I walked in and gave the
attendant a $500peso note; the attendant being a 45ish senora that I had not seen before.
I topped off the truck and then put the nozzle back in the holder while I got out my gas cans. Of course, the attendant had to write down the amount
I had put in the truck before she could reset the pump; no problem, she wrote down the amount about $250 pesos and reset the pump. I filled a gas
can, went in got a few bags of ice and a 6pack of Dos XX. She fiddled on the calculator and said the total for the gas in the truck, the gas in the
can, the ice and the beer was $620. No problemo, I hand her $120 pesos. She shakes her head and says, no $620.
Well, her English is about as bad as my Spanish and I can not get her to understand that I gave her $500 before I did anything and now only owe $120
- she clearly thinks I'm trying to pay only $120. The line behind me starts forming, the volume of our discussion is slowly increasing and I figure
I'm gonna have to pay another $500 or spend the night in jail. I calm down, take a deep breath and carefully say again the order of what I did. The
guy behind me says something to her and she is very quiet, looks at the ceiling and then opens the cash drawer where she pulls out the $500 note and
gets very embarrassed etc, etc.
Whew, that was close. Next two times I go back to get gas she is there and I prepay like normal but we both looked at each other and acknowledged the
amount. No problems after that.shari - 7-7-2011 at 03:52 PM
good for you for keeping your cool amigo!J.P. - 7-7-2011 at 04:08 PM
I have a Suburban that has a 42 gallon gas tank when close to empty it takes well over 1,000 pesos. When i fill it some of the attendents are actually
embarrased that it took so much I have had a few actually apologise. In eight years of living here if I have been ripped off it hasnt been for much.larryC - 7-9-2011 at 09:26 AM
Jim
I can't sppeak as to what happened in your case, but I suspect it was an honest mistake. She couldn't possibly think you were going to forget $500
pesos. That station is owned by Sergio, and his mother runs Costa del Sol Hotel. When I get fuel there I just pull up to the pump, the attendant in
the building resets the pump from there and I just get what I need and pay when I am done. Try it, it may work for you also. As far as I know they
don't require anyone to pay in advance. Well, maybe Kiki.
LarryDENNIS - 7-9-2011 at 09:38 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by larryC
I can't speak as to what happened in your case, but I suspect it was an honest mistake.
That was my first impression as well. I deal with a similar, ongoing situation daily at the local market, Villarinos. The young lady behind the
counter is, by my estimation, an average gal with an average amount of required education, but she can't, or won't, do the most simple math without a
calculator. For instance....every day I buy a newspaper for 20 Pesos and I give her a fifty Peso bill. She won't even attempt to make change without
her calculator telling the amount. If the calculator is misplaced or out of sight, the transaction stops until she finds it.
Point is, she is stuck in her routine which is very confining for her, but makes no attempt to make an adjustment.
I would guess that Jim found his way into one of these traps where he was asking someone to think for herself and she wouldn't do it.Santiago - 7-9-2011 at 03:08 PM
Yes, I agree it was an honest mistake, I could tell by her demeanor. I normally just fill first also but the lady that is normally there remembers me
and waves me to fill up - I used to have to prepay.
"well, maybe Kiki" - now that's funny right there.55steve - 7-10-2011 at 04:06 PM
Jim,
This gal was new to me also - I just told her what pump I wanted, pumped the gas and paid the amount - no pre-pay on any of the times we visited the
station.
