What do you do....they pump gas, clean windshields front and rear, take payment and make change...Do you "tip" them?....
Years ago I didn't...thought they had good government jobs...but now believe a few coins would be proper.....
Also some places have seperate people who do the windshields and others who do gas....what happens there?....
[Edited on 9-16-2004 by surfer jim]Bob H - 9-16-2004 at 06:35 AM
Jim, I usually tip a buck to the attendant. If there is another guy that does the windshield, I split the tip between the two. Bob Hsynch - 9-16-2004 at 09:43 AM
I absolutely hate those small kids that jump up on my truck and have to sit on the hood to wash the windshield and tell them "basta - don't sit on my
car", but I do tip them.
[Edited on 9-16-2004 by synch]Pappy Jon - 9-16-2004 at 12:41 PM
Just drop the windshield before you get there. Wait, it is ok in Mexico to drive with the windshield down? I kinda like the goggles on, bugs in the
teeth safari look. Don Alley - 9-16-2004 at 12:49 PM
I tip the window cleaners. Usually they are not the same guys pumping gas, and I believe they are working for tips. Same as the kids (sometimes
adults) that bag groceries. They work for tips too.
Only sometimes do I tip the gas pumper in Baja. Never in Oregon.
Also, I know Pemex is government owned or at least majority owned. Now, I don't know but I've been told, that each individual Pemex station is a
privately owned franchise, so there are no government jobs there.
Dontim40 - 9-16-2004 at 02:16 PM
As long as they didn't attempt come creative math on the conversion, I always tip them a buck and if someone else does a good job on the windows up to
another buck...Think it more than needed, but I do want them to be delighted to see the next person from the states.
Tip refused
Hook - 9-16-2004 at 03:29 PM
I had one Pemex pumper offer to do my windows at the Pemex (the one with diesel) that is just north of El Trailero Taco stand in Ensenada). When I
hesitated, he said no tip was necessary; it was part of his job and proceeded to do the windows on my truck. Since mine is a 4x4, I let him use my
little footstool to reach the windshiield more easily......and gave it to him as a tip.
TIPS???
Barry A. - 9-16-2004 at 11:19 PM
If the kid asks if I want my windshield cleaned, and I say "Si", then I tip them a buck. If he is really good, and friendly to boot, I tip 2 bucks
(that always gets a big grin out of them). If he just goes ahead and tries to clean my windshield behind my back, or when I am not looking, or ignors
me waving them off, I don't tip, and in fact if I catch them I ask them to stop. Same applies to the kids in the line to get back across the border,
or at street lights in the bigger cities.
If the pumper guy does an exceptional job and is very friendly, I tip a buck. If they are surly, I don't.
I was always taught that you tip good, friendly, service, and did not if the service was not good. surfer jim - 9-17-2004 at 08:09 AM
I used to think that PEMEX was a government operation...including the stations and that the people who worked in them Gov. employees so they must have
well paying jobs....one day I gave a ride to one of the toll collectors to the next booth and he mentioned he made about $2.oo and hour ....I started
to see what looked like good jobs really weren't....
about 15 years ago we drove home on Christmas Eve in the evening and passed through Catavina and got gas ...my friend gave a little kid about 8 years
old washing windows a $20 dollar tip....bet that kid still remembers that day....
[Edited on 9-17-2004 by surfer jim]Debra - 9-17-2004 at 08:39 AM
The Pemexs ARE independantly owned but "regulated" for the most part take that
comment as you will)
Tipping? I'm with most others here, (and Barry A.) if they ask me and I say yes....I appreciate it and they get paid for service rendered, when I'm at
the border and I screaming NO, NO ,NO! (I've just had them cleaned at the second toll booth) and some Yahoo pours muddy water on them, I'm PO.ed and
I think he/she should PAY ME for (how do you spell) vandilizim?
Pemex...Pemex...Pemex...
BajaCactus - 9-17-2004 at 01:16 PM
Pemex is an organization owned by the Mexican government. Pemex is responsible for getting, refining and producing all the fuel in Mexico, as well as
distribuiting it... however, sales to the final consumer are conducted by private companies.
Pemex Gas Station are all privately own... there are no gas station owned by the government, and in fact all are Pemex franchises. It works almost the
same as McDonald's franchises. Pemex controls the image and products, and they even supervise the operation.
Now, about attendants... since gas stations are independentely owned, not all work the same way... some are full serve and others are not, however if
any wants to have attendants outside and they are receiving a salary from the gas station, and acording to the franchise, they ALL MUST HAVE the
appropiate uniforms...GREEN uniforms.
If you see an attendant with green uniform he/she is an employee and therefore receives payment to do several things, like cleaning widshields,
serving pump, helping customers with payment, cleaning the restrooms as well as the gas station... etc. That is his/her job and therefore you are not
obligated to give any tips of any kind.
Now, some gas station also have "franeleros"... this guys have BROWN uniform.... they are not employees nor have any salary. They are allow by the
owner of the gas station only to clean widshields, wipe the cars, check tires air pressure, oil levels, etc... they are not allowed to handle any
money for payments.... they depend on tips since they do not have any salary... however, you do not have to tip them and they are not allowed to
demand a tip either... if they get it ok, if they do not there will always be another car...they know this... it is part of their job.
A tip is the same everywhere, it is a reward for a good service you received and it is not an obligation... there is no established amount of tip you
have to give.
Now, typical gas stations gets around 1,000 cars daily... so you do not have to be too splendid with what you tip over there... most mexicans usually
tip between $3 and $10 pesos... not more, since we know that many others cars will tip as well.
Now, about if the attendants have good or bad salaries... well that is directly related to the mexican economy... and therefore is an issue for
another thread...
Hope this helps....
Side note from a gringo
jrbaja - 9-17-2004 at 01:37 PM
It was explained to me that tipping all these people large amounts, (like $1.00 or $2.00 u.s. does nothing but spoil them, make them lazy and expect
more, and pay them more than the actual employees are making.
Antonio's would be the only advice I would follow on here when it comes to actually knowing of what he speaks.
VERY GOOD POINT JR------nfm
Barry A. - 9-17-2004 at 06:57 PM
And Antonio, thank you very much for giving us the straight answer, as usual. I really appreciate your input and find it invaluable. Barrypappy - 9-17-2004 at 07:01 PM
i usually give a buck to whoever performed a service, be it pumpin' gas, washing windows, etc. pappy - 9-19-2004 at 03:33 PM
i do so only if they don't demand it.synch - 9-22-2004 at 08:34 AM
Barry A. wrote
VERY GOOD POINT JR------nfm
And Antonio, thank you very much for giving us the straight answer, as usual. I really appreciate your input and find it invaluable. Barry
JR is right, this enforces the perception of the gringo being foolish and non-sensical towards money, although the intention was probably to seem
generous.
Who is Antonio?
Sorry, I'm new and haven't associated board names with real names yet.
Antonio
jrbaja - 9-22-2004 at 08:44 AM
is Baja Cactus of the Baja Cactus Motel fame in El Rosario. He also owns the Pemex station there.Anonymous - 9-22-2004 at 08:45 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by synch
Who is Antonio?
Sorry, I'm new and haven't associated board names with real names yet.
Antonio is BajaCactus, owner of the Pemex Station & BajaCactus Motel in El Rosario. He hosted a large gathering in Tijuana recently that you can read
about in past posts. Many of us have met him. Great guy....
Welcome to the board!
Is there an echo
jrbaja - 9-22-2004 at 08:55 AM
in here ?
a bit of trivia here
Debra - 9-22-2004 at 11:38 AM
T.I.P. is an acronym for "to insure promptness"
I'm full of useless information! David K - 9-22-2004 at 06:15 PM
Here's Antonio ('BajaCactus') and his dad (also named Antonio)
Thank you...
BajaCactus - 9-22-2004 at 08:08 PM
Thank you Barry....you are very welcome....
Hy Synch... welcome to the board.... I hope you meet as many good friends here as
I have...
And thank you guys for your nice words and comments....
GAS PURCHASE...
msawin - 9-23-2004 at 07:58 PM
This might not be the place for this posting...but. I have never had a problem with any exchange buying gas.diesel.. I have always given a few
peso's in being thankfull for good service. This last summer we had a tough time with the results of the tripui fire.My wife has never one time paid
for fuel in baja.. But my wife and friends wife stopped for diesel at the main drag Pemex , Loreto, and were help by a new young man that I have never
had .. help .. me.. The guys that have been there for a many year have been great, never a problem. The tank my wife filled run $18.00 dollars in
USA.. This helper got her for $120.00 dollars. My last stop after the fire heading home was at the station. Talked with Hefe about it and he said
o-well. got in his car and drove off....... Be smart. someone will take advantage if he is in that mind set.............. Martin-o
Baja Cactus
jrbaja - 9-23-2004 at 09:08 PM
Hotel
jrbaja - 9-23-2004 at 09:13 PM
Just when you thought El Rosario was just a place to stop for gas.
I think, with Antonios first hand knowledge of that area, and the first class accomodations he has built, many people won't need to go any further
south than the Baja Cactus Hotel.Dave - 9-23-2004 at 09:30 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by msawin
The tank my wife filled run $18.00 dollars in USA.. This helper got her for $120.00 dollars.
Dude, If I were you I would close out the joint checking account.jrbaja - 9-23-2004 at 09:32 PM
surfer jim - 9-24-2004 at 07:37 AM
If they are making that kind of money I will cut my tip back to 50 cents from now on......
Back to using pesos
jrbaja - 9-24-2004 at 09:17 AM
This applies to change and tipping as well. In fact, in south Baja there are places (touristy ones) no less, that won't accept american change
including the kids working the stations.
I was pretty surprised until I remembered where I was
But, if you tip the gas station guys, us a 2 peso coin is sufficient. If they do the windows, a 5 peso coin is sufficient although not necessary.
From what I have seen and heard, the only people that tip them are gringos as most of the Mexicans can't afford it.
They also do their own windows because the workers are busy with the tipping and ripping off of gringos.
A friend and I spent a lot of time going to his shop in Tijuana. We started watching the jugglers, window washers, entertainment that goes on at the
red lights in the busy areas.
We didn't time the lights but, these guys have enough time to do their thing and then collect a tip from about 25% of the cars in line if they did a
good job.
Now, this boils down to probably between 50 cents and $2.00 average for every red light that happens at that signal. All day long!
We considered learning to juggle !
take that
comment as you will)
