BajaNomad - Santa Rosalia gas Scam Back -- Heads UP

Santa Rosalia gas Scam Back -- Heads UP

jaymtb - 10-29-2011 at 07:48 AM

Hi there Nomads,

At the newer north gas station in S. R. the attendant tried to "hose" me for 200 pesos. I knew exactly how much was needed and stood him down in Spanish in no uncertain terms, though he tried to retreat to 100 pesos.
After threatening to report him to the BCS tourism, he totally backed away.

For many years, we would skip gas in S. R. completely, due to congestion and scams at the old station across from the ferry dock. Back then, locals would measure gas into cans and then dump it into their trucks.

If a visitor does not speak Spanish, and/or is not sure of the tank size in liters, these guys will take advantage. I really doubt that this incident is isolated.

Santa Rosalia is presently crazy with construction of roads, the new mine, and a big pier in the S.O.C. You can recognize the mine workers' trucks with the orange safety flags flying on fiberglass whips.

Elsewhere on the peninsula, no other incidents like this.

Cheers,
Jay

David K - 10-29-2011 at 07:57 AM

The Pemex on the east side of the highway, next to the harbor, is not owned by the crook who owns the other three stations.

Only one place to buy gas in SR-

CasaManzana - 10-29-2011 at 12:10 PM

David K is spot on- that station by the harbor is the ONLY place to buy gas in that town!

dtbushpilot - 10-29-2011 at 12:56 PM

That's the only place we will gas up too. The newer station North of town is the worst. They got my wife once, tried to get me and I watched them try to get another gringo in a motorhome. A bad bunch of a$$holes there for sure.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 10-29-2011 at 01:39 PM

hola,

i skip the town gas stations ENTIRELY ! i fill up going north and south at the big station in mulege.

santa rosalia has been known for their gas thievery for years.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Marc - 10-29-2011 at 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
hola,

i skip the town gas stations ENTIRELY ! i fill up going north and south at the big station in mulege.

santa rosalia has been known for their gas thievery for years.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Isn't the Mulege station owned by the crook in Sta Roslia??

Bajahowodd - 10-29-2011 at 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marc

Quote:

Isn't the Mulege station owned by the crook in Sta Roslia??

Pescador - 10-29-2011 at 04:40 PM

Well, here we go again with misinformation and lots of crap. The old station which is slightly south of the ferry dock and the Station north of town are owned by the same guy, who is currently in the slammer for beating up on a girlfriend.
The new station just north of the Marina is owned by a friend of mine and is very professionaly run with very accurate deliveries. The next station north is reported by the locals as being very good, but I know nothing about its ownership.

Bajahowodd - 10-29-2011 at 04:54 PM

Went through their S/B a couple of weeks ago, and the water service was off to the entire North end of town. So, no rest rooms. Have to admit that one of the newer stations that's dead on the Sea of Cortez is a favorite, just because of the view. If I get scammed for a couple of buck, so be it. If I've been driving for hours, especially heading South, the view makes it worthwhile, as I stretch my legs.

rts551 - 10-29-2011 at 04:58 PM

He owns a lot of stations up and down the coast. would be nice if they were all identified. Howodd - coud be more than a couple of bucks. His pumps can be off as much as 15-20%. ON a fill up this can be a lot of money.

Russ - 10-29-2011 at 06:08 PM

Just gassed up in SR on the way back from the States. That's the one Jim mentioned as being good. The attendant told me they now except all credit cards. I don't know how that will work out but it'll be convenient.

BajaGringo - 10-29-2011 at 06:48 PM

Yes but does it have TP in the bathroom???

:lol:

Russ - 10-29-2011 at 07:02 PM

yes & clean too

[Edited on 10-30-2011 by Russ]

UnoMas - 10-29-2011 at 07:28 PM

We have always called it a grand slam if you had;
Toilet paper
Hand soap
Paper towels
And...............Water!
:lol:

willyAirstream - 10-30-2011 at 06:23 AM

Quote:

i skip the town gas stations ENTIRELY ! i fill up going north and south at the big station in mulege.

Might want to re think that - both Mulege stations squeeze 23 liters into 20 liter jugs.

fish101 - 10-30-2011 at 06:42 AM

We have 5 gas stations in Loreto and 3 of them are corrupt as the ones in Santa Rosalia. 23 liters in a 20 litre jug every time. Two newer stations in town are very close and have informed everyone that they will be honest, so they are getting most of the business every day..You would think something could be done with these crooks..

El Jefe - 10-30-2011 at 07:38 AM

As to credit cards. Many of the new stations take them. But you have to have a Mexican bank card. Forget about using your B 0f A Visa.

htnfool - 10-30-2011 at 07:51 AM

Unfortunaley, we use the one in Mulege all winter. I don't know if they are owned by the same person, I believe so, but they do not give you an accurate liter. I marked where 20 liters should be on my gas cans. They can fill it to 24.76 everytime.

Sucks when you show them your mark and all they do is shrug there shoulders and point at the gas pump, not really there fault. :fire:

I hate getting screwed everytime I need fuel. But then I recover my loss with 10 peso beer and forget about it, thats about .77 per beer.

Pescador - 10-30-2011 at 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by htnfool
Unfortunaley, we use the one in Mulege all winter. I don't know if they are owned by the same person, I believe so, but they do not give you an accurate liter. I marked where 20 liters should be on my gas cans. They can fill it to 24.76 everytime.

Sucks when you show them your mark and all they do is shrug there shoulders and point at the gas pump, not really there fault. :fire:

I hate getting screwed everytime I need fuel. But then I recover my loss with 10 peso beer and forget about it, thats about .77 per beer.

Now you are getting in to the spirit of things. You could also drive to Santa Rosalia and get the right amount of gas, but 80 miles round trip and at 20 mpg that costs around 4-5 gallons of gas at $2.50 so you could spend $10 to save getting ripped off for less than one gallon.

In the old days at Santa Rosalia I got upset that they were putting in 27 litres in a 20 litre can and when I asked the attendant, he just said it was "puro suerte" or "pure luck". A couple of days later some official came in and started raising hell about the delivery of less gas than he paid for and it just so happened that the PROFEPA truck was right behind so they took a measurement right then and there. It was so far off it was funny, but they shut the whole station down until they readjusted the pumps, so there was no gasoline in Santa Rosalia for almost two weeks and then they only had one pump. So, I had to make that trip to Mulege to buy gas for the boat several times. After that I sort of loosened up on my expectations.

Some Norteamericano did a survey and measurement of all the gas stations in La Paz and found that a significant number were underdelivering fuel. I guess when the government dictates your price, the only way out is to adjust the flow a little. If you can communicate with the locals, they allways know which stations are on the up and up and are only too happy to share that information.

rob - 10-30-2011 at 10:05 AM

The way I hear it, there is a travelling salesman who will install a "modified" chip that will deliver according to your level of greed. The 23/20 chip appears to be the most popular.

One day I must really tell my local PROFECO manager all about this.