BajaNomad

curious re 'buying and selling' in Mexico

rhintransit - 3-12-2012 at 08:29 AM

I was listening to the morning VHF net today and heard the 'remember we cannot buy or trade in Mexico' 'only swap for coconuts' wink wink wink spiel for perhaps the forty billionth time. got to wondering, just where and how is this written in the law?
I'm not questioning that it is, somewhere, and I've heard the speculations/explanations that make some sense, such as tourists are expected to take out everything they bring in and immigration says you can't compete with a Mexican for jobs, but...
do any of our legal experts and/or nationals know just what the specific law is? how is it worded?
just curious. thanks.

DENNIS - 3-12-2012 at 08:42 AM

Well....we can buy in Mexico....inside the protected zone. We can go inland, say around Guadalajara, and buy all the dirt we can afford and don't need a bank trust to do it.
Unfortunatly, except for a postage stamp sized parcel of land in Baja, the entire peninsula is in the protected zone so the Fideicomiso is required.

Do a google search on the wording of the law. It should be easy to find.

rhintransit - 3-12-2012 at 08:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Well....we can buy in Mexico....inside the protected zone. We can go inland, say around Guadalajara, and buy all the dirt we can afford and don't need a bank trust to do it.
Unfortunatly, except for a postage stamp sized parcel of land in Baja, the entire peninsula is in the protected zone so the Fideicomiso is required.

Do a google search on the wording of the law. It should be easy to find.


not talking about land. talking about buying say a car, or a radio, or a bucket of bottom paint, or selling same.

DENNIS - 3-12-2012 at 08:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rhintransit
not talking about land. talking about buying say a car, or a radio, or a bucket of bottom paint, or selling same.


What??? We can't legally buy a car? How about groceries? Should we even be allowed in Costco?

You're allowing yourself to be terrorized by nonsense. I can't believe you, who knows your way around here, are even asking these questions.

Pompano - 3-12-2012 at 09:09 AM

Like any nation that makes laws...some laws are REALLY WHACKY! (to understand why, take a hard look at the legislators..)

Here's a sample of strange Mexican laws..inlcuding buying/selling.

http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/international/mexico

rhintransit - 3-12-2012 at 09:18 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by rhintransit
not talking about land. talking about buying say a car, or a radio, or a bucket of bottom paint, or selling same.


What??? We can't legally buy a car? How about groceries? Should we even be allowed in Costco?

You're allowing yourself to be terrorized by nonsense. I can't believe you, who knows your way around here, are even asking these questions.


thanks for your kind words. no wonder the newbies get terrified. I'm not (where did that come from, anyway?).
have another cup of coffee. add your mellowing agent of choice.

please re-read my original post. I said nothing about real estate.
I was not talking about groceries cars or Costco. I was talking about marine vhf nets.
obviously you are not familiar with these. for those who might not know/be curious:

all the marine vhf nets in Mexico follow a standard format for talk ('traffic') categories. one of the categories is 'swaps and trades' the standard wording for that is 'remember we do not buy or sell in Mexico, we only swap or trade'
I am asking for anyone with knowledge of where that came from, what the basis in law is, to enlighten me.

rhintransit - 3-12-2012 at 09:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pompano
Like any nation that makes laws...some laws are REALLY WHACKY! (to understand why, take a hard look at the legislators..)

Here's a sample of strange Mexican laws..inlcuding buying/selling.

http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/international/mexico


thanks. I especially like the one about any nude artistic display being illegal. unfortunately there was no button beside it for 'see full law' like the others. more curiosity aroused.

DENNIS - 3-12-2012 at 09:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rhintransit

please re-read my original post. I said nothing about real estate.
I was not talking about groceries cars or Costco. I was talking about marine vhf nets.


If you were talking about marine vhf nets, perhaps you should have said that....which you didn't.
You wanna go over it again? Here. Do it before your next Bloody Mary:
Quote:

I was listening to the morning VHF net today and heard the 'remember we cannot buy or trade in Mexico' 'only swap for coconuts' wink wink wink spiel for perhaps the forty billionth time. got to wondering, just where and how is this written in the law?
I'm not questioning that it is, somewhere, and I've heard the speculations/explanations that make some sense, such as tourists are expected to take out everything they bring in and immigration says you can't compete with a Mexican for jobs, but...
do any of our legal experts and/or nationals know just what the specific law is? how is it worded?
just curious. thanks.

Islandbuilder - 3-12-2012 at 09:49 AM

Are you asking if it's illegal to use a VHF for commercial purposes in Mexico?

rhintransit - 3-12-2012 at 09:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Islandbuilder
Are you asking if it's illegal to use a VHF for commercial purposes in Mexico?


I hadn't thought of that, but perhaps it...or the answer...would explain the disclaimer on 'the net.' and maybe explain why the swap or trade thing appears to have crossed over into the local lore/folks who camp or reside near cruiser nets.
excellent lead, thanks.

Pompano - 3-12-2012 at 09:54 AM

It has always been the case that when using a 'radio net' for expats in Mexico that purchasing or selling for dinero that you never ask for cash..but strictly 'trade for so many coconuts', etc.

Probably the same rule applies in the USA?..for marine broadcasts and such.

Makes sense to me...which in itself is alarming.

p.s. a little research might reveal the origin of such a custom, but I am going to be late for poker if I get into that today..

[Edited on 3-12-2012 by Pompano]

DENNIS - 3-12-2012 at 09:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Islandbuilder
Are you asking if it's illegal to use a VHF for commercial purposes in Mexico?


Actually, she's asking about this.

Quote:
Originally posted by rhintransit
not talking about land. talking about buying say a car, or a radio, or a bucket of bottom paint, or selling same.

rhintransit - 3-12-2012 at 09:57 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by rhintransit

please re-read my original post. I said nothing about real estate.
I was not talking about groceries cars or Costco. I was talking about marine vhf nets.


If you were talking about marine vhf nets, perhaps you should have said that....which you didn't.
You wanna go over it again? Here. Do it before your next Bloody Mary:
Quote:

I was listening to the morning VHF net today and heard the 'remember we cannot buy or trade in Mexico' 'only swap for coconuts' wink wink wink spiel for perhaps the forty billionth time. got to wondering, just where and how is this written in the law?
I'm not questioning that it is, somewhere, and I've heard the speculations/explanations that make some sense, such as tourists are expected to take out everything they bring in and immigration says you can't compete with a Mexican for jobs, but...
do any of our legal experts and/or nationals know just what the specific law is? how is it worded?
just curious. thanks.


forget the mellowing agent, perhaps you've had too much
'morning VHF net' = marine VHF net
let's take this off line, or go to another channel as we say on the vhf. marine vhf that is. please use u2u if you want to say something to me personally and I'll do the same.

sancho - 3-12-2012 at 10:35 AM

Back in the day, the Yachties at the Old La
Paz Marina had a swap meet, it did not
last long, was cancelled by Mex Authorities.
I don't think you can bring anymore than 1 spare
tire, you might sell it

gnukid - 3-12-2012 at 10:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by sancho
Back in the day, the Yachties at the Old La
Paz Marina had a swap meet, it did not
last long, was cancelled by Mex Authorities.
I don't think you can bring anymore than 1 spare
tire, you might sell it


Swap meet was yesterday at Don Jose Abaroa Marina next to Club Cruceros.

People who do not own businesses nor have a work permit can not sell goods, but may trade items.

Woooosh - 3-12-2012 at 10:47 AM

Send a message to nomad Ramuma53, our resident Mexican land law expert. He knows the law and will tell you what to look for so your investment will be secure. Or you can re-post your question on the "Baja Real Estate Advice" thread and he will respond there. It's not hard to invest safely if you know what to look for. When it comes to being a tourist-vendor, good luck on that. It seems to be hard to get the required vendor permits even for the local Mexicans.

[Edited on 3-12-2012 by Woooosh]

DENNIS - 3-12-2012 at 10:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rhintransit

"reality's never been of much use out here..."



Classy. I'll assume it's yours since you didn't credit anyone else with it.
Keep up the good work developing that secret code. :lol:

buying /selling

captkw - 3-12-2012 at 10:52 AM

law's ar brocken daily !!

ncampion - 3-12-2012 at 12:31 PM

I think this may have roots in the HF HAM nets. According to FCC regs (including international) you cannot use the HAM frequencies for commercial purposes. This prevented HAM operators from buying/selling or doing any kind of business on the HAM frequencies. Boaters who used the nets (including me) always had to "dance around" these regs. I don't know if this same restriction is applicable to VHF frequencies. By definition, HAM frequencies are for "amateur" purpose only - no business. However VHF frequencies are used for business purposes all the time as many vessel operations use them for their commercial business. We would need a VHF expert to chime in on this.

Leo - 3-12-2012 at 06:00 PM

Captkw, that's were laws are for.

Pescador - 3-12-2012 at 06:49 PM

Unbelivable, Rhintransit, no one has really read your posting or the comprehension level is so low that it is under the radar. You are not asking about land or any of that kind of stuff. Instead, you are asking is it legal to sell a used TV, Lawnmower, Snowshovel, or misc. junk that has collected. Mostly, the answer seems to be no, it is illegal to make money without the proper permission and that would certainly include selling unwanted items as well as services or goods like paintings, artwork, etc,.