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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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There have been plenty of posts over the years about Pemex stations to avoid. A couple of them were mentioned above. I can add that last year in
Guerrero Negro, I was warned by the desk clerk at Caracoles to avoid the Pemex in town. It only came up because we were headed to the bank, which is
past that Pemex. He recommended the North station in Vizcaino, assuming I had enough in the tank to make it there. However, since there is a new
station right across from Caracoles, going into town is not necessary.
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monoloco
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Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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It's pretty hard to always choose the good ones when traveling but if you are staying for a while or living in a place it makes a big difference to
always fill up at a station with honest pumps. Around here the difference between the honest station and the other two is about 10%. That can really
add up over time.
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David K
Honored Nomad
       
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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150-220 miles between, starting at border:
1) El Roasrio
2) Villa Jesus Maria
3) Santa Rosalia, east side, next to harbor.
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absinvestor
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 725
Registered: 11-28-2009
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I think employees change frequently so what may be "a best Pemex" today might be a problem tomorrow. What worked for us is we used a locking gas cap
(which prevented the attendant from starting to pump before we were ready to watch the pump being zero'd) and we, like the others, always paid in
pesos and always estimated what we needed and asked for a certain number of pesos. For example, we drive a larger motorhome that gets between 8 and
9mpg. If we drove 400 miles we would figure 50 gallons x 3.79 (litres/gal) or 189.5 litres x 7.65 (price per liters) which would equate to 1500 pesos.
We would tell them we wanted 1300 pesos worth. By getting less than a full fill up we never had to worry about change. Obviously in a smaller vehicle
we wouldn't get 200 pesos less but maybe 50 pesos less etc. We watched the pump to insure that we got our 1300 pesos worth. Have a great trip. Ron
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fandango
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 549
Registered: 1-30-2006
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for those who tip the attendant, what amount do you tip? in pesos.
sbwontoo
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
      
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fandango
for those who tip the attendant, what amount do you tip? in pesos. |
I give him ten Ps if he washes my window. No service, no tip. Pumping gas isn't service in my opinion.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 6700
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Don't want to burst your bubble but the biggest problem is not zeroing the pump or giving change. The biggest problem is inaccurate pumps. lets say
you payed for 190 litres... but were shorted by 5 percent. almost 3 gallons short
As I stated earlier, I can prove the premium pumps were and are off by more than 5% at a station in BCS. add it up. wrong change is short change.
5-10% at the pump is big change
| Quote: | Originally posted by absinvestor
I think employees change frequently so what may be "a best Pemex" today might be a problem tomorrow. What worked for us is we used a locking gas cap
(which prevented the attendant from starting to pump before we were ready to watch the pump being zero'd) and we, like the others, always paid in
pesos and always estimated what we needed and asked for a certain number of pesos. For example, we drive a larger motorhome that gets between 8 and
9mpg. If we drove 400 miles we would figure 50 gallons x 3.79 (litres/gal) or 189.5 litres x 7.65 (price per liters) which would equate to 1500 pesos.
We would tell them we wanted 1300 pesos worth. By getting less than a full fill up we never had to worry about change. Obviously in a smaller vehicle
we wouldn't get 200 pesos less but maybe 50 pesos less etc. We watched the pump to insure that we got our 1300 pesos worth. Have a great trip. Ron
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[Edited on 3-18-2010 by rts551]
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El Jefe
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1027
Registered: 10-27-2003
Location: South East Cape
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Hey the guys at the pumps in the old San Jose del Cabo station are so honest they regularly put 22 liters of Magna in my 20 liter can. Now that's
service!
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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BajaCactus
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 663
Registered: 5-22-2004
Location: Km. 55, carretera transpenisular, El Rosario, B.C.
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Mood: Helpful
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Honesty and respect...
Gaucho...
You can have my personal word that you will always receive what you pay for at our BajaCactus Gas Station in El Rosario... no short litters ever!!!...
we self check our pumps regularly to verify they are indeed serving correctly.
It is my belief that everyone should be treated with courtesy, honesty and respect... and you all know that keeping employees in the right path is
sometimes difficult, so, if anyone is ever mistreated at our Gas Station, please feel free to contact me, at anytime, and I will make my best effort
to make things right... that is my promise to all of you my friends!!!... (from BajaCactus you can contact me through our staff at the administrative
office, which is on the second floor of the Gas Station or, if after 2:00pm, our staff at the front desk of the BajaCactus Motel has a direct cell
line to me 24/7).
Happy travels.
Antonio Munoz
BajaCactus
P.S... Thanks Debra, Bob and Susan!!!...
  
[Edited on 3-18-2010 by BajaCactus]
BajaCactus
"Where Baja is so much more than a dream..."
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garynmx
Junior Nomad
Posts: 43
Registered: 9-7-2009
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Always order by liters. You can check it that way. Liters x price per liter = Total. If it is off they will adjust the total on the spot.
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Alan
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1628
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Yucaipa, CA/La Paz
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I guess I am a bit dumbfounded by this question. It seems to be based on an assumption that ALL Pemex stations are dishonest. That certainly has
never been something I have ever experienced.
I don't even think not zeroing the meter is even possible anymore as every station I have been to for many years now have been electronic meters that
automatically re-set when they are turned on. True, I have no idea of the accuracy of the meters but that isn't something I have ever investigated
NOB or SOB.
In Memory of E-57
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by El Jefe
Hey the guys at the pumps in the old San Jose del Cabo station are so honest they regularly put 22 liters of Magna in my 20 liter can. Now that's
service! | You are getting ripped, here in Pescadero they can get 23.45 liters in a 19 liter can.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
      
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Alan
I guess I am a bit dumbfounded by this question. It seems to be based on an assumption that ALL Pemex stations are dishonest.
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It's a well-earned reputation from the past. Of course, the situation has improved, but some things don't die easily.
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Gaucho
Nomad

Posts: 405
Registered: 11-7-2008
Location: Laguna Beach/East Cape
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Mood: Bohemia por favor...
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Alan
I guess I am a bit dumbfounded by this question. It seems to be based on an assumption that ALL Pemex stations are dishonest. That certainly has
never been something I have ever experienced.
I don't even think not zeroing the meter is even possible anymore as every station I have been to for many years now have been electronic meters that
automatically re-set when they are turned on. True, I have no idea of the accuracy of the meters but that isn't something I have ever investigated
NOB or SOB. |
When I first started driving myself to Baja and the mainland 29 years ago I was short changed in all the ways you can short change somebody. Of course
now I always pay in pesos and make sure the pump is zeroed out. I have no control over how they calibrate the pumps so I ask the question, "where are
the honest Pemex stations?". I'm more concerned w/ the properly calibrated pumps (honest Pemex stations) than anything else. It's a fact that many
Pemex stations tweak their pumps in their favor. I speak from experience. Thanks again for everybodys input!
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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Pump calibration is the problem, I believe that the dishonest Pemexes are aided by the corruption of PROFECO the agencia responsible for the accuracy
of the pumps, The Pemexes couldn't pull it off without their collusion. While I haven't checked all the stations in Baja, I do know that 2 out of 3
here locally have been blatantly ripping off their customers for many years.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
      
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Whatever happend to those "CUALLI" designated service stations? They were supposed to have passed the smell test to qualify for the big "You Can
Trust Me" sign.
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fourninerpapa
Junior Nomad
Posts: 40
Registered: 11-2-2008
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaCactus
Gaucho...
You can have my personal word that you will always receive what you pay for at our BajaCactus Gas Station in El Rosario... no short litters ever!!!...
we self check our pumps regularly to verify they are indeed serving correctly.
It is my belief that everyone should be treated with courtesy, honesty and respect... |
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Gaucho
Nomad

Posts: 405
Registered: 11-7-2008
Location: Laguna Beach/East Cape
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Mood: Bohemia por favor...
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fourninerpapa
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaCactus
Gaucho...
You can have my personal word that you will always receive what you pay for at our BajaCactus Gas Station in El Rosario... no short litters ever!!!...
we self check our pumps regularly to verify they are indeed serving correctly.
It is my belief that everyone should be treated with courtesy, honesty and respect... |
Yes, I read Antonio's post. Thank you. |
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fourninerpapa
Junior Nomad
Posts: 40
Registered: 11-2-2008
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On a recent trip north from Mulege the only for sure honest gas delivery was at BajaCactus in El Rosario. I know for sure I got ripped off at the
Pemex on the highway at GN. I average 8 to 8.5 mpg and when I gassed up at GN I got 5.5.
Most of the pumps in BCS have none or outdated PROFECO certification stickers. The only 2010 stickers that I saw were at El Rosario and Ensenada.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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I get the worst mileage in both of my rigs while in Mexico. The calibration problem is far from isolated.
Ken
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