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absinvestor
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Registered: 11-28-2009
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pemex ripoff colonia vicente guerrero
Seems like I've seen this problem here before but I couldn't find it on a search. When I travel in Mexico I always use a locking gas cap so the
attendent can't start filling the tank before I get out of the motorhome. However, today when we crossed the border from Portrero I forgot to lock the
cap. I decided to stop for gas at the first Pemex on the West side when heading south in Colonia Vicente Guerrerro. (I always estimate how much gas I
will need and always just ask for a set amount in pesos.) I knew that I had forgotten to lock the cap so I immediately jumped out of the motorhome. To
my surprise the attendent already had removed the cap. He had the nozzle inserted but had not yet pumped any gas. He asked if I wanted it filled and I
said no. There was 274 pesos sitting on the pump from the last customer. I told the attendent to clear it. He gave me a puzzled look and again asked
if I wanted it filled up. I again told him to clear the pump. He pointed at the left side of the pump (I believe this is the section that says how
honest the station is etc.) I pointed my finger in his face and screamed at him that I was not going to tell him again to clear the pump. I told him I
wanted 800 pesos worth but not to touch the handle until the pump was zero'd out. He finally cleared the pump and hollered at the manager to put 800
pesos on the pump. I have encountered attendents that haven't cleared the pump play stupid on the first try but I have never had one so blatantly try
not to clear it 3 times. He also had his girlfriend at the pump that tried to talk small talk with me but I kept my eyes on the pump and refused to be
distracted. Different systems work for different people but a locking gas cap , asking for a set amount in pesos and watching everything that happens
works for me.
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Russ
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You did Good !
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: | Originally posted by absinvestor
I pointed my finger in his face and screamed at him that I was not going to tell him again to clear the pump. |
did you scream in spanish or english?
in this type of situation, the loser is the one who loses his cool first.
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absinvestor
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A combination. By the third time I was furious and I think I said "I'm not telling you again- Cero Ti." but I wouldn't swear to the translation. What
I am sure about is that the attendant understood that I wasn't kidding.
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monoloco
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Once you shut off the pump and replace the nozzle, I don't think that you can restart it without it going back to zero. As soon as they flip the lever
on the side it resets so when they are standing there with the nozzle in their hand asking how much fuel you want it will still have the amount from
the last purchase showing but when he flips it to start your purchase it will automatically reset.
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Bob and Susan
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this is correct...
i dont think there was a problem here with the attendant
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mcfez
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Sorry.....but how do you know that the attendant was bout to rip you off? I have been in MANY stations where there was still the fare showing on the
pumps....and the attendant cleared it right after I requested the amount of fuel needed.
Had he NOT cleared the fare.....you could had stopped him immediately.
I think you were rude towards a perfectly innocent dude....if someone was screaming at me...and accusing me of being a rip off artist...you know where
I would stick that nozzle at.....
[Edited on 7-7-2011 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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Marc
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| Quote: | Originally posted by monoloco
Once you shut off the pump and replace the nozzle, I don't think that you can restart it without it going back to zero. As soon as they flip the lever
on the side it resets so when they are standing there with the nozzle in their hand asking how much fuel you want it will still have the amount from
the last purchase showing but when he flips it to start your purchase it will automatically reset. |
Then why was he able to zero out??
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surfdoc
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Wow...........I've been doing it wrong for years.
How can I get ripped off ??? Since it hasn't happened yet.. I guess I'll stop getting out, stretching and smile at the attendant while asking him to
fill it, Then joking with them about the dogs trying to lick his face.
Screaming..........thats the ticket to being a true Baja traveler...
thanks!!!
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RnR
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Not sure if this applies at all Pemex's but definately at the new, self serve, Pemex's. I've had it happen two or three times.
There's a timer in the pump that stops and locks the pump and the display after a period of inactivity. As when you are filling five gallon
containers and stop pumping long enough to put the cap on the full container and take the cap off the next empty container.
Say that you pre-pay 400 pesos. The first container takes 200 pesos. While holding the nozzle as you close the first and open the second, the timer
times out. (It's not very long).
The attendant in the caja has to reload the pump with the balance before it will reset to zero and start pumping again. This has happened repeatedly
at our local self-serve station.
This is very similiar to the scenario that happens occasionally when the attendants are capping and uncapping the dual tanks on a pickup and say "the
pump stopped, here's the first value, now I need to reset to zero to fill the second tank..." Hard to rip yourself off at a self serve station ....
So, an attendant standing there with the nozzle at the ready MAY HAVE to reset to zero before pumping if the pump's timer has timed out.
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absinvestor
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You may be right but I am the easiest going person in the world. I asked him very politely the first time to reset the pump. He understood me but was
pushing to start pumping the gas. I know that at least one time in the past that the total on the pump exceeded the maximum gallons my motorhome would
hold by at least 12 gallons. No way to win the argument if the pump shows 50 gallons and you have a 35 gallon tank.
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David K
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Been buying gas for ages and the only rip-off I have experienced are pumps that are mis-calibrated (the ones that can put 23 liters into a 19 liter
can, for example).
Too bad you couldn't make it to Baja Cactus Pemex in El Rosario... honest pumps guaranteed! There (and other Pemex stations I buy at) the attendant:
1) asks how much gas I want to buy, and what grade of gas I want.
2) with nozzle in hand then clears the pump and points out it is on zero.
3) puts in that amount of gas and collects money.
The station will have their exchange rate displayed and a calculator is used to figure the dollars (if you have pesos, no worries).
I think the OP was angry at himself for forgetting to lock his cap and assumed that his slip-up would cause an instant rip-off at the first place to
find the cap unlocked? That the attendant was holding the nozzle and asking how much was quite normal... IF he had the nozzle already running gas into
the RV then that would deserve a yelling! I mean Magna or Premium hadn't been asked yet.
An attendant that does the right procedure, cleans windows, etc. gets a 10 peso/ 1 dollar tip typically from me... Good to encourage honest service, I
say! Remember their pay is about $10, a day... and if the gringos in their vacation vehicles can't gift them a bit for good service, it won't help.
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monoloco
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Location: Pescadero BCS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Marc
| Quote: | Originally posted by monoloco
Once you shut off the pump and replace the nozzle, I don't think that you can restart it without it going back to zero. As soon as they flip the lever
on the side it resets so when they are standing there with the nozzle in their hand asking how much fuel you want it will still have the amount from
the last purchase showing but when he flips it to start your purchase it will automatically reset. |
Then why was he able to zero out?? |
It zeros out as soon as the attendant flips the lever to start filling
the tank. The only way that they can not zero it is if the attendant left the lever down and didn't replace the nozzle into the pump after the last
sale. In other words, the only way they could cheat you is when the previous customer pulls away from the pump the attendant could stand there holding
the nozzle then start pumping your gas without flipping the lever, if the nozzle is in the pump when you pull up there is no way to not zero the pump.
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absinvestor
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Sounds like I over reacted. Sure didn't look right to me but probably my mistake. In the past, attendents have pointed to the zero's and when they
didn't appear I thought the 274 pesos would remain when he started pumping. When I return to the area I will gas up at this same station and give the
attendant a nice tip.
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David K
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Hey, that is really cool of you absinvestor!!   
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surfdoc
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My reply was just serious early morning sarcasm.......
But thats very cool of ya Ab's!!!!
PS.....and I hope the guy earns that tip!
[Edited on 7-7-2011 by surfdoc]
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absinvestor
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Thanks David K. I love the Mexican people and have always tried my best to do the right thing when traveling in Mexico. In this case, I was wrong and
will find a way to make it right.
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gallesram
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This whole thread is why I like this site; all of us buy gas down there and probably wonder where the pitfalls lie. Now I know a bit more about how
it all works. I always make a habit of watching the meter when they start to pump (and about 50% of the time, the attendant will acknowledge that
it's at zero, so I assume that they are used to people watching). Everyone loses their cool now and then when traveling (I typically explode when I
get pulled over by a crooked cop) but I for one appreciate you raising this so that I could see everyone's perspective on it. Also a gracious
reaction to the different posts which followed.
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Cypress
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Yea, PEMEX ought to go to self-serve. Flip the lever and pump your gas. Pay the attendant and go. No bigee!
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toneart
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Hey hey!
It is not like nobody has ever been cheated at a Pemex. It happens and many incidences have been related here on Bajanomad.
I can see how Abs could have thought he was being taken. The attendant did not point to the pump to show zeros like they usually do, huh? He already
had the nozzle in the tank? There was already a balance where the zeros should be?...all suspicious behavior!
Some have commented that as soon as the attendant trips the lever it goes to zero? OK, if this is true, why didn't he?
There is the possibility that this guy was not trying to cheat and that Ab was mistaken, but cheating Pemex attendants are part of their sordid
history. We should be skeptical and vigilant. Abs was polite with the first request and the attendant should have zeroed it out and pointed to the
zeros.
There have been all kinds of ploys; girlfriends or others hanging around and distracting the customer; pumps that have been tampered with. I have
heard of pumps being controlled from inside the station by flipping a switch. Then there is the cheating with the money: claiming you gave less than
you did when the bring you the change, or giving the wrong change. With such a history, I would not be inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Having said all of this, I will say that most of my experiences have been positive, whereas, in all the times I have traveled throughout Baja, there
have been just a very few times where I feel I was cheated. Most have been honest, as far as I know!
I agree that Antonio's Pemex in El Rosario is honest. I enjoy the relaxed, friendly conversations with their attendants too. Then I check in at The
Baja Cactus Hotel where I have always gotten a great room and great service.
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