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Osprey
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Pesos or Pesos
I started another thread so you could give me your flack in a direct way.
There’s nothing wrong with advice like “Here’s how I do it.” or “I think this is the best way to do it in Mexico/Baja.” but with this peso/dollar
thing I think the subject needs a deeper read. From the advice I see in the thread, there seems to be a macho mind-set with some and an international
financier flare in others. Maybe that’s because the guy who asked about the money thing didn’t tell us much about his trip, his travel.
Maybe if he said “I’m flying from San Diego to Cabo, meeting with a guy to discuss some real estate and then I catch the afternoon plane back” the
ugliness might have flown away for me and other readers.
How about this polite question: “I’m driving 1,000 miles into a foreign country that has its own currency. I’m going to spend a few days or maybe a
week or two if I like it.”
Won’t this guy need a few pesos? Allow me to tell you what might happen to him:
1. If he refuses to use coin of the country in his travels it seems to me that he does not care that he makes everybody he buys from “His Banker”. He
is content to know “He is the boss, the guy with the cash and they’ll take it and love it or to hell with them.” He establishes himself as having an
adversarial position with the seller – I submit that is rarely effective and not polite. Maybe he does that in the U.S. – that’s where the macho thing
comes in. Does he do that at the dentist, the car wash, the mall, the market – does he hand them his left over Euros from another trip and demand they
take them to the bank, accept whatever they’re worth that banking day?
2. After the meeting with the realty guy, they shake hands, the deal is done, everybody’s happy. The seller, a local ranchero invites the buyer to his
rancho – on the way the gringo buyer spots an artisan’s stand with beautiful carved ironwood. You see where I’m going with this – he gets to show the
seller he was not prepared to show common courtesy to a Mexican vendor in Mexico.
3. Perhaps a macho guy driving fills up his car/truck at a Pemex, pays in dollars and then thinks he’s been cheated on the change. Too late. He said
“Fill it up”, the gas is in his vehicle and it’s too late to argue about the exchange. He willingly made the dealer “His Banker”. Bankers get paid. To
avoid this the buyer only needs to spend a pleasant 30 minutes in the boiling sun while he has the seller write out the price of gas in pesos and
dollars in liters, then in gallons, then go over the exchange rate charged by the seller on that particular Sunday (the banks are closed – he is the
bank).
I guess the thing that inspired this little thought was McFez who has told us, as often as the subject has come up, that “He never uses pesos in
Mexico – 35 years and counting.” Now that is macho. What could make him change his mind? Nothing? War, devaluation of the dollar, devaluation of the
peso, paying $500 dollars for a $200 dollar item? Is there some special rule about San Felipe merchants only taking U.S. dollars that I don’t know
about? How about the clinic there, the Pemex, the tax office.
How would McFez and other “Dollars only” travelers fare while traveling in Europe, South America? Their answer will undoubtedly be “I don’t go to
those places, I always pay in dollars in Mexico – they love dollars down there.”
No matter where in Baja/Mexico you plan to travel to, for whatever time and reason, no matter how you travel, you can always find places in the U.S.
to buy pesos before you leave and Mexican ATMs spit out pesos and they are everywhere there is tourism and/or commerce.
Now you may fire at will.
[Edited on 8-7-2011 by Osprey]
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CP
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Thanks Osprey. I thought it, but could not put it into words as you have.
[Edited on 8-7-2011 by CP]
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bajabass
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Mood: Want to fish!!!
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It seems that in the TJ/Ensenada area, they do prefer dollars to pesos at a lot of places. I am sure they make a little extra by being the "banker".
That said, down south where I live now, I don't even think of using dollars. Then again, I don't have enough money to worry about it!!!
Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands upon the wheel!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Huge, blinking sign in front of Anthony's:
"PESOS FOR BESOS....y mucho mas."
I wonder what that means?
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woody with a view
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we usually keep a couple hundred in $'s for emergencies. we stop at the atm in san q for the bulk of the money we'll need....
what's the prollem?
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mcfez
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
I started another thread so you could give me your flack in a direct way.
There’s nothing wrong with advice like “Here’s how I do it.” or “I think this is the best way to do it in Mexico/Baja.” but with this peso/dollar
thing I think the subject needs a deeper read. From the advice I see in the thread, there seems to be a macho mind-set with some and an international
financier flare in others. Maybe that’s because the guy who asked about the money thing didn’t tell us much about his trip, his travel.
Maybe if he said “I’m flying from San Diego to Cabo, meeting with a guy to discuss some real estate and then I catch the afternoon plane back” the
ugliness might have flown away for me and other readers.
How about this polite question: “I’m driving 1,000 miles into a foreign country that has its own currency. I’m going to spend a few days or maybe a
week or two if I like it.”
Won’t this guy need a few pesos? Allow me to tell you what might happen to him:
1. If he refuses to use coin of the country in his travels it seems to me that he does not care that he makes everybody he buys from “His Banker”. He
is content to know “He is the boss, the guy with the cash and they’ll take it and love it or to hell with them.” He establishes himself as having an
adversarial position with the seller – I submit that is rarely effective and not polite. Maybe he does that in the U.S. – that’s where the macho thing
comes in. Does he do that at the dentist, the car wash, the mall, the market – does he hand them his left over Euros from another trip and demand they
take them to the bank, accept whatever they’re worth that banking day?
2. After the meeting with the realty guy, they shake hands, the deal is done, everybody’s happy. The seller, a local ranchero invites the buyer to his
rancho – on the way the gringo buyer spots an artisan’s stand with beautiful carved ironwood. You see where I’m going with this – he gets to show the
seller he was not prepared to show common courtesy to a Mexican vendor in Mexico.
3. Perhaps a macho guy driving fills up his car/truck at a Pemex, pays in dollars and then thinks he’s been cheated on the change. Too late. He said
“Fill it up”, the gas is in his vehicle and it’s too late to argue about the exchange. He willingly made the dealer “His Banker”. Bankers get paid. To
avoid this the buyer only needs to spend a pleasant 30 minutes in the boiling sun while he has the seller write out the price of gas in pesos and
dollars in liters, then in gallons, then go over the exchange rate charged by the seller on that particular Sunday (the banks are closed – he is the
bank).
I guess the thing that inspired this little thought was McFez who has told us, as often as the subject has come up, that “He never uses pesos in
Mexico – 35 years and counting.” Now that is macho. What could make him change his mind? Nothing? War, devaluation of the dollar, devaluation of the
peso, paying $500 dollars for a $200 dollar item? Is there some special rule about San Felipe merchants only taking U.S. dollars that I don’t know
about? How about the clinic there, the Pemex, the tax office.
How would McFez and other “Dollars only” travelers fare while traveling in Europe, South America? Their answer will undoubtedly be “I don’t go to
those places, I always pay in dollars in Mexico – they love dollars down there.”
No matter where in Baja/Mexico you plan to travel to, for whatever time and reason, no matter how you travel, you can always find places in the U.S.
to buy pesos before you leave and Mexican ATMs spit out pesos and they are everywhere there is tourism and/or commerce.
Now you may fire at will.
[Edited on 8-7-2011 by Osprey] |
Well...this is a good retort you just did. The problem is....
I said to use USD in Mexico. I DID NOT SAY TO USE USD IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY. I would appreciated that you edit you post to get the facts correct about
me.
Further to add from me. I have visited Mexico since 1973 as a once a year tourist. I have been traveling Mexico since 1982 as a seasoned "amateur
explorer" multiple times per year. Cancun was barely being built from the jungle. Tulume was undiscovered by tourist. I currently own /lease
investments in Mexico including the Baja. I have always taken USD and not have a issue.
It's easy to get pesos anywhere in Mexico. If one needs peso...go to the exchange, the bank...even the store! These days...ATM offers pesos. So why da
hell would someone want to carry all them pesos to Mexico? To save a few bucks in the exchange rates? I suppose so. Whoopee doo.
As in the matter of using USD in Europe.....some of you know that I go there often...my mate is a German citizen. Her family lives there. Now she is a
walking brain. A Doctor. She takes USD and exchanges there as needed. Most establishments in Europe do indeed take USD.
I have been to Europe, central Americans, Caribbeans.... It all depends on the exchange rates and conveniences.
Osprey....You have too many IF's and BUT's in your retort. Not all goes bad in life. Relax.
You are not the only seasoned traveler here.
[Edited on 8-7-2011 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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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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Whoopee doo? I'm relaxed now that I have evened the playing field -- your broad brush approach to advice for travelers about how to handle money in
Mexico, by your exclusive example is misplaced no matter how many times you give it.
[Edited on 8-7-2011 by Osprey]
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Marc
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Well said (written) Osprey. I use coin of the realm when abroad. It's a sign of respect and necessary in most cases.
Some years ago I was in line in a bank in Hanoi waiting to change my dollars. I struck up a conversation with a Brit standing behind me who was
changing his Euros to US dollars to spend there in the north. Seems the merchants craved the USD. I am no economist, so go figure. Maybe they keep the
bucks under the mattress waiting for the value to go up. That could be the case in Ensenada; just hold some of the bucks while the Peso declines.
Once in Baja a buddy of mine refused to change to Pesos. He ended up with wad of $100 bills in Loreto (1990) that he could not spend. I had to lend
him Pesos to get home.
[Edited on 8-7-2011 by Marc]
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rhintransit
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like Osprey, I agree that it all depends on who the traveler is and why/where he's going. I'd guess that most of the live here folks use pesos fairly
exclusively. tourists do what tourists do anywhere, whatever works for them.
and about loosely using the term 'in Mexico'... Baja is/has always been a separate country. it's not been my experience that dollars are readily
accepted on the mainland, except perhaps in major foreign tourist resort type destinations.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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toneart
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Huge, blinking sign in front of Anthony's:
"PESOS FOR BESOS....y mucho mas."
I wonder what that means? |
Hey! My name is Anthony, but I am not the banker who is cashing in on this treasure trove.  But when traveling in Mexico I am always ready with Pesos. Ya never know how it may benefit my wanton wanderings.
In my opinion, to not use the currency of the country you are in is to not wholly commit yourself to the experience of that culture. It is just one of
many ways some Americans disrespect and display disdain of other cultures. "When in Rome do as The Americans do"?
However, in defense of McFez, or anyone whose Mexican experience is limited to San Felipe, it is probably not necessary to worry about such things as
culture or currency.
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Dave
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Not a question of respect
It might be interesting to note that up until the early 1970's the all-but-official currency in northern Baja was the United States dollar. Banks were
a rare and untrusted commodity as was the federal government. By the middle of the 1970's Baja residents gradually yet reluctantly began accepting
pesos...
Their loyalty being rewarded by the devaluations of 1982 and '94. 
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Osprey
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You make my point for me. I paid for lots of dinners, margaritas and fishing trips with 10,000 pesos notes when the peso went to 3,300 to the dollar.
Took 2,000,000 pesos down one trip and hurt no one, had the time of my life.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
It might be interesting to note that up until the early 1970's the all-but-official currency in northern Baja was the United States dollar. Banks were
a rare and untrusted commodity as was the federal government. By the middle of the 1970's Baja residents gradually yet reluctantly began accepting
pesos...
Their loyalty being rewarded by the devaluations of 1982 and '94.
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94 was a devaluation? I thought it was the changing of the money from Peso to Nuevo Peso. They knocked off three zeros.
Anyway, before that time, most of the junk stores on Lopez Mateos wouldn't even accept Pesos. Dollars only.
landlords prefered to calculate rent in dollars, as illegal as that is, and every time the Peso got weaker, which was often, the landlord made more
money from the rent.
Wadda World.
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J.P.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Marc
Well said (written) Osprey. I use coin of the realm when abroad. It's a sign of respect and necessary in most cases.
Some years ago I was in line in a bank in Hanoi waiting to change my dollars. I struck up a conversation with a Brit standing behind me who was
changing his Euros to US dollars to spend there in the north. Seems the merchants craved the USD. I am no economist, so go figure. Maybe they keep the
bucks under the mattress waiting for the value to go up. That could be the case in Ensenada; just hold some of the bucks while the Peso declines.
Once in Baja a buddy of mine refused to change to Pesos. He ended up with wad of $100 bills in Loreto (1990) that he could not spend. I had to lend
him Pesos to get home.
[Edited on 8-7-2011 by Marc] |
Making the local Merchant your Banker. Give me a break most places you shop if you give them a bill thats 5%or bigger over the purchase amount they
have to run down the street to get change. when they open for buisness in the morning they dont have enough money in the till to make change on the
1st.transaction of the Day
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Dave
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Yeah...
| Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
Took 2,000,000 pesos down one trip and hurt no one, had the time of my life. |
I'll bet those folks on the receiving end were happy as clams. After having watched their savings disappear and the economy go to s**t, why wouldn't
they? 
Those on the giving end of a devaluation always have a fun time.
Whoopee!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by J.P.
Making the local Merchant your Banker. Give me a break most places you shop if you give them a bill thats 5%or bigger over the purchase amount they
have to run down the street to get change. when they open for buisness in the morning they dont have enough money in the till to make change on the
1st.transaction of the Day |
WalMart here still operates like that....all day. They don't seem to trust the cashier with enough money in the till to keep the line moving.
That place is a picture of inefficiency.....and surly personell at the checkstand.
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Osprey
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Dave, no whoopee doo, just whoopee?
Man, you gotta run for congress, be a lawyer, you'll take either side and boil anybody who disagrees. Give it up.
Dennis, you do a lot better with the late night joint quips.
J.P. try the little tackle shop at Elephant's Breath Arkansas on a bad Wednesday at first light. You have better things to do.
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J.P.
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Years ago wehn we used to go to the mainland shopping it was a blast IF you gave a merchant his asking price he was insulted. The Banter that went
along with the transaction was a social art that the people expected and enjoyed.I have never noticed much of the practice today
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bajamigo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
WalMart here still operates like that....all day. They don't seem to trust the cashier with enough money in the till to keep the line moving.
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You are not kidding. There always seems to be a fire drill around the cash register whenever I present a 200-peso note.
I wonder if management simply doesn't trust its employees to be around a pile of cash. At Costco, it seems that after every fifth customer, the line
is stopped and the pneumatic tubes are stuffed.
Sure is a different experience from the big NOB stores.
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J.P.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey[
J.P. try the little tackle shop at Elephant's Breath Arkansas on a bad Wednesday at first light. You have better things to do.
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Elephants Breath Arkansas???? I always thought the only reason for Arkansas to exist is so the people from Missouri would have soneone to look down
on.
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