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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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More than anything I just think it is a sign of the times. Tourism is down so business is down. They are just trying to make up the difference any way
they can. You can get mad at them for trying but we are the idiots if we pay it. With all the wealth of information out there today on the current
rate of exchange, you should know better. I keep saying it - exchange your dollars for the best rate you can find and pay in pesos. You will come out
ahead this way almost every time...
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The Gull
Super Nomad
Posts: 2223
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Rancho Descanso, BCN
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Mood: High
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
So, in theory, i agree. But in practice, it may be put to the test. |
Well, what are we talking about here? For the most part on this board, we discuss a home-grown commodity. Food. Why should the price of beans
and rice, grown in Mexico, be pegged to what the dollar is worth on the world market?
I don't know of anybody who goes to Mexico to buy Pendelton shirts or Schwin bicycles. Those whom I know go for the beer and fish tacos and a space
to sleep in. None of this is influenced by the worth of the dollar except in the minds of some opportunists who want to enhance their profit margin.
I don't care what they charge. If I don't like the price, I don't buy but, they won't be able to tell me that the price of an enchilada went up 40%
because the peso buys fewer dollars. |
I haven't seen the price of Tequila in the US drop by 40%. Hmmmm, seems harsh.
Dennis, is the price of cocaine dropping by 40% in the US?
Those two items constitute most of the GNP of Mexico.
�I won\'t insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.� William F. Buckley, Jr.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaWaverunner
then you get these yahoos (yahores) that try to beat the system and base their prices in dollars - |
It's not illegal to base your price in dollars. The majority of my customers are gringos so my prices are in dollars. I sell a Corona draft beer for a
dollar or its equivalent in pesos. No harm...no foul.
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3533
Registered: 8-27-2003
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The reverse is true also: last month I was in Sinaloa and bought a tshirt that they wanted $10 'merican and I had pesos so I asked how much in pesos
and he said $100. Maybe 10-1 is just a common out-in-the-boonies rate?
Does essence predate existence?
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
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Well, in my little corner of folded space and time, prices and values fluctuate in a world market. The price and value of, say Mexican grown beans or
corn can fluctuate with the world price. The growers and distributors are not going to accept devalued pesos at the old prices-they want to buy
foreign, imported goods and they need more pesos per bushel to maintain their buying power.
Sure, their are some giving a poor exchange rate. And it's frustrating to see our perceived monetary advantage derailed by goods and services here
priced in dollars. But one cannot divorce the falling value of the peso from inflation. The peso's fall is accelerating inflation of domestic goods
and services along with imports. Between dollar pricing and inflation, gains from the exchange rate are limited and will dissipate over time.
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elizabeth
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 7-30-2004
Location: Loreto, BCS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by The Gull
Dennis,
There is a fold in the universe around Stinson Beach. It causes the peso and dollar to remain constant. |
Thanks Gull. I live and learn. |
Gee, Gull and Dennis, thanks for such a thoughtful response.
Thanks, Don, for some actually relevant comments and information.
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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The Peso is Dollar-driven
| Quote: | Originally posted by elizabeth
I fail to see how adjusting prices to match the exchange rate is a rip-off or a gouge. The peso is devalued for Mexicans as well as North Americans.
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In practice the Peso is Dollar-driven. That's just a fact.
Back in the early 1980's the peso devalued tremendously overnight and went on a rollercoaster ride for awhile. Mexican businesses simply re-set their
prices daily, based on the fluctuating exchange rate, for an accurate-- and fair-- price.
That being said, try to use pesos down here rather than dollars. If you do find yourself with only US currency, as happened to me a couple Sundays
ago, don't accept a blatantly unfair exchange rate. Whip out your calculator and strike a fair deal.
Don't dis a businessperson in Mexico from basing their price of goods and services on the dollar, nor should you, the consumer, be either greedy or
naive.
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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Good take Mulegena, sage advise.
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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Hooker33
Junior Nomad
Posts: 65
Registered: 6-23-2008
Location: Camano Is. WA
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Lattitude 22 yesterday changed their menu from Pesos to dollars and if you pay in Pesos it will be at 12 to 1. I am surprised the Mike would do this
to his long time customers. I'm rethinking my place of drinking and eating. Maybe Tanga-Tanga or Baja Cantina.
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EnseNADAslim
Nomad
Posts: 138
Registered: 1-15-2009
Location: Baja CA
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaWaverunner
I paid him 200 pesos to have a picnic on his beach last summer, and yesterday I paid him $280 pesos for that same picnic.
These guys are a disgrace. I am not bitter. by the way, that guy in Puertecios is already a price hoar for charging 20 bucks just for a palapa.
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I did the math,,,,what's the difference, you still only got charged $20.00 US? You actually got a good deal if you ask me, no increase in one
year?!?!?!?! People can tend to gauge stuff on what a restaurant charges because it seems by reading this thread that this is where most of you eat.
Living down here and operating a dorm facility I can tell you that food purchased in the markets is not cheap by any means. Every year we too must do
what we can do to bring food to the table for our guest and sometimes.
There are those out there that are totally taking advantage of this situation, but just carry your calculator with you and consistently ask them what
their exchange rate is.
Exchange your money at the Bank, pay in pesos, and give your business to those that are honest.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Hooker-
I'm curious. I've been a customer off and on at Mike's for many years. Although his place out behind the power station is really neat, I had to wonder
if he risked a drop-off in business because of a less conspicuous location. Aside from the locals, alot of tourists staying at the hotels on Medano
Beach used to walk to his old location. Tourist season is going to peak in about a month. How are the crowds? And does Latitude 22 appear busy? And,
Baja Cantina does offer much more opportunity for people watching.
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3296
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
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Mood: Tranquilo
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Seems to be a lot of whining about not getting a bank exchange rate in the boonies. Why should they be willing to take your foriegn currency in the
first place. How many of you have spent pesos in the US? I know there are a few stores at the border that will but try spending them in Idaho or
anywhere else 10 miles from the border.
If you don't have currency from the country that you are in you shouldn't assume that you can buy anything regardless of the exchange rate. When I
don't have pesos for a purchase (almost never) I take the exchange rate offered. If I don't like it I go get pesos......dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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What's your complaint?
| Quote: | Originally posted by Hooker33
Lattitude 22 yesterday changed their menu from Pesos to dollars and if you pay in Pesos it will be at 12 to 1. I am surprised the Mike would do this
to his long time customers. I'm rethinking my place of drinking and eating. Maybe Tanga-Tanga or Baja Cantina. |
12-1 is a great deal. I wouldn't take 12 or even 13-1. Fair would be 14.25-1. Would you rather him give you a sweetheart deal an go broke on the
exchange rate? What's wrong with you people?
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Hooker33
Junior Nomad
Posts: 65
Registered: 6-23-2008
Location: Camano Is. WA
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Dave,
My complaint is that I spend nearly the entire year here in Cabo and use only Pesos in my adopted country. If an establishment is having financial
difficulty then, by all means, raise your prices to establish your expected profit margin. I have no problem with price increases but do it in Pesos
so that we don't have to bring a calculator to lunch to convert the dollars on the menu to the Pesos in my pocket. (With all due respect) Lattitudes
business in mostly old time customers following Mike to his new place. He does not get much "off the street" business as he did when he was down town
.
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oxxo
Banned
Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
Member Is Offline
Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hooker33
Lattitude 22 yesterday changed their menu from Pesos to dollars and if you pay in Pesos it will be at 12 to 1. I am surprised the Mike would do this
to his long time customers. I'm rethinking my place of drinking and eating. Maybe Tanga-Tanga or Baja Cantina. |
I don't get your point. If Mike has a menu item for US$10 and you only have pesos, it will be 120p. But I buy my pesos at the bank yesterday at 14.4
to 1, so really the 120p I paid Mike is really only costing me about US$9. What's arong with that deal? I think Mike is doing you a favor.
Go to Tanga or Baja Cantina and buy something on the menu for 120p and pay for it in dollars. They will ask you for US$12.
So I can spend 120p at the Roadhouse and pay the equivalent of about US$9 or I can go to Baja Cantina and spend 120p and pay the equivalent of US$12.
What makes more sense to you?
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by msteve1014
(I don't care what they charge. If I don't like the price, I don't buy but, they won't be able to tell me that the price of an enchilada went up 40%
because the peso buys fewer dollars. )
I think that is the bottom line. Or change your dollars into pesos somewhere else, or keep your dollars,or stay home and spend your dollars, but quit
crying about it. |
Well said, there are some crazy people here, gringos too who, one store owner a marine shop in La Paz has 4 prices for each item, one in pesos and one
dolllars on the product and two other prices at the register. He says he has to conform to profepa or something so he has low prices on the items for
tax purposes and the real price is marked in the computer when you buy it pegged at todays dollar plus importation blah blah, of course this results
in prices about 30-40% more when you buy. If you question his far fetched logic he throws a fit and starts swearing and says everyone accepts it. This
final strategy seems consistent with the ripoffs, the part where they throw a big fit when you question the outrageous pricing.
I am being very careful about my exchange rates and costs and where I buy and I am saving quite a bit. Its nice to be able to buy a case of 24 media
pacificos for $160 pesos and share them with neighbors as opposed to paying as much as double or triple at some rip off store.
We are also enjoying searching for fruits and supplies in rancheros, finding perfect key limes and and choosing bamboo and rocks from the ranches for
our projects. We cook for groups and share too, Seems like bartering and cooperation among friends is a great way to enjoy the crisis together.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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Calculator?
| Quote: | Originally posted by Hooker33
I have no problem with price increases but do it in Pesos so that we don't have to bring a calculator to lunch to convert the dollars on the menu to
the Pesos in my pocket. |
The establishment should post the exchange rate and do the conversion for you. It should be on your bill. One price for payment in pesos and another
for payment in dollars. Simple.
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Bajajack
Banned
Posts: 370
Registered: 5-20-2007
Location: Arizona
Member Is Offline
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When are you guy's gonna learn, you ain't their buddy's, you're nothing more than a walking wallet or purse.
It's their duty to get as much as they can.
\"take what you can, give nothing back!\"
We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the
American people.\'
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
We can have no \"50-50\" allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all.
Theodore Roosevelt
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Well said, Jack. And as a customer, one can always turn around and walk out. I think it's called capitalism. Vendors and customers aren't fraternity
brothers.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajajack
When are you guy's gonna learn, you ain't their buddy's, you're nothing more than a walking wallet or purse.
It's their duty to get as much as they can. |
This thread is about exchange rip offs. I have yet to read an example of an unfair exchange rate. It's now around 14-1. Anything less that that is
flat giving away money. Any merchant who doesn't understand the concept is doomed.
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