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Alan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1626
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Yucaipa, CA/La Paz
Member Is Offline
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Maybe I've just been hitting the newer stations by sheer chance but in the last few years every pump I have gone to have had LCD displays that zero
automatically when the pump is turned on. Not zeroing the pump has been a reported scam for the last forty years so I have always been on the lookout
for it and after nearly 40 years of traveling to Baja I can honestly say no one has ever tried it on me. Judging by the other posts I obviously live
a charmed life.
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torinoso1
Newbie
Posts: 17
Registered: 1-27-2007
Member Is Offline
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new scam?
We stopped and fueled at the first pemex entering santa rosalia from the north last wednesday. 3 people came out to the pump asking about our load of
boats ,poles ,dive gear and camping stuff and were also handing out t- shirts celebrating there grand openinig. First the pump jockey supposedly put
in a small amount of fuel-about 145 pesos and hung up the nozzle. Kurt told him we wanted it filled up so he started the pump again after writing down
the first amount-I guess an old trick.Then when we were done fueling he took out his calculator and added the two together.Kurt noticed that the total
seemed high so he asked the attendant to add them up again-same total . Kurt had noticed the guy pressing what we believe was a memory button while he
was adding .Kurt took out a piece of paper and added the two with the attendant and came out with a total of about 85 pesos less. The attendant acted
like the calculator was bad and laughed it off. I think we got scammed on the first amount that was supposedly pumped but not on the second try . He
was a large, outgoing individual .At least we got 4 "free" t-shirts.
Heads up! Eric
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BCSTech
Senior Nomad
Posts: 584
Registered: 4-16-2006
Location: Todos Santos, BCS / Placerville, CA.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Carpe Manana
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I'll say it again: ANYTIME they restart the pump, you are being scammed.
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Crusoe
Senior Nomad
Posts: 731
Registered: 10-14-2006
Member Is Offline
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Locking Gas Cap.........Then look the attendent squarely in the eye and call him your friend and ask if he will be a good amigo!! Tip him 10 pesos
when transaction is completed.
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Pappy Jon
Nomad
Posts: 494
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Wrong side of the Continental divide.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Temp rising.
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Buying fuel is one of the things I hate doing in Baja, and I always pay in Pesos for that reason. I prefer the self serve stations for obvious
reasons. But, even then I've had pumps not right. One of the stations in San Felipe, next to the immigration office, is that way. I put in more fuel
than my tanks holds there ... but only once. Never been back.
I do pay attention to where the locals are fueling. I've noticed in BOLA there is a prefered pump so I just hang back and observe for awhile.
My truck has a locking gas cover, and I've used locking caps before too. At least it slows them down. Pulling the 20L can off the bumper first is also
a great idea I've used before, and I don't let them reset before hitting the truck neck.
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marla
Nomad
Posts: 287
Registered: 10-29-2003
Location: Long Beach
Member Is Offline
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Last time I was in Loreto and refueled, the guy shortchanged me by 100 pesos. I told him I needed another 100 pesos but he just kept shrugging. Then,
he suddenly seemed to get religion and gave me my 100 pesos. I looked up and there was a cop car pulling up to the pump. At least I know now thanks to
you guys to make sure the pump is zeroed out before pumping. I always watch carefully now and they see I'm watching.
If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a
speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen. Henry David
Thoreau
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Pappy Jon
Nomad
Posts: 494
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Wrong side of the Continental divide.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Temp rising.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalou
Just a note that some of the pumps have to be restarted if they automatically shut off and remain off for more than 45 seconds.
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So, I should sit in my truck for 45 seconds before getting out?
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
Member Is Offline
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I live in San Lucas Cove and have to fuel in Santa Rosalia and admit that it is a constant struggle to make sure that everything works out correctly.
But, I can't believe that it is some kind of new information to pay in pesos and watch your change. Egads, this is Mexico, and the monetary system is
in Pesos. Can you imagine what would happen if you went to a station in
San Diego and tried to pay with Pesos and spoke only Spanish. I suspect you might get taken advantage of there too. Guess what, they will not take
pesos across the border and expect you to trade your pesos for dollars when you go north, but we continue to want to pay things in Dollars when we
come to MEXICO.
I also have gotten to the point that I am careful but I have a lot more important things to focus on like the sunshine, the beauty of the desert,
how good fishing was yesterday, how happy I am to be around my friends, so I sometimes forget to get really upset when I get scammed for 10 pesos or
maybe even 50. It sure isn' enough to wreck my day.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
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Larry,
What a refreshing point of view. So many of us have this victim mentality, where in fact we share the responsibility for our actions
and interactions.
Thanks for the enlightened post.
Ken
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pescador
Can you imagine what would happen if you went to a station in San Diego and tried to pay with Pesos and spoke only Spanish. I suspect you might get
taken advantage of there too. Guess what, they will not take pesos across the border and expect you to trade your pesos for dollars when you go
north, but we continue to want to pay things in Dollars when we come to MEXICO. |
Accepting dollars and/or pesos is smart business practice. Thousands of SBO's on both sides of the border now accept either
currency. No laws against it.
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
Member Is Offline
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I'm not saying that it isn't good business practice, I am just saying that all things are not equal. When my Mexican friends go north they know that
they will not be allowed to pay in pesos because we use USDollars in the US. It is only because so many people are used to using dollars in Mexico
and then get upset when someone does not exchange them properly. My wife who is originally from Greece is an absolute whiz at exchange but one day
was buying a blanket in Mulege and for some reason got turned around on the exchange and value transaction and tried to pay the guy 1,000 Pesos for a
100 peso blanket. I am just saying that it would be nice if we would honor the country and do exchanges in their currency which they are obviously
trained to accept and make change.
I especially like Lencho's response how he likes to interact with the local guys at the gas stations and he watches the transaction as carefully as
any other business transaction he would conduct in Mexico but he still manages to see these guys as people who are doing a job. I bring the guys in
Santa Rosalia fish all the time and they always watch out for me and tell me which pumps to use and make sure that I get absolutely the best service
and a smile. Maybe that is because I see them as people foremost and workers for a gas station that has the worst reputation in all of baja. Now
when the new Qualli station opens in Santa Rosalia next month, of course I will shop there but I am sure that I will still find a few extra fish for
my friends at the old station.
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Crusoe
Senior Nomad
Posts: 731
Registered: 10-14-2006
Member Is Offline
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Really great post Pescador........Very Compasionette......Be honest now... Have you everfelt personaly cheated at the Pemex in Santa Rosilla??
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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Folks,
People have been posting about the various scams at the Santa Rosalia Pemex forever - yet three pages of posts discussing the intimate ins/outs of the
latest variation. Is the interest merely scatological or are we really surprised?
[Edited on 2-28-2007 by Roberto]
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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roberto-------
"scatological" ??????? that sent me to the ol dictionary!!! 
Lots of "newby's" on this board that need to be brought up to speed-----------and lots of ancients that need to be constantly reminded of the crooks
in our midst. I, for one, welcome the reminders. 
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64865
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Correct, the creator of this thread (shari) has been a Baja Nomad for less than a year, so she may not have realized that the subject of a cheating
station in Santa Rosalia is not new to us (who have been here longer)... Also, there are new people here that appreciate the warning, I am sure.
As I said before, nobody makes you read posts here, nor takes away from others ability to post, why cry about a post that is intended to assist
travelers?
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
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Loreto Cuallis
The Pemex on Calle Juarez was always busy; sometimes the lines of cars would constrict traffic in the streets. This was depite the persistent rumors
that they pumped only 800 ml per liter. Their gas did seem expensive. But the other, larger Pemex was owned by the same people and was no different.
Then this new Pemex opened on Padre Kino. With a new owner, a local business man who pledged full liters. And it was a Cualli station. In no time the
lines formed and the station appears to be thriving. It costs less to fill a tank there. And the station on Jaurez? Slow. Usually no cars, and for
weeks I never saw more than one car at a time gassing up there.
The latest: The station on Calle Jaurez put up a big banner: Credit Cards are now accepted. And two new signs: Premium gasoline. And...a Cualli sign!
[Edited on 3-1-2007 by Don Alley]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Sometimes, people just like to vent. In many cases, it's all we can do so it makes us feel better.
Besides, helping to bring awareness of a scum-ball, thieving gas station to others is a powerful tool as Don pointed out above. I've often felt that
the expat community would be well-served with a consumer protection network. With solidarity, it would be a deterrent.
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marla
Nomad
Posts: 287
Registered: 10-29-2003
Location: Long Beach
Member Is Offline
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Personally I somehow feel more hurt when I get ripped off in Mexico, because the mostly people I meet are generally so much kinder and warm and
helpful than people here in So Cal that when someone isn't that way and tries to rip me off, it stings more than it would here. Though I have had many
people try to shortchange me in Mexico, I also remember the store clerk who chased me down the street to give me the change I forgot from my $20 that
I'm sure would have been more than she made in the entire day. And the mechanic who worked for five hours past his dinner to fix our car and then
charged us $40.
If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a
speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen. Henry David
Thoreau
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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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I had a key made in Cabo San Lucas. I think it was 8 pesos. The teenage boy behind the counter was very diligent and conscientious while he cut the
key. Evidently a 100 pesos bill fell out of my pocket when I pulled out the 10 and told him to keep the change. I was not aware of it. I was a
blolck down the street when the young man came running after me with the 100 pesos in his hand. I was so taken aback, I could just say "gracias" and
that's it. I felt bad afterward that I didn't tip him another 20 pesos. He is a quality young man and should be acknowledged.
I'll take most Mexicans any day over most Californians.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Most Californians are Mexicans.
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