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Phil S
Super Nomad
Posts: 1205
Registered: 10-28-2003
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Mood: After 34 years. Still in love w/ my wife
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Loreto Bancomer "gringo line"
So how is the new "gringo" line doing at the Loreto Bank?
Is it still open? How is construction going on the new BanaMex Bank? Or is it open now? How's street construction coming on Juarez Ave? And
Salviterra (sp?)
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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Gringo line?
Is it enforced? Is there a sign?
Is there a teller? 
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
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When I deposited a check a week ago, a new manager hustled out to greet me and give me a "Prefered Customer" card. But I know local Mexicans that have
them too. The next time I went to the bank, I just got in line...didn't feel like cutting in in front of everyone.
Juarez is nicely paved to Madero, but they still need to finish sidewalk work. The Madero to Malecon section will be finished at a later date.
Salvatierra is still mostly unpaved and it doesn't look like it will get done soon. It's late in the year and the money's all gone, they say. There is
one section where the street is done, but not the sidewalks, but I saw a photo-shopped poster at city hall showing both done. Vamos por un Loreto
mejor y differente!
Salvatierra Pemex: only one entance over a steep drop-off to the unpaved street. No bueno for trailers. Juarez Pemex, steep drop-off over the new
curbs; no provision as yet for a proper drive way. New Padre kino Pemex: Business is booming, no left turn allowed into the station so you must
approach from the west on Padre Kino. Cheapest station to fill a 5 gallon (18.9 liter) can. Right on at about 19 liters.
The wall around the stinky pump station at the end of Juarez does not work. Maybe they will make it taller.
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
Is it enforced? Is there a sign?
Is there a teller? |
I think you asked the right questions here. I hope some will have answers.
I would not go into a Bank that had one of those.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
I would not go into a Bank that had one of those. |
I wonder if they have drinking fountains for "Gringos Only"?
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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You're just being silly
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
I wonder if they have drinking fountains for "Gringos Only"? |
What's the first rule about going to Mexico?
Don't drink the water!
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
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The Loreto Bancomer has three lines. One for everyone, that's often long, and two short lines, one for Businesses and one for "Prefered Customers."
I don't know exactly what was needed in the past to be a "prefered customer."
So now, with a new local bank coming, and more gringos in Baja, Bancomer is making a push to improve services to North Americans. In some respects,
such as the local Bancomer's handling of fideocomisos, that's a welcome development. They also have an English speaking bank officer. And apparently
now all gringos with an account are given prefered customer cards. Our account is modest, and we never asked for the card but the manager came to the
teller window and gave me one.
I have, however, seen locals Mexicans use the prefered customer line. And on my last visit to the bank I saw Americans, including a local business
man, waiting in the regular line.
If there are any gringos who prefer the special treatment of an automatic prefered customer card based on nationality, and use the short line, well,
their head's in a different place than mine.
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rob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 509
Registered: 10-19-2004
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
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Don - re Preferred card. I received one of those a couple of years ago and proudly went to Bancomer on 16 Sep in La Paz. It was payday and FULL - man
was I glad to be one of the chosen!
There were only two people in line ahead of me in the Preferred Customer line, versus dozens in the Ordinary People line.
Thirty five minutes later, as all the familiar faces in the Ordinary People line had come and long gone, there were STILL two people ahead of me in
Preferred line. They were both hotel accountants depositing what looked like the last 6 months takings . . . .
Preferred customer (at least at 16 Sep) means "commercial" . . .
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by lencho
| Quote: | Originally posted by Don Alley
If there are any gringos who prefer the special treatment of an automatic prefered customer card based on nationality, and use the short line, well,
their head's in a different place than mine. |
I'm still a bit unclear on this. Are you sure the only reason you were offered the card was due to nationality? If so, sounds like they're opening
themselves up for a scandal...
FWIW, I have one of those cards. I'm a Gringo. I have friends who have them. They're Mexicans. In my personal experience nationality has nothing
to do with it.
--Larry |
OK, as I posted before, I also know nationals with the cards.
But this time the bank officer came to me at the teller window. He introduced himself as the new English speaking bank manager that was there to serve
me or whatever. I got the prefered customer card, with a brochure, in English, about the new services Bancomer was offering for its English speaking
customers. It's obvious in Loreto that Bancomer is making a big push to get/keep gringo businesses. I've had an account here for five years or so and
I haven't been given a card before, and I haven't gotten any prettier or any richer so, yeah, I think it's based on nationality, and I think it's bs.
They are catering to gringos here. That's why Phil, and others, call it "the Gringo line."
Scandal? Yeah, but I'm not sure the local gringos are going for it; we may all just get in line with everyone else.
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tuna stick
Junior Nomad
Posts: 67
Registered: 8-27-2004
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For those who are embaressed to use the preferred customer line,Bancomer is building a "Gringo Branch Bank" on Mex 1,a block south of Padre Kino.
Should be open before Christmas!
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Paula
Super Nomad
Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
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This gringa will be standing in the everyday people line with my neighbors of whatever nationality.
That is unless of course I should have to go to the bank on a Monday or a Fridday and my very busy life does not allow me this luxury
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
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| Quote: | Originally posted by tuna stick
For those who are embaressed to use the preferred customer line,Bancomer is building a "Gringo Branch Bank" on Mex 1,a block south of Padre Kino.
Should be open before Christmas! |
Oh, I thought that the new branch was going to be the regular branch, and the existing branch was going to be the "Gringo Branch."
Whatever, I'll still use the same branch 'cause I ive in Centro and it's easy to get to.
By the way, big development going on near the hwy and Padre Kino, Fonatur's doing it, looks like mostly housing for Mexicans and maybe, rumor has it,
a CCC supermarket. The plans were posted at a display downtown, many small lots, some designated "ejido," and one BIG lot. CCC?
Edit: Oh, Paula just told me who you are, Tuna Stick. Hi!
[Edited on 11-2-2007 by Don Alley]
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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| Quote: | Originally posted by lencho
| Quote: | Originally posted by Don Alley
I've had an account here for five years or so and I haven't been given a card before, and I haven't gotten any prettier or any richer so, yeah, I
think it's based on nationality, and I think it's bs. They are catering to gringos here. That's why Phil, and others, call it "the Gringo line."
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Meh. I still find it astounding they'd risk that, but your take on it does sound plausible...
--Larry |
Risk what? If the country can pass laws preventing the ownership of land based on nationality, why is this such a big deal? Are there laws preventing
this in Mexico?
I am ignorant.
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Paula
Super Nomad
Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
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| Quote: | Originally posted by lencho
| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
Risk what? If the country can pass laws preventing the ownership of land based on nationality, why is this such a big deal? Are there laws preventing
this in Mexico?
I am ignorant. |
Laws? I have no clue.
But emotionally, I can imagine how it goes over with the locals that Gringos get to cut the line just because they're Gringos.
--Larry |
And this is why I will never go to the cliente preferido line. I was only joking earlier abut Mondays and Fridays
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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Unless the joke's on us.
| Quote: | Originally posted by lencho
But emotionally, I can imagine how it goes over with the locals that Gringos get to cut the line just because they're Gringos.
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There are many "gringo only" lines in Mexico. Most aren't labeled. 
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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NO! NO!! NO!!!!
The "Preferred Customer" line is for people of ANY & ALL nationalities who actually have an account with
Bancomer! There is purportedly a small number of the general population who has a bank account, but they either have paychecks to cash or are seniors
who get their pension checks on the last day of the month. None of you guys never noticed the age group of the majority of people in line on the last
day of the month???
It is NOT a gringo line! It's intent is to give faster service to people who actually keep $$$ there as opposed to those
non-customers who merely use it for check cashing!
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Paula
Super Nomad
Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
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Longlegs,
You are in La Paz, not Loreto. We know that it is not exclusively a gringo line. And here in Loreto it does not include all people with accounts at
Bancomer. And there is an English speaking officer being very solicitous of people he assumes are English speaking.
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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THAT IS discrimination! I wouldn't use that line either! My Bancomer doesn't have any English-speakers in residence....when I asked after reading an
article in Gringo Gazette, I was told, "That's ONLY in Cabo!"
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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discrimination is legal in Mexico
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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elizabeth
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 7-30-2004
Location: Loreto, BCS
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In Loreto the sign announcing the preferred costumer (sic) is in English (more or less) only. Not both English and Spanish, so it's a good guess that
they are trying to cater to the expat community.
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