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bajasusan/a
Junior Nomad
Posts: 96
Registered: 6-23-2015
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credit card gas san quintin and guerrero negro
anyone know if i can use my american express at the pemex stations in san q. and gn? if not, are USDollars ok? and since i haven't seen the question
here yet, does anyone know if pemex prices will rise on jan. 1st?
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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The only place I would feel safe using a credit card is at the PEMEX in El Rosario.
It's probably a good idea to stop at a bank and use your ATM/debit card to withdraw pesos for use in Baja. With the current exchange rate hovering
around 17pesos to 1USD you will be better off using pesos
YMMV
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bajasusan/a
Junior Nomad
Posts: 96
Registered: 6-23-2015
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i sure would be better off! but i would also be better off if i had my atm card, which was stolen last week and which i cant replace (nor have access
to my bank account) for 2 weeks for a variety of reasons. hence my question about using the credit card, hoping to save cash...thanks, though!
[Edited on 12-22-2015 by bajasusan/a]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64835
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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*Use money not plastic in Baja.
*All places accept U.S. dollars.
*You could get a better value as well as have less trouble at purchases if you exchange dollars for pesos before crossing the border, however.
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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4289
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Location: La Paz, BCS
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Mood: happy - always
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have been using the gas station in Guerrero Negro across from Caracol hotel
for years with American Express
gas station at Los Pinos (just south of San Quintin) is good for credit cards as well
most gas stations in Baja accept credit and debit cards now - however, some don't take US issued cards, but will take EU cards
Harald Pietschmann
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bajasusan/a
Junior Nomad
Posts: 96
Registered: 6-23-2015
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CASE CLOSED, and thanks for all the suggestions. Especially the one below, cuz if I had had better options I would have used them...
Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  | have been using the gas station in Guerrero Negro across from Caracol hotel
for years with American Express
gas station at Los Pinos (just south of San Quintin) is good for credit cards as well
most gas stations in Baja accept credit and debit cards now - however, some don't take US issued cards, but will take EU cards |
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Gulliver
Senior Nomad
Posts: 651
Registered: 11-18-2013
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Dunno about AMEX but when I was coming down to Mulege in October I used my VISA card in Ensenada, San Quentin, El Rosario, Guerro Negro and San
Ignatio. I did, however, call my credit union and have then suspend my fraud protection for the Winter. If I don't, they go berserk and shut off my
card. You're think I was charging stuff from Nigeria!
Mulege is currently a problem with a card. Pesos only. But I live here and carry pesos.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3503
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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Obviously you're willing to risk fraud considering the majority here stating you should NOT use plastic at PEMEX. Your call.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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bajasusan/a
Junior Nomad
Posts: 96
Registered: 6-23-2015
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| Quote: Originally posted by Lee | | Obviously you're willing to risk fraud considering the majority here stating you should NOT use plastic at PEMEX. Your call.
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oh well, if we were all as intelligent as you clearly are, sir, who would you have to feel superior to?
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Gulliver
Senior Nomad
Posts: 651
Registered: 11-18-2013
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My personal experience has been that I've not been cheated once over the years. A few gas station exercises where the pump readings were hilarious
high but little else.
Just last week we had some tacos in Loreto and in the confusion we walked away without paying. Fortunately we will be back there next week again and
can straighten it out! Most embarrassing.
Twenty-five years ago I was fulling a jerry can at Turtle Bay and the kid managed to get seven gallons in a six gallon can. I asked, "How did you get
so much in there?" His response was, "How did you get it so empty?"
Such boldness deserves a reward. I laughed and payed up.
This does not include a few minor niggles with local law enforcement where the holidays were approaching and their funds were running low. The total
of these sums over 46 years runs around fifty bucks.
The most recent of them was in Old Cabo a few years ago where they had me dead to rights. No helmet and no registration. Guilty as hell. But the hint
was that the court was not open on a Monday and they might have to impound my bike. I went into my pleasantly stupid gringo act, fumbled with my money
and paid them half of what he had quoted. I saw them several times later that day (we had our helmets on and had retrieved the registration from our
tow rig) and they were full of smiles. I suspect we could have gotten away with pretty much anything then. Cost? $20.
At no time have I ever felt personally threatened down here except for some reckless driving on Rt.1. I have been broken down and/or lost many times
and whom every I asked for help, either uniformed or not, went out of their way to help me in spite of my fecklessness and poor Spanish.
I know. Living in a fool's paradise.
[Edited on 12-24-2015 by Gulliver]
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3503
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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| Quote: Originally posted by bajasusan/a | | Quote: Originally posted by Lee | | Obviously you're willing to risk fraud considering the majority here stating you should NOT use plastic at PEMEX. Your call.
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oh well, if we were all as intelligent as you clearly are, sir, who would you have to feel superior to? |
Clearly, you do not know those nomads posting here who think plastic is a mistake, nor do you know Baja to be asking your questions. No sweat off
my brow if you get ripped by Pemex.
Sorry to read you're striking out with stolen ATM card and lack of available funds. Sounds stressful.
A bit of helpful advice: reread DavidK's post and take it to heart.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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Bajakiter
Newbie
Posts: 21
Registered: 1-20-2007
Location: Venice Bch, USA & San Quintin
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4x4abc is spot on. Both stations (South SQ and GN) except CC. The one by Los Pinos is owned by them and in my opinion is the best full service 24
hour gas station in all of Baja hands down.
If you have a look, you will find a previous post that we talked about that has which gas stations are ones to avoid at all costs and ones that have
"true" pumps.
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bajasusan/a
Junior Nomad
Posts: 96
Registered: 6-23-2015
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thanks again, all. will let you know how it goes when i hit guerrero negro on thursday
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Credit cards at Pemex is a rather new event. The old argument was whether the pumps were crooked, or they screwed you on exchange if you paid USD.
My experience since 1982 in Baja is that I have never been victimized.
In my opinion, most of the harrowing tales posted on this site are from out of the way areas.
If you are staying on Mex1 there is very little possibility that you will have a problem.
Two stations that wee mentioned earlier that take plastic have no reports of a problem. The Los Pinos station just at the South end of San Quintin is
operated by a company that exports tons of produce to the US and operates several hotels in Baja.
The one across from Caracoles is also impeccable.
Only thing is that AMEX is not nearly as widely available than MC and Visa.
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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4289
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
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Mood: happy - always
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credit cards at Pemex a rather new event? Wow.
I have been using credit cards at Baja Pemex stations for at least 10 years.
US issued cards are sometimes not accepted. Many times it was simply that the employees did not know that they needed to use a different terminal.
Some gas stations do not have the bank service to support US cards. European credit cards have always been accepted. And of course Mex cards easiest.
If you are an expat still clinging to your non Mexican cards, you should change that asap.
Harald Pietschmann
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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| Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc | credit cards at Pemex a rather new event? Wow.
I have been using credit cards at Baja Pemex stations for at least 10 years.
US issued cards are sometimes not accepted. Many times it was simply that the employees did not know that they needed to use a different terminal.
Some gas stations do not have the bank service to support US cards. European credit cards have always been accepted. And of course Mex cards easiest.
If you are an expat still clinging to your non Mexican cards, you should change that asap.
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To be clear, the proliferation of credit cards at Pemex stations is relatively new. It came with the wave of new Pemex stations that have convenience
stores. And that is relatively recent.
Driving Baja in 1988, I do not believe there were any stations accepting plastic at that time.
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Gulliver
Senior Nomad
Posts: 651
Registered: 11-18-2013
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I drove to LaPaz for the solar eclipse in 1991. I used my card pretty much all the way down. I think I got rejected twice which is just about the
ratio I get now.
I accept that there have been people cheated both by over reading pump meters, bad change and creative zeroing of the pump. Just not me.
I have had a LOT more trouble with my card provider being a twit about their fraud protection when I'm down here and doing other brain dead things.
I just got a notice that they are going to issue new cards during the first quarter of next year. And how are they planning to get them to me? Mailing
them to my address of record which is NOT here. So I either go through some horrendous hoo Haw about getting them securely to me in some as yet
unknown way, or starving. We are not amused.
Not everyone in the stinking world is sitting at home watching TV.
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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
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Mood: Retired and Loving it
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Agree with 4x4, American CCs have been accepted in many (not all)) Pemex stations for at least the past 10 years. I generally prefer to use Pesos at
stations to reduce any chance of fraud but have used cards both American and Mexican at many stations in BC and BCS. It adds a few minutes to the
fill up procedure so I don't use it in a crowded station, but it is a good way to conserve cash when traveling.
Living Large in Loreto. Off-grid and happy.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64835
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by Gulliver | I drove to LaPaz for the solar eclipse in 1991. I used my card pretty much all the way down. I think I got rejected twice which is just about the
ratio I get now.
I accept that there have been people cheated both by over reading pump meters, bad change and creative zeroing of the pump. Just not me.
I have had a LOT more trouble with my card provider being a twit about their fraud protection when I'm down here and doing other brain dead things.
I just got a notice that they are going to issue new cards during the first quarter of next year. And how are they planning to get them to me? Mailing
them to my address of record which is NOT here. So I either go through some horrendous hoo Haw about getting them securely to me in some as yet
unknown way, or starving. We are not amused.
Not everyone in the stinking world is sitting at home watching TV. |
1991 Baja Ecplise web page I made featuring Graham: http://www.vivabaja.com/eclipse/index.html
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3503
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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I'm amazed that anyone anywhere would trust Pemex with a credit card, much less the MX government with their money. Sure some trusting people out
there. Are these Canadians?
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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