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mapache · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Villahermosa

I love Mexico very much but one very annoying thing is Mexicans attempting to charge me more for services and bought items than they pay themselves. Maybe they mistake me for a rich "gringo". Shoe shines are usually 5 pesos but when I ask "cuanto cuesta?" sometimes the reply is 10 pesos. I usually give an extra 5 peso tip anyway but it annoys me. One store tried to charge me 50 pesos for a six pack of SOL non-returnables when I know the going price is 40. Today a "vulcanizador" tried to charge me 30 pesos to fix a tire when I know the going rate is 20. Is this racism? What do you think?

wildnfree · Joined: 14 Jun 2005 Posts: 134

The over-charging for foreigners drives me crazy; it is common in touristy areas all over the world.

I do believe it is racism. If one racial group in the US, for example, was charged higher prices while others were not you could imagine the furor it would invoke.

I had this experience mostly when I was in China. The way I would deal with it was 1) feign shock and disbelief at the high prices; 2) Smile while feigning disbelief and shock; 3) Give my own price for the service / item (based on what everyone else pays) and let them take it or leave it. Of course, speaking the local language well helps.

China was a good training ground. I know do this where ever I travel and it works very well. The only time it didnt was Thailand, were all taxi drivers would decide on the same ripp-off price so you couldnt get it cheaper anywhere else.

I would like to ask a) Where are you in Mexico?
b) What about the 9 Million or so white Mexicans? Do they have to deal with it?

PlayadelSoul · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 346 Location: Playa del Carmen

Mexico seems to have a built in socialist economy. I do not think it is racist. I think it is a socialist/capitalist mixed sliding scale, where people will charge what they think they can get. If you tell them you cannot pay that much, they usually lower the price.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

M@tt · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 473 Location: here and there

this reminds me of a funny story. i got tired of people doing this to me too, and i spent so much time in veracruz that i got to the point of feeling like i was entitled to local prices. i got in a taxi and the guy wanted to charge me 30 pesos for a really short ride. i was pretty sure i was being overcharged, so i just laughed at him and said "are you crazy? i live here, i'm not a tourist!" so he asked me "how much do you usually pay?" i had no idea what the normal rate for that particular trip was but i knew it was less than 30, so i said "20" and then he stareted laughing and said "that's impossible, we have a minimum charge of 25 for the entire city!" then he showed me the zone map with all the fixed rates, and the correct charge was in fact 25. he didn't seem at all embarrassed about charing me 30 so i didn't feel so bad about trying to get 20.

point of the story is, if you call them on it, you should know what the regular price is.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

I agree...I wouldn't call it racism but I think there is a very strong class system in Mexico and if you look like you can afford it AND don't know the normal price...you're screwed. I know that this has happened to me...but as my SPanish isn't that great and sometimes I simply don't know the 'normal' price...I go with it. Usually it's not tons and tons more...but it is frustrating.

As for the TOrreon airport ride....I thought 100 was normal....IF you took a taxi right from the airport. I never had to when I lived there but I know other people who did. The 'trick' apparently is to just go out to the street and hail one from there (and it's a pretty busy street so you should be able to).

I went to Torreon from Zacatecas this past Thrusday...and was a little 'alarmed' when we started driving off and I realized that the meter wasn't working. So I quickly asked how much and almsot broke into laughter when he told me 30 pesos (sorry...I was going to catch the bus from Zacatecas to Torreon and was on the way to the bus station). I knew it was kinda out of town so I was expecting to have to pay more than that. But there was a zone map right there on the window (that I shortly thereafter found) and it actually seemed like it was suppose to be a 35 peso ride! Either way....it was a good experience!

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I wonder if that's part of the Mexican internal divide too, between rich and poor? Big box stores are getting more and more common each day in the larger cities....part of the northamericanization of life...

The DF airport is an equal-opportunity thief. The official price is the same out-of-whack high for any and all comers. Any unauthorized taxi that pulls up the curb is immediately nabbed, towed away (with the driver inside if necessary) and fined a minimum 24,000 pesos. Saw a news bit on one poor DF taxi driver who dropped off at the airport (which is fine) but just before he pulled away a traveler opened the back door to get in. As the driver was explaining that he couldn't pick up, he was nabbed.

M@tt · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 473 Location: here and there

yes, the taxi from the airport thing is probably country-wide. i live less than 2 miles from the DF airport and the fixed "taxi seguro" price is 120 pesos. it's about 10 minutes. to get there from my apt is about 40 pesos.

you might be interested to know that the taxi seguro thing is also a mafia-type outfit. when i went two weeks ago, i was picked up by a friend who works in the district govt and he went into this big story about how brutal they can be if you invade their turf. at this point i feel just as well taking a street taxi although i usually get a ride from someone.

in egypt they have "tourist rate" and "national" posted in many bars, hotels, and of course tourist sites like museums and temples. the tourist rate is typically 3 times higher than the local rate. i think the business of charging foreign-looking people more is pretty common in any third world country where there aren't many opportunities to make good money.
it's still annoying of course but i feel a mix of sympathy when the person gouging me seems friendly.

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

mapache · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Villahermosa

Thanks guys. I actually do say "no" or "no soy tourista." In the park, I say no to a 10 peso shoe shine, go to someone else (within sight of the first vendor), pay 5 pesos and give a 5 peso tip (just to make a point). One other thing one can do is to have a Mexican friend help buy things for you. "Mi amigo" says, "hide your skinny white butt around the corner or stay in the car until I negotiate the price". I appreciate all your feedback.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City