34 replies to this topic

[boozr619]

Chiquito, I also hate those parking lot fools, when you arrive they ask for money to take care of your car. I always tell them I'll tip them when I leave. They are usually never around anyways. I always mess with these guys because they want money for nothing. When I return to my car I usually come back from a different direction, I either haul ass and jump in my car Bo Duke style, and leave before they even know I returned to my car, or if they see me, I take my time, pretend I'm looking for something, adjust my mirrors, if I happen to have my kids with me, I buckle them in, play around and wait for some other shmuck that gets to their car distract them, then I leave. I hate it so much when there's no traffic, I'm trying to back up and these guys won't move. I also try to back into parking spots to avoid the hassle. Somewhere in cyberspace I read begging is a growing industry, like getting paid the equivalent of a 40 hour week, tax and stress free! Anybody up to a new topic titled "beggars after me"

[Scooby]

Pemex workers get a salary. Once one hit me up for a tip and I asked what he earned. He said something like 2000 peso a week. I told him my wife considered her own 1500 a week better than average but never got tips even those she was often busting her tail. She said since they are government employees (Pemex), they have more benefits than most workers. These jobs are generally considered better than most.

Some workers live and depend on tips while others don't. I don't know if parking lot attendants are salaried but my vehicle was broke into under their watch. Had I been a regular and a tipper, I can't really say if that would've happened. Also, some colonias are more notorious for some of these type problems.

I don't mind tipping sometimes, but certainly not everyone deserves it
simply because of their smile or presence.

[otayBill]

Yesterday, the PEMEX attendant wiped all the dust off my car with a rag.

I was very happy for that extra service.

Dust covering one's car is a big problem in East Tijuana.

[Scooby]

That's one of the reasons I've preferred the western part of TJ.
Also westward, I've always thought the climate to be a little cooler with the ocean breezes easier felt.
What ever smog build up exists would tend to be blown eastward.

Dust covering one's car is a big problem in East Tijuana.

[BajaGringo]

Here on the coast there is even less dust than in Tijuana and it is much cooler in the summer. As far as tipping, I will if they do something beyond pumping gas. Where I usually go over here there is a kid who not only does my windows he checks my fluids and cleans the brake dust off my alloys. All with a very friendly attitude and big smile.

It's fun tipping people like that...

[Tj Jack]

All with a very friendly attitude and big smile.

It's fun tipping people like that...

I agree 100%

I don't care what kind of service someone provides if they do it with quality and a smile and I benefit from it I get pleasure from tipping them!

[Chiquito]

Where is 'Ciudad Constitucion'?

[Tcat]

I agree that western TJ is A Lot less of a dust bowl than East TJ.

OtayBill and I we're chatting over a beer a little while back about the Pemex on Bellas Artis near the Otay crossing.

Comparing notes, we both found they do not give either the correct change or give no change at all. In other words, they have a pattern of stealing from the gringos  :!:  This is the only Pemex I have had a problem with in over 10 years. And OtayBill had the same issue.

OtayBill, can you note the Pemex station # for the folks here?
TIA
Tcat

[BajaGringo]

There is a very easy way to avoid the problem and confusion of paying for your gas at Pemex. Simply carry pesos with you so you can pay in pesos. 99% of the problems come from the exchange calculation which can be avoided totally if you don't pay in dollars.

[otayBill]

My regular PEMEX station on Bellas Artes and Lopez Portillo has never over charged me.

This is what I do to keep from being overcharged.
1) I never say fill her up ('llenalo') but always tell the amount to put in, 300 pesos.
2) Then I check that they set the meter to zero before pumping.

My regular station has a lot of ruta taxis and taxi libres filling up.

The station that overcharges, on Bellas Artes west of the border crossing, is never busy.

[otayBill]

I found a SELF-SERVICE station in Tijuana.

In Otay, on the south side of Calz Univ. Autonoma de Baja (turns into Ave. Industrial) right before Blvd. Lazaro Cardenas Norte. Across the street from Otay Plaza America.

[Chiquito]

Did you notice if their prices were different? I was under the impression that the gasoline prices were mandated by the government. If that is the case, there would be little advantage to self-service. Not sure though.

[otayBill]

Did you notice if their prices were different?

I don't think their any difference in the price. It was 7.51 pesos per liter.

But you don't have to give a tip.

[pinchecabrona]

It's no sweat off my back to tip a coin or two. Being a woman, I certainly tip the Pemex guys in my neighborhood. I just never know when I may have to pull in there one day (or night) with a flat tire or some other problem. Since they are in my neighborhood, I think it's a good idea to always tip a little extra. Just my feeling.

[bombero]

Pemex attendants try to limit how much diesel my friend can put in his truck and reserve tank. He gets around it by tipping the attendant.