Good News On Taxi Exchange Rates

[ggunn]

Budgets are tight all around and no one likes being cheated. It can be very upsetting if you're expecting one exchange rate and are then blindsided with another. I get it. No need to vilify those who feel victimized. I've been in a number of areas where the dollar was worth far more than the exchange rate. I have a wonderful Mink Shabka from Russia. The exchange put it way over $400 and I got it for $60 American. No, I wasn't in a tourist area either and we both felt we made out.

But we aren't talking about a US$400 purchase, we are talking about a couple of bucks for a taxi ride. I daresay that anyone to whom US$2 would make a difference in the quality of their vacation should maybe reconsider where they spend their PTO, especially seeing as the solution is so readily and easily available. Pay in pesos, no problema.

Even if by some stretch I get taken for two bucks by a taxista, it's off my radar in seconds. You do have a choice in how you react to stuff like this, you know? I choose to walk away with a smile on my face and play better next time.

 

[The Chairman]

$2 on a $10 fare is %20. That constant %20 keeps adding up and it upsets some people. I have been taken aback a couple times by the tourist tax, so I am careful to bring pesos along with me. But then, I've been there before and I've got a ready supply of pesos to start with.

OK, you don't give a flip about what others are going through. I certainly do.

 

[ggunn]

$2 on a $10 fare is %20. That constant %20 keeps adding up and it upsets some people. I have been taken aback a couple times by the tourist tax, so I am careful to bring pesos along with me. But then, I've been there before and I've got a ready supply of pesos to start with.

OK, you don't give a flip about what others are going through. I certainly do.

I don't give a flip about what others are going through when it is self inflicted. If someone tells me that they got ripped off for $2 by a taxi driver, I say, "Big deal. Pay in pesos. Hand me another beer."

 

[The Chairman]

when it is self inflicted

You realize that's why we have these discussions, right? To clue others in? No need to be so hostile.

 

[BRT]

I did 3 taxi rides between more or less the same points in Coz in February. 30, 50 and 70 pesos. I gave the 2 higher priced drivers tips and grins. When it came time to pay for the 30 peso ride I had 30 pesos and 200 pesos. He didn't want to make change for the 200 even though I told him I couldn't give him a tip if he didn't. The poor honest guy did the worst! These are mostly nice people who are not getting rich driving taxi. I like to treat them well.

 

[MMM]

You realize that's why we have these discussions, right? To clue others in? No need to be so hostile.

I didn't see ggunn's comment as hostile whatsoever. More like "chill, dude. You're in Mexico. Where pesos are the local currency."

 

[MMM]

I did 3 taxi rides between more or less the same points in Coz in February. 30, 50 and 70 pesos. I gave the 2 higher priced drivers tips and grins. When it came time to pay for the 30 peso ride I had 30 pesos and 200 pesos. He didn't want to make change for the 200 even though I told him I couldn't give him a tip if he didn't. The poor honest guy did the worst! These are mostly nice people who are not getting rich driving taxi. I like to treat them well.

I just got back from a trip for dinner. I asked the cab driver when I got in for the fare. He told me $7. I asked him in pesos but my bad Spanish confirmed 60 pesos. To which he agreed. On the way back, the same trip was 70 pesos. No problem. So fares can be somewhat negotiable. "No tengo dollars. Tengo pesos solo." Some people seem to want to make a federal case out of this. My goodness. It's easy if you pay in pesos. There is no prescribed exchange rate. Expect to pay more if you want to pay in US dollars.

 

[judydivescoz]

It's such an easy solution if one thinks they are getting "ripped off" by a taxi driver usin USD......just pay in pesos! Geez....what's the big deal??

 

[cvchief]

Something you seem to be forgetting is that you are a gringo and the cab driver is Mexican, the cop is Mexican, and you are in Mexico. If you get into an adversarial situation with a cab driver, who is it again that you think the cop will side with?

That is why you get good insurance when renting a car. It WILL be your fault!

But I like Mexico being Mexico. I don't want to change it.

 

[cvchief]

It's such an easy solution if one thinks they are getting "ripped off" by a taxi driver usin USD......just pay in pesos! Geez....what's the big deal??

Of course you can get overcharged in Pesos too.

I remember we were going from the house to our Carnival room at the Cuda. I was shouldering 50# of beads and toys and crap. I flagged a taxi on 10. They guy stopped and the missus took over in Spanish. He quoted something dumb like 2-300 pesos. She told him no and he got mad and left. Then I had to schlep all that crap 4 more block before we got another cab for like 30 pesos.

I would have paid the first guy.....