Noticed in some of the restaurants in Rocky Point they scam you by charging you twice for the exchange rate if you want to pay in pesos. When I get to RP I take out a lot of pesos at an ATM, then prefer to pay in pesos to not get ripped off by the restaurant's reduced exchange rate. But then I noticed some restaurants total your bill in US dollars, and if you want to pay in pesos some restaurants give you a crappy exchange rate again to re-convert your bill back into pesos. I kinda got into it with the owner of the restaurant that's across from the Penasco del Sol hotel (can't remember the name of the restaurant but its the nice one in the shopping complex across from the hotel) because on the menu my breakfast meal was 90 pesos, coffee was 14 pesos, so with taxes my bill should've been around 120 pesos. My bill was just under $9 US dollars. But when I went to pay in pesos he charged me $140 pesos because he said he had to reconvert my bill back from US dollars to pesos. I told him that was absurd, why was he charging me to convert my bill from pesos to US dollars, then back to pesos. A lady in the restaurant who lives in RP overheard our conversation and stated a lot of restaurants do that, its their way of making a buck or two off of every customer without them realizing it. I don't care about the buck or two, its the principle of it all.
It was in the same strip mall as the other Wrecked at the Reef across from Penasco del Sol, but I can't remember its color or name. It has a propane flame display in front that they light up at night. Been there a few times, great restaurant, great food, great service, they just try to make a couple extra bucks off ya if you look non-local trying to pay in pesos.
Yes, that was the place Ben21. I'm very careful not to trash somebody's business, but it is what it is. It was obvious he made a buck or two on my bill converting it to US dollars and then back again to pesos because I wanted to pay in pesos. I told the owner at the till why not just give me a bill in pesos in the first place? But he insisted he had to charge me an exchange rate again to reconvert it back into pesos. I know I'm being repetitive and it all sounds completely ridiculous, but that's what happened. If I went back again I'd check my bill carefully, and because I'll be paying in pesos I'd insist it be totaled in pesos, not US dollars.
There is a simple rule of thumb here regarding paying in pesos or dollars.
If you see a price in dollars on the menu and you are good with it, pay in dollars. If you see a price on the menu and it's in pesos and you are good with it pay in pesos.
If it is a popular gringo hang out you are going to want to pay in dollars for the most part, if it is a taco stand or purely Mexican hang out you will pay in pesos.
If you are in a gringo hangout and you are good with the dollar price and you decide to pay with a credit card your card will be billed at the high bank rate exchange rate and converted to pesos as it is deposited into a peso account for the restaurant.
In the frontera we use both currencies, as you travel further south you can only use pesos.
I don't think it is a rip off I think it is a misunderstanding about how it is. When I transfer from my dollar account in Mexico to my peso account in Mexico and I know the bank rate for buying pesos is 14.5 to 1 and the bank only gives me 14 to 1 is it a rip off or a service fee? I call it a service fee. Everyone makes money in the monetary exchange business. Because its business.
Honestly I'm no expert in currency, but it just seems odd that there would be any "service fees" to pay with pesos in Mexico. I always expect them when paying in dollars though. At the very least, the staff should probably say "hey, if you pay in dollars, there won't be a fee."
I think the owner of Max's also owns another restaurant or two in RP. He's always been really nice to us when we've been in there, so this won't stop me from going, but they should probably re-examine this policy.
Let me clarify, we have to exchange money here all the time as business owners. It is a cost of doing business. But If there was a price in pesos on the menu that should be the price you pay. So if they said they needed to convert your pesos to dollars and then back to pesos that was wrong, the menu price should be changed.
Yes, that was the place Ben21. I'm very careful not to trash somebody's business, but it is what it is. It was obvious he made a buck or two on my bill converting it to US dollars and then back again to pesos because I wanted to pay in pesos. I told the owner at the till why not just give me a bill in pesos in the first place? But he insisted he had to charge me an exchange rate again to reconvert it back into pesos. I know I'm being repetitive and it all sounds completely ridiculous, but that's what happened. If I went back again I'd check my bill carefully, and because I'll be paying in pesos I'd insist it be totaled in pesos, not US dollars.
Are you sure is was Max's? Isn't that place owned and operated by Max himself? An American?
I have met him and never seemed the type to cheat you out of a couple of bucks
The man's name is John McBride, he is a great guy and I am sure that this is a misunderstanding of some sort he and his wife Max run very popular restaurants here and have a sterling reputation and I count him as a friend.
I agree. Like I said in my above posts, I'm very cautious in saying anything bad about anyone's business, and the owner seemed like a solid guy that wouldn't scam people. But I still don't understand why I was charged a reonversion fee to change my bill from US dollars to pesos so I could pay in pesos, but it is what it is.
The man's name is John McBride, he is a great guy and I am sure that this is a misunderstanding of some sort he and his wife Max run very popular restaurants here and have a sterling reputation and I count him as a friend.
Funny I always called him Max, very friendly fellow, likes to shoot the coffee with new inductive's to Pto Penasco. Try buying a beer with pesos at say JJ's.
It was in the same strip mall as the other Wrecked at the Reef across from Penasco del Sol, but I can't remember its color or name. It has a propane flame display in front that they light up at night. Been there a few times, great restaurant, great food, great service, they just try to make a couple extra bucks off ya if you look non-local trying to pay in pesos.
Let me clarify, we have to exchange money here all the time as business owners. It is a cost of doing business. But If there was a price in pesos on the menu that should be the price you pay. So if they said they needed to convert your pesos to dollars and then back to pesos that was wrong, the menu price should be changed.
But that is after mucho shots and I just don't care love Mexico.
NOT EVERYWHERE Fabiola and I took a couple to the Satisfied Frog, the other day for fried chicken (its very good). When the bill came 4 ice teas and 2 hole fried chickens it was 40 dllrs, above it priced in pesos at 480.00 or 12 to 1.. Theyŕe prices are in dollars, so I explained to the waitress she was cheating herself by doing the exchange backwards...if you were priced in pesos you would be doing great at 12 to 1, but since your prices are in dollars and I just sold dollars at 14.38 to 1, the late lunch was only going to cost me about $33.00 paying in pesos....She didnt get it so I gave her the 480.00 pesos and a tip that totaled 40 dllrs (575 pesos).... at 14.38 .... I tried....she just didnt understand..
Last edited: Friday at 10:12 PM
Don't question and tell them that you are paying in pesos. and like dry heat ask for a Spanish menu. I try to pay in pesos every where I can. This also makes you sure of what you are paying. But if you are in a primarily american owned place you will be paying in dollars. Kind of a catch 22, pay in what ever works best for you.
Yeah, pesos to dollars... dollars to pesos... the exchange game. I figured out a long time ago if I just pay in rubles, nobody knows what the heck to think! :D
Goes right along with the "Gringo Tax" which everyone and their mamacita will tell you doesn't exist. But oh, it does, and you can prove it to yourself the same way I did. Go into the beer distributor and by a case of Pacifico in cans (no deposit, was $22). Then, have your local Penasco fishing buddy go into the same distributor and buy the exact same case. $17. Same place, same beer, same amount -- $5 more for the gringo. o_O
As Yuma James said, is the extra $5 gonna kill me or stop me from coming to Penasco again? Naaah, probably not. It is the principle of the thing and shady business at best. :mad:
As a matter of principle, I will not return to a store that does that. I try not to shop at all if prices are not public. Still plenty of places that have the price clearly marked on the product.
When we were at Max' a while back our bill was in $US and went to pay at the counter, Max (John) was there and told him I only pay here in Mexico in
pesos. When John computed it out he used a lower exchange rate then what was posted...near 15:1.
He said he used a lower rate which is better for us, I think he said he used 12 or
12.5 rate to our bill.
So Max is fair.
Wow, If your buying pesos at 15:1 but paying at 12.5:1 then on lets say a $20 bill that saved you about 5%. Inversely he short changed himself. Very nice guy indeed.
Wow, If your buying pesos at 15:1 but paying at 12.5:1 then on lets say a $20 bill that saved you about 5%. Inversely he short changed himself. Very nice guy indeed.
Actually, it's closer to a 16% savings. Which is why I will try to use Peso's for most everything over $25, I buy in Mexico.
I did a $7,500 construction project 2 1/2 years ago and by using the spread I was able to save almost $1,100 on the project by using peso's vs dollars.
I bought at 14-1 vs the 12 to 1 that was being used as the normal in-town rate.
I do the math and use whichever currency is easier on my wallet. (within reason) Just wish all the local people could enjoy the same buying power.
Try spending foreign currency in the USA anywhere except the Nogale McDonalds. It is confusing and changes for both parties involved.
I agree, Russ. Having traveled a lot of places in the world, nearly all would gladly take dollars. But, try paying for anything in the US with a foreign currency and they look at you like you've got lobsters crawling out of your mouth.
Just a side note here--If you want to pay for something originally listed in USD by credit card, they have to exchange it to Pesos (at whatever exchange rate they post). Then you also might have to pay a foreign transaction fee on your cc bill. If you open up an account at Bancomer, you can use their debit card (paying in Pesos) with no extra fee. It uses the smart chip technology so we've never had a problem at gas stations or anywhere else (regarding cloning the magnetic stripe). You can also get cash back at any grocery store or Walmart/Sams. Pretty convenient.
The exchange rate changes more often than menus are printed so your $2 beer that used to be 24 pesos (1.5 yrs ago) is now 30 pesos. That's a 25% increase. Or a 25% discount if you are paying from the Spanish menu. That same beer is now only costing you $1.60.
people, people, people, you guys worry to much about this insignificant problem, that many USA citizens have, if you are in Japan they will not take your dollars they will take ONLY yens and nothing else, if you go to Mexico it is for your advantage to pay in pesos, you will end up on top and saving TONS of dollars, every few weeks there is someone here complaining about the exchange rate and how much they get ripped of when they pay in dollars, well WAKE UP if you are in Mexico uses pesos or go preach to the coro en los Estados Unidos de America aka USA!!! or better yet try using pesos to pay the mexican dude that sells those delicious bacon wrap hot dog at the stand in Baseline and I-10!!!!!! you know already his answer will be NO PESOS!!!!
InkaRoads, you're entirely missing my point. I agree with you 100%, and that's exactly what I try to do. When I'm in Mexico I speak Spanish, and try to pay in pesos. But it's not right because I am American they assume I'm going to pay in US dollars so they give me my bill in US dollars (and charge a reduced exchange rate to convert it from pesos to US dollars), then charge me another reduced exchange rate just because I'm paying in pesos. My point is just give my my bill in pesos initially because I want to pay in pesos.
InkaRoads, you're entirely missing my point. I agree with you 100%, and that's exactly what I try to do. When I'm in Mexico I speak Spanish, and try to pay in pesos. But it's not right because I am American they assume I'm going to pay in US dollars so they give me my bill in US dollars (and charge a reduced exchange rate to convert it from pesos to US dollars), then charge me another reduced exchange rate just because I'm paying in pesos. My point is just give my my bill in pesos initially because I want to pay in pesos.
YumaJaime, first of all I need to apologies to you as I did not read your initial post, SHAME ON ME!!!!!! I was just going by the responses I read from the second page of this thread, sometimes is just as easy to avoid reading the whole thread as one has to fight his/her way thru a bunch of garbage that has nothing to do with the original thread.
What I will suggest you do in situations like this ask for the menu, in spanish with prices in pesos and pay from there no fuzz no mas!!!! and if they try to charge more than the menu calls for just walk away.
It does not matter if the establishment is own by a mexican or a usa citizen a rip off is a rip off no matter where it happens or by whom and I bet they rather get paid what the menu calls for than have you walk away without paying!!!!
Granted you will not be allowed to go back to that place but then again will you go back to get ripped off again?????? not me don't care how good the place is, it is still a rip off place!!!!! and do not be affraid to name the restaurant that way people will start either asking for the spanish menu or just stop going to places where they know they can get robbed!!!!
By the way I saw a few cucarachas last time I went "there" 3 years ago and the service sucked majorly!!!!!!!
Current price of ONE dollar is 15.10 pesos. Current price of ONE peso is .0662 cents.
Each is the reciprocal and the same. You have One dollar? Want to convert that to pesos? The Action is to sell the dollar; 1 / .o662 = 15.10 pesos. Yes, for exchanging currency in small amounts the spread is about 8%, huge profit center for banks! Xoom etc. Both in fees and spreads. And 12 pesos to 1$ to official 15; is a quick 20% extra profit.
Most Trappers make more money off the exchange rate than the product (murdered animals) they are selling, they all become Bankers so forget about the rate you see on the internet.
Tourists being ripped off in Puerto Penasco on exchange rate is nothing new, it has always been going on. PP well established it's reputation for that and it is a shame. Have been going to PP for 22 years now, but this is the first time I read something as ridiculous as peso to dollar then back to peso rip off scheme. At the beginning I was taken advantage of when I did not know Spanish and used only Dollars. Few years later I learned Spanish and I always exchange dollars to pesos and present myself in Spanish and use pesos only and I have never had problem sense, even if the menu is in dollars and pesos.
I really wish PP will become popular place to visit again for Arizona residents but it has to start with great tourist reception and behavior that will make tourist think they are wanted there.
Tourists being ripped off in Puerto Penasco on exchange rate is nothing new, it has always been going on. PP well established it's reputation for that and it is a shame. Have been going to PP for 22 years now, but this is the first time I read something as ridiculous as peso to dollar then back to peso rip off scheme. At the beginning I was taken advantage of when I did not know Spanish and used only Dollars. Few years later I learned Spanish and I always exchange dollars to pesos and present myself in Spanish and use pesos only and I have never had problem sense, even if the menu is in dollars and pesos.
I really wish PP will become popular place to visit again for Arizona residents but it has to start with great tourist reception and behavior that will make tourist think they are wanted there.
Sadly, PP becoming the place for AZ people to visit will take awhile to happen. Many of the business owners are too short sighted
and only care about what they make today and less about the future. A serious moral change will have to occur with some of the business's.
PP has lost some of it's luster from 10-15 years ago and it has a lot of competition from other places to go.
Peso rip offs and gas station pumps ripping people off is what it's all about, making $$. It's being done to visitors and the locals that live here.
I have dealt with many honest and fair business's here, but have also seen my share of greedy dishonest places as well.
Unfortunately you will always hear more about the bad places vs the honest ones.
Order and pay in pesos. Don't make the restaurant accept the risk of arbitrage. When in Mexico, use the legal tender or be willing to pay for the convenience
We went to La Curva today and had a nice lunch, bill came to $19.96 or 253 peso's which works out to 12.7 to 1, I used Peso's since I just got 15.65 to 1 at
Banorte one hour earlier, saved $3.80 or 19% which paid for the tip. La Curva has been updating the prices on the menu a lot since they were at least 3-4 layers
deep of stickers with higher prices. They only had 1 sticker on at my New Years trip, I am sure it's like that everywhere.
Pretty quiet in town for an ASU and a few grade schools Spring Break week.
We went to La Curva today and had a nice lunch, bill came to $19.96 or 253 peso's which works out to 12.7 to 1, I used Peso's since I just got 15.65 to 1 at
Banorte one hour earlier, saved $3.80 or 19% which paid for the tip. La Curva has been updating the prices on the menu a lot since they were at least 3-4 layers
deep of stickers with higher prices. They only had 1 sticker on at my New Years trip, I am sure it's like that everywhere.
Pretty quiet in town for an ASU and a few grade schools Spring Break week.
Oddly enough, we ate there the day before you and were presented with an identical bill to yours, to the peso.
Even with the 3% credit card surcharge we still figure that we will be about 15/16% ahead than if we had used US dollars, given the poor exchange rate. That was the first time we had been there in years.
They did have great wifi however.
Order and pay in pesos. Don't make the restaurant accept the risk of arbitrage. When in Mexico, use the legal tender or be willing to pay for the convenience
here we go again!!!!!! when in Rome do like the romans and pay in pesos, been saying that for years and still is the top thread in this forum and the same people discussing it and complaining about how much they got ripped off!!!!!! AGAIN TRY TO PAY IN PESOS IN USA!!!!!!!! see where it takes you.......