This post refers specifically to the first Pemex gas station that you will encounter south of the SJD airport as you head towards San Jose del Cabo. On two occasions I have topped up at this station and both times I have been ripped off.
On the first occasion, I was physically blocked by one employee at the station as a second employee started to fill the vehicle, such that I could not see that the pump was set at zero when the fill started. I had filled the car the day before and only drove it from Cabo to the Pemex station, about 45 kms. I had expected a maximum of 8 litres to top it off. Instead, it took over 30 litres according to the pump. Not much I could do about that so I paid the ridiculous amount and chalked it up to experience.
On the second occasion, just last Saturday, I went into the station with my eyes open. Before I released to gas cap cover, I was out of the car and made sure the pump read zero. Again, I had personally filled the tank the day before at Costco and expected only a nominal amount to top it off. It took about 8 litres or so, at a cost of 199 pesos. I handed the pump operator 3 - 50 peso notes, 2 - 20 peso notes and dug in my pocket for the last 9 pesos. Amazingly, now the operator only had 2 - 50 peso notes, not the 3 I had counted out to him, plus the 2 - 20 peso notes I had originally given him. He was now joined by two other station employees and proceeded to show them the bills he now had in his hand. Additionally, the pump now read that I owed 499 pesos, 300 pesos more than the amount I had watched pumped into the vehicle. Together, they wanted the new amount and attributed my questioning them about the changed amount as my possible misunderstanding the conversion to pesos - not sure how that worked, not that I cared. I called them on the change, paid the 59 pesos that they originally claimed I owed and told them I was not paying any more. I drove away with no further argument from them.
When I turned the car in, I spoke with the agent about my experiences and he advised that he often received similar complaints about this station - it was not unusual in his experience. Just thought I'd give other folks a heads up to be careful at this station.
On the first occasion, I was physically blocked by one employee at the station as a second employee started to fill the vehicle, such that I could not see that the pump was set at zero when the fill started. I had filled the car the day before and only drove it from Cabo to the Pemex station, about 45 kms. I had expected a maximum of 8 litres to top it off. Instead, it took over 30 litres according to the pump. Not much I could do about that so I paid the ridiculous amount and chalked it up to experience.
On the second occasion, just last Saturday, I went into the station with my eyes open. Before I released to gas cap cover, I was out of the car and made sure the pump read zero. Again, I had personally filled the tank the day before at Costco and expected only a nominal amount to top it off. It took about 8 litres or so, at a cost of 199 pesos. I handed the pump operator 3 - 50 peso notes, 2 - 20 peso notes and dug in my pocket for the last 9 pesos. Amazingly, now the operator only had 2 - 50 peso notes, not the 3 I had counted out to him, plus the 2 - 20 peso notes I had originally given him. He was now joined by two other station employees and proceeded to show them the bills he now had in his hand. Additionally, the pump now read that I owed 499 pesos, 300 pesos more than the amount I had watched pumped into the vehicle. Together, they wanted the new amount and attributed my questioning them about the changed amount as my possible misunderstanding the conversion to pesos - not sure how that worked, not that I cared. I called them on the change, paid the 59 pesos that they originally claimed I owed and told them I was not paying any more. I drove away with no further argument from them.
When I turned the car in, I spoke with the agent about my experiences and he advised that he often received similar complaints about this station - it was not unusual in his experience. Just thought I'd give other folks a heads up to be careful at this station.
