I have read many posts here about expats being ripped off in Bs. As. Unfortunately, I am sure their stories are true. But, how about being ripped off in the first world, like in New York city? Here are my 4 stories:
1. I arrived Monday at 5 am after a red eye from LA. After i picked up my luggage, I went to the outside looking for some transportation to my hotel, I received numerous offers to take me. A big sign said not to accept these offers, but I had no idea where to catch a taxi or a Uber, so after the third drivers solicited me, I agreed. First, I asked how much he wanted. $75 including all tolls, he replied. I though that was reasonable, and I asked if he would accept a credit card, to which he agreed. When we arrived at my hotel, I gave him my card and he wanted to charge me $79.50. I mentioned that we had agreed on $75, and he said he added a credit card charge. I objected calmy, restating our agreement. He cancelled the credit card charge, ran a new one and gave it to me to sign: it was for $76.50. I did not want to argue about the extra $1.50, so I paid it. I got ripped off.
2. On a day after walking 20,000 steps, I went into one of these small 7 eleven types that are so common in this city, looking for some almonds to eat. I found a package of them with the price of $4.99. I gave the clerk ten dollars, and he gave me less than 5.01. When I brought that up, he looked at my like I was some stupid tourist and said we pay sales taxes in New York. Later i bought the same package at a different store, and they did NOT charge me sales tax. I asked them why not, and they told me there is no sales tax on food items. So, go ripped off by the previous store clerk!
3. My wife and I went to meet our daughter in the financial district, and all three of took a huge Uber to another place. When we got on, my daughter asked the driver if he could drop off my wife and me in Soho, which has half way where she was going. Driver agreed. As we drove off, and we chatted, we did not pay attention to where we were going. Finally, the driver arrived at my daughter's destination, and she said he was supposed to drop us off first, to reduce the cost of the drive. He said something that was unclear, and he drove us back to Soho. He charged twice what he should have. Another rippoff.
4. Last night at dinner, I selected a wine bottle for $36 (cheap wine) because one glass was $18, so it's cheaper by the bottle, I assumed. We finished dinner, and I did something I never do: reviewed the bill. The wine was $37. I called the waiter, pointed out the mistake, and the manager came over and bumbled some cheap excuse and redid the bill. This time, I stopped the ripoff!
Ok, tourists are easy targets whether you are in the first world, the developing world or in the banana world. So, next time you complain about it happening in ARgentina, don't forget that it happens everywhere; well, maybe not in Sweden, but then I have never been there!
1. I arrived Monday at 5 am after a red eye from LA. After i picked up my luggage, I went to the outside looking for some transportation to my hotel, I received numerous offers to take me. A big sign said not to accept these offers, but I had no idea where to catch a taxi or a Uber, so after the third drivers solicited me, I agreed. First, I asked how much he wanted. $75 including all tolls, he replied. I though that was reasonable, and I asked if he would accept a credit card, to which he agreed. When we arrived at my hotel, I gave him my card and he wanted to charge me $79.50. I mentioned that we had agreed on $75, and he said he added a credit card charge. I objected calmy, restating our agreement. He cancelled the credit card charge, ran a new one and gave it to me to sign: it was for $76.50. I did not want to argue about the extra $1.50, so I paid it. I got ripped off.
2. On a day after walking 20,000 steps, I went into one of these small 7 eleven types that are so common in this city, looking for some almonds to eat. I found a package of them with the price of $4.99. I gave the clerk ten dollars, and he gave me less than 5.01. When I brought that up, he looked at my like I was some stupid tourist and said we pay sales taxes in New York. Later i bought the same package at a different store, and they did NOT charge me sales tax. I asked them why not, and they told me there is no sales tax on food items. So, go ripped off by the previous store clerk!
3. My wife and I went to meet our daughter in the financial district, and all three of took a huge Uber to another place. When we got on, my daughter asked the driver if he could drop off my wife and me in Soho, which has half way where she was going. Driver agreed. As we drove off, and we chatted, we did not pay attention to where we were going. Finally, the driver arrived at my daughter's destination, and she said he was supposed to drop us off first, to reduce the cost of the drive. He said something that was unclear, and he drove us back to Soho. He charged twice what he should have. Another rippoff.
4. Last night at dinner, I selected a wine bottle for $36 (cheap wine) because one glass was $18, so it's cheaper by the bottle, I assumed. We finished dinner, and I did something I never do: reviewed the bill. The wine was $37. I called the waiter, pointed out the mistake, and the manager came over and bumbled some cheap excuse and redid the bill. This time, I stopped the ripoff!
Ok, tourists are easy targets whether you are in the first world, the developing world or in the banana world. So, next time you complain about it happening in ARgentina, don't forget that it happens everywhere; well, maybe not in Sweden, but then I have never been there!