Una BARBARIDAD!!

[Quinn]

It's all part of the reality of what "humanity" is. "Humanity" is just about f'ing over others. It's a sad reality, for sure, but like virtually every other area in human society, it's about taking advantage of fellow man.

 

[clooz]

It's all part of the reality of what "humanity" is. "Humanity" is just about f'ing over others. It's a sad reality, for sure, but like virtually every other area in human society, it's about taking advantage of fellow man.

No, it's been my experience worldwide that this is the perspective of a vocal minority of people, who try to rationalize and justify their position by projecting it onto others. They form subcultures in which their views norm. They create ideologies which allow them to avoid connecting with, listening to and understanding other perspectives. They seem to remember their bad experiences and forget good ones. They are a sad reality.

 

[gsi16386]

Travelers arriving at airports need calm common sense, and patience. They don't need a sharpened sense of moral entitlement, particularly based on unrealistic expectations of fair prices for coffee, bank fees, etc.

Sorry to hear that you experienced outrage and a sense of unfair treatment seeing a 15% charge. Now you have vented, how about something constructive?

Something constructive? You got it...

Something constructive was the fact that I was coming back from a 10 day vacation in Cuba where they had no meat, chinchulines, rinones, none of that. SOOO, I made a b-line for Siga La Vaca and went nuts. Oh how I missed my Rinones!!!

 

[perry]

Many people seem to have a tone about them that Argentina is somehow worse and more dishonest than other civilised societies . I know many Argentine who feel very ripped off that they have to pay a very high visa application fee just to visit the United States and if they are rejected there is no refund. There are many examples like these in most countries.

Argentina is not any worse nor any better than other countries . I suggest that you accept the society as it is.

 

[gsi16386]

Many people seem to have a tone about them that Argentina is somehow worse and more dishonest than other civilised societies . I know many Argentine who feel very ripped off that they have to pay a very high visa application fee just to visit the United States and if they are rejected there is no refund. There are many examples like these in most countries.

Argentina is not any worse nor any better than other countries . I suggest that you accept the society as it is.

I respectfully disagree with the "is not any worse or any better than other countries" statement, in fact it is way worse when it comes to corruption and things of this nature.

However, I see your point and agree with the fact that there are other injustices made by various societies that make no sense and are downright unfair. Honest business makes honest men and you don't have to become a con artist to become rich. I just wish everyone would grow a moral fiber...

All this talk about the service being supplied where it is demanded "at a price" and there forefore is a legitimate business practice is nonsense. It reminds me of Woodstock back in the 90's (not the real one, god knows i wasn't alive) when it was so damn hot, in the middle of the summer, everyone was outside, and there was a shortage of water. So vendors were selling little bottles of water for $10. That's a classic example of price gouging and is not a legitimate business practice. It's just so sad to see things like this go on, but what am i gonna do...

 

[jago25_98]

I think you would find that true in pretty much every airport in every country. The rates are always horrible. It's not unique to Argentina.

Agreed. I've found this is pretty universal. In the UK I had a few kroner left over once and it was at a rate that cost me like 20%. I thought I'd do it anyway as the odds of me returning were low and I decided I would pay the massive fee to save me the effort of finding somewhere else; that is, the time saved was worth it for the small leftovers I was changing in that situation.

Of course if it was a few hundred dollars I'd go the effort.
This is why the airport changers go fairly unused.

I thought I could jump in a taxi and ask for cambio effectivo por favor in any country but I've found that taxi drivers don't seem to know where anything is, and this seems to be so in Turkey and south america. Any tips on that? That was my main reason for using taxis - to help me find what I'm looking for. Some of them don't even to know more than the main avenues.

 

[starlucia]

I just wanted to vent something that I saw in the Airport y'day when coming back into Ezeiza from vacation overseas.

For extranjeros, whenever you come back into the country you obviously need to change money into Pesos. There's a money exchange right as you exit Immigrations where the rate to buy dollars is absolutely OUTRAGEOUS. To the point where it's CRIMINAL. Although I'm sure numerous people have exposed this, I cannot believe this is still allowed to go on and is downright embarrassing for Argentina. I would even go so far as to say it sets the mood for how Argentina views their prospective foreign counterparts.

Today's exchange rate is $1USD = 4.04ARS (by way of XE.COM). They were offering to buy Dollars at 3.43 and Sell Dollars at 4.23. That would give the bank 15% if you wanted to sell your dollars. This is OUTRAGEOUS. Especially considering that Banco Nacion, also, in the airport, has a bid ask spread of 4.01/4.05. However, they're conveniently located outside of Immigrations and very few Extranjeros know this so they tend to jump at the first opportunity they have to change their currency. In addition, people in Argentina that have a significant amount of money save in Dollars or Euros, so these two currencies should be exchanged at or right below market value, not at a 15% discount.

Bottom line is, this is downright thievery, however, it's allowed to go on. I understand banks are here to make money, but there comes a point where it's downright criminal. How is this Casa de Cambio in the airport any different from the local Argentine mafia guys on Florida trying to change your money? Any way you look at it, the country of Argentina doesn't give a shit and is consistent with my theory that this country is full of cons...just pathetic and appalling....

It's just as bad at Miami Airport or any other... privately-owned kiosks like Global Exchange, located as close to the gate as possible, that offer horrible exchange rates. The people that use them are paying a premium for the convenience and for not doing their research beforehand. Most travelers go to great lengths to avoid changing money at airport kiosks for that very reason -- the universal awareness that those places are a rip-off, just like the eateries at airports, museums, and theme parks (where they know they have you hostage and can thus charge exorbitant prices.) I guess I don't have much sympathy for the chumps using Global Exchange since they could easily learn about the Banco Nacion by searching any travel forum, reading any guide book, or exchanging currency before reaching the airport.

 

[Quinn]

No, it's been my experience worldwide that this is the perspective of a vocal minority of people, who try to rationalize and justify their position by projecting it onto others. They form subcultures in which their views norm. They create ideologies which allow them to avoid connecting with, listening to and understanding other perspectives. They seem to remember their bad experiences and forget good ones. They are a sad reality.

LOL, that's rich, thanks.

I'm sure the efforts by the millions around the world to try to remedy problems is all a conspiracy, maaaaaaannnnn. Like the Red Cross. Or the countless people who fight to get free or discounted medicines for the dying continent of Africa, where in many cases, the costs per pill are driven up to $40 each there versus the $3US in the USA and Europe. I'm sure these efforts have nothing to do with trying to benefit humanity at the expense of the top 5% in wealth who are the primary benefactors as company shareholders in such cases. These people should go back to their parents basements, and just accept the world for what it is, right?

 

[sesamosinsal]

If you're a U.S. citizen/resident, get a Schwab card. When you arrive to Ezeiza, go to an ATM. Given that Schwab doesn't charge fees, at the end of the day you're getting market rates.

In case there aren't any functioning ATMs (a very real possibility), bring about $50-$60 USD in small bills to pay for the taxi and any other small item (e.g. food). It'll cost you a little bit more to pay Taxi Ezeiza with dollars, but it's not much. Once you're in the city, do your withdrawal there.

If you're a U.S. citizen or resident, there's no reason to waste time exchanging money.

 

[John.St]

Argentina is not any worse nor any better than other countries .

Argentina is both better and worse than other countries - the same holds for all the other countries - at least those 24-25-26 I have lived in or visited.

Because:

I suggest that you accept the society as it is.

Exactly. Adjust to the country you are in, don't expect the country to adjust to you. If you can't, find another - there are hundreds to choose from, problem is they are all both better and worse than 'dear old home'.