Sarita Posted June 14, 2015 Report Share Posted June 14, 2015 I pulled into the parking lot at Farmacia Guadalajara Friday afternoon and immediately was set up in by two men flogging windshield wiper blades and door bumper guards. They each tried their sales pitch on me which I politely declined in Spanish but I was still nervous as I walked into the store and stopped once inside to look back. They were standing at the front of my vehicle, talking. I continued with my errand and when I left, they were several cars over. It wasn't until I arrived home and walked past the passenger side of my vehicle that I saw it: the entire side of my vehicle had dozens of small gouges in the paint, right down to bare metal. I was livid. This will require a full paint job on all three side panels at considerable expense and hassle. I have been here less than one week, just bought this vehicle and this is the second such incident in as many days as I came out of Walmart on Wednesday to find the back drivers side had been side-swiped and scraped badly. Whether this was also intentional or just someone's really lousy driving skills, I may never know, but three years ago when i had another vehicle here, it got keyed twice, each time resulting in full paint jobs. I am once again giving some serious thought to whether I really want to move back here, as I have a tough time accepting that such carelessness and outright vandalism will once again become part of 'normal' life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted June 14, 2015 Report Share Posted June 14, 2015 Are you saying the guys selling the windshields did it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holdrja Posted June 14, 2015 Report Share Posted June 14, 2015 I do not like those guys getting near my car - I at first tell them "No, gracias"; if they persist I say "No!" loudly and firmly -- and if they don't move away from my car, I say "No toques mi coche!" Oh, and if that doesn't get them away from my car, I stand 10 feet away, facing them, and say in a loud firm voice: "Dejalo! Dejalo pues, ya te dije!" They don't approach me any longer I must say, such targeting & hassling of gringos in Ajijic/SAT is my major dislike for that area. I have not experienced this in Joco, San Juan Cosala, Chapala or any of the other little Lakeside towns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted June 14, 2015 Report Share Posted June 14, 2015 Watch out for that guy with the wiper blades for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monessen Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 I know a body repair guy who charged what I thought was a minimal amount of money for body work on a friend's car. If you need a quote just send me an email on this sight and I'll give you his name and address. He is near Our Lady of Riberas Church on the carretera in Riberas (mountain side). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarita Posted June 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 Are you saying the guys selling the windshields did it? Are you saying the guys selling the windshields did it? I did not witness whoever was responsible but, really, who else could it be? There was no one else around. About 5 years ago the same thing happened in the same parking lot, when that weasel, Antonio, used to 'work' it, he tried to sell me wiper blades and I declined, always politely and with no hint of prejudice, yet I came out of the Farmacia to find my wiper blades had both been shredded in my absence. Now I see this same guy has moved to Superlake.... mental note to self to not shop there if he is present. I wish the business owners had some clout to keep these little thugs in line if not just get rid of them. Sadly, they will just move elsewhere and keep up with their game,but I fail to understand how they think vandalizing people's property will result in more business from their victims. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside7 Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 I do not like those guys getting near my car - I at first tell them "No, gracias"; if they persist I say "No!" loudly and firmly -- and if they don't move away from my car, I say "No toques mi coche!" They don't approach me any longer I must say, such targeting & hassling of gringos in Ajijic/SAT is my major dislike for that area. I have not experienced this in Joco, San Juan Cosala, Chapala or any of the other little Lakeside towns. When visiting the Viva Mexico restaurant in SJC I find the the young kids who ask for money a bit intimidating and always wonder if I will be keyed or my tires will be missing ..so far no bad things have happened..and the food keeps me returning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 No doubt Antonio is a bad kid or adult now. I did not know he guy selling the windshields was to be watch too. I never buy anything from him bu I never had my car keyed either. Thanks for the warning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirlppt Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 Last fall I was in super lake, put my keys in my pocket and walked to Paz and the chicken store. When I came out, reached for my keys, which had probably fallen out and began looking for them. I traveled less than fifty feet and was gone less than five minutes. Antonio by super lake was the only guy nearby and denied seeing them. The other guys, the car washers searched with me as did the owner of Paz and the chicken shop. Antonio didn't help and when asked, denied knowing anything. Came back the next day and offered a 500 peso reward to which the guys perked up. The young man In the chicken shop said Antonio had found keys the same day. When I approached him, he said they were someone else's keys. Very suspicious. Cost me $100 US to get a new key for my car, plus the hassle of replacing the other keys and the security of course. We now have a club that we have to put on our car anytime we are shopping in The area because someone has the original set. Antonio doesn't park himself in front of superlake he's usually on the corner and the next block. Wonder if others have had problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdlngton Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 I do not trust the wiper guy at Farmacia Guadalajara either. I have heard too many people say they have found their wipers damaged after refusing his services. I, too, have told him "No toque!!" and then tried to watch from inside the store. Sometimes I have even got back in my car and driven away because I don't trust him. Which one is Antonio at Super Lake? Is he the one who hangs out more in front of the chicken place? I would think that the parking lots of these places are private property and that the owners of the businesses could run them off if they want to. Maybe they don't know how much many of their customers do not like their in-your-face approach and think they are responsible for damaging the vehicles of those who refuse their services. I had someone tell me years ago that they didn't like the US because of the blatant commercialism. I responded that I thought Mexico was worse because of the car washers/wiper salesmen/fruit & vegetable salespersons/etc. who are everywhere when you pull into a parking lot or even when you sit down in a restaurant to eat. I wish more business owners would run them off or at least control them somehow. I, too, worry about my vehicle every time I park somewhere and then refuse their services. And I do not like my meal in a restaurant being interrupted by someone trying to sell me something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarita Posted June 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 It seems that much of the problem is centered around Ajijic due to the high concentration of gringos. I used to go to the Ajijic tianguis on occasion, but no more. I once was hassled by an old woman begging in the middle of the stalls so to be left to shop in peace, I gave her a few pesos. She looked at the coins I had put in her hand with disgust, then spat at me! I left and now I go to Chapala where the few beggars are at least appreciative of a few pesos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunshineyDay Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 I have had my wiper blades destroyed by this person. Now I tell them to not touch my blades. When he proceeds I get out of my car and push him away from my car. I now do not shop at any place I see him or Antonio!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valbogyo Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 I now go to the Farmacia in Chapala. No beggers, no fruit being sold, no green beans, no car washing. So nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCC Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 If Antonio is the guy with the thick longish dark hair who peddles car waxes, then I avoid him. He once washed my car after I had told him no. I refused to pay him, explaining that when I say "NO" it means he doesn't touch my car. After a lot of arguing a friend who was with me convinced me to pay him. I did so reluctantly and told him to stay away from me. The next time I was near Superlake I parked next door. I came out to find scratches on my rear panel. He was sitting on his bucket grinning at me watching. I now tell him to stay away from me if I see him. I have no dount he scratched my vehicle. I never go to the Ajijic Farmacia Guadalajara anymore because of the windshield guys. I go to the one in Chapala. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbviajero Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 It seems that much of the problem is centered around Ajijic due to the high concentration of gringos. I think you're probably right about that because in Guadalajara the car wash guys,beggars,windshield wiper vendors,etc.do not even think of pulling the kind of crap that's been mentioned on this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pappysmarket Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 I often say no gracias but ask them to watch my car and give them 10 pesos when I return and there are no problems. Cheap insurance. I also buy wiper blades from that guy every year and he watches my car like a hawk. More than one way to skin a cat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 For what it's worth: If you bring a friend who stays in the car while you go into the Farmacia......no problems. Then the friend switches out and goes in to shop. It's not too hard to find a carless bud who can do his or her shopping in tandem and appreciates the ride. Isn't the ladron the curly headed guy who hangs at Superlake? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryB Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 Has anyone complained to the store owners/ told them you would not shop if these thugs are present? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holdrja Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 I had someone tell me years ago that they didn't like the US because of the blatant commercialism. I responded that I thought Mexico was worse because of the car washers/wiper salesmen/fruit & vegetable salespersons/etc. who are everywhere when you pull into a parking lot or even when you sit down in a restaurant to eat. I wish more business owners would run them off or at least control them somehow. I, too, worry about my vehicle every time I park somewhere and then refuse their services. And I do not like my meal in a restaurant being interrupted by someone trying to sell me something. Yup, sad to say, Ajijic has lost a lot of its charm to these rotten nasty parasites, who cluster near foreigners' haunts. We started out in Villa Nova -- then a few months in Ajijic - then moved to the outskirts of Chapala 4 years ago and what a relief it has been to not be a continual target. What an incredible pity this is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 We too have had problems with the sellers of windshield wipers, etc. and the curly headed guy that hangs out now at Super Lake. He was just a kid when we moved here but he gave us major hassles. We had our car vandalized by them too several many years back ... more than once before we realized what was going on. We never leave our car unattended while one of them are around now and have not had our car gouged, keyed, air let out, etc. since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCC Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 I spoke to Pancho at Superlake and to the owner of the water store/Handymail. Both Just shrugged. In fairness, the majority of the car washers around Superlake are great amd honest. This one guyis the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RVGRINGO Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 Those two have been that way since the younger one was a little kid carrying bags out of SuperLake and taking advantage of everyone he could. He loved to ride his bicycle alongside cars with the bare handlebar scratching the length of the car. Now he uses other tools. The old man with the wiper blades is a miserable old coot, but will back off. His younger accomplice is the dangerous one. Were he to have an “accident“ between tow cars, I doubt that anyone would come to his aid. This has been going on for over a decade and will continue until someone takes action. The business owners will not. The parking lots are public property and who knows who is related to whom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nana Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 The parking lot is not public property. It belongs to who ever own(s) the properties and the store space. Then the shop owners pay the rent and they have a say in the parking facilities. So, I believe, if the shop owners wanted to get rid of those guys, they could. At least, what they could do to satisfy their clientele is to advise them to behave. If they lose customers because of what's going on in their parking lot, it's bad for them. i started to cut and paste the complaints from this forum with the intention of giving the list to Paco for his information. If that does not help, well, we're on our own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slainte39 Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 The parking area in front of Superlake, up to the construction of the buildings, and including the sidewalks and all the businesses between San Jose and Independencia and beyond to Gonzalez Gallo, Jesus Garcia, is not private property, but federal highway zone,and cannot be built upon but is strictly for parking and not particular to the business in front of it, except for the entrances to garage doors. Superlake cannot have you towed away legally if you park in front and patronize another business or catch a bus and go somewhere else. Just tell those guys (vendedores, lavadores) no, the Mexican way, and act like you mean it, the Mexican way. If you don't how, ask a Mexican friend to teach you....along with counting pesos and the metric system. As posted earlier, this doesn't go on in Guadalajara, and most cities and towns, in Mexico. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simpsca Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 I wait until 6pm or after to go to Superlake. And I also use Farmacia Guadalajara in Chapala or El Chante. I've had my car keyed and over the years 3 tires punctured in the side wall. I was and am always polite to them. So not I go when they are not there or go elsewhere. You would think Pancho would do something about them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.