Scams

jessekimmerling wrote:

I'll start with a taxis...

Are there street addresses in Ecuador? Not in Costa Rica. The legal descriptions are expressed in meters from some known landmark, like a famous tree, (famous perhaps because the virgin Mary appeared)

For 30 sec of the discussion you discuss where it is you are going, and by what route, closing with a fixed price.

James-Esq wrote:

jessekimmerling wrote:

I'll start with a taxis...

Are there street addresses in Ecuador? Not in Costa Rica. The legal descriptions are expressed in meters from some known landmark, like a famous tree, (famous perhaps because the virgin Mary appeared)

For 30 sec of the discussion you discuss where it is you are going, and by what route, closing with a fixed price.

In Quito, yes, for the most part. Typically, you can write down and show a taxi the nearest major intersection. Outside of Quito, Ibarra, and Tena I don't have much experience with Ecuadorian taxis and the address system.

It took me a while to get used to the taxis here. At first, I would opt to walk for miles rather than deal with the frustration. I've still got a chip on my shoulder after dealing with the Istanbul taxi drivers.

I didn't find Quito bad at all.

Of course there were plenty of people looking to extract our $$$ but their manipulations were not so terribly overwhelming, and by and large they were relatively fair-dealing people.

Get out more often sir, where counterfeit currency is a constant risk, where getting into a transport car is menace to survival, where vendors sell known toxic foodstuffs from every stall.

Ecuador is a -0 on the ripoff scale.

I'd be happy to refer you to many far worser places. Just ask for references, I can think of plenty.

gardener1 wrote:

I didn't find Quito bad at all.

Of course there were plenty of people looking to extract our $$$ but their manipulations were not so terribly overwhelming, and by and large they were relatively fair-dealing people.

Get out more often sir, where counterfeit currency is a constant risk, where getting into a transport car is menace to survival, where vendors sell known toxic foodstuffs from every stall.

Ecuador is a -0 on the ripoff scale.

I'd be happy to refer you to many far worser places. Just ask for references, I can think of plenty.

Yes sir, I'll try to get out more often sir. I can't wait to experience these "far worser" places you speak of.

Since you brought it up, counterfeit $ is another good topic. There's a lot of it going around Ecuador. You'll notice people scrutinizing even the $5 bills. I'm yet to get burned, but I watched a scene unfold when a lady got given a fake $10 on a bus in Otavalo, and my gf said she once had a clerk for a utility company switch out her $ for counterfeit twenties and then try to claim that my gf was the one using the counterfeit bills. I've been told to watch out for people who handle a lot of cash because if they get stuck with a counterfeit bill they will try to pass off the hot potato.

Not sure if this is a particular problem in Ecuador or not. Tend to think probably not, but if talking about taxis a scam that comes to mind is the driver will stop and pick another passenger up while you are still in the car, and then they will rob you. Can't say have heard this being a big problem in Ecuador, but if happens to you, may be best to tell the driver no, and or get out. Also note this usually occurs with non marked taxis, and later at night.