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Home > Gas stations in El Salvador: Cash only, please!

Gas stations in El Salvador: Cash only, please!

May 30th, 2011 at 08:31 pm

Well, as of tomorrow, gas stations in El Salvador will no longer accept credit or debit cards. They claim that their profit margin is to slim and that credit card companies and bank fees reduce it even further.

I have been purchasing gas with my debit card, so the adjustment wonīt be that much, but...

Oh, and regular gas is now $4.49/gallon.... premium is $4.64... Took $47 to fill my gas tank...YIKES! Back in December, when I made my budget for this year, I could fill it with $30, so I budgeted $45, to account for climbing prices, etc... guess I have to start budgeting $50! ... wow, everything is on the rise, except for my salary, of course...but thatīs a whole other entry!

8 Responses to “Gas stations in El Salvador: Cash only, please!”

  1. Looking Forward Says:
    1306786118

    That can be kinda a pain when you have to go inside the station to pay instead of paying with your card at the pump.

  2. miclason Says:
    1306786527

    not only that, but now if you pull into the gas station, people will KNOW you have cash, and in this country, you might as well pin a sign on yourself that says MUG ME!

  3. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    1306856976

    Mugging came to my mind, too. Will it help if you always have a second person with you at the gas station, or are the muggers so brazen (perhaps armed) as to attack even two people? Does the buyer pump their own gas, or is there an employee to do that?

  4. miclason Says:
    1306862662

    80% or thefts here involve weapons. They don't care how many people are in the car. 1 just makes it easier. We have self service and full service (employee pumps the gas for you). Gas stations have armed guards, but they are there for disuasive purposes only, they won't do anything if they see someone taking stuff out of your parked vehicle, for example. Thieves have gotten creative and are now using bluetooth technology to detect which cars have electronic devices in them, for example, so if you leave your laptop in the car, under the seat, to go pay, they just drive up, see if there are electronics, if yes, they smash a window, take the electronics and leave! Guards do nothing... not even take license plates!

  5. Jerry Says:
    1308952670

    Wow, I can't believe all of those changes... and not for the better. We are paying even more for gas (almost 2x as much) here in SE Europe, but we don't have a car so it does not lead to as much stress. My friend added a propane tank to his SUV and it has given him the insurance of cheaper fuel, cleaner burning, and it paid for itself in like 7 months. It is pretty common over here, almost all of the taxis have it. Do they do this in El Salvador?
    Jerry

  6. Amber Says:
    1322107052

    Just stopping by to say hi, hope all is going well

  7. kissmanga Says:
    1521791132

    I think not only that, but now if you pull into the gas station, people will KNOW you have cash, and in this country, you might as well pin a sign on yourself that says MUG ME!

  8. bisexual Says:
    1547465214

    Great things you describe here.

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