The gringo tax is the extra money that a Colombian will try to charge for almost anything to someone who looks American or European. Lots of times, when what I’m buying isn’t so expensive and the person selling it probably could really use the money, I just pay it. But other times it’s fun to turn the tables on someone who’s trying to cheat you in a big way.
When I moved to Rosales, I used to walk around the neighborhood looking in shops, and there’s a little strip of antique shops on Carrera 4 (Quarta) just a few blocks south of where I live. I wandered in a few times and would ask prices, but not really be concerned with the answers because I wasn’t going to buy, most likely. But I found an old wooden carved column that I liked, with chipped paint, about four feet tall. The owner told me it was $800,000 pesos, which was about $350 US. I thanked him and headed out, and he came running after me, telling me it was cheap because $100,000 pesos is like $5 US, he kept saying in English ($100,000 pesos is more like $45). So, the next day I came back with $50 US and told him I didn’t have any pesos, but this was more than he had wanted for the column, if he would take the US dollars. (We didn’t make the deal, needless to say.)
A few times I’ve wanted to buy art or something like that, and discussed the price with whoever was selling it. Then I decide against it, and send a Colombian friend later with a description of what I want. Usually it comes back anywhere from 20% to 50% cheaper.
Yesterday I was in Chapinero and wanted to buy a pair of sunglasses from a street vendor. He told me they were $8,000 pesos, and it was one of those times I just decided to pay the gringo tax. I opened my wallet and only had $4,000 pesos–I had honestely believed I had more cash. But he grabbed the $4,000 and shoved the glasses in my hand without hesitation. So, I figure they were worth maybe $2,000?
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