Marty's Travels

My house has wheels

Money to Mexico

I took a bunch of money to Algodones and left it there today. Dental, new sunglasses, the Purple Store, and lunch. Seasoned pro that I am now, I took a paperback while I waited for the dentist, waited for lenses to be made, and waited to cross the border.

I sat and read in the square and watched the people. You know those guys that “encourage” (some say “accost”) you to go to the “best” or “cheapest” pharmacy/dentist/optician in town? Forcing coupons for discounts into your hands? Well, the technique works, very well. The guys are not slacker ne’er-do-wells but skilled salesmen that succeed to direct customers into the shop they work for, where the interior people have to pick up the sales job.

Everyone of them has a shtick, a repertoire of gab they vary depending on the target. I remember when I first encountered them, and was extremely annoyed at their “in-your-face” attitude which can be taken as threatening. I learned that you can ignore them completely, they are totally harmless, and are quite funny and fun to talk to. But, first-timers, especially women, can be freaked out.

What’s happening here? These are good salesmen, and a good salesman knows how to “read” people quickly and do whatever it takes to get their attention. If they get this far, and it happens a lot, a little quick chatter and some light touching can get the customer through the door. Job done, it might only take 20 seconds.

I’m sure a lot of people carry bags of stuff across the border and wonder later how they came to acquire this crap. Irritating, threatening, and annoying, it works.

One thought on “Money to Mexico

  1. I remember one time going across the border and wandering the streets later in the day. One salesman actually yelled out to me “hay Lady what lies do I have to tell you to get you to buy from me?” I laughed and thanked him for his honesty, but walked on by.

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