Medellin Reports

[TraveLight]

Ok, this will be the last ATM post until I get foto evidence of the ATMs asking me if I am ok with the Transaction fee on my next trip.

I asked the question earlier and it was never answered, probably because it was buried in the middle of the post.

Here is the question again:

Why would anyone on the face of the planet accept the banks conversion rate?

El Mechanico.

When I first learned of this prior to a trip to Mexico, I remember that I would have likely accepted it, thinking, I would be canceling the transaction otherwise. I'm thankful for having done some RTF prior to my first trip to LATAM.

[Stl24]

My trip (Medellin and Bogota) is coming up in a couple weeks and I am trying to come up with my daily plan for the trip. If you were trying to maximize your mongering time in Medellin (seeing 3-4 women per day) and trying to have some variety (casas, strip clubs, street girls), what would be your ideal day?

[Knowledge]

The going rate is 30 K. You can negotiate down in some cases. Girls will try to get guys to pay as much as they think they can get away with.

Is that what they're asking for now? I gave a girl 25 k last week and I thought that was good. I don't go often but 50 K is the highest I've ever heard.

[ChuchoLoco]

I've been watching several YouTube videos on using ATMS during general international travel and all of them suggest that we should never accept the local bank's conversion rate as it will always be higher than our own bank's rate. They also say that foreign banks like to hide things such as the fact that you can still withdraw local cash by declining the local bank's conversion rate and they usually do this by making the buttons on the screen quite large in order to entice you to accept their rate. Most of the time we will still have some small charges for using a foreign ATM but just much less if we decline the foreign local bank's conversion rate.

The BVVA ATM on La 70, the one with 2 doors across and a block away from Hotel Medeterano did not give the option of conversation rates as it had in the past. I always used that one because of convenience and seemed safe. It only asked if it was a withdrawal and from current account then asks if you agree to the 20,000 and change fee. I just checked with Schwab and the gal gave me the rate they used but it was 1 pesos to dollar so I asked what rate was how many pesos per dollar and not how much 1 peso was. She took me to VISA.com where there is a conversion area and the rate was almost exactly the current exchange rate of 3995 plus or minus. Rates change all the time and it was so close as to not make a difference. Has anybody else used the BVVA ATM's there and did you experience anything different as far as being asked whether or not you accept their rate? I'm satisfied with they was it worked for me but am curious as to why it didn't give rate option. Like someone else mentioned, Schwab returns transaction fee on the last day of the month.

[Knowledge]

It woke me up. I forgot about it because I thought it was a dream. When I saw it on TV news later in the day I realized what it was.

Someone mentioned it in the Stupid Shit Medellin section.

[Orgasmico]

Did anyone feel that earthquake last night? I was massive!

Someone mentioned it in the Stupid Shit Medellin section.

[KeviKev68]

Did anyone feel that earthquake last night? I was massive!

[Exoticspirit]

ATMs ask 2 questions. One is if you accept the fee for using the ATM. If you say no, the transaction gets canceled. I think a lot of people who don't know any better assume that if they say no to the bank conversion question rate, the transaction will get canceled. Like you said, not stupid, just uninformed.

I've been watching several YouTube videos on using ATMS during general international travel and all of them suggest that we should never accept the local bank's conversion rate as it will always be higher than our own bank's rate. They also say that foreign banks like to hide things such as the fact that you can still withdraw local cash by declining the local bank's conversion rate and they usually do this by making the buttons on the screen quite large in order to entice you to accept their rate. Most of the time we will still have some small charges for using a foreign ATM but just much less if we decline the foreign local bank's conversion rate.

[El Mechanico]

One is if you accept the fee for using the ATM. If you say no, the transaction gets canceled,

Thank you. Some people have never seen this at an ATM in Colombia!

El Mechanico.

[El Mechanico]

Because just under 50% of the population is stupider than average.

That's pretty funny!

El Mechanico.

[CatBert55]

Because they don't know. Simple. Not stupid, not anything, just not informed. You have to know what your own bank is going to charge you in order to know whether what is offered is a better option or not, and I can guarantee that very few people actually know what they are being charged, hence they just don't know. Until someone tells them. Which this board does.

ATMs ask 2 questions. One is if you accept the fee for using the ATM. If you say no, the transaction gets canceled. I think a lot of people who don't know any better assume that if they say no to the bank conversion question rate, the transaction will get canceled. Like you said, not stupid, just uninformed.

[Orgasmico]

50 k is usually the going rate for BBBJ in the regular casa's.

Is that what they're asking for now? I gave a girl 25 k last week and I thought that was good. I don't go often but 50 K is the highest I've ever heard.

[CeeJay1]

Energy. Difference here is that the quality is up a bit but they provide a massage and happy ending. I picked out my girl, asked if I wanted to shower and I said no. She said she'd do no cover service for another 190 mill or something but the session was already 185 mill cop. I paid for BBBJ which was 50 mil. We fuck, she gives me a naked massage and I had to shower to get the oil off and then she showers.

How did the girl look? Usually or least I was quoted 200 k one and 150 k for another for BBBJ at energy. 50 k is usually the going rate for BBBJ in the regular casa's. That's a good deal at energy. And her offering no cover service without asking is surprising, usually you get a flat no when you you asked that at energy or any other casa for that matter. But if she's offering it up front without you asking, is a bit of a red flag to me, especially if she doesn't even shower first. I alway like a bit of a push back or uncertainty if I asked them for full bareback service. At least if she shows some caution it gives you at least some piece of mind that she believes she's clean. If they don't care one way or another, who knows why!

[Zeos1]

Ok, this will be the last ATM post until I get foto evidence of the ATMs asking me if I am ok with the Transaction fee on my next trip.

I asked the question earlier and it was never answered, probably because it was buried in the middle of the post.

Here is the question again:

Why would anyone on the face of the planet accept the banks conversion rate?

El Mechanico.

Because they don't know. Simple. Not stupid, not anything, just not informed. You have to know what your own bank is going to charge you in order to know whether what is offered is a better option or not, and I can guarantee that very few people actually know what they are being charged, hence they just don't know. Until someone tells them. Which this board does.

[Mr Enternational]

Because just under 50% of the population is stupider than average.

Definitely more than 50. I am surprised at how many seasoned travelers I know that do not have a currency conversion app on their phone. The other day my ex-girlfriend asked me about something I told her and she got offended when I told her to search on google. I guess most people have phones for only taking pictures and playing games.