How to AVOID the Gringo Tax in Dominican Republic
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- Learn how to handle the infamous Gringo Tax in the Dominican Republic. Find out what it is, how to avoid it, and where you might encounter it during your travels. Don't get taken advantage of - watch this video to be prepared!
#santodomingo #dominicanrepublic #americanexpat
Just want to add this - when buying from a colmado you can ask for the price of an item in Spanish ( assuming that you have a good handle on spanish) this way they don't know if you are a local or not and they won't try to get over - this is what I do and it works for me - hope this tip helps
I appreciate that. Thanks for sharing 👍🏾
That won't help if he has an accent or just looks foreign. Random colmados will probably not do this. Colmados near tourist areas will.
Hey man, great content, I’m married to a Dominican, I speak Spanish fluently, but with an accent. Therefore when we go to DR, I usually just expect my wife to order… 😂 inspiring indeed to take that leap of faith. I work remote, but we have kids in HS. So hopefully we will be open to making that move
To avoid the gringo tax just say “DÍMELO!!!” loudly before you pay!!!! 🤣🤣🤣
Good stuff! 💪🏼
FYI: just means what’s up! But how you say and how loudly you say it is important!
😅🤣I'm going to try it👍🏾
lolol😂🎉 i have to try this out. this is amazing i formation
edit: im a giant white guy they charge me the most gringo tax everywhere
Thanks for making this video. This is one of the reasons why I wouldn't want to live in Dominican Republic or any Latin American country really. I don't want to jump through hoops just to pay for something. We all need what we need and when I have to go above and beyond just to pay for the things I need it becomes a headache. I also wouldn't want to depend on another person to speak for me when I'm out and about in the world. As a man it feels emasculating. I have heard a few other videos on this topic and it seems like it is a very common issue in these tourist heavy economies like Caribbean type islands and Central or Latin America. It's as if you are being punished for being born in America.
It's not as bad as people think. But it is real.
@@JayAbroad Bro I feel you. I’ve been to a few countries where I had to have someone speak for me for one reason or another and I don’t mind doing that for a week or so but that’s about all I would be able to stand.
I understand that. If it was that bad where that consisted in my everyday life I had to ask my wife to speak for me, it'll drive me crazy. But that's nowhere near the case.
Definitely. 1 of the 1st things you learn going out of the country. Pay attention, pay in the local currency, no price tags ask questions and if it does seem right walk away. 👏🏾👏🏾✌🏾✊🏿💯
Very true!
I mentioned on Norberis site before how my ex novia had me sit on the benches in Zona Colonial and not going in the stores. She got tired of negotiating with the store with gringo prices they were giving her. Even if she was buying, they assumed I’d be paying for it or that I would give her the overcharge. If you’re are also not with someone you trust, they’ll let you pay the gringo price because the money isn’t theirs to lose.
That's true.
Thank you for sharing. When it comes to the gringo tax all you have to do is put your foot down and just say no. Just tell the vendor that you have so much money take it or leave it. They usually will take what you give them.
That's true too..
ALL true ! Resorts, street venders, cabs, clinics and hospitals will get you. My wife protect me from this practice. She's a fierce negotiator
You need somebody like that on your team😃
@@JayAbroad
Definitely ! 💯%
Yes James it is real in every country a person travels to. Once they know your not a local,even if your from that country; but your not currently living there, you can get the gringo price just the same. In the DR I let my wife handle major of situations. The ones I deal with, I already know the price. Got to move smart. 👍👍👍
Yep, I agree 👍🏾
Thank you for the information. It’s very helpful Richard Hamilton from Elizabeth New Jersey. Be safe over there. Dominican Republic is a beautiful country to live in. I’m hoping to retire in three years once I sell my house over here to go with them and there was some family take care everyone.
Before you move here, you should open a bank account. Do that within the first 30 days, during a previous visit. Have an employer letter of income, self employment tax forms, or social security income statement. You can open accounts in local currency or dollars. It’s best to have both. You can start with a local currency account and later open the dollar account, after the 30 days, or on a future visit. If wiring anything of over 10k, the deposit will take some time to clear money laundering checks, have proof of where the money came from, so you can present to bank once you are here. It might take a month or less to clear. If you ship your belongings to a local friend, a tax will be charged, unless you get a temporary retirement visa. Tax is charged on what customs values it. Using a local import broker will save you money on taxes. They often pay the evaluator, while they look inside the container. Wink wink. The broker will also arrange a truck to move your items to a storage facility or your house. If you move here and don’t need to ship anything, you can stay here for years as a “tourist”, but a exit tax will be charged when you go back home and you can always come back, and reset your tourist status. It’s best to exchange your cash dollars once you are here, at the many exchange places. It’s also best to transfer money into a dollar account, and exchange it as you need it. It’s a great place to retire.
Thanks, I appreciate it 🙏🏾
Hola tio Jay! You have one of the top informational and educational podcast on social media! WOW! Keep up the great work! Gracias!
Thank you! Will do, bro👍🏾
I was at my girls house a couple of months ago and we were getting ready to go someplace and I wanted to clean up the yard next to her apartment so that we could sit out and eat some fruit later and it was only a couple of bags and some sticks that needed to be picked up and one board that needed to be picked up so There was a guy and his girlfriend or his wife that said that they would clean the yard and so when Girl asked them how much she made a face and told him don’t worry about it and I asked her what happened and she said they wanted to charge $100 when they saw that I was an American! I was shocked and I am not exaggerating. The grass did not need to be cut. It was just to pick up a few pieces of paper few limbs that were from a plant that had been broken and one board. So yeah, I don’t open my mouth too much when it comes to getting stuff done by plumbers or anyone else because they will tax the heck out of you! Me and her father picked up the trash in under 5 minutes! Smh 🤦🏾♂️
Well I do the exact thing as I do here.
I get several different prices to see if they are being fair or trying to gringo me😁
$100 to pick up trash? 😅. They must of gotten away with that number before. Insane.
@@JayAbroad Man I kid you not. My girl turn her head away and made a face and I was like what's wrong. I quote: Baby he wants to charge you $100 to clean the yard!. I was like, your yard? Just to pick up the few sticks and the paper that is on in the yard?? Me and her father did it in. If it took us 5 minutes it was because we were talking while picking the stuff up. $100 dollars SMH
just learn to compare prices from the store and you will find out quickly
Jay, me and my wife experienced this first hand when we bought a car in the Dominican, She flat out said you aren't coming with us to buy it, as soon as they see my white skin, the price goes up! Like you said if there is no price, I'm probably not shopping there but on one hand I have seen the dominicans are willing to negotiate on pricing.
Yes, you can negotiate. Just don't want to negotiate starting at the gringo price...lol! Let's start at the regular price.
Oh yes, I remember that and I'm Dominican.☺
Huntsville!! Get to negotiating Cuz! And like you said, let your wife do the talking. 😂
Lol, fa sho homie 🙏🏾💪🏾
Se da un situación, si te abasteces de los colmados, en los barrios todos se conocen y llegará el momento que te van decir que te están engañando, yo dominicano y pienso que nunca voy a vivir en la ciudad, la vida es muy cara en la ciudad y los campos tienen de todos y más económicos, gracias y bendiciones.
🙏🏾🙌🏾
That’s why I don’t go to the small shops
He’s telling the truth so pay attention
Excellent video and tips! My worst experiences with the gringo tax by far, was in Playa Juan Dolió y San Pedro de Macoris. Pasa Buena 🙏🏽
Thanks, yeah they'll get you if you let them.
Great info bro, Thank you
You're welcome 🙌🏾
Informative video 🙌
Thank you 🙌
Arturo Fuente cigars, good pic! Although the best cigar I've ever had, was a 2001 Romeo Julieta Limited Edition Cuban tobacco, I picked that up in Canada back in 2004 when i lived there, ya know, in Canada we can buy authentic Cuban cigars, I smoked that while BBQ'n, and wow, that cigar left a scar in my brain
I'm not a fan of the Romeo and Juliet. I like Arturo Fuentes better. Maybe I got the wrong one.
@@JayAbroad I always have Dominican cigars, but that one RJ I’ll never forget it, I got an assorted pack, maybe I got lucky but wow, but yeah I always smoke Dominicans
Depending on where you go the prices are different….but it exists
Great stuff! Bro, don’t know if you have a humidor, if not get one and stock up on your cigars. That way when go places like the park or a restaurant that allows smoking you put a couple inside a cigar pouch and you’re good. Yeah, $25 for a 500 peso cigar is criminal. ✌🏽
Lol yep that is criminal😅 I don't have a humidor but I've been thinking about getting one.
TEACH JAY TEACH!
Stores without price tags also try to charge more to Dominicans, maybe not as much as gringos but they do quote you random prices to see if you'll bite. They're a scam and I avoid them. Even some "independent" _appliance_ stores do this and you need to bargain smh. I've never spent more on clothes than when I'm out with my girl and she decides she wants something from a random store that turns out to not have price tags. They just quote you ridiculously dumb prices.
Regarding painters and plumbers you're right, they do charge Dominicans more depending on where you live. They're also scammers as far as I'm concerned 😂
🤣😂 crazy I know.
I'm with you, don't let them take advantage of you
💪🏾🙏🏾
Yes I have been got in DR. Not a good feeling. Good content and solutions James🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿.
Thanks!
That's everywhere you go jay, in mexico, cancun we fight for the prices, they trying to charger gringo tax.😅but we know better 🎉we dominican 🇩🇴
Yep, I agree. I know the prices here so it's hard for them to get me now😂
I remember the gringo tax. When they tried me with that my wife would charge they a$$ up and tell them don’t do me like that. Gotta love it no place like it. 💯
😅
Yes I agree - if you don’t place a number on it - it’s call abuse - I will walk out - store owners take advantage of money and the higher prices will fall on the regular person living in that area - we can help out by not buying there - I am sure there are specialty items that they can charge some what a higher price like a cigar or an imported item or a hand made product - i am just really concerned that if it affects the local people if they can’t afford it we should be blamed just because we can - - afford it
I am glad you said live in the moment - we should be conscious of others even though we are blessed we should not be ignorant - I am moving next year 2025 to PUNTA CANA - and I will eat at the local little places to help them out - - there is no need to pay $50.00 for a plate of food when a few miles down the road- it’s much cheaper for the same food - also in ending the government should step in and initiate control for price gauging - it can deter tourism in the future - with so much information at our disposal one bad experience to the wrong person can cause the economy millions of dollars per year - example someone filming an ex- employee that recorded the conversation between owner and their way of doing business can end a good restaurant- I think i will be friend some one and ask them to guide through the city until I get the hang of it - I personally don’t like abuse of power for me to others and others to me - it ticks me off for some reason- and driving - I will just let someone drive me around - don’t think I can handle it for a few months -
😂 this thumbnail flamboyant ash
This guy looks like a light skinned version of Gilbert Arenas lol 😂😂 . #newsubscriber
Gringo tax 😂😂 that’s true we have to be aware about that.
💪🏾💪🏾
I go to restaurants that have printed receipts. Never hand written receipts. I always ask for the price upfront. If I don’t like it then I just leave
Thank you bro!
You're welcome 🙌🏾
Facts
You just have to learn Spanish and know the slang, cause you look Dominican 😂
Exactly, people think that it is tourist that are overcharged but no, locals depending on their resources, get overcharged. It has happened to me. The trick is to negotiate the price, and/or find someone else and negotiate with them. That is what, we Dominicans do.
Exactly I'm glad you made this comment validating this because Dominicans are subject to this also.
Keep in mind this happens all over the world in tourist places as well
@@rosacaraballo739 I know I mentioned it in the video if you watched it. 🤔
My girlfriend is Dominican and she doesn’t play with them, i agree let your girlfriend/Boyfriend speak,my Spanish is not that good my girlfriend does all the talking! She has no patience for haggling if we can’t get it for what she believes it is worth we leave !!
And most times they we give in and sell it for what it’s worth 😊
You got a good one if she don't let them finesse you😅
In the colmado i act like I'm on the phone and drop 500. Often i get 300 plus back
Yep😅. If you act like you know they will give you the right change.
It’s not just a gringo tax, it’s a viajero tax.
Yep😅
😂😂😂
How to meet new people in Santo domingo?
It's easy to meet people here in the country especially here in Santo Domingo. People are always out walking.
I’m Eunice from La Romana DR, I live in South Florida. What you and your wife do for living? Thinking in moving there before retirement time is due .
We mentioned it here in this video ua-cam.com/video/TyZ1x9PtTVQ/v-deo.html
I get Gringo Taxed like mad its a tollo. 😂 I guess you went to El Tobacqero or the place near the old Hard Rock Jailai? Be sure the ones you buy cheaper are not knockoff check the ring carefully. Remember there are many bootleg cigars. If you like cigars do a video on them, that would be interesting. Cohibas, Red Dot Cohibas, Monti Cristies, Romeo and Juiletta, Autero Fuente. Wow you can go wildin.
I forget the name of the spot. But I like Arturo Fuente cigars the most. I have a video like that planned.
Good evening that why I think you have to become a citizen in dominican republic
Not sure if that would change the gringo tax issue. You can tell someone's legal status by looking at them.
I send in my lady with the cash.
😅yep!
Mexicans do that all the time there in the united states'
They charge American more in the US?