moonhill Posted October 3, 2021 Report Share Posted October 3, 2021 I went to Walmart this morning and when I returned to my car it wouldn't start. The gear shift was stuck and I couldn't get in gear so nothing happened. In mere seconds a guy appeared saying he was a mechanic and had his tools with him, he could fix it. I said he could take a look. He popped the hood, then crawled under and announced I had a broken cable, he could fix it. I decided to go ahead since he quoted 350 pesos. Five minutes later I was on my way. Does anybody know this guy? He claims to have been "working" the Walmart parking lot for 12 years. Is he legit and saved me from being towed to a mechanic, or did he rig it while I was in the store? I've lived here 15 years and thought I knew every scam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RVGRINGO Posted October 3, 2021 Report Share Posted October 3, 2021 Sadly, your suspicions may be well founded. That parking lot has been the site of such sudden disabling malfunctions for many years. Once you leave your vehicle, any observer knows that you may be gone for quite a while. Typical in-store time is about 45 minutes; more than enough to slip under a car, disconnect something, then relax and wait for you to return, and conveniently offer to help and to save you a bundle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted October 3, 2021 Report Share Posted October 3, 2021 The Victor I am thinking of is a five foot five butterball. Don't think he could fit under any standard vehicle. He was deported from the US for dealing meth, tried the same here, but the cartels and the drug squad made his life difficult, but he is still well connected with cartels. His next business was human trafficing (pimp) but one of his girls was underage and her mother threatened to call the police. He offered to sell me his business, complete with two armed gaurds! One of the ex gaurds is El Gato, another one to watch, but he is usually in the El Torito area. Victor's usual scam is asking for 200 pesos to buy his baby Pampers. Funny enough, I kind of like the guy and his perseverance. The only time he kind of embarassed me is when he was looking after a relative boy about 8 or 10 years old. He was cleaning cars and told the boy to keep hanging out with me. No problem, but the boy was so obviously gay, and they were protecting him from bullying. Still, not a good look having this Mexican boy hanging about my car window trying for conversation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonhill Posted October 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2021 The Victor at Walmart was definitely not your meth dealer. Because he told me he's worked the parking lot at Walmart for 12 years I was curious if anyone was familiar with him. Anyone else had a similar experience with this guy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TelsZ4 Posted October 3, 2021 Report Share Posted October 3, 2021 It was a scam.. They usually pick on females. In the 15yrs I’ve been here I’ve heard of many any know a few people who have been scammed by people pulling the same trick in the parking lot at Walmart.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringohombre Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 I am not a mechanic, but if the doors were locked do not understand "The gear shift was stuck and I couldn't get in gear so nothing happened" And "He popped the hood, then crawled under and announced I had a broken cable, he could fix it". What does a gear shift have to do with a broken cable? What can a guy do in a parking lot to disable a car like that? I know that these guys are everywhere but what can the average Joe or Jane do to prevent or detour this kind of activity? Also I kind of feel safe in the Walmart parking lot since there a many approved car washers there and other employees coming and going and hopefully reporting this sort of activity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shag Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 yes, we know him. Wont tell you details here. but best not to trust him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringohombre Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 32 minutes ago, Shag said: yes, we know him. Wont tell you details here. but best not to trust him. Who him...why not details??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyPanda Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 3 hours ago, gringohombre said: I am not a mechanic, but if the doors were locked do not understand "The gear shift was stuck and I couldn't get in gear so nothing happened" And "He popped the hood, then crawled under and announced I had a broken cable, he could fix it". What does a gear shift have to do with a broken cable? What can a guy do in a parking lot to disable a car like that? I know that these guys are everywhere but what can the average Joe or Jane do to prevent or detour this kind of activity? Also I kind of feel safe in the Walmart parking lot since there a many approved car washers there and other employees coming and going and hopefully reporting this sort of activity. How much do you actually know about cars: Cables are intrinsic to gear shifts: one for automatic, two for manual. A gear shift cable is expensive and is not something carried around by wandering mechanics. The guy was lieing. They don't just break: they show signs first. Could be low transmission fluid. Could be a damaged shifter linkage. However, little here makes sense. How many vehicles are engine-accessible without opening the hood from inside the car? And why would he lie about the actual "repair"? I would take it into a garage right away and have it checked. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jreboll Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 He could have put a rock in there somewhere and removed it once you paid him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HookEmHorns Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 5 hours ago, moonhill said: I went to Walmart this morning and when I returned to my car it wouldn't start. The gear shift was stuck and I couldn't get in gear so nothing happened. In mere seconds a guy appeared saying he was a mechanic and had his tools with him, he could fix it. I said he could take a look. He popped the hood, then crawled under and announced I had a broken cable, he could fix it. I decided to go ahead since he quoted 350 pesos. Five minutes later I was on my way. Does anybody know this guy? He claims to have been "working" the Walmart parking lot for 12 years. Is he legit and saved me from being towed to a mechanic, or did he rig it while I was in the store? I've lived here 15 years and thought I knew every scam. Lots of "strange stuff" here. Why would he "pop" the hood, and then crawl under the car? He knew the problem was "under" the car, not in the engine compartment. He did something. I think he used something to "block" the gears from shifting, then simple removed it, and you were on your way. 350 is a cheap lesson for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyPanda Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 The way I read it, he crawled under the hood, not under the car. Just odd phrasing. Still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jreboll Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 Someone should start a photo collection of all these scam artists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 Scam for sure. Out of the whole Walmart parking lot, full of cars, this guy just happened to notice you inside your car having problems with the shifter and appeared in seconds? Gimme a break. He jammed something in there and then removed it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringohombre Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 6 hours ago, Jreboll said: Someone should start a photo collection of all these scam artists. Or just a good description would help!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out1 Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 This used to happen at Soriana on a frequent basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibarra Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 I have had numerous problems in the parking lot at Walmart over the years. One time a well recognized person from the parking lot came up to me and told me my tires were low, could he add air (how he was planning on doing that escaped my reasoning),I looked at all of them, they looked ok to me and said no, thank you. When I came out from shopping, one tire was completely flat. How do you suppose that happened! Duh. Another time, the heavy guy referred to above wanted to wash and wax our car while I shopped, I politely said, no. When I came out from shopping, the entire length of one door had a very deep scratch on it. There are other tales to be told. I consider it an adventure to survive shopping at Walmart. Never had a single problem at Soriana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 In this part of Mexico, it is quite common for mechanics to come out from the shop and work on vehicles of their regular customers . Especially Walmart because there is an Autozone right there if they need parts. Also, if you notice, there is a security camera on one corner of the lot, on the building. This is a safer place to park because they never know who is watching. I was giving the Victor I know, color pictures of most wanted US criminals. One time they identified that basketball coach who skipped bail. The bounty hunter paid out $10,000 US to them. They also knew the location of that $100,000 skip, who was a producer of pedophile films, but the cartel had their hooks in him and would not give him up - until his money ran dry. Then they probably killed him and buried him somewhere in their compound between Chapala and Guadalajara. Victor's "father", actually his deceased mother's ex boyfriend, is supposed to be in charge of the car washers. I have seen them run off new washer wannabees. Victor carries a concealed 2.5 foot heavy steel rod and I have seen him practising with it. He is really good at this. Never a dull moment in my life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TelsZ4 Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 2 hours ago, CHILLIN said: In this part of Mexico, it is quite common for mechanics to come out from the shop and work on vehicles of their regular customers . Especially Walmart because there is an Autozone right there if they need parts. Also, if you notice, there is a security camera on one corner of the lot, on the building. This is a safer place to park because they never know who is watching. I was giving the Victor I know, color pictures of most wanted US criminals. One time they identified that basketball coach who skipped bail. The bounty hunter paid out $10,000 US to them. They also knew the location of that $100,000 skip, who was a producer of pedophile films, but the cartel had their hooks in him and would not give him up - until his money ran dry. Then they probably killed him and buried him somewhere in their compound between Chapala and Guadalajara. Victor's "father", actually his deceased mother's ex boyfriend, is supposed to be in charge of the car washers. I have seen them run off new washer wannabees. Victor carries a concealed 2.5 foot heavy steel rod and I have seen him practising with it. He is really good at this. Never a dull moment in my life! Sounds like a fairy tale to me.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 26 minutes ago, TelsZ4 said: Sounds like a fairy tale to me.. Why - are you six years old? Does your Mommy know you are on the computer? . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shag Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 We personally know him and the "father" for many years. Wont tell details here, but bad news. Just a word to the wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blankletmusic Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 18 hours ago, AndyPanda said: How much do you actually know about cars: Cables are intrinsic to gear shifts: one for automatic, two for manual. A gear shift cable is expensive and is not something carried around by wandering mechanics. The guy was lieing. They don't just break: they show signs first. Could be low transmission fluid. Could be a damaged shifter linkage. However, little here makes sense. How many vehicles are engine-accessible without opening the hood from inside the car? And why would he lie about the actual "repair"? I would take it into a garage right away and have it checked. He likely managed to disengage the shifting linkage. I had a car years ago where the linkage would somehow disengage itself and the gear shift became totally inoperative. I had to crawl underneath and move it manually et voila, problem fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blankletmusic Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 8 minutes ago, blankletmusic said: He likely managed to disengage the shifting linkage. I had a car years ago where the linkage would somehow disengage itself and the gear shift became totally inoperative. I had to crawl underneath and move it manually et voila, problem fixed. If the clutch cable had broken it would have to be replaced. A garage with a lift, a skilled mechanic and the correct cable would all be needed. You can't patch a clutch cable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic123 Posted October 17, 2021 Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 On 10/4/2021 at 12:40 PM, CHILLIN said: In this part of Mexico, it is quite common for mechanics to come out from the shop and work on vehicles of their regular customers . Especially Walmart because there is an Autozone right there if they need parts. Also, if you notice, there is a security camera on one corner of the lot, on the building. This is a safer place to park because they never know who is watching. I was giving the Victor I know, color pictures of most wanted US criminals. One time they identified that basketball coach who skipped bail. The bounty hunter paid out $10,000 US to them. They also knew the location of that $100,000 skip, who was a producer of pedophile films, but the cartel had their hooks in him and would not give him up - until his money ran dry. Then they probably killed him and buried him somewhere in their compound between Chapala and Guadalajara. Victor's "father", actually his deceased mother's ex boyfriend, is supposed to be in charge of the car washers. I have seen them run off new washer wannabees. Victor carries a concealed 2.5 foot heavy steel rod and I have seen him practising with it. He is really good at this. Never a dull moment in my life! On 10/4/2021 at 12:40 PM, CHILLIN said: In this part of Mexico, it is quite common for mechanics to come out from the shop and work on vehicles of their regular customers . Especially Walmart because there is an Autozone right there if they need parts. Also, if you notice, there is a security camera on one corner of the lot, on the building. This is a safer place to park because they never know who is watching. I was giving the Victor I know, color pictures of most wanted US criminals. One time they identified that basketball coach who skipped bail. The bounty hunter paid out $10,000 US to them. They also knew the location of that $100,000 skip, who was a producer of pedophile films, but the cartel had their hooks in him and would not give him up - until his money ran dry. Then they probably killed him and buried him somewhere in their compound between Chapala and Guadalajara. Victor's "father", actually his deceased mother's ex boyfriend, is supposed to be in charge of the car washers. I have seen them run off new washer wannabees. Victor carries a concealed 2.5 foot heavy steel rod and I have seen him practising with it. He is really good at this. Never a dull moment in my life! Everything this person is saying is false if anyone has any questions about me I'm more than willing to answer but you who wrote this stop your lying if you are man enough show your face and we clear all this up I never tried selling you no pimp business or anything you don't know a thing about me or my family we don't do now harm to anyone so if you don't know me keep your big ... mouth shut. (edited by Mod for obvious reasons) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedros Posted October 17, 2021 Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 On 10/3/2021 at 4:16 PM, RVGRINGO said: Sadly, your suspicions may be well founded. That parking lot has been the site of such sudden disabling malfunctions for many years. Once you leave your vehicle, any observer knows that you may be gone for quite a while. Typical in-store time is about 45 minutes; more than enough to slip under a car, disconnect something, then relax and wait for you to return, and conveniently offer to help and to save you a bundle. I buy the car washers a cold drink once a week and they keep an eye on my vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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