Spain update - Fraud Soaring

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  • čas přidán 12. 03. 2024
  • Spain news update if you drive a diesel engine car in Spain, watch out because diesel fraud is becoming a real problem.
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Komentáře • 74

  • @kimsteele4625
    @kimsteele4625 Před 2 měsíci +6

    Yes tipping is fine but the employers still have a responsibility towards your staff. You tip for good service, not to help out rich business people.

  • @Gus-cg9yp
    @Gus-cg9yp Před 2 měsíci +5

    I lived in madrid between 2002 and 2010 with €1200 a month. Spanish farmers cant say that labour is cheaper in Moroco whe they have been exploting the morocan and african people in their farms for the last 30 years. Paying them crap wages and making them live under plastic tents.

  • @user-iq6uw9bb8m
    @user-iq6uw9bb8m Před 2 měsíci +4

    I bring home to the UK cleaning products from Mercandona, their own brand, best I've ever found.

  • @richardhaughton4303
    @richardhaughton4303 Před 2 měsíci +2

    Politicians are unbelievable, taking the fund’s from the purses and enriching themselves, if this the norm then no wonder major projects get put back 😮so sad

  • @stjut
    @stjut Před 2 měsíci +3

    Hi Stu, Mercadona super market has high quality products. They also look after their staff, pay above average salaries which increase annually so rarely staff leave, this results in excellent customer service. They also have become a little more competitive of late, though not the cheapest store. Stu.

  • @salsatapatio
    @salsatapatio Před 2 měsíci +5

    I’m a good tipper, it’s customary in California to leave an 18-20% tip. I was a server and bartender in my younger years, therefore, I know how much servers rely on them. Good service is required to get a good tip, so we get great service most of the time.
    I will be in Spain this June and am curious to see how service and tipping will go. I understand 10% is the norm for good service?

    • @jp13119
      @jp13119 Před 2 měsíci +1

      In my first trip to Spain in January I was admonished by my Spanish friends that there is no tipping in Spain. I was a bit surprised.

    • @craphead9842
      @craphead9842 Před 2 měsíci +2

      jp...Why???...Spaniards aint rich people if you hadn't noticed....I say tip if you want but don't expect something for doing you job etc....Tony cuenca

    • @Helen14R
      @Helen14R Před měsícem

      I have been told that Spain doesn’t have a tipping culture, maybe in very classy restaurants but not the norm. It’s fine to round up to the nearest euro or whatever.
      It can be a problem when the waiting staff know that other cultures give tips and come to expect them from foreigners!

  • @jacijoyce2685
    @jacijoyce2685 Před 2 měsíci +4

    Tipping in Spain usually meant rounding up to the nearest larger amount (and I remember back to pesetas where it would be a few centavos!) These days I always round up to the nearest 5 or 10 Euro amount unless that's too small and generally figure on at least 10% or more depending on quality of service, but I agree tipping in not a biggie in Spain. With Mercadona I like the range or quite reasonable to high quality products depending on my budget that week. But within my daughter's neighbourhood it's the best fish I can get.

    • @diegodejuan4825
      @diegodejuan4825 Před 2 měsíci +1

      That's an excellent succint explanation of tipping culture in Spain ("Bah, I don't bother to collect the small change, take it and see how good I am" ). By the way, I think in Japan is even considered an offense to tip somebody. On the dark side of things: the IRS surely wants its share out of tips, it is black money in their warped view of things😀

    • @jacijoyce2685
      @jacijoyce2685 Před 2 měsíci

      i believe the first line used a past tense "meant" and referred to a very different time. I further believe that if everyone gave the taxi driver a 15 Euro for an 11 :50 trip, and similarly in a bar things would at least be an improvement, don't you? But without knowing your tipping approach we can know what "perfection is the enemy of the good" (as the old saying goes) looks like.
      @@diegodejuan4825

    • @user-iq6uw9bb8m
      @user-iq6uw9bb8m Před 2 měsíci

      Card payments have not helped with tipping

  • @newsmonger77
    @newsmonger77 Před 2 měsíci +9

    Mercadona, great deli, fresh fish and meat and of course they sell The Guvnor.

    • @harriettt9857
      @harriettt9857 Před 2 měsíci +1

      I don’t go very often but I know that no matter what I need I can usually find it in Mercadona

  • @tonypommells3228
    @tonypommells3228 Před 2 měsíci

    Hi Stuart, On the subject of tips I was in Los Angeles and left a tip which I thought was enough but as I left the restaurant the waiter came running after me saying the tip was not enough.

  • @az_spain
    @az_spain Před 2 měsíci +2

    Renfe has been charging the full price of High Speed Train from Granada to Madrid for the past ten years and only just finished the tracks, it still does 60km/h for the last 100 km, but for about 5 years, they actually took you on a bus. I did complain once, because I didn't find it at all fair, I love trains , don't like buses so much. Do you think they discounted the price, no they didn't. I found it an interesting way to rake profits, or pay for the new tracks. Although I think some of that comes from the public anyway, not sure, but it must do. Renfe used to be a public company, I'm sure there's a few high executive wages that they can bring down closer to the average wages, bringing profits down is also a way to not pay taxes on profit. Sounds fishy to me from all angles, anyway, this is Spain! best not know, not ask either, corruption and immunity of certain classes is depressing.

  • @user-zm7ls2ip7z
    @user-zm7ls2ip7z Před 2 měsíci +1

    Tipping of 15% or more is standard practice across the U.S. We usually tip even if the service wasn’t anything special. I usually tip 20% or so but that is because I waited tables as a youth. Even though Europeans don’t tip as a norm, I tend to by habit and waiters like Americans who usually don’t know better or do so because it’s what we do at home.

  • @scott1974able
    @scott1974able Před 2 měsíci +1

    I’m the same Stuart. Not a Fan of Mercodona

  • @Ii-sb3fw
    @Ii-sb3fw Před 2 měsíci +2

    I actually think Mercadona is pretty great. I guess their success is based on finding a sweet spot between price and quality. They are a bit more expensive than the german discount stores but still good value probably because they manage to push their own hacendado brand products. My local mercadona has a great selection of fruit and vegetables and also a well stocked fish and seafood section! (Pilar de la Horadada, Alicante province)

  • @martindouglas9839
    @martindouglas9839 Před měsícem

    Mil gracias por el video Stuart. A lot of people made a lot of money during the pandemic

  • @garysmith9873
    @garysmith9873 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Morning all from Thailand 🇹🇭
    Yes sorry Stewart
    1.475 euro take home.and of course about 150...200 tips per month

  • @craphead9842
    @craphead9842 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Stu... how much profit do these companies want ???...If you add up all the backhanders that must go on then profits will suffer...Renfe is state run I believe so all the profits should be ploughed back in???..If you don't book in advanced renfe and the rest are expensive ... You stated 500m+ travellers so must be run by crap bosses etc....Last week travelled from cuenca to Alicante my carriage was half empty but price wasn't cheap ..So I guess travellers are paying for that too... Tony cuenca

  • @kenseal
    @kenseal Před 2 měsíci +1

    In our town (coast Malaga) we have carrefour and mercadona going head to head. In fact We use Mercadona for preference, probably for price and because we have always used them since they opened in madrid 25 years ago. One thing they always seem to have is a realy good fresh fish counter, something neither Carrefour nor Eroski offer. We use the carrefour (only just across the road from us) for fresh meat and emergencies..:)

  • @archiegoodwinjr
    @archiegoodwinjr Před 2 měsíci +1

    Hospitality workers are in short supply in my city (in California) as well. I encounter some of the same servers at different restaurants and ask why. They tell me they work 2 and 3 jobs to afford to pay for rent and necessities. Some restaurant workers are from Latin America on 7 year work visas and share accommodations and expenses with others from their country. Patrons try to tip generously and many restaurants offer tip choices of 18%/20%/22% in the credit card bill. A few restaurant owners have been sued for pocketing that tip. This year, one of our state's members of Congress proposed increasing the US minimum wage to $50 per hour. Is that shocking? It is more money than many teachers make in my city. She pointed out that 50 years ago, average houses in my city cost around 4 times the annual salary of the average teacher and now they cost 15 times as much. Buen provecho.

  • @123seanaway
    @123seanaway Před 2 měsíci +1

    If waiters are paid more that has to be passed on to customers.. how many complaining about waiter pay would also complain about the increased cost or eating out..

  • @Eurobazz
    @Eurobazz Před 2 měsíci +1

    RENFE, in conjunction with the Spanish government, must stay abreast of the developments of the new entrants to the open access rail strategy, by re-defining its own competition strategy.
    For example, it needs to improve its Iberian broad gauge services, something the new entrants aren't able to do as they are restricted to high speed standard gauge lines.
    The Iberian broad gauge makes up the lion's share of the rail network in Spain so there's a lot of leeway for infrastructure upgrading, improved timetables and increased ridership.

  • @karynwendt5754
    @karynwendt5754 Před 2 měsíci +1

    I always leave a 10% tip. If I notice a restaurant hasn't raised their price since pre- COVID and are still charging 10€ for a large menu de día I might leave 20%>

  • @martindouglas9839
    @martindouglas9839 Před měsícem

    Mil gracias por el video Stuart. In Alvor at moment going to Lagos tomorrow. In uk red diesel is used for building and agricultural. Think its a custonial sentence if you get caught. Always leave a tip when out of UK 🇬🇧

  • @subcitizen2012
    @subcitizen2012 Před 2 měsíci +3

    Thanks Stu! I'd like to note that at my job in Florida, a restaurant that's under new ownership, they basically just made tipping mandatory. Lol. They can forcibly rely on that rather than keeping wages competitive, just my 2 cents on that dynamic. Why pay your employees if you can just force the public to? Sound business model, at least if you have your tourism customers caught in a barrel.

  • @stevebenton7790
    @stevebenton7790 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Hi Stu
    I think that leaving tips of 10 percent is fine I know that’s not normal in Spain and get told off by friends for leaving that much.
    But I would hate to see the same tipping culture as the US where 20 percent is added to the bill and then the waiter asks for more.
    I like you don’t understand why Mercadona is so popular but many friends in Spain love it.

  • @larrybxl5406
    @larrybxl5406 Před 2 měsíci +1

    If the service in a restuarant was good I usually leave a tip of 10% of the preVAT total on the bill. Its usually well appreciated by Spanish wait staff. In Belgium or France a service charge of 15% is incuded in the bill regardless of how useless the service is, and they still expect an extra pourboire (propina) of about 5% on top! Ridiculous.

  • @jmw950
    @jmw950 Před 2 měsíci +1

    People should not be obliged to tip to "make up" the shortfall in wages. Tips are for good service and i have to say that even with good service, the Spanish dont tip well. Even for as long as i have have been here i cannot do that as feel like a miser so if the service is good, you will get tipped accordingly!

  • @jorgesardinas8612
    @jorgesardinas8612 Před 2 měsíci

    RENFE is awful. Restrooms aren't serviced , little to no Handicap accommodation, trains are poorly staffed to help passengers, cannot buy bottled water, etc..contains. Ticket offices are poorly staffed. Just overall apathetic attitude. Some competition would be wonderful!!

  • @Steve-hw5pw
    @Steve-hw5pw Před 2 měsíci

    I've just returned from a short holiday to the Canaries, and on the topic of gasoil & gasoline, I noticed that fuel prices at premium service stations in Tenerife were around €0.35 per litre cheaper than peninsula prices!.Is fuel subsidized by the local government with tax payers money?..I wonder.

  • @baycast
    @baycast Před 2 měsíci

    I'm not at all surprised re Mercadona and the company's soaring profit. He is so much more expensive than Aldi or Lidl for a great number of products!

  • @joseantoniodavila2752
    @joseantoniodavila2752 Před 2 měsíci +3

    The first mercadona in Alcalá de Henares opened in the 80's. They had sweets for diabetics and flours for celiacs much cheaper than in specialized stores. There was no other place like mercadona in this regard then. Eroski is another store that I like, but it is not successful at all

  • @paulniggel
    @paulniggel Před 2 měsíci +1

    Mercadona profit ? probably because I have arrived I love it & its personel here in playa flamenc are the friendliest people one could meet .gday mate

  • @ellemetcalf110
    @ellemetcalf110 Před 2 měsíci +1

    I love Mercadona ❤️. Why? Value for money. I just wish they would do ready made curries, pork pies!!

  • @robertbaranyai
    @robertbaranyai Před měsícem

    Mercadona - success maybe due to selling food you can eat on the premises? Just a thought …

  • @tomm5228
    @tomm5228 Před měsícem

    Last 18 months Mercadona prices up and up, 1 billion enough is enough

  • @marcusjenkins
    @marcusjenkins Před 2 měsíci +7

    Public transport is a service. Profitability shouldn't come into the equation. Privatisation of railways is a big mistake. Public services should exist to give public service, not shareholder value.
    Some governments choose to run public services like health & transport into the ground with years of deliberate underfunding. Then "there, told you, it'll be better in private hands".

    • @vikingro
      @vikingro Před 2 měsíci +2

      I'm from a country where public transport was a state service. It was extremely bad (to say it very politely); it has "transformed" into a private service = it is not much better, basically one is forced to own a car and suffer the consequences of this decision (insanely aggressive and toxic drivers) or use the "public transport" and suffer the consequences of this decision (generally extremely low quality, insane delays, subhuman behaviour and so on - it didn't improve much, again, to be polite). The best thing is that the country is no longer paying "ransom" to officials that should maintain the said public service, at least the private companies are not paid from the state budget (if I'm not wrong - because they can always steal some more) for "unavailable public service" where every employee purpose was to steal in every way possible. "Public service" owned and run by the state does not mean "good" or "acceptable" by any stretch of imagination.

  • @utuberlol
    @utuberlol Před 2 měsíci +2

    Best thing about Mercadona is the theme song that comes up whilst you are shopping. Its catchy!

    • @joseantoniodavila2752
      @joseantoniodavila2752 Před 2 měsíci +2

      I lived in an apartment right above a Mercadona and heard that music constantly. It is catchy indeed

    • @utuberlol
      @utuberlol Před 2 měsíci +1

      @@joseantoniodavila2752 it's cheerful!

    • @joseantoniodavila2752
      @joseantoniodavila2752 Před 2 měsíci +1

      @@utuberlol It has something. I heard how sticky is that song from people all over the world

  • @kevinpeters5125
    @kevinpeters5125 Před 2 měsíci +1

    UK to Spanish licence... thanks for this information... been waiting for some time on this agreement being made. Glad that sense has been seen...

  • @123seanaway
    @123seanaway Před 2 měsíci +2

    I've always used Mercadona when in spain.. great fish counter, great fresh produce for a supermarket, staff always nice, and price versus quality is very good.

  • @keithbloomfield1341
    @keithbloomfield1341 Před 2 měsíci +2

    How much was the haircut Stu and did you leave a tip? 💈

    • @newsmonger77
      @newsmonger77 Před 2 měsíci +2

      I had two haircuts while in fuengirola for two months. €8 for a senior cut, but I gave a €2 tip.

  • @coffermartin77
    @coffermartin77 Před měsícem

    Wages in Spain are pathetic! I will never work in Spain for those slave drivers. Spain is not so pretty when it comes to making ends meet.

  • @paul-gerard9488
    @paul-gerard9488 Před 2 měsíci +2

    Sorry for the spelling errors

  • @jaynehaffmann3944
    @jaynehaffmann3944 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Shortage of waiters maybe because Uk students aren’t coming over for the summer!

  • @denzilbrandt9833
    @denzilbrandt9833 Před měsícem

    Hiya to you , I was wondering if someone could give me some information about this 90 day rule , that none eu residents can only stay in a European country at any one time , then have to go back to your own country , for another 90 days , is it the same rule if you are married to a EU resident, my wife is Russian with a lativian passport, and have been married for 12 years , any information would be much appreciated thks in advance regards denzil

  • @eldan23
    @eldan23 Před 2 měsíci +2

    Using El Pais news to speak about Ayuso..what a Joke...

  • @Helen14R
    @Helen14R Před 2 měsíci +1

    Mercadona has decent prices and range, but I would single out their toiletries (whole department including face creams etc.) as being very good.

  • @keithfrancis4221
    @keithfrancis4221 Před 2 měsíci

    A

  • @123seanaway
    @123seanaway Před 2 měsíci +2

    The USA has the safest roads in the world, however, the main reason an American licence can't be swapped for an EU one is most americans learn in automatic cars so have no idea how gear sticks work, let alone use them when driving.. imagine the chaos😂.

    • @marko7425
      @marko7425 Před 2 měsíci

      I think you'll find the USA has twice the death rate of the UK per mile travelled, and also a higher death rate than Spain

    • @Ii-sb3fw
      @Ii-sb3fw Před 2 měsíci

      The US has six times more people killed in traffic per capita compared to Sweden.

  • @jmw950
    @jmw950 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Mercadona has got more expensive but is cheaper in comparison to Carrefour for example

  • @TheEncounterspirit
    @TheEncounterspirit Před 2 měsíci +1

    Mercadona is less expensive than Lidel or Aldi and the products are fresher and you have more of a selection. Except for wine. Wine is better at Aldi 👍💚

    • @west5828
      @west5828 Před měsícem

      Sad that the quality of wines keeps changing inside the same brands of wine, complaints don't help much , however they do offer a reimbursement .

  • @christinecleavest9099
    @christinecleavest9099 Před 2 měsíci +2

    I had heard about this face mask scandal involving Ayuso's partner a while ago and wondered why the story was buried...I guess it's true when they say, " what was in done in the dark surely will come to light".
    As far as the success of Mercadona, I find the quality, variety and prices are favorable. They also were one of the first and continues to be, forward thinking when it comes to people´s food allergies, plant based products, etc...

  • @rowena14
    @rowena14 Před 2 měsíci

    Hola 😊