The Men in Orange Vests and Other Lessons in Mexican Tipping
How a handful of coins can buy more than help—it can buy community.
Oscar has been my self-assigned grocery store helper for about seven years. He promoted himself from parking lot attendant to personal shopping assistant and decided his job would be to meet me inside the store, unload my cart at the register, assist with bagging my groceries, take my cart out to my car, and load the groceries before stopping traffic to help me exit the crowded parking lot. And for all that, Oscar earned a much larger tip than for simply helping me back out of a space.
I’d been in the Chedraui supermarket in Valladolid for about 45 minutes and was making my way toward the checkout when Oscar found me. He watches for my car in the parking lot. Wearing his well-worn orange safety vest, baggy pants, and baseball cap, he always greets me with a smile and a “¡Hola, Donald!”
Some years ago, I decided that Oscar was a regular part of our “helper team” and began including him in the December aguinaldo bonus that employers are required to pay their staff. Legally, it wasn’t required, but Oscar is a hardworking man, riding his small bicycle to work six days per week—not a small task for a middle-aged man. Last Christmas, he used his bonus to take a bus to Chihuahua to visit family. For that, I received a tearful hug.
Claiming a Mexican parking space is one of the few circumstances where customary cultural niceties are completely discarded. It’s a literal battle, where kindness morphs into combat and courtesy is cast aside like five-day-old fish. Maneuvering in or out of a space can require the bravery of a medieval gladiator entering the arena. That’s where the men and women in lime-green or fluorescent-orange vests come in. These are the peacekeepers—self-appointed entrepreneurs who show up daily to claim a modest income solely from tips as drivers extend their hands with a few coins on the way out.
Their colored vests and homemade red flags maintain order (mostly) where chaos would otherwise reign. These parking referees, their territories staked out and defended over time, perform a valued service.
When was the last time you visited a full-service gas station? Some of you may remember when that was the only choice available in the U.S. You’d pull up to the pump and a courteous, uniformed attendant would ask what type of gasoline you wanted and how much. Then your oil and other fluid levels would be checked, along with your tire pressure. Your windows would be washed, you’d pay the attendant, and off you’d go—never leaving your car. Well, in Mexico, that full-service experience is still the only type of service available at every gas station.
And while attendants are paid a modest wage, they rely on tips, too. Most folks customarily tip 10 or 20 pesos (about fifty cents to a dollar). If you frequent the same station, you’ll learn the attendants’ names and they’ll know yours. You exchange casual information, asking about family and such. It’s a personal experience.
Security guards are another part of daily life in Mexico. They’re prominent at many locations, and they can facilitate a variety of services. Over the years, I’ve tipped plenty for their assistance.
I’ve read recently of backlash against tipping in the U.S. I haven’t researched it deeply, but it seems to be based on not wanting to pay when one perceives the service is already adequately compensated.
Here, tipping is always optional. On a few occasions, I haven’t had the right change, and the server couldn’t break a bill. I always make it a point to promptly return, find the person, and pay.
Ordinarily, the level of service and quality is worth a small additional amount. When moving abroad, cultural changes are many, so be prepared to unlearn as well as to learn.
That’s my tip for you.
Thinking About Life in Valladolid?
Valladolid, Yucatán, isn’t just a charming colonial pitstop—it’s one of Mexico’s most underrated places to live. With pastel-painted streets, nearby cenotes, walkable neighborhoods, and easy access to Mérida, Cancún, and now the new Tren Maya, this little city is turning heads for all the right reasons.
We’ve just released a brand-new deep-dive guide by expat contributor Don Murray. He explores what it’s really like to settle down here, including healthcare, cost of living, renting vs. buying, safety, and daily life.
👉 Read Don’s full guide to Valladolid here.