TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Gas price conversion rate

Has anyone ever gotten an explanation as to why the conversion rate at gas stations is 1.75G/1$ instead of the official rate of 1.8? All stations do it so I assume it has government sanction.

Technically, its 1.79 NAF to USD. I assume they are just going to a round number in their advantage.

This has always been a mystery to me. As weird as it sounds, I think they are more fluid than we, as to the price of a barrel of oil and associated gas price. Went to get gas on Dutch side after being there a week and a half. Cash in advance as expected and car (Hyundai Accent) was almost on empty. Gave them $60 and after filling got $25 back. Small tank? Maybe. As stated, always a mystery to me.

Actually the Central Bank Rate is 1.78 to 1.00. Local merchants can set the exchange rate to what they want. Gas stations have always been 1.75 to 1.00, at least for the last 15 years that I have lived on island.

Perhaps I am mistaken but I thought Shell/Sol used one conversation rate and Texaco used a slightly different rate? 1.75 to 1.00 at one of the stations and 1.80 to 1.00 at the other, although I don't recall which brand used which rate.

I have found that filling the tank can cost more than the advertised price after the attendant converts the guilders to dollars. I think the attendant pays the station for gas he pumps and can keep any "overage". I usually get $20 at a time and the pump will read 35 guilders.

as stated above most gas stations us 1.75 as the conversion rate.
therefore $20.00 equals 35 guilders.

And if they used the 1.80 it would be 36 guilders. Really people?! I can't help but shake my head.

I know we are talking about a small difference, but according to the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten website, the exchange rate is 1.79.

Currency
The Centrale Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten is the only institution entitled by law to issue coins and paper money in the Countries Curacao and St. Maarten. Since 1971 the Guilder is pegged to the US Dollar. The official CMg (NAf) / US$ rate is 1.79. The bank notes are printed by “Koninklijke Joh. Enschedé” in the Netherlands. The coins are minted by the Royal Dutch Mint “Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt”.

Yeah, I'm with you on that one.

Actually the Central Bank condones 1.78 and 1.79 at the official buy and sell rate. In my financial institutions on Sint Maarten and Curacao we use a straight 1.78.

This is the way to be sure you are getting the correct amount of gas. if you fill up, the total will be "rounded up" sometimes to a substantial amount over the correct charge. I had this experience at the station near the Cole Bay Grande Marche. The station near the Cole bay roundabout has been honest.