Hi Everyone!
I cannot believe I am writing this because I am typically a skeptical, intelligent, been-around-the-world person, but boy, did I get ripped off in Chichen Itza! At first I was appalled at the masses of vendors selling al the same old stuff, but after seeing several of the mask sellers carving wood behind their blankets of goods, I asked one about his work. He gave me the whole story about what each mask represented and so on. His prices were absurd and I talked him down a bit, but still, when I got back and unpacked, imagine my horror when a corner of one chipped off, revealing ... plaster! Now, I understand people are poor and we are comparably rich and I have no problems paying a little too much for things sometimes if I can convince myself it is money going to an artisan, someone else who needs it. But plaster! So my advice, to those foolish as I who need it, is ask the vendor what they're making, ask to hold it, compare the weight with those he is selling, tap on it. Make sure it is something he might at least believably have made himself!
Superglue??? Yikes!
He probably DID make it himself, bugsyboo. I certainly don't see any "cheat" in an artisan carving an original, then casting duplicates for the souvenir trade. Haven't you ever bought a print of a painting? Besides, if what you wanted was the original, carved mask, you would probably have had to pay a LOT more than you did. Original artwork don't come cheap ANYWHERE!
Okay, mazgringo, that could very well be and I thank you for your suggestion. It does make me feel better, but it WASN'T cheap and prints of a painting are sold exactly as such. I suppose it is different when he told me it was wood.
Maybe he switched the plaster one . . . after you started beating him down on the price. Sometimes we outsmart ourselves.
caveat emptor (sp?). you bought it. you must like it. ain't exactly as advertised but it's still beautiful, is it not? what the hell...enjoy it and forget about whether or not it's "legit". edward
What sucks about these experiences (at least for me) is that if you're not careful, they can make you paranoid and hostile.
I still remember an experience I had years ago in Morocco. (Where, frankly, ripping off tourists is an art form.)
I spent some time in Tangier. Aggressive (really aggressive, often nasty) "guides." Assorted scams that obviously were scams.
I had had enough.
I left for another city in Morocco. I was wandering around. Somebody motioned for me not to go where I was going. Having had enough of people jerking around tourists, I gave him a "go to hell" look and continued on my way.
I promptly found out that it was a dead end street (or maze).
When I finally emerged, the look that the guy who had told me not to go there gave me was not pleasant.
I've felt vaguely guilty ever since.
I've never had that extreme of an experience in Mexico. But I have, I'm afraid, sometimes been pretty curt toward people trying to sell me things aggressively. I know they're just trying to make a living. And I know that there are cultural differences. But still, sometimes it's frustrating.
Was the whole mask plaster or was plaster used to form some of the features of the mask or fill in imperfections in the piece of wood used as the base. I've seen this in some Oaxaca painted carvings that were original pieces. Plaster or some filler material supplemented the wood base used for the piece.
Well make you next trip Guatemala and you can buy some nice masks very cheap carved from wood. fine ones with Mayan faces and fancy headdresses.
bugsyboo, Thanks for your informative post. I agree with you 100% about expecting to get what you thought you were paying for. I remember one time in Acapulco where an elderly Mexican woman was selling slices of cake on the street. She had a sample of the slice of cake, but guess what? When I got my slice of cake it was much smaller than the sample. I let her get away with it but would not go back to her again as I am sure others, whether Mexican or not, would either. As far as the poster saying if one should get something cheaper than what is asked than they get what they paid for. Does that mean if one asks $100 for something only worth $30, I should pay it? I bargain all the time in Acapulco and get the same quality at a reduced price. Actually, I think if they can rip a tourist off from Mexico City or wherever, they do not think the person is very business minded. Adios, Edmund
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