Gas station etiquette.. hard concept for some.

[USAF385]

It seems obvious to me that there is a rule when prepaying for gas at a gas station: You pull your vehicle up to the pump before going in to prepay.

Just now I came back from picking up my lunch. It's Friday and I'm in the mood for some pizza. On my way to pick it up I stopped at the pump and dump (which has one pump, so two people can fuel at the same time) to get some gas. I pulled up next to the pump and as I got out this guy in a truck that had just pulled behind me yells "Hey buddy, she just prepaid the pump for me!". As I stared at him for a second wondering what his malfunction was, the cashier leaned out the window ad asked (well, yelled 30 feet at me) if I could pull around to the other side because he had just prepaid for the pump.

I shook my head (in disbelief) and get in my truck. Just then a guy in a minivan pulled into the other side. "Screw it" I said and left to get my pizza. I'll get gas later tonight when I'm off in the other direction where gas is cheaper.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think you should probably be parked at the pump before prepaying. If I were in a bad mood I would have thanked him for the free gas and started fueling my truck on his dime.

But it's Friday and the weather is beautiful so I was in a good mood! Now I'm home enjoying my pizza.

Rant off.

 

[NFrameFred]

A corollary to that, though, should be when you tie up the pump to go in and pre-pay you shouldn't stay inside for 15 minutes getting coffee, buying lottery tickets and ciggies, and holding old home week chatting with someone you run into. I see that every time I buy gas and miss the days when there were actual 'gas stations' that were there to SELL GAS and not a Wally World with pumps. Can't count the times I've sat in line behind someone who leaves the vehicle and takes a vacation in the store.

And while I'm on my grumpy rant this pre-pay crap for these little two pump pull-ins right in front of the window frosts my chaps - I guess it's beyond the skill set of most of their employees these days to keep track of such complicated duties . . .

 

[mike from st pete]

What?

One of the things I dislike about the stations that do not have pay at the pump is waiting in line twice to get gas. First behind a couple of guys that look as if they should not be buying beer and lotto tickets with their $7.00. Give the clerk money/CC. Go pump gas. Stand in line again behind the first guys sisters and of course one of them has to do the scratch off at the counter just in case she won another ticket. Get change/CC receipt. This just took about 40 minutes.
And, why do the stations with card readers have to turn off their pumps when they close? Security CCTV and leave the pumps run, true self serve 24 hours a day and no employee costs.

 

[ladder13]

How about the folks who pump their gas, then sit at the pump combing their hair, flossing their teeth, redoing all their radio pre-sets, checking for coins between the seats, etc etc.
Pump your gas and get the heck outta the way.

 

[MATTHIAS]

.
Pump your gas and get the heck outta the way.

That's what i say.....and since I don't want to waste time waiting for that kind of people,always look for a gas station that is not crowded and pay at the pump...pump gas and go!

 

[jframe]

Ok, while we're ranting, I hate drive thrus of ANY kind. Invaribly, I get stuck behind some nimrod at the credit union I belong to while he's refinancing his house. All I want to do is cash my stupid, tiny check and be on my way. When they finally get done, they set their radios, yell at their kids, get on the cell phone, count their money, tie their shoes, comb their hair, whatever. It ought to be against company policy to do MULTIPLE transactions and deposits in a drive thru. Fast food is just as bad. These folks get to the microphone and say "I have fourteen seperate orders" or something like that. None are simple burgers and fries. Take this off, put this on, light on this, that, or the other thing, and when you get that done, put the special sauce on two of them. When they actually get to the window, they realize that the money to pay for all this crap is either kept in ten thousand different pockets, or scattered throughout their sizeable SUV. After an hour's wait, I finally get a cheeseburger and fries that are colder than Alaska in January, I pay and attempt to drive off, only to find that they forgot to put my apple pie in the sack. Whew, can y'all tell I like to bitch?

 

[safearm]

My problem is the direction people pull into the line of pumps. I happen to have a car with the fuel fill on the passenger side and I normally fill up at a station that has four islands of pumps, allowing eight cars to fill at the same time. One afternoon, I pulled in to fill up and by chance, certainly not by design, all the cars in all the lanes were facing the same way. I pulled into the correct lane behind a car at the pump and noticed another car facing the opposite direction in front of the car at the pump. The guy in front of me finishes and starts to pull out, and the car facing the opposite way tries to pull up to the pump before I do. The driver exits his car and proceeds to shout how he has been waiting to get gas (luckily he stayed by his car door; I wasn't going to get into a physical confrontation over gas when it's not an emergency). I calmly said that I had been waiting also, and asked him to look at which way every other car was pointed in the lanes. Maybe he was going the wrong way? With that, he got back in his car, squealed the tires and drove off. It would be nice if the stations had enter and exit signs; Sam's Club does it at their gas stations, but who's going to enforce it, the gas station police?

 

[johngalt]

It's been years since I've seen a gas pump that didn't take credit cards. Why bother going inside at all?

 

[Andy Griffith]

This is the reason I detest "convenience stores" and would rather buy gas from a "service station."

There is no service at a "service station" any more- not even up here in "Mayberry."

I know I wouldn't make any money, but I just wish I could build a "service station" that didn't sell cigarettes, beer and lotto tickets. Just a clean place that sold gas, oil and other vehicular sundries and had clean restrooms- catering more to car enthusiasts and drivers. Sure, some ice cold soda pops in glass, one rack of peanuts, beanies and weenies and chips would be ok, but that'd be it.

Also, I'd pay my employees well, to keep the place clean and neat. Most gas stations are horrible- I think because of the crowd they bring in to buy the beer, lotto tickets and etc.

"No shoes, no shirt, no service"

I wonder if old time glass gas pumps would even still be legal to use for commercial purposes?

 

[Jst1mr]

There's a few (just a few) left up here where the guy in the blue uniform shirt comes out from the garage area (wiping his hands on a good old shop towel) to see what he can do for you when you pull up to the pumps. The station still has that characteristic gas, oil, and old and new tire smell in the air and the chatter of air tools in the second bay. You follow the guy inside to pay at a simple counter in a small office....like a step back in time.

 

[Lenshappy]

...one word, credit card...
Amex for me

 

[JV1]

Here at home, we pump first then we go in and pay. I haven't been to one gas station ( in Quebec and Ontario) where I've had to prepay for fuel. The only time we need to prepay the fuel is after 11:00pm. The only time you get delayed at the cash is during the morning rush when people are picking up coffee, smokes and the paper.

 

[mtgianni]

And, why do the stations with card readers have to turn off their pumps when they close? Security CCTV and leave the pumps run, true self serve 24 hours a day and no employee costs.

Costco says there is a huge insurance cost in having "unmanned" pumps. Even though you are pumping the gas not them if someone is one site they pay 1/3-1/2 of insurance rates vs 24 hour open unmanned per their manager.

 

[310Pilot]

Pre-paying before pulling to the pump is just a wonderful way to pay for a tank of gas for somebody else who pulls in before you get there. That guy is just DUMB!

The thing that irritates me most at gas stations, though, is the clown who believes he needs to play (C) Rap "music" at full volume on his $5,000 stereo (usually installed in a $150 beater Jap car with a fart can exhaust), inflicting his poor taste in "music" on everybody else at the station (or within a 2 mile radius).

 

[scorvers]

I like you, Fellas. Ya'll think just like me.
As far as real "service stations" go, they aren't profitable. The markup on gas buy the retailer ain't much. You have to sell beer, rolling papers, blunts, chips, coffee, energy frinks, incense, and donuts to make any money.
At the refinery/chemical complex where I work, the chem side used to be the money maker and the refinery broke even up until the late 70's / early 80's. Now it has flipped around. Demand for the energy that drives America and the world has increased dramatically while refineries have not. Where they used to run units at 75%, they are pushing them for all they can nowadays. A refinery is getting almost as dangerous to work at as a coal mine.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

...one word, credit card...
Amex for me

Which leads to MY pet peeve. The pumps around me only go to $75. I have a 42 gallon tank so when it gets low, I go over the $75-have to stop and reset and finish pumping. Which leads me to my other pet peeve-having to go inside the store wait behind a boat load of people buying lottery tickets to get my credit card receipt from some raghead flea ridden camel jockey because the pump has run out of paper to print the receipt.

 

[wildfiresrozes]

Oh absolutely there is gas station etiquette, and absolutely it's not usually followed. It all boils down to courtesy and common sense, which seems to be lacking in a lot of people. Since we are on a gas station rant, let me add to this....

Lotto people, please don't scratch your tickets at my register. Step to the side and let other people pay for their stuff.

Penny people, please do not take all 12 pennies out of the cup to pay for your cigarettes bc you don't want to break another dollar, or use the 2 dimes you have in your hand.

Men, I know weather is nice, but please put your shirt on so I don't have to remind you as you come in the door. The no shirt/shoes/service sign posted on the door means exactly that, and while some of the views are nice, it is NOT allowed.

Druggies, please do not come in to buy ephedrine and give me some bullcrap story about 'your sinuses' or 'asthma'....by the way you act and look, it's apparent that you are a meth head.

Truckers, please wash yourself once in awhile...I can only hold my breath for so long...

Smokers, please turn your head and cover your mouth when you cough. I do not want to smell your ashtray breath.

Smokers and drinkers, have your ID with you. It is my job to ask for it, if I don't, and excise is waiting outside to ask you, I will be fired....just know that I'm going to ask, and have it ready. No biggie. Don't freak out and start yelling, cussing, and knocking stuff off of the shelves, just know that it's the law, and abide by it.
If I know you, it still doesn't matter, just flash me the license and let it go. Easy peasy.

All, do not hand me bills with blood on them. It's disgusting.

Thieves, don't do it. I will see you, and I WILL call the law, just bc you wink at me, or try to flirt, does not make you special, it makes you a d**chebag who will still get the law called on you as soon as you cross the threshold.

Welfare/food stamp recipients, use it responsibly. Don't come in spending 60 of it on energy drinks, expensive gas station frozen food and soda pop. Buy some beef/potatoes and cook your kids dinner. More than that, don't come in and try to purchase beer with it. Dumb.

Crappy parents, don't come in and spend 20 bucks on cigs, 4 dollar red bull, lotto, and blunt wraps and then tell your kid you don't have the money to buy them a .29 cent lollipop. LAME.

Smokers again, just tell me all the different kinds of cigs you want, at one time. Don't send me to the other side of the building 4 times. This is what I do, I assure you I can remember all 4 packs of smokes.

Gas pumpers, READ THE STICKERS ON PUMP. Don't stand out by the pump for 10 minutes, get mad and come in to yell at me. Read the 'prepay' sign to begin with....I will NOT turn it on for you, bc that could cost me my job. Unless you are going to pay my bills or hire me at your business, I can't chance that.

If the pump does not give you a reciept, I'm sorry. No, I don't know why. No, I can't fix it. Yes, I will most certainly print you a copy inside, and apologize for the inconvenience, but don't yell at me. It is not my fault.

I don't control the price of fuel, nor does anyone else working in the store. Don't come in throwing a fit and yelling at us. I have to pay the same price you do, and there is absolutely nothing I can do to drop the price. If you don't want to pay that price, hoof it, or carpool, or bike. But don't yell at ME about it.

All, sometimes crap happens with the electronics in the store, or the credit server...as soon as it does, we are frantically doing everything we can to get it going again, and to keep the lines moving by using the manual knucklebuster credit card machine...please either be patient or go elsewhere...don't make it worse for us when we are trying to work around the problem and fix it.

Main one, just be pleasant! Not all clerks are the friendliest people in the world, I understand that...BUT we are just trying to earn a living, too. Don't look down or be rude to us bc of our job title, or bc you had a crappy day, or bc you have been driving in the traffic. I'm sorry your day has been bad, but don't take it out on me....I'm there to help you and get you on your way...not to be a verbal punching bag.

Have a good one! (day, life, trip, whatever...just make it a good one. )

 

[feralmerril]

I never paid with a credit card in my life and dont know or want to know how to do it. Also where I live there is a station that I just pull up and pump without prepaying. I will pay a extra dime a gallon before I make a extra trip in to pre pay. Thank God where I live they dont assume everyone is a ripoff artist.

 

[Forester]

Great post, Jenn!

 

[USAF385]

wildfiresrozes,

Great rant! Having worked customer service, (not at a gas station though) I feel your pain.