Now we’re pumping our own gas in Oregon

[4T5GUY]

OK I really do “get it”. But...

When I left Oregon in Jan 1982 for Alaska I was used to getting filled up by someone else. We were NOT allowed to pump our own gas. When I arrive in Tok Junction I parked by the pump, and waited. And waited. I had no idea that you had to pump your own gas. (It was 20 below zero by the way.) I had NEVER pumped my own gas.

So living in Alaska for so long when I came back to Oregon I just got out at the gas station and started to fill my tank up. Oops, big problem. That was a BIG mistake.

Now, due to the situation we are mandated to pump our own gas. Seems kinda weird that so many people will touch that pump control instead of one person, (with gloves,) does it.

Just still wondering why we can’t pump our own gas too, (obviously,) all the time. I do understand that those jobs of pumping gas would be lost but still.

Jim

 

[ContinentalOp]

I guess they figured that rather than have a bunch of customers get exposed to a small amount of chemical hazard for the few minutes it takes to fill a tank every week or so, it'd be better to have gas station employees expose themselves to the same hazard for several hours/day, 5+ days/week...?

 

[LVSteve]

Oregon (along with New Jersey) got a burr up their behind over people being near gasoline. They also blather about jobs, a highly specious argument used to justify many unnecessary tasks in the US IMHO, but that's another story.

Anyway, the top 17 reasons you are not normally allowed to pump your own gas in Oregon.

17 reasons why you still can't pump your own gas in most of Oregon | KVAL

The "special weather" argument cracks me up. If it's so dangerous why haven't the federal government stepped in and cleared the place.

 

[Rudi]

Just the way it is. There are some cute girls working at the station I go to. Could be worse.

 

[Absalom]

I used to find the prohibition against self-service gas in Oregon odd too.

The longer I lived here, the better I liked it.

Now, after almost 40 years, I just wonder what’s wrong with people who get all worked up about someone else doing the dirty work and gas not costing more than in the neighboring states where you have to pump for yourself.

The elaborate reasons in the law interest nobody. We just like it this way. Except for some oddball who is paranoid about the employee maybe scratching his paint job, or an obsessive character who thinks he can shave a minute or two off the refueling time, why would anyone in his right mind want to do this themselves?

The current temporary easing of restrictions doesn’t mandate anything, by the way. It simply suspends enforcement of the rule, so that folks who do not want to come in close face-to-face contact with the (still present) attendant are allowed to do their own fueling.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

To heck with the whys and why nots about pumping your own gas... I'm still wondering about the 9/10 cent thing in the price per gallon!

John

 

[Watchdog]

Except for some oddball who is paranoid about the employee maybe scratching his paint job, or an obsessive character who thinks he can shave a minute or two off the refueling time, why would anyone in his right mind want to do this themselves?

So people who pump their own gas (most of the country, I think) are oddballs and aren't in their right mind, but Oregon is an island of sanity?

Got it.

 

[coltle6920]

Last time someone pumped my gas was in the early 70's. You were only allowed so much gas and there were odd and even days based on your license plate.

When I moved from Pa. to Co. in 1988 every station along the freeways were self serve. Don't know why it's only 2 States out of 57 but I'm good either way.

 

[Absalom]

So people who pump their own gas (most of the country, I think) are oddballs and aren't in their right mind, but Oregon is an island of sanity?

Got it.

Naw, we just got lucky back in 1951 when the ban was introduced.

And of course nowadays there isn‘t a snowball‘s chance in heck to ban it elsewhere. The oil lobbyists are going to make sure of that.

It‘s just one of those old-time conveniences we‘ve managed to hang on to. The people who pump their own gas elsewhere aren‘t the oddballs, but the ones who are trying to argue that this is superior definitely are.

 

[Onomea]

I think having the option to either do it yourself or have the attendant do it for you is the way to go.

As for me, I have no interest in doing it myself and, when given the choice, don’t. (Unless there is a crazy price differential, as I came across once in Hawaii, some years ago.)

 

[Igiveup]

I stopped at a station in Lakeview, Or. back in '86 while travelling thru the state. I started to pump my own gas and the owner of the station started to yell at me not to do that. I had no clue. Now, having lived in Oregon for thirty years, I don't mind sitting in the pickup and having someone else pump the gas while it is snowing and windy. I think our gas prices are high compared to many states, but I was told it is because we get the "service" at the pump. Once, in thirty years, a young kid in Pendleton, Or., at 11:00 pm, asked if he could check the oil. Imagine that!

 

[rwsmith]

We have pumped our own gas........

....since the mid 70's. There might be two stations in a 50 mile radius that pump for you and they are downtown where the rich old people live.

 

[ladder13]

I pump my own, it’s really easy, honest.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Ruthie pumps ours.

She's closer to the gas cap.

 

[LVSteve]

To heck with the whys and why nots about pumping your own gas... I'm still wondering about the 9/10 cent thing in the price per gallon!

John

Sales and marketing 101. Go to a car lot where a vehicle is priced $9,999 and say to the salesman, "So, that one is 10 grand". The grinding of teeth will likely start an earthquake.

 

[perryhd]

I know my memory isn't worth snot but I can't remember the last time I didn't pump my on gas.

 

[GypsmJim]

There was a time when the stations in NY had 2 rows of pumps - one self and the other full serve. The self was usually a few cents cheaper. After a few years of literally no one paying extra, all the full serve pumps were eliminated. That was about 50 years ago.

One time at a FULL SERVE ONLY station, the idiot splashed gas all over the side of my car. He waited until I paid him till he cleaned it up. Just enough time to dissolve the pin striping, and then his dirty rag wiped it all off.

If I remember correctly that was my LAST experience with a full serve high school dropout.

 

[Absalom]

I know my memory isn't worth snot but I can't remember the last time I didn't pump my on gas.

Might have been in the 1970s if you‘re old enough. That‘s when industry pressure led to the lifting of bans in most states.

One would need to research the details further, but it seems the shift to larger stations with convenience store tie-in was a major driver; if you want to sell people supersized pop, stale donuts, and hot dogs, you HAVE to get them out of their vehicle first.

 

[S&WIowegan]

I lived in New Jersey from late 1976 to late 1988. The self-pumping change occurred during the '70s and the big argument was to save the jobs of gas pumpers via state laws. Just to add another reason for having attendants at the gas stations, there were lots of drugs sold by those same attendants. I served on a jury panel where the state was prosecuting a group of gas station guys for selling drugs.

 

[Watchdog]

...some oddball who is paranoid about the employee maybe scratching his paint job, or an obsessive character who thinks he can shave a minute or two off the refueling time, why would anyone in his right mind want to do this themselves?

...The people who pump their own gas elsewhere aren‘t the oddballs...

Well, first we were obsessive-paranoid-oddball characters not in our right mind for pumping our own gas, but now we aren't? Get your stories straight.

..but the ones who are trying to argue that this is superior definitely are.

I can't find the part in my post where I claim that pumping your own gas is a "superior" method. Can you point that part out for me, please? Thanks.

Frankly, I'm content to do stuff for myself; grateful to be able to do it instead of sitting around waiting on someone else to do it for me.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.