gas pumps and idiots

[figgyx]

When I was working overnights at a gas station we were told that we should shut off the pump if the customer did not stay with the pump or failed to shut off the engine - and even if they were seen smoking.

I can't tell you how many times people would pull up - leave their engine running and then go back into their vehicle while the pump was going. I know that especially in winter it is a problem standing outside in cold weather but really the rules are in place to prevent - oh I don't know - maybe explosions.

One time one of the management staff from the main store pulled up to a pump and began fueling while he came into the station to use the bathroom. When I shut off his pump and informed him of this he began yelling at me. Seriously, dude, did you not read the memo about this? Any number of bad things can happen if you don't stay with your vehicle.

One teenager even lit up a cigarette while standing out at the pump.

[blas]

I always hated the people that would "set" the pump to go to full, then go sit their lazy ass in their car, and all of a sudden, wow, a giant spill, and several extra dollars, then that idiot would want to argue with me about our "faulty" gas pumps and how they didn't want to pay that much or whatever have you.

Or the idiots who let their kids pump gas. It would have gotten me fired, but I always wanted to have a rule that kids could not pump gas, you had to be at least driving age to do it. Without fail, we never sold much kitty litter because we were always using it to clean up idiot people or their kids' spills.

Just recently, my mom claimed to have had an accident with a "faulty" gas pump, but I know her better than that, she's a total klutz and rarely watches what she's doing, so I'm sure she forgot to let go and got it all over herself, and it wasn't the pump not turning off.

[LillFilly]

Or the idiots who let their kids pump gas. It would have gotten me fired, but I always wanted to have a rule that kids could not pump gas, you had to be at least driving age to do it. Without fail, we never sold much kitty litter because we were always using it to clean up idiot people or their kids' spills.

All the gas pumps I've seen have warning labels that prohibit the use of the pump by anyone under the age of 16; along with the warnings of turning off the car, not getting in and out of the car while pumping, staying with the pump, etc. I figured everybody had signs like that for liability reasons, so you can't blame the station when 10yo Johnny spills gas on himself or something.

[BrenDAnn]

While I understand the premise behind it--safety and all--shutting off pumps like that at my store wouldn't work. Why? Because I'd be shutting off pumps to about, oh, 75% or more of my customers. Seriously. People might learn after a while, yes, but still. People will try stupid shit (I had one guy claim his pump kept going up to $100 but no gas came out...bullshit) but the majority of our fuel transactions go by without issue. That's not to say I wouldn't shut a pump off if I saw an issue...I just really never have. The worst spill we had cam from the stupid fuel delivery driver over-filling the tanks and having to call the fire department to clean it up, if that tells you anything! ETA: LillyFilly is right, our pumps have stickers on them prohibiting under 16s from using them as well. Stupid parents will be stupid parents though, unfortunately.

[emt_cookies]

The fire department cleaned it up? You guys were lucky then. I know my department will contain it and then make the company call an outside company to do the clean up. I hear it's expensive.

[eltf177]

All the gas pumps I've seen have warning labels that prohibit the use of the pump by anyone under the age of 16; along with the warnings of turning off the car, not getting in and out of the car while pumping, staying with the pump, etc. I figured everybody had signs like that for liability reasons, so you can't blame the station when 10yo Johnny spills gas on himself or something.

They do around here also, and they never seem to be enforced. I wish they did...

[Sapphire Silk]

I saw a clip on Dumbest Criminals recently where a teen plays a "prank" on his friend who's filling up . . . and sets the whole car on fire in the process.

There's a baby in the back seat

This is why I got so pissy with a gas station manager a year ago who was SMOKING while cleaning around the pumps . . . while I was filling my brand new truck.

[Moosenogger]

I always hated the people that would "set" the pump to go to full, then go sit their lazy ass in their car, and all of a sudden, wow, a giant spill, and several extra dollars, then that idiot would want to argue with me about our "faulty" gas pumps and how they didn't want to pay that much or whatever have you.

Don't pumps automatically turn off once the tank is full? I've been pumping gas before and I'll hear a loud "click" and the pump will stop when my car is filled - even if I hadn't reached my pre-pay limit yet. Yet, one time I went to pump gas, and even though I was standing right there with the nozzle in my hand, the pump didn't turn off when my gas tank was full. I ended up spilling some gasoline on myself and the ground.

When I told the attendant that their pump may be faulty, she looked at me like I was insane. I'm sorry I don't have the clairvoyance to know the exact moment I should take my finger off the nozzle.

[Sapphire Silk]

Don't pumps automatically turn off once the tank is full? I've been pumping gas before and I'll hear a loud "click" and the pump will stop when my car is filled - even if I hadn't reached my pre-pay limit yet. Yet, one time I went to pump gas, and even though I was standing right there with the nozzle in my hand, the pump didn't turn off when my gas tank was full. I ended up spilling some gasoline on myself and the ground.

When I told the attendant that their pump may be faulty, she looked at me like I was insane. I'm sorry I don't have the clairvoyance to know the exact moment I should take my finger off the nozzle.

The turn off switches aren't that reliable. If you don't have the nozzle in the gas tank just right it either won't fill your pump, or will overfill. The former happens fairly frequently, the latter every once in a while. But it's why I don't leave my car.

Plus, I wouldn't want some cheapwad to swipe my gas nozzle and fill his car, bike, or gas can on my dime while I wasn't looking.

[dalesys]

Don't pumps automatically turn off once the tank is full?

When I worked at Little America (1972) we beat up the nozzles pretty bad at the truck islands... usually had at least one fail per shift, with an average spill of 30 gallons of #2 diesel per shift.

Yeah, it shouldoughta shut off, but...

[raudf]

Every pump I have been too, there are tons of signs saying "No one under 16 allowed to pump," along with, what should be now labeled a super power, common sense rules on pumping.

Since I follow the theory that the default state of most technology is "broke," I stand near the nozzle and listen to the sound of the fuel running into the tank. When it hits a certain pitch that I've determined is "full," I'll stop it if the pump doesn't stop itself. That has saved me quite a bit of money due to spillage!

I used to know gas station owner who kept a fire extinguisher labeled, "IN CASE OF SMOKERS NEAR PUMPS." I don't know if he ever used it for that purpose, but he said the threat of it was usually enough to get the idea across, along with the pump being shut off.

He also told me a story of one time seeing a POTY letting their 5 year old pump gas, while they came into the store. He shut the pump off and laid into 'em for being the stupidest parent alive. Needless to stay, POTY wasn't thrilled, paid for what they owed (only 'cause he pointed to the nice camera and the phone) and left in a huff.

[VenomX]

I worked pumping gas for 5 years. Theres a sensor in the nozzle that detects when the fuel is near the top by the nozzle end. When these start going bad it will not work sometimes. When it would do that to us we would just change nozzles. Some stations may not change then because they cost $350 or so each.

[BeenThereDoneThat]

I was just pumping gas on my way home tonight. I'm so careful...I leave my cell in the car and only bring out my keys and my credit card (and lock the car while I'm outside it)...stand there while it's pumping, and usually touch metal somewhere other than the car before I grab the pump nozzle again. I saw a guy actually get shocked by a cell phone once, and it wasn't even near a gas pump...just an electrical outlet. Not entirely sure how the hell that happened, and he wasn't hurt, but it was scary shit...

[mattm04]

Once I witnessed a guy pull up, leave the car running and get out smoking and try to pump gas. The attendant had noticed and shut down said pump before he even started. A argument ensued over the PA and the idiot left.

Even on the coldest windiest days, i have never had issue standing outside for a few minutes to pump gas.

[Racket_Man]

I always hated the people that would "set" the pump to go to full, then go sit their lazy ass in their car, and all of a sudden, wow, a giant spill, and several extra dollars, then that idiot would want to argue with me about our "faulty" gas pumps and how they didn't want to pay that much or whatever have you.

.

had one idiot do this in the winter. except the "few extra dollars" in spilled gas was $30 or $40 worth of gas. asshole tried to argue with the manager about not PAYING for the "extra gas" but lost after the cops and the fire dept (HAZMAT situation) got involved.