People who don't know how to pump their own gas

[Roland]

This could just as easily go in the sucky customer section.
One of my jobs is at a convenience store. Throughout the
course of a shift, it seems inevitable that some will not be
able to master the simple process of paying for their gas,
inserting nozzle in their car, and hitting one button to pick
the grade of fuel.
When they can't manage that simple task, they hang the
pump up during the process. Which of course, resets the
pump, requiring me to refund it, and ring it up again. That,
means they come back in to the store and look at me like
I'm the idiot.
I had a woman do this like 4 times before she figured it out.
Another time, my coworker, a young female coworker I might
add had to actually go outside and pump gas for a couple of
grown ass men who couldn't figure it out.

The things I'd like to say to people sometimes.

[lonnolan]

Maybe they are from New Jersey where at last time I was there it was illegal to pump your own gas.

[Roland]

Even so, I fail to see how such a simple process can
screw so many people up. Use a card(or pay inside)
put the nozzle in, hit one button, pump your gas.

[Cia]

Maybe they are from New Jersey where at last time I was there it was illegal to pump your own gas.

It's also illegal to pump your own gas in Oregon.

[Seanette]

If you've never handled a gas pump in your life, not so intuitive.

I discovered this the first time I drove outside Oregon (my native state). 20-ish, and facing pumping my own gas for the first time. The directions on the pump seemed to assume prior familiarity with how the stupid thing worked.

A very kind fellow customer noticed my Oregon plates and confusion, and was nice enough to give me a lesson in pumping gas, minus condescension.

[iradney]

Here in South Africa, we do not pump our own gas. At all. We have pump jockeys that pump your gas, check your tyre pressure, oil levels and clean your windscreens. I'd be so stuffed if I visited the US :LOL:

[Minflick]

I remember going to the gas station with my grandfather, where an attendant did all that lovely stuff. Back in the early 1960's.. Been a very long time since I've seen all that here in California.

[judecat]

Unless the customer is physically handycapped, and can wait for me to get a police officer to babysit the store, then I'm not comming out in the middle of the night to pump their gas. If you don't know, then just come in and tell me you don't know what to do and I will explain it, but I'm not pumping anyone's gas.

Earlier this week had a customer with very limited English who told me he wanted 30 boxes, 87 over there (points to pump 5). Took a minute to figure he was trying to say 30 bucks. Ok, $30 on pump 5. Point to customer, then to pump, mime pick up nozzle, point back to pump, tell him 87, while mime-ing pushing a button. Big smile and he was on his way. Several minutes later comes back in to say $28 boxes, look at register, see he gets $2.00 change.

So if one old lady cashier can communicate with someone with no English, then I don't really see how hard it would be for your typical customer to understand, even if they are from New Jersey. (It's very unusual for me to get people from the west coast on the zombie shift. New Jersey is right up the road)

[Cia]

We used to have a gas co-op in town that would provide full service to their elderly patrons.

[Roland]

I've helped more than one elderly lady get gasoline. Those aren't
the ones I have a problem with. I am tired of explaining to the
people who reset their pump that the credit or debit transaction
is automatically refunded and if they want gas I have to run a
new transaction to restart the pump. Had what seemed like a
5 minute conversation with a couple today about it.

Seems like that is happening more often, and I'm just tired of
having the same couple of gas related conversations over and
over again.
Since I've been working two jobs and putting in so many hours
my patience has worn quite thin.

[notalwaysright]

Seems like that is happening more often, and I'm just tired of
having the same couple of gas related conversations over and
over again.
Since I've been working two jobs and putting in so many hours
my patience has worn quite thin.

I totally understand. I get tired of people not knowing measurements, feet and inches and yards. I get tired of explaining how "by-the-yard" works. (Hint, it's just like "by-the-pound" at the grocery store) I get tired of the complete lack of any type of preparation or willingness to read directions of any sort. Some are sucky and some are just brain burps, but after a while it becomes really hard to point at a yardstick and say "yes, this is a yard."

Back to gas stations. I remember being nervous the first time I got gas by myself after I got my license. I had just been with my friend who managed to mess it up. She inserted the card and I guess she did it too fast or too slow, and the card didn't read but my friend didn't notice. The station obviously allowed customers to pay after they filled up. So she pumps gas and goes to leave, only to be flagged down by an upset attendant. It's hard to imagine not having to do this at all while owning a car. But I can't say anything. I've never taken my car through a car wash. That's weird, right?

[Pagan]

Back to gas stations. I remember being nervous the first time I got gas by myself after I got my license.

Gods, it's been so long I don't even remember getting gas the first time. But I know it was before pay-at-the-pump came in and gas was under $1/gallon.

I've never taken my car through a car wash. That's weird, right?

Not really. We've got car washes here, but I don't see the point. Especially in the spring when we can get flying mudballs.

[An Haddock]

Maybe they are from New Jersey where at last time I was there it was illegal to pump your own gas.

Even if that's the case, usually pumps are pretty clearly marked how to use them.

But I'm in NJ near Philly, so early on I learned how to pump my own for when I had to drive in PA or elsewhere.

[Zellie Crescent]

I'm from Jersey and the times I went to visit family I pumped my own gas, it's so easy there's no excuse.

[rvdammit]

I've never pumped my own gas. Probably because I don't drive.