High gas prices, more drive-offs

[XCashier]

Be aware that eventually they'll either drill your fuel tank or cut your fuel lines.

They already are.

[thehippie777]

Yeah, I don't get people stealing other people's gas even less then I get drive-offs. I am just sadly almost waiting for someone to steal mine...so I can freak out. My man already had his car broken into. He had some okay computer speakers and a car power-converter that were the only things that were stole. He's out, maybe $40. But, still, he & I are barely scratching by! Who gives these people the right????

[texasbelle5]

I am in Arizona and it's been pre pay here for years and years. Such a simple solution to drive offs. Pay before you pump.

[zzapp the witch]

Yeah, I got siphoned night before last. 40 gallon tank....they only took a few, but it still showed. I think I've been siphoned last week, too. I calculate my milage, and I went from 17.5/gallon to 13.5/gallon....hmmm.

Last night I parked so that I have high visibility most of the way around my car from my second floor bedroom, and put a sign by the gas tank saying: "Keep an eye out for a little red light. That'll be my laser sight, should I choose to warn you before shooting you. Think you were quiet? Too late. The beepers on the motion detectors already woke me up. I'll let you finish reading the sign before I start shooting."

And all the locals know I'm a geekette and love my guns.

[Alexandra]

I don't mind doing pre-pay. It's no less convenient than pumping, then going in to pay. Just flip-flop it or pay with card at pump.

One store in our local grocery chain has gas pumps...you can insert cash and pay at the pump.

[Peppergirl]

In my part of Ohio, at least in the city - I don't know of any more non pre-pay stations.

And yeah, I love Kroger. I get pitifully excited when I swipe my plus card and I have enough on there to get the 10 cents off.

[powerboy]

Where I live, gas is pre-pay. It has been like that for so many years. Gas is over $4.00 now.

[Anriana]

I never understood not prepaying, but then I'm young enough to have never seen a non-prepay station.

[Kiwi]

Almost all of the gas stations around here only have one free pump, all of the others are prepay. The "fill up" pump requires your drivers licence to be handed over to the cashier inside.

Im all for it, I dont want people driving off and a young inexperianced store clerk getting shafted by a skeasy owner making them pay. It happens everyday, and they are not all young or inexperianced but some are dependant on their jobs, or scared of the managers or just cant afford to fight the system.

[greensinestro]

Where I live, in South Florida, you cannot buy any gas without paying up front. At least, I have yet to encounter a gas station where you can pump it first, and it's all thanks to people like this. It's really horrible when you want to pay cash, and have to wait in line inside the store for the moron buying lottery tickets, or having a problem making up their mind about the brand of smokes they want. Now, I ususally do ATM or credit, just so I don't have to go inside, but then it gets irritating when you've done your thing, and the clerk inside isn't paying attention enough to turn your pump on.

[edible_hat]

Our pumps can't be set to prepay (we're waiting for a software upgrade apparently). Some people are used to pre-paying so they try it, we just put the money aside and they stop when they get to the amount they paid.

But the theiving scumbags have started pre-paying small amounts then taking more than that. A couple of days ago someone stole $2 of fuel because of my quick thinking (stopped the pump as soon as I saw it hit the $5 he'd paid)

[Depot Denizen]

Rising bollards. It'd be such a great way to catch theives. They start taking off? Press a button and traffic cylinders pop up from the ground and block the exit. :-D I saw a youtube vid of them in Manchester, England and fell in love with the idea.

I've been using my card to pay for probably a few years now. It's so much more convenient when I'm on my Ninja. Pull up, get the tank ready, swipe the card, fill up, get the receipt and I'm off and I never have to take off my helmet or gloves. For my car, I do the same. I rarely step inside the gas station unless I need to.

~Josh

[Naaman]

Rising bollards. It'd be such a great way to catch theives. They start taking off? Press a button and traffic cylinders pop up from the ground and block the exit. :-D I saw a youtube vid of them in Manchester, England and fell in love with the idea.

This one?
I think I posted a link to it a little while ago but my search-fu is weak today , posted link just in case though (because it is awesome )

[Depot Denizen]

We have a winner!

[Bella_Vixen]

the clerk inside isn't paying attention enough to turn your pump on.

You mean the clerk who is busy doing 20 million other things all at the same time? THAT clerk?

Sometimes, we ARE busy and can't hit the approve button right away.