It's a twofer!

[seigus]

Yesterday I pulled into a gas station along the interstate. Being the cheapest gas for miles, it was very busy. I am looking for a spot when I notice a man leaving. I shoot toward his soon-to-be vacant spot, when I see he is DRIVING AWAY WITH THE NOZZLE IN HIS CAR! It naturally breaks off. He stops, pulls it out and puts it on the ground, then, of course, drives away without notifying anyone inside. I now see that I will need a new spot for gas, and see an empty place. I get out and start to pump. I notice a very strong smell of petroleum, even stronger than usual for a gas station. I look behind me, and someone has clicked the handle dealie on the nozzle so it dispenses without having to hold it, but there is no person anywhere near this car (I'm the closest, at the next pump). Gas is pouring all over the ground. I have NO idea how long this has been occuring, but it looks like it's been a while. I go over and shut it off, then finish my own fillup - my tank had been running on fumes, so it takes a bit. As I prepare to leave, finally a woman exits the store and heads to the vehicle. There is gas EVERYWHERE. I try to explain to her about what happened and caution her to be careful. She just looks puzzled. Don't think she ever grasped the significance of what I said. I got the hell out of there as fast as I could, glad to still be alive and unexploded. I wonder how much gas she paid for that was now spreading across the lot.

[Soulstealer]

Did you tell the gas station attendant?

[seigus]

No, I didn't. I thought after I left that I should have, and regret not doing it, but all I was thinking of at the time was putting distance between me and the station. Maybe I should add myself to the list.

[PepperElf]

yeah they have to know.
i did it once but i was close enough to stop the gas myself and then went inside to tell them.

i didnt stop using the hands-free mode but it made me aware that you have to really pay attention if you're going to do that.

where i pump now tho they have it disabled. i think it's a station-by-station choice tho cos ive seen other stations with the option available

[seigus]

I have been properly chastened.

[blas]

When I worked at the gas station, it was way too often of an occurence that someone would set the pump to fill by itself, walk away and chat on their phone or do whatever, and gas would spill. Everywhere.

[Gawdzillers]

Doesn't the hands-free thing shut itself off after the tank is full?

[Red Hand of Ulster]

Doesn't the hands-free thing shut itself off after the tank is full?

I was wondering the same thing. Every gas station I've ever been to does that. Of course those have all been in TX, NM, & AZ.

[Megg]

They are supposed to, but like anything else, sometimes they malfunction.

[seigus]

They don't always stop as they're supposed to, which is why you're not supposed to leave them unintended. If it weren't for the environmental and explosive hazard, you could just sit back and laugh as someone's money drifts away due to their incompetence and carelessness.

[dalesys]

Doesn't the hands-free thing shut itself off after the tank is full?

When I worked pumping diesel at Little America, Wyoming (1972) (40 diesel#2 pumps) we spilled an average of 30-50 gallons per shift because of malfunctioning shutoffs. The station manager was rebuilding 2-3 nozzles a day.

One of the other kids who'd worked winters told of looking out at a 5AM frosty+++ morning at a 3-400 gallon lake.

It was diesel so not supremely flammable, but eep!

[freeatlast]

A couple of years ago, I stopped for gas on the way to work. This station had a self serve island and a full serve island. I had pumped my gas and went up to pay just as the attendant went inside the building. She turned and motioned that she would be back in a minute, so I stood there waiting. While waiting, I heard gas start pouring all over the ground. A car was at the full service island and the attendant had set it to hand free AND WENT INSIDE THE BUILDING! Customers are not allowed inside, so I knocked on the window to get her attention. She appeared very annoyed at me, probably because she thought I was hurrying her. She came outside and I pointed to the gas pouring out of the customer's tank and she went off on me for not going over and stopping it. That's when I handed her my money and told her that it was not my job or my problem to deal with. I was on my way to work and could not spend the day covered in gas because of her stupidity. She was still bitching when I got into my car and left.

[Evil Queen]

I was wondering the same thing. Every gas station I've ever been to does that. Of course those have all been in TX, NM, & AZ.

Add NC, GA, AL, FL, MI, TN and VI to the list. Oh, and the one in OK. I forgot I fueled up there once.

[Bella_Vixen]

you could just sit back and laugh as someone's money drifts away due to their incompetence and carelessness.

I used to love when people would turn on the auto thing and have it overflow. They'd come in and bitch at me, like it was my fault. I just told them that they weren't supposed to leave the pump unattended.

I used to beg our pump fixer guy to get us nozzles that *didn't* have the auto option. The company wouldn't let him, because "it might inconvenience the customers."