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  • Costco Gas Station

    A Thread regarding Costco and Sam's Club reminded me of this.

    The Costco Gas station near me is normally 10 - 20 cents cheaper a gallon then the local corner stations. Fortunately for me, this Costco also happens to also be the closest gas station to my house.

    This happened while I was filling up one day.

    Fairly long line (4 or 5 deep) and someone waited in the line, got up to the pump, tried to put her Debit/credit card in (note:Costco stations, you can only pay by Debit, AMX, or Costco Gift card. No cash or Credit cards) and of course it asked her for her membership card.

    CA = Costco Attended
    SC = Sucky "Customer"
    RM = Random Costco Member pumping gas


    SC: Sir.. (to the Costco Attended) The pump won't let my buy gas.

    CA: Did you swipe your Membership card?
    SC: I'm not a member.. It doesn't say anything about needed to be a member.
    CA (Points out a big red sign posted on the pump, printed in friendly letters that say ("For Members only")

    Note: They also have them on the side of the pumps, so you
    can see them while in line

    SC: Well..I didn't see it. How do I get an membership?
    CA: You need to go into the store and purchase one. Cost is $50
    SC: Can I just get gas now, and buy a membership later?
    CA: Nope.. you need to purchase your membership first.
    SC: But I waited in line
    CA: It doesn't matter.. if you want to get gas, you need to get a membership
    SC: How do I do that?
    CA: Need to go inside the store and purchase one
    SC: How much?
    CA: Membership costs $50 Dollars
    SC: But I don't want to pay that for a membership
    CA: Then you can't get gas here
    SC: But I waited it line
    CA: Doesn't matter.. this is for members only. If you don't have a membership you can't get gas
    SC: Can't you make an exception?
    CA: We don't have that ability to do that.
    SC But I waited in line.I just want to get gas.
    CA: Then you need to get a membership
    SC: Where?
    CA: Inside the store for $50 bucks..
    SC But I shouldn't have to pay that for waiting in line (SC turns to Random Member who is pumping gas)
    SC: Can I bower your card?
    RM: Nope.. you need to pay for the membership like everyone else here getting gas.

    Asked a couple other members, and got the same response. After that, she got the hint and drove off. I watched her as she left, and no.. she didn't go inside to buy a membership.
    Last edited by drunkenwildmage; 08-30-2011, 06:11 PM.
    Just sliding down the razor blade of life.

  • #2
    I like the whole, "I waited in line, can't you just let me? ... where do I go? ... how much?" merry-go-round she was on for a while, there.

    ^-.-^
    Faith is about what you do. It's about aspiring to be better and nobler and kinder than you are. It's about making sacrifices for the good of others. - Dresden

    Comment


    • #3
      not to mention asking the same question several times and getting the same answer means... ask again cos you might get a different reply?

      Comment


      • #4
        This non-member didn't happen to be the recipient of a parrot brain transplant by any chance? That repetition makes me wonder...

        Comment


        • #5
          Quoth PepperElf View Post
          not to mention asking the same question several times and getting the same answer means... ask again cos you might get a different reply?



          That's known as the "Jedi Mind Trick"...lol.

          Comment


          • #6
            Said account just validates a point I made in this thread: http://www.customerssuck.com/board/s...ad.php?t=80956

            They say that God only gives us what we can handle. Apparently, God thinks I'm a bad ass.

            Comment


            • #7
              I swiped my membership card for someone else at the pumps once. Only once.

              I'd just pulled up to the pump to pay, and noticed the guy at the pump ahead of me searching through his wallet, his pockets, his car, and getting frustrated. I swiped my card on my pump so I could start, and then he looked over at me and asked politely if I could swipe mine for him, since he apparently forgot/misplaced his card. Since he was polite about it, and had obviously been looking for it when I pulled up, I obliged.

              Whiny Lady in the OP? No dice.
              "Enough expository banter. It's time we fight like men. And ladies. And ladies who dress like men. For Gilgamesh...IT'S MORPHING TIME!"
              - Gilgamesh, Final Fantasy V

              Comment


              • #8
                Quoth Panacea View Post
                Said account just validates a point I made in this thread: http://www.customerssuck.com/board/s...ad.php?t=80956

                Actually it was that post reminded that I had wanted to post the story..
                Just sliding down the razor blade of life.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Quoth Bright_Star View Post
                  That's known as the "Jedi Mind Trick"...lol.
                  or proof of insanity... doing the same thing over and over again thinking they'll get a different result

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    The wholesale club I used to work for had a gas station too. However, it did allow non-members to buy gas there.

                    Trick was, the gas was something like 20 cents cheaper if you WERE a member, and if you weren't, you paid about the same as you'd pay at any other gas station in the area.

                    No more Suck at the gas station than there was anywhere else, as near as I heard.
                    PWNADE(TM) - Serve up a glass today! | PWNZER - An act of pwnage so awesome, it's like the victim got hit by a tank.

                    There are only Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse because I choose to walk!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Quoth drunkenwildmage View Post
                      Actually it was that post reminded that I had wanted to post the story..
                      Now that's funny
                      They say that God only gives us what we can handle. Apparently, God thinks I'm a bad ass.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Quoth PepperElf View Post
                        ask again cos you might get a different reply?
                        Austin Powers: "Where is Dr. Evil hiding?"
                        Mustafa: "Why would he tell me...?"
                        Austin Powers: "Where is Dr. Evil hiding?"
                        Mustafa: "You'll have to torture me, I'll never tell you!"
                        Austin Powers: "Where is Dr. Evil hiding?"
                        Mustafa: "Damn! Three times...He's hiding in the secret volcano lair..."
                        "For a musician, the SNES sound engine is like using Crayola Crayons. Nobuo Uematsu used Crayola Crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel." - Jeremy Jahns (re: "Dancing Mad")
                        "The difference between an amateur and a master is that the master has failed way more times." - JoCat
                        "Thinking is difficult, therefore let the herd pronounce judgment!" ~ Carl Jung
                        "There's burning bridges, and then there's the lake just to fill it with gasoline." - Wiccy, reddit
                        "Retail is a cruel master, and could very well be the most educational time of many people's lives, in its own twisted way." - me
                        "Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down...tell you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens...makes her a home." - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, "Serenity" (2005)
                        Acts of Gord – Read it, Learn it, Love it!
                        "Our psychic powers only work if the customer has a mind to read." - me

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Up here it seems we have a case of sucky gas station owners.

                          My province regulates gas prices, so everyone has a maximum price they may charge for gas.

                          Costco opened its first gas bar in the province with their new store in my city. And they're consistantly 6-7cents/litre cheaper than the current mandated max. So the gas station owners are now complaining to the Utility board that sets the maximum, that there needs to be a MINIMUM price cap now too.

                          Needless to say, people aren't happy with that news. I doubt the Utility board will bow to their demands either.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Quoth Jetfire View Post
                            And they're consistantly 6-7cents/litre cheaper than the current mandated max.
                            Dayum. I knew that gas stations worked on razor-thin margins, but....Wow
                            "For a musician, the SNES sound engine is like using Crayola Crayons. Nobuo Uematsu used Crayola Crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel." - Jeremy Jahns (re: "Dancing Mad")
                            "The difference between an amateur and a master is that the master has failed way more times." - JoCat
                            "Thinking is difficult, therefore let the herd pronounce judgment!" ~ Carl Jung
                            "There's burning bridges, and then there's the lake just to fill it with gasoline." - Wiccy, reddit
                            "Retail is a cruel master, and could very well be the most educational time of many people's lives, in its own twisted way." - me
                            "Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down...tell you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens...makes her a home." - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, "Serenity" (2005)
                            Acts of Gord – Read it, Learn it, Love it!
                            "Our psychic powers only work if the customer has a mind to read." - me

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              This was the article about the desire for a minimum price. From the 37 comments on it, it is obvious there is no support to set a minimum.

                              The article does outline how Costco can afford to be consistently 6-7 cents under the cap; by not stocking mid-grade, by not taking Visa/MC, by limiting hours. And not mentioned but by being a members only store too.

                              My coworker and I worked it out, and a Costco membership for him alone just for gas, for his once every 3 weeks fillup, (he's a bachelor), would just break even for him in gas savings. Of course people who drive more, have multiple vehicles, and/or drivers in their family, the savings go up fast.

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