Prepay Goodies

[wolfie]

Its illegal. NJ and Oregon still have the active laws that were passed in the 40's-50's (ish) when it was considered 'dangerous'.

If I recall correctly, both states make an exception for diesel (lobbying by truck stop owners - and a source of amusement/annoyance for TDI owners, depending on whether the station attendant knows this and allows "pump it yourself" while other customers ask why that customer is allowed but they're not, or whether the attendant doesn't know, and the TDI owner wants to do the vent trick to get the maximum possible fill). Also, at least one of them makes an exception for motorcycles - the result of a lawsuit from when a full-serve attendant scratched the paint on a fuel tank with a 4-figure custom paint job.

[PepperElf]

Its illegal. NJ and Oregon still have the active laws that were passed in the 40's-50's (ish) when it was considered 'dangerous'.

I'm betting their drive-off rates are also a lot lower too. Not *entirely* zero, since there are scam artists, but ... I'm sure they're significantly lower than that in the other states.

[Gizmo]

I'm sorry, stupid question from an Aussie who has always pumped her own petrol - why would they stop you? Do they assume you won't pay it if you do it yourself, or is it a health-and-safety issue, or is it just tradition?

Its illegal. NJ and Oregon still have the active laws that were passed in the 40's-50's (ish) when it was considered 'dangerous'.

[KatherineB]

My problem was always the opposite - when I drove through NJ going between Long Island and PA, I would forget that you can't pump your own gas. There were at least a couple of times that an attendant had to run over and stop me.

I'm sorry, stupid question from an Aussie who has always pumped her own petrol - why would they stop you? Do they assume you won't pay it if you do it yourself, or is it a health-and-safety issue, or is it just tradition?

[MoonCat]

You should totally take pictures when that blue Cherokee comes around again. Should be pretty damn funny.

[XCashier]

The only inconvenience I can possibly see in this is when you prepay you have to actually think about how much money it will take to fill your tank, and if you wind up pumping less than that, it's a big annoyance to get the difference back.

More like a mild irritation, IMHO. Back in AZ, I did that a lot, and really, it's not that big of a deal. If someone were wheelchair-bound, yes it would be troublesome, but most of the complainers are perfectly able-bodied.

Gaki, I am very glad you switched to pre-pay, and I really hope it stops all the thefts (it'll definitely reduce them signifigantly). You seem to be handling the SCs pretty well, too, and very wise to give them corporate's number rather than the manager's. Few SCs are willing to go all the way to corporate level; they'd rather bully someone who can give them a goodie right away.

[Bright_Star]

SC's create problems where none exists.

[Docmayhem]

Not really. If you've never ever had to do it, it can be a bit confusing. The first time I had to pump gas I was 21 and brought my car back to college. I asked a friend to come with me and show me how to do it as I had no clue.

I have no problem doing it when I'm out of NJ, but it just takes me a second or two to remember how to do it. It's like anything else you don't do all that often; when you have to do it again, you need to stop and think how. While I'm sure there are plenty of folks from my state who won't do it, I'm not one of them. Alhtough I do miss my full serve when its cold and windy out!

My problem was always the opposite - when I drove through NJ going between Long Island and PA, I would forget that you can't pump your own gas. There were at least a couple of times that an attendant had to run over and stop me.

[bhskittykatt]

Not really. If you've never ever had to do it, it can be a bit confusing. The first time I had to pump gas I was 21 and brought my car back to college. I asked a friend to come with me and show me how to do it as I had no clue.

I have no problem doing it when I'm out of NJ, but it just takes me a second or two to remember how to do it. It's like anything else you don't do all that often; when you have to do it again, you need to stop and think how. While I'm sure there are plenty of folks from my state who won't do it, I'm not one of them. Alhtough I do miss my full serve when its cold and windy out!

Hubby moved here from Oregon. First time I was with him to fill up a car in WA State, he got out to do it. I was like, "Are you sure you know how?" He was all "I haven't lived in Oregon all my life; I'm from California you know!"

I ended up getting out of the car and walking him through it after he couldn't figure it out. What happened to the Cali excuse? His excuse then became he moved to Oregon as a teenager and thus never learned. I simply stood back and enjoyed watching his ego deflate as I pumped the gas for him.

[Catwoman2965]

Folks from Jersey... I just cannot grasp how it can be so hard to figure out how to pump gas. Most pumps even have pictographs for pete's sake! It seems to be more an issue of "won't" than "cannot".

Not really. If you've never ever had to do it, it can be a bit confusing. The first time I had to pump gas I was 21 and brought my car back to college. I asked a friend to come with me and show me how to do it as I had no clue.

I have no problem doing it when I'm out of NJ, but it just takes me a second or two to remember how to do it. It's like anything else you don't do all that often; when you have to do it again, you need to stop and think how. While I'm sure there are plenty of folks from my state who won't do it, I'm not one of them. Alhtough I do miss my full serve when its cold and windy out!

[Ophbalance]

Folks from Jersey... I just cannot grasp how it can be so hard to figure out how to pump gas. Most pumps even have pictographs for pete's sake! It seems to be more an issue of "won't" than "cannot".

[Jay 2K Winger]

For all that it makes trouble for the poor gas station attendants, it warms the cockles to see the righteous indignation wither and die when faced with the fact that their arguments go precisely nowhere.

And it warms the cockles further to know that Gaki's regular gas thieves now have to actually pay or go elsewhere.

[Talasar]

My gas station isn't pre-pay all the time, but we (the clerks) have the option of telling a customer to come in an pre-pay if we can't see them/their plates/ we think they'll drive off/etc. I'm super popular on third shift because EVERYONE pre-pays end of story. They always threaten to talk to my manager when they take office to having to pre-pay, it does no good.

I like your giving them corporate's number instead of subjecting your manager to complaints they can do nothing about.

[Catwoman2965]

I work at a gas station and get people from Jersey and Oregon all the time who come in and bitch at me because I dont run outside and pump their gas for them. Lol.

Not all of us! I will admit to sometimes getting out of my car, and having to think a minute as to HOW to pump gas. I also pay at the pump with my cc, much easier, and I'm lazy and hate walking inside to pay,come out to pump, and then go back in to pee.

[pzychobitch]

I work at a gas station and get people from Jersey and Oregon all the time who come in and bitch at me because I dont run outside and pump their gas for them. Lol.