What is up with people in gas stations!? (A Rant)

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori) 01/06/2020 at 12:45 • Filed to: None

3

57

Ok, I know this is a common complaint, but seriously on this last trip I had chose to bail on getting gas three separate times, and came close some others .

First one was a small town with a small gas station... maybe 4 pumps? All four were occupied, which is fine, but none of them had people pumping gas. There were several other cars similarly perplexed and/or waiting, so I left for the one down the street. It wasn’t much better and by the time I left people were so lined up I almost couldn’t make it out of the parking lot.

Second one was in Socorro. Three gas stations in one intersection, but only one was on the right so we went there. Lots of pumps, but they were all full of empty cars. Taylor decided to wait on one guy who was in his car. The guy finished his phone call, and then left to go inside. With someone waiting on him. Maybe he was going to pay, but he’d been sitting at that pump for a while.

Last one was on the way back home and it was the same story. A lot of pumps, a l ot of cars, and the cars were mostly empty.

We also came across a lot of broken gas pumps, but that is a different issue.

So the common theme here is people leaving their car at the pump while they go and do whatever one does inside a gas station. Poop, I guess? Don’t get me wrong, at an uncrowded gas station I’ll totally leave my car at the pump, but if there are only a couple pumps left I’ll do the right thing and either move on or park.  

I have been to exactly one gas station that cracked down on this, and they ladies at the desk were constantly on the intercom shouting at people. Why don’t more do this? Lets face it, every time I drive off in the Land Rover they’re missing out on $45 in gas sales, at least, and probably me buying some higher margin items when I go in to use the facilities. When it is all three of us that have to bail... well that has to be a significant amount of money driving off.

I don’t offer any specific solutions or insight into why people are like this or why gas stations don’t do more to stop it. I just... wanted to express my frustration at my fellow humans and wish them all the best in getting the fuck out of my way.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 12:52

1

Bothers me too. I always move my car after pumping if I’m going in unless like you said the station is mostly empty. People are often too self centered to think of others.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 12:53

5

I live in one of the states where we aren’t allowed to pump our own gas. Now that being said, when I go to a neighboring state that allows it, it perplexes me as well. Why most people don’t pay at the pump is beyond me.

Now that being said, I’ll never forget the time that I was paying cash and I pumped, then moved the car to go inside and pay.  And the attendant called the cops on me because they thought I took off.  Apparently some places don’t want you moving the vehicle until you pay, and they get pretty grumpy when you do.  

facw > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 12:53

2

I don’t ever leave my car empty at the pumps. Even if the station were empty, I’d repark if I wanted to buy something. Even with free pumps available you are usually making it harder for people to get to/from the pumps if you are parked there.

HammerheadFistpunch > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 12:53

2

I don’t get parking at the pump unless its a dead station or has a ton of stalls, even then I tend not to do it.  

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 12:54

2

Svend > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 12:58

2

Because in this day and age, people are way too self centred.

Too many people think the world revolves around them and everyone else should be thankful to have to wait for them. 

ttyymmnn > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 13:02

7

I see this all the time. That’s why I like getting gas at Costco. Lots of pumps and no place to go and leave your car behind. 

CB > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 13:03

1

I always pump my own gas, and if I need to do anything in the gas station I park my car in a parking space, like someone who isn’t deranged. I don’t know why people think they have enough time to mess around in the store while their car fills up.

MonkeePuzzle > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 13:04

4

people make poor choices

jimz > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 13:04

10

the answer to any question like this is almost always “people are self-absorbed assholes.”

oh, and “it’s illegal to kick their asses, no matter how badly they have it coming. ”

Discerning > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 13:09

6

The has stations won’t do anything because they want people to go into the station to buy things. They make very very little on gas. The cars should still park, but the stations also don’t want to shoo away customers.

I only leave my car and give inside if two items are met:

1) I press print receipt and the printer is broken or out of paper AND

2) there are ample pumps and I’m not holding anyone up by going in.

But I'm also in and out quickly. I never buy anything.

smobgirl > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 13:11

5

I was driving to South Dakota once from Denver and stopped to fill up at one of those “last gas for forever” stations (Lusk , WY maybe?). There were dozens of people waiting and most of the cars at the pumps were empty and parked. A bunch of biker guys offered to pick up the car parked at the pump ahead of me and move it out of the way after I sat there for about 10 minutes ...I politely declined but they chewed out the owner when he came out anyway. Pretty sure they started cracking down on other customers too  but I got the hell out of there.

Ash78, voting early and often > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 13:13

2

I usually leave the other passenger watching the pump while I go inside, but if I know I’ll be in there for more than a few minutes, I’ll park.

My bigger question is why so many people shop inside gas stations. It’s like voluntarily shopping at an airport or on a cruise ship. Lottery tickets?

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 01/06/2020 at 13:15

9

I hate paying cash/ pre-paying for gas. They’re always like “how much gas do you want? ” U hh... some. The amount that is missing from my tank. Actually the last time I was asked I said 22 gallons of premium and she looked at me like I’d asked her to solve a differential equation while I was raping her grandmother. It has never been a pleasant experience .

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > jimz 01/06/2020 at 13:16

3

One day I feel like I’m going to just hook up a tow strap and move the car for them.

Then I remember I hate confrontation of any kind and sit quietly in my car.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 13:23

0

There are two stations near me that I refuse to go to specifically because of this issue. 

Sovande > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 01/06/2020 at 13:31

1

Most don’t pay at  the pump because that’s where the skimmers are located. Credit card companies and banks have gone so far as to suggest paying inside to avoid having your CC info stolen.

Sovande > Ash78, voting early and often 01/06/2020 at 13:34

3

If you’re there and they sell something you want or need it seems like a fine place to shop. Sometimes a fella needs a single Backwoods, ribbed condoms, a quart of motor oil, a donut and some diet Mt Dew . Nice to be able to buy those all under one roof.

My bird IS the word > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 13:34

1

Havent had that problem locally. Only ever done late at night or if otherwise empty.

facw > Sovande 01/06/2020 at 13:46

7

I don’t worry about that, since:

I’m not liable for fraudulent charges

Gas stations are finally starting to get chip tech (they need it by this year or the card companies will hold them liable)

Contactless options are also finally starting to be available (setting aside ancient stuff like Mobil’s speedpass).

facw > ttyymmnn 01/06/2020 at 13:47

1

Costco near me doesn’t do gas. The one near me in Houston did, but always had long lines waiting for pumps.

ranwhenparked > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 13:54

0

Because people are inconsiderate assholes, there’s no other explanation. Same reason they pull too far forward and block two pumps when they’re only using one, same reason they reverse out of their spot without looking behind them, same reason they whip through the gas station parking lot at 30+mph, same reason they don’t signal turns or pay attention to lane markings.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > facw 01/06/2020 at 13:54

3

At my Costco the lines always look long but they move surprisingly quickly. They run a pretty efficient show – they have about 5 bays with a pump on either side, 3 deep – so I guess they’re pumping 30 cars at a time (DAMN! ).

Each line can be as bad as 5 deep behind the cars pumping, but they move 3 at a time as the pumps clear up…have never had to wait more than 5 minutes to start pumping.

I also just try to go early in the morning on my way to work since the gas pumps open much earlier and close later than the store itself. Never a wait at that time and save a good $5-10 a tank.

Sovande > facw 01/06/2020 at 13:57

1

I bet old people worry about it. 

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 13:59

1

Maybe hanging around at gas stations was a thing in the small-town life of past decades?

DipodomysDeserti > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 01/06/2020 at 14:06

0

In Ireland if you’re paying cash you just fill up first then go inside and pay. It’s great.

dogisbadob > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 14:06

1

Something NJ actually does right :p

With no self serve, there is no parking at the pump to go in the store, and in many gas stations, the line only goes one way, and long hoses mean you can go on either side of the pump regardless of which side your car’s gas tank is on. The lines move with reasonable efficiency

The only bad thing is if you pay cash and fill up, they don’t want to make change, so they top off. So pay with a card instead . Sam’s Club and Costco don’t even accept cash, and Costco’s policy is not to top off. You don’t need a membership to use their gas stations.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 14:10

3

In light of your trip, I can offer some NM specific insight to this.

First, the unoffical state motto of NM is the land of manana (and there are degrees of it, progressively more applied the more rural and further South you go in the state). Up North it might mean “tomorrow”. In the South, it is used as “not today,” with no future time or date intentionally not specified . Nobody is in a hurry to do anything here, even less so outside of Albuquerque. Many people would think nothing of waiting 15 minutes for someone to come back and move their car. Moving quickly and efficiency tend not to be in the dna here. 

Also contributing is the going inside to pay thing.  NM is a generally poor state.  In many lower income and rural areas, more than 50% of the population is unbanked.  Paying at the pump is only an option if you're someone that uses bank accounts.  Folks paying at the pump would be a way to spot the well to do in much of the state.

shop-teacher > jimz 01/06/2020 at 14:27

0

*ding* That’s the same reason why  people who are an vacation, are completely insufferable.

Ash78, voting early and often > Sovande 01/06/2020 at 14:39

5

Gee, I don’t know what you have planned for tonight Homer, but count me out.

DirtyDodge > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 14:45

5

i like to park at the pump and read and post to oppo, it seems like the best place to do it.

Discerning > Discerning 01/06/2020 at 14:54

2

I am getting tired of my phone auto correcting valid words with other words. Half of my messages make me sound drunk. Thanks phone

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 15:03

1

Pretty typical New Mexico.  While I have seen this to varying degrees everywhere, it is definitely much more common here in NM. People here just... really aren’t in a hurry.  ITA97's reply explains it much better.  I’ve lived here for a year and a half now and I’m still learning to not get frustrated by it.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 01/06/2020 at 15:09

1

Well put, thank you

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > DirtyDodge 01/06/2020 at 15:14

0

Lol. I've often wondered if people take so long to do everything because they get sucked into [insert favorite social network] and lose track of time. 

atfsgeoff > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 16:13

1

If I’m going inside the store at all, even for just a few minutes, I move my car away from the pumps. Even if it’s 1am and I’m the only car there.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 16:43

0

That’s definitely not a problem here. People are in such a goddamn rush, no one dilly-dallies. Drug addicts, techies, laborers, fancy bois, doesn’t matter: they all have somewhere to be.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 16:56

0

When I worked in fast food our regional manager from corporate told us that drive through times had gone up at nearly every store by close to 10%, and the only explanation was people on their phones not moving up promptly 

NKato > facw 01/06/2020 at 17:00

0

I consider contactless to be potentially more unsecure than chips. Contactless means RFID, which means it’s a short range transmitter. Which can be copied.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Sovande 01/06/2020 at 17:12

0

They know the scammers will sell their license plate number to the government 

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Discerning 01/06/2020 at 17:15

0

I agree it’s ducking annoying! 

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 17:19

0

I notice that some but not a ton. I hate the people who park at diesel pumps with gassers. Makes me wanna pull em with the strap out the way.

Urambo Tauro > Discerning 01/06/2020 at 17:51

1

As much as they might fear the notion of shooing away customers by enforcing a little decency , I would honestly go out of my way to make that my regular go-to store.

Urambo Tauro > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 17:54

1

I have been to exactly one ga s station that cracked down on this, and they ladies at the desk were constantly on the intercom shouting at peopl e.

THIS is the store I would go out of my way to buy gas from. ( Well, not TOO far out of my way, but you know what I mea n.) I hope they regain whatever business they may have lost by shooing away shitt y customers.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 01/06/2020 at 18:03

1

That is fair and I try to pay attention to it, but at the same time a free pump is a free pump

Jay, the practical enthusiast > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 18:37

0

It drives me even crazier when every pump is blocked by an empty car and every single parking space directly in front of the gas station is empty. Not one person could be bothered to move their cars into the empty spaces to free up the pumps for other drivers.

GLiddy > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/06/2020 at 18:42

4

If you ever see me pumping gas, get in line behind me. I don’t fool around and I don’t tolerate those that do. I have my card ready as I get out of the car. I open the gas cap and proceed to authorize at the pump. When it goes active, I make my selection, grab the pump and start filling. When I’m done, I replace the pump, attach the cap, grab my receipt and leave. If I want something inside, I pull my car away from the pump and park elsewhere and go inside. If anyone riding with me has gone inside and they aren’t back in time, I still move to a parking place.

There’s absolutely no reason to loiter around at a pump if you aren’t filling your car.

facw > NKato 01/06/2020 at 19:00

0

Modern stuff should all be single use codes. Doesn’t matter if you copy them, they can’t be used again anyway.

BeefSupreme > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 01/06/2020 at 22:45

1

Second this comment.  The line is never as bad as it looks.   Top tier gas, lowest prices and I'm in and out just as fast. The attendants have also told me they are required to do checks for skimming devices multiple times per day and have tamper evident seals on every part of the pump.  Other stations are not nearly this diligent in preventing card fraud issues.  

BeefSupreme > dogisbadob 01/06/2020 at 22:51

2

You need a membership for Costco and Sam’s gas in most states, NJ just has some laws that require them to sell to anyone . And I’d hardly say not letting grown- ups pump gas for themselves is a good thing... 48 out of 50 states allow self serve, Oregon and NJ just look nuts to the rest of the country.

dogisbadob > BeefSupreme 01/06/2020 at 23:13

0

NJ gas prices are still cheaper than PA, even with no self-serve *and* two recent gas tax hikes. NJ’s highest prices are about equal to PA’s lowest prices.

Also the jobs for the people pumping gas certainly do help.

But really, the lines really do move better, and you never have the problems outlined in the article. Nobody is parked at the pump to go in the store.

Yosemitemtb > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/07/2020 at 00:00

1

Even more frustrating, I was buying gas while on a road trip a few months ago and once finished, I found myself blocked in. The car in front of me was already empty when I pulled up and I never did see them during my entire ordeal. The driver of the car at the island next to me was a very elderly man. He finished filling his tank, then proceeded to clean out the inside of his car as I sat patiently. Once back in his driver’s seat, he pulled a notebook outhis glove box and started figuring his gas mileage. By this time I had gotten back out of my car and very politely asked if would mind pulling forward to a nearby parking spot so I could do the same. He looked at me and said (exact quote) “you can wait ” in a very rude tone. I could hardly  believe it! I said " pardon me?" And he repeated himself. Truth was, I couldn't wait, I had to pee so bad! The guy on the other side of his pump even told the guy he should move, he just sat there looking at his notepad for another 3 or 4 minutes while I got back in my car and tried to think about anything but flowing water before he finally pulled out. When I went inside to use the bathroom, the line at the register was all the way to the back of the store.

NojustNo > Sovande 01/07/2020 at 02:52

0

Meh. A skimmer would be pretty obvious to spot I think

Sovande > NojustNo 01/07/2020 at 05:09

0

Except that they aren't easy to spot or they wouldn't be in use at all. 

BigBlock440 > dogisbadob 01/07/2020 at 10:44

1

NJ gas prices are still cheaper than PA, even with no self-serve *and* two recent gas tax hikes. NJ’s highest prices are about equal to PA’s lowest prices. 

For two reasons, 1, NJ has the refineries, and 2, PA’s gas tax was increased a few years ago to the highest in the country, until CA reclaimed that title last year I think. It’s even higher than NY, it’s nuts. Gotta pay the state police somehow I guess.

TRivet > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/07/2020 at 11:30

0

... s he looked at me like I’d asked her to solve a differential equation while I was raping her grandmother.

Thank you for this. It is probably the best explanation/visual ever given for such a situation. Bravo sir. BRAVO!

Take your star!

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/07/2020 at 12:59

1

Tru. It only bothers me when there are multiple pumps open and they take it.