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Anyone else encounter this at full-serve gas stations?

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  • #1

    Anyone else encounter this at full-serve gas stations?

    Over the last couple of years I've noticed that when I go to the gas station, the guy pumping my gas wants me to roll down my passenger-side window to find out what I want.


    1. It's not my fault my gas cap is on the passenger side

    2. You're serving me. Walk the extra five feet to the driver's side window

    3. I'd love to make some of these guys watch movies from the 50's (like in Back to the Future) when a half dozen service station guys would come out and give you the royal treatment... wash the windows, check your oil, check the tire pressure, etc.


    Anyone else irked by this?
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Wow. I'd love to see a full-service place here. I think all of Australia has been self-serve for as long as I can remember.

    On a side note, trying to type while having a pet rabbit run all over your arms is not fun.
    Mytical: A SC? Make a mistake? Oh goodness no. Must have been the little pink men from the planet parsley in the butternut galaxy. We all know that SC's could NEVER make mistakes.

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    • #3
      Yeah, that seems a little forward. No real problem if you have electric windows, I guess, but why not walk the extra few feet?

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      • #4
        Why would they? Their job is guaranteed by law.

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        • #5
          Nope. As far as I know there are no full service stations in Florida. I'd like to visit one though.
          If anyone breaks the three pint rule, they'll be running all night to the pisser and back.

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          • #6
            Honestly never bothered me. It's quicker for me to roll down the window as they approach than to wait for them to realize I'm not going to and walk around. And that's with manual crank-style windows.
            NPCing: the ancient art of acting out your multiple personality disorder in a setting where someone else might think there's nothing wrong with you.

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            • #7
              Wish we had full-service gas stations. The closest I have is my hubby getting out and pumping when I drive. I'm the one that washes the windows.

              I think the only full service station I have ever seen was in Mississippi, back in the very early 80's, when I was a kid. It was road trip time, to visit family in Arkansas and we hit every small town we could along the way. Dad drove up to the pump, the guy asked what type he wanted and did all the work. Dad mentioned it was uncommon to see them any more, so I assumed most places no longer even had them.
              If I make no sense, I apologize. I'm constantly interrupted by an actual toddler.

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              • #8
                Quoth sms001 View Post
                Yeah, that seems a little forward. No real problem if you have electric windows, I guess, but why not walk the extra few feet?


                I don't have electric windows.

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                • #9
                  Jersey drives me NUTS. We get all sorts of people from there who've never pumped their own gas and are constantly bitching at me that the pump doesn't "work" when they clearly don't know how to pump their gas.

                  If they would just TELL ME that they didn't know how to pump gas then I wouldn't be trying to figure out how to fix the pump and I would just, you know, PUMP THEIR GAS FOR THEM. But as for rolling down windows and whatnot, they're usually out of their car anyway calling me with the call button and they watch me meticulously so they can figure out how to pump their gas before they go on with the rest of their trip. Surprise is in order when they get to a station where the pumps work differently I suppose (levers vs buttons, several handles vs one, etc).

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                  • #10
                    Quoth raudf View Post
                    Wish we had full-service gas stations. The closest I have is my hubby getting out and pumping when I drive. I'm the one that washes the windows.

                    I think the only full service station I have ever seen was in Mississippi, back in the very early 80's, when I was a kid. It was road trip time, to visit family in Arkansas and we hit every small town we could along the way. Dad drove up to the pump, the guy asked what type he wanted and did all the work. Dad mentioned it was uncommon to see them any more, so I assumed most places no longer even had them.

                    I'm in New Jersey, so we don't have a choice.

                    Oddly enough, our gas prices are usually lower than most other states as well. You'd think it would be more expensive since they're paying extra employees to pump it.

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                    • #11
                      Quoth An Haddock View Post
                      I'm in New Jersey, so we don't have a choice.

                      Oddly enough, our gas prices are usually lower than most other states as well. You'd think it would be more expensive since they're paying extra employees to pump it.
                      A lot of the refineries are in Jersey, so there's not as much need for transportation as with other states. Your gas taxes are also lower, for the same reason.

                      I always make sure to time my fill-ups for Jersey when driving through to Philly.

                      In the years I've been making that particular trip, I've had ONE attendant actually go through the whole rigamarole of window washing, etc. He got a great tip. Guys like the one in your first post? Nada. If you're not going to provide even halfway-decent customer service, I'm not tipping.

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                      • #12
                        Quoth Raveni View Post
                        Why would they? Their job is guaranteed by law.
                        Well yes and no. The job itself is guaranteed by law in some (2? IIRC) states, but it doesn't mean that individual's job is guaranteed.

                        Although it may also depend on whether or not the company actually offers the extra services - if they don't then they won't fire an employee for not doing them (possibly).

                        Of course on the flip-side... if it's one of those states, it also means there's more full-service stations to pick from. So, a station that *does* offer the extras may end up getting more business than the ones doing the bare minimum. (unless of course they jack the prices up on the gas to compensate for it).
                        Last edited by PepperElf; 05-02-2013, 05:44 PM.

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                        • #13
                          Back in Louisiana, we had several full-service stations into the 80's (even if only one pump that did it, while the rest were self) -- the usual upcharge was +20% or so, tho they did wash the windshield, check oil level, etc.
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                          • #14
                            Quoth An Haddock View Post
                            I'm in New Jersey, so we don't have a choice.

                            Oddly enough, our gas prices are usually lower than most other states as well. You'd think it would be more expensive since they're paying extra employees to pump it.
                            As am I. And honestly, it really doesn't bother me which side they come to. Many times, there are 8-10 pumps and two attendants, so they are running back and forth like headless chickens. if coming to the passenger side (where my tank is) saves them a few seconds, so be it.

                            And Gaki, when I got my first car, and went back to college in MD, I asked a friend to come with me when I had to get gas, since I had no clue how to do it. Sometimes I'm confused as no two pumps are alike, but I can usually figure it out unlike some of my co-residents are can't be bothered.

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                            • #15
                              That's how it's always been. When I finally got a car, the gas tank was on the passenger side and 99% of the time the attendant would talk to me from that side.

                              I do wish attendants would still clean your windows down like they did when I was a kid. The only place that does it around me is the local Exxon. The owner and manager are both really good family friends of mine. The prices suck there so I never go but they make their employees clean windows which I always appreciate.
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