I see you, the whole city can hear you!

[edible_hat]

Our fuel pumps have a spare memory slots, so if somebody wants two lots of fuel or (more commonly) there's a drive-off we can put the sale in memory until it's cleared. There's just the one (well two if you count the current sale) per pump.

SC pulls up at one of the two pumps that have diesel and unleaded and gets around $5 of unleaded for a lawnmower. He then wants to put diesel in his truck. The problem is that the pump he's on has its spare memory filled with an IOU and I'm not allowed to clear it.

You'd think after a minute or two of sitting there with nothing happening he'd realise there was a problem and come and ask about it. But no, instead he stands there like a moron. A few more minutes and he starts looking annoyed, and waves at me. I make "come into the store" motions, he ignores that and instead starts beeping the horn of his truck.

Eventually he comes into the store, I explain the situation (I would ahve done so sooner except that I was the only worker there and we're not allowed to leave the counter unattended, also we have no PA system). He pays for the unleaded and gets annoyed about "wasting his time" and so on. If he'd asked in the first place instead of thinking that waving or honking would do something he would have been done a lot quicker.

[greensinestro]

At least you signaled to this guy to "come on in" and didn't ignore him or pretend he wasn't there. But, he's probably had the experience that I have had. I've been at gas stations where there is a PA system and so forth, but not once will the clerk acknowledge my presence or get on the speaker and tell me why I might be having problems. I still will go into the store, and not sit there honking my horn for the attention.

[princess4life]

I have to agree that at least you acknowledge he was there. I have gone to gas stations that have a PA system but don't use it and won’t authorize pump because they can't see me standing at the pump. Now I am 5'3" and I drive a suburban with tinted windows there is no way they can see me if I am standing at the pump (selecting the options each time is times out) waiting for them to authorize the pump. The one time my husband was even sitting in the passenger seat and they could see him sitting there. I didn't know the first few times that it was because they couldn't see little me at the pump until about the third time I walked in there to get gas and asked them why they wont authorize the pump. The cashier response was

Cashier: "I couldn't see you"
Me: “I drive a huge SUV and you couldn't tell there was someone at the pump?"
Cashier: "I could see your car but I couldn't see YOU"
Me: "But you could tell I was at the pump I had to push the buttons to request authorization each time it timed out"
Cashier: “Well unless I can see YOU standing at the pump I won’t approve it."
Me: "So because I am short and drive a big car you wont authorize the pump with out me walking in and asking you in person? "
Cashier: "Pretty much yeah, next time why don't you have the guy in the passenger seat pump the gas I am sure I could see him standing at the pump."
Me: "In some messed up way that is discrimination against short people with big cars maybe you should think about using your PA system to tell short people 'Hey you on number 2 you are short I wont authorize the pump for you or' or a sign that says you must me this tall to pump gas " laughs pay for gas and walked out.

If it weren’t for the fact this gas station has the cheapest gas around I wouldn't buy gas there anymore. But I have started going at different times when I know that cashier isn't working.

Admitted I was kind of sucky at the end of the conversation, but I have been made fun of for me height all my life since I am shorter then anyone else in my family but this was the first time I have been told because I was short they wouldn't authorize the pump.

[greensinestro]

Me: "In some messed up way that is discrimination against short people with big cars maybe you should think about using your PA system to tell short people 'Hey you on number 2 you are short I wont authorize the pump for you or' or a sign that says you must me this tall to pump gas " laughs pay for gas and walked out.

That's a great way to stick it to the cashier. Never make fun or insult short people!

[Shabo]

Now I am 5'3" and I drive a suburban with tinted windows there is no way they can see me if I am standing at the pump (selecting the options each time is times out) waiting for them to authorize the pump.

I'm 5'3" too... that's not short, it's 1 inch off from average. That clerk was being unnecessarily anal.

[BaristaGirl]

Cashier: "Pretty much yeah, next time why don't you have the guy in the passenger seat pump the gas I am sure I could see him standing at the pump."

"I'm short, but on planet earth, I'm a human. While I am not flawless, I do so enjoy the freedom I get from pumping my own gas. I am a strong, independent woman and how dare you imply that I should have someone else do my chores because you don't like my height. That may be the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

Five feet tall and goin' strong!!

[Sliceanddice]

i thought average for woman was 5'5".......
cause to most people im short and im 5'3" and most women i know are at least 5'5" if not 5'7" or taller...

[Shengirl]

i thought average for woman was 5'5".......
cause to most people im short and im 5'3" and most women i know are at least 5'5" if not 5'7" or taller...

I'm nearly certain the American average height for women is 5'4". That's why I answer the "how tall are you question?" by proudly stating that I'm the exact average female height. Yes, I can feel proud about that - I was short my whole childhood and adolescence.

If that seems odd, keep in mind there may be more little people than there are female giants, which would skew the statistics a bit. I mean, I have no idea if that's true, but it's a thought.

[chainedbarista]

i'm also 5'3" and that has to be the dumbest thing i've heard, relating to a sale; i'd have a word with the manager about that crap. need someone else to pump the gas; apparently, he needs someone else to think for him.

[vonkarolinas]

I think you will all be pleased to know that according to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average height for an adult female in the United States is 5' 3.8"

[Shengirl]

I think you will all be pleased to know that according to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average height for an adult female in the United States is 5' 3.8"

Woohoo, I'm above average! Barely!

[Jester]

I am 5'3"...

I have been made fun of for me height all my life since I am shorter then anyone else in my family...

And you are taller than every woman in my family, the tallest of which tops out at a an intimidating 5'0".

When I first got together with my ex-fiancee, The Brit, my mom was asking me some questions about her. This is the part of the conversation I remember best:

MOM: "How tall is she?"
JESTER: "5'3". 5'5" in her boots."
MOM: "Good lord. A giant."

That's a great way to stick it to the cashier. Never make fun or insult short people!

I'm 5'3" too... that's not short, it's 1 inch off from average. That clerk was being unnecessarily anal.

The clerk was not making fun of Princess. The clerk was, it seems, following company policy. If you can't see the person at the pump, you can't authorize. Is that a stupid policy? Perhaps. Is it anal? Sure. But how many of us work at places that have stupid anal policies that we HAVE to follow? Sure, the clerk was dumb for suggesting that Princess's hubby pump the gas for her. But we all know how dumb corporate can be, and how annoying it is to have to deal with people who get mad at us for stupid policies that are out of our control.

My suggestion to Princess for future purchases at said gas station would be to either park so they can see you at the pump (i.e., you are between the vehicle and them, so they can see you), or if the pump isn't authorizing, step away from the vehicle slightly so they can see you...and wave or something. Just my thoughts on the subject.

[Rubystars]

The last thing this forum needs is to let sucky customers read the best way to "stick it to the cashier." Let them figure it out for themselves.

[Pagan]

i thought average for woman was 5'5".......
cause to most people im short and im 5'3" and most women i know are at least 5'5" if not 5'7" or taller...

Kind of depends on where you live. I'm only 5'4", but with our ethnic demographic, I'm on the tall end of things (including men around here).

I've had the same problem at one station here years ago that wouldn't authorize my pump, and the jackass didn't get on the intercom and tell me. I went in and he said it was because he couldn't see me and since he couldn't he wouldn't authorize it because they had problems with drive-offs. Which I understand, except I was doing pay-at-the-pump which requires you to put your card in first. So this guy was just being an ass.

[Sliceanddice]

i guess im short compared to my moms family then who i have the most exposure to.
My mom is 5'6 so is my meimei, her mom was 5'6" my aunts and cousins are all 5'5" to 5'10".
I know compared to my dads family im pretty tall. But my fathers ancesters where apparently vikings who liked there women with wide hips and tiny. my aunt is 5'5" her daughters are all 5ft to 5'3" my grandmother was 5'4" before menapause. my tallest cousin on his side is 5'9" and shes a giant compared to all of us.
most my remaining not directly related female relatives on his side are/where about 5ft.
,aybe i shouldnt be surprised

oh and i still think the guy was a jerk. I mean he basically said a short woman whouldn't pump her own gas. She needs guy to do it.