Call things what they're actually called

[edible_hat]

SC: "Can I get $25 of gas in my gas tank?"
Me: (thinking he wants to pre-pay $25 of LPG, since he's parked near the LPG pumps) "We can't actually program the pumps from here but I can take the money and then put it through when you're done."
SC: "Don't you do it for me?"
Me: "No, there's only one place in town that does driveway service these days, and they charge 20 cents more than everyone else."
SC: "But last time someone went over and filled it for me!"

It turned out what he wanted was a 9kg barbecue gas bottle refilled (which costs $25). If he'd said that in the first place there would have been no confusion. Given this guy's Sydney accent, he doesn't have the excuse of English not being his native accent.

(Just a thought: any Sydneysiders here? Do they ask for BBQ gas refills like that? Or is this guy just an idiot?)

[the lawsmeister]

nope cant' say I recall anyone in sydney referring to it like that.

Its always been "gas cylinder" or "gas bottle" everytime I've heard them mentioned. Never heard a bbq gas bottle referred to as a tank before.

Maybe he was a scuba diver. Air cylinders get called tanks a lot.

[Forensic Waitress]

No that guys an idiot. We have the option with the gas bottles to swap out our empty bottles for full ones but obviously you need to bring the empty one in.

Do we really have an accent that says hey I'm from Sydney.

[the lawsmeister]

We have the option with the gas bottles to swap out our empty bottles for full ones but obviously you need to bring the empty one in.

Obvious to anyone here maybe, but now that you've mentioned it I'm sure a story will turn up about a customer wanting to do a "swap & go" without bringing in their empty cylinder

[Aethian]

I've heard people call them tanks before. So perhaps he wasn't just Australian and has been more then one place and one place he was at called them tanks?

I know some stores around here have signs that say "Let us fuel YOUR tank of fun." Stupid company logo but it's for the propane tanks that come in.


That and I've ALWAYS known them as propane tanks....so I guess I'm a dope too eh?

[Binky]

always been gas bottle to me. What a dope! Good thing you worked it out! Cudos to you!

[powerboy]

Ever thought, that maybe he said it by accident. As you know, people do make mistakes.

[jerkface11]

Here it's called a propane tank. Oh and most places swap them out instead of filling them for you.

[edible_hat]

Do we really have an accent that says hey I'm from Sydney.

Yep! It's closer to the stereotype one that you see Americans put on sometimes than the Adelaide accent, which is apparently closer to English.

Funny thing, in Germany they call Australian accented German "Barossa German".

[marasbaras]

OK, folks ... why is this guy a dope because he calls it something else?

Do you want other folks calling the lot of you dipshits because you grew up with different words?

[powerboy]

OK, folks ... why is this guy a dope because he calls it something else?

Do you want other folks calling the lot of you dipshits because you grew up with different words?

That is what I am saying

[edible_hat]

OK, folks ... why is this guy a dope because he calls it something else?

Do you want other folks calling the lot of you dipshits because you grew up with different words?

because he's calling a spade a rake

[mharbourgirl]

I'll have a go at it.

Gas tank=The one on your car. Maybe on your lawnmower, but you don't generally take your mower to a service station for a fill. At least I don't know anyone who does.

Gas bottle=Those little bottles of white gas used for camp lanterns.

Propane tank=BBQ!!!

If I wanted my propane tank filled, that's the FIRST thing I'd say. By specifying the type of fuel I was looking for. Around here, at least, 'gas' means the stuff in your car, propane is the BBQ fuel. Sometimes being 'general' isn't helpful, especially in a situation like the OP's.

[Rapscallion]

OK, folks ... why is this guy a dope because he calls it something else?

Do you want other folks calling the lot of you dipshits because you grew up with different words?

For me, the interesting part is that the alternative word he used was also the word for the holding device for the main selling product at the place of service. Using said term was bound to cause confusion.

Rapscallion

[wanderingjoe72]

That reminds me of a post from long ago where a lady in a diner was trying to order slices of sausage when pointing at a picture of links. If you insist on calling something other than the generally accepted name, then expect problems when you don't get what you want.