Well, I suppose if you're going to DRINK it...

[MannersMakethMan]

Plus you can just press the button and go in to the kiosk to pay.

You've no idea just how much trouble a single button can cause. I think my town has put back the pre-pay movement in the UK by about a year just because they won't get used to anything new. Those poor cashiers...

[Mr Hero]

Me: (thinking) You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Inconceivible!

[Bramble]

My local M......... has that option on some pumps and I love it. But bizarrely they only put on half their pumps.

I would think it's like what it is here. Whichever pumps have the easier access to an escape route(read: lot exit) are probably pre-pay.

[ThirdGenRetail]

Wow, I haven't seen a pump-then-pay since my mother worked at a Shell station back in Washington. That was... Almost 20 years ago. Every station I ever saw has been pay-then-pump, which I'm fine with - I may not have enough money on me if I fill the tank up fully, but if I only put $10 in, I know exactly how much is in there, and if I can fit another $10 in the car's tank or not, or if only $5 will do it.

-Moves to England so the stations with pay-then-pump have consistent business- Don't know why anybody would protest it, beyond not wanting to go in... If you go in with just enough in your hand for gas, then... You won't buy any extra stuff.

[wraiths_crono]

there is only one place I know of in AZ that allows you to pump then pay as an option, and that's only for people they know (aka regulars) new cashier shows up? pay then pump until they get to know you as a regular. It is a good business model to pay first as im sure there would be TONS of drive offs here.

[EricKei]

EBT cards is the new system of Food Stamps. It's put on a reloadable debit card now. That way you can use the card and not be "embarrassed" for being on food stamps.

That's the excuse anyways.

Electronic Benefit Transfer...I imagine it's easier and cheaper than sending out checks or coupons or whatever.

I was always under the impression that one of the major reasons that states use cards now is because it's somewhat harder -- but not impossible -- to fence them for cash than physical stamps are.

[mandaliz8704]

I know in Florida, the EBT cards are also used for cash benefits, where you can get cash from an ATM if you qualify for that benefit. I dont know if its the same everywhere...maybe thats what he was trying to do? I don't know if you can use that at gas stations though....

[Juggler]

Here in Upper Michigan I can only think of one place that makes you pay before you pump. Prepay is really inconveniant since I don't know how much it will take to fill my tank.

You get the balance back. I find it pretty convent. You guestmate how much you need, subtract a little, give the clerk the money, start pumping, lock the little latch thingy. This gives you an opportunity to to other maintenance things such as cleaning the windows, tossing the burger wrappers from the passenger footwell. checking air and fluids, emptying ashtrays. When the pumping is finished you hear a click and on the newer ones some beeping. You then just close the gas cap return the nozzle and drive away.

[LadyAndreca]

Every time there's a gas thread it makes me glad I live in NJ...

The big problem with HAVING to have someone pump your gas for you...well...this exchange happened today.

Attendant: Hi, what do you want?
Me: Fill it up, regular, cash.
A: ...how much?
Me: *figures he didn't hear me, or is double-checking* Oh, fill it, please.
A: *gets VERY suspicious and starts peering in my car* You have cash?
Me: *in the process of getting my wallet out, and irritated* Yes, I have cash!
A: *didn't start the pump until he saw I had over twenty, and didn't move more than a few feet from my car until after he'd finished pumping and I'd paid*

I guess they must've just had a drive-off. Or occasionally I see people who say they'll pay cash and then say "oh, I only have credit" and then sit there smugly like they've found a loophole, and expect to pay cash price with a credit card. (Cash/Credit prices ARE clearly posted at that station.) Last time I got to witness one of those, the manager told the driver she'd be reported as a drive-off if she didn't pay in cash!

To give the station some credit, they're generally very nice and it IS the first time I've been treated like that. My car doesn't look it, since it's a station wagon, but it has a tiny tank. It fills for under $25 unless I've run it completely dry. Maybe next time I'll just say "twenty-five cash" because I know it'll be under.

I really prefer being able to pump my own. Swipe card, pump gas, maybe clean the windshield while it's pumping, and go.

Oh...and since we're on the subject of pumping gas in NJ. The fact that some of my college friends, born and raised here, actually could not figure out how to pump their own gas when we took a road trip still makes me giggle to this day.

[EricKei]

Huh. I haven't seen a gas station have differing prices for cash vs credit in years (literally). Having noticeable higher prices for full serve vs self serve, yeah...at the one station here that still does Full...

[tamezin]

Likewise. Last Pump Then Pay I saw was YEARS ago on a vacation. Somewhere in rural Arizona, I think. Maybe it was Utah...

Just seems impractical.

We still have them here, but most places are converting to pay then pump. I know my local Gas Station does both, if the clerks know you, they will let you pump then pay, but if they don't they won't.

[Jester]

...people complained about not having a choice.

They DON'T have a choice. The gas stations are businesses, and they are fully entitled to set their own rules. And if they decide that they are only going to do pay then pump, that is what people are going to have to deal with.

Frankly, I don't get what the big deal is. You have, really, three options.

1. Pay with a credit card, and either fill to a certain monetary value or fill until the tank is full, and then the amount just goes on your account. This is how I pay for gas, at the pump, almost every time.

2. Pay the full amount with cash. Don't know how much it takes to fill your tank? Fine, but I am sure you have a good idea. "Forty bucks on pump 10 please." And then you go back for your change after you pump $25.96.

3. Pay a certain amount with cash. "$10 on 10."

It really is simple. People object to change more than anything. Some think it is inconvenient, but seriously, how many other businesses allow you to take their product, outside no less, and pay AFTER you've done so? Sure, we'll run you a tab in a bar or restaurant, but if it's really busy in a bar, or they don't know you, they may just charge you each time you order drinks. I know we do that at my job when it's stupid busy. Or we run tabs, but take a credit card to start said tab. That way even if they leave, we have a way to pay the tab.

Frankly, I think people got spoiled with the whole "pump then pay" thing.

[protege]

Some stations though, take the "prepay" thing a bit too far. For example, most gas stations in Pittsburgh's more "interesting" areas are prepay only. Yet, they still have the card swipe thingies on the pumps. Call me crazy, but why have those...when you have to walk into the store anyway? The whole idea of pay at the pump, is to swipe your card, fill up, get the receipt, and go. I'm not about to leave my credit card inside one of those stores!

[ArcticChicken]

I know in Florida, the EBT cards are also used for cash benefits, where you can get cash from an ATM if you qualify for that benefit.

In PA too. Although we can run the cash benefits as debit, no ATM required.

[Jester]

Some stations though, take the "prepay" thing a bit too far. For example, most gas stations in Pittsburgh's more "interesting" areas are prepay only. Yet, they still have the card swipe thingies on the pumps. Call me crazy, but why have those...when you have to walk into the store anyway? The whole idea of pay at the pump, is to swipe your card, fill up, get the receipt, and go. I'm not about to leave my credit card inside one of those stores!

Wait, I'm confused. They have the card swipe things on the pumps, but they still make you pay INSIDE? I don't get it. Paying is paying.

I suppose there are possible logical explanations. Like that is how the pumps came, and the stations chooses not to use the swipes. Or they have had some sort of problems with people using those swipes. Who knows? It does sound odd, though.