Full or self-serve gas?

[mjkacmom]

Yes, exactly this... the one full service station around here, I used to live less than a block away from it but rarely went because I'm notorious for never having cash on me.... and I don't feel right not tipping.

Lol tipping the gas attendant here in NJ would be like tipping your supermarket cashier.

 

[firefly_ris]

I guess but you also have no choice there but to use them, whereas I do.

 

[RangerPooh]

I don;t recall ever seeing full service in WA when we lived there, and the last time that I saw full service in CA was when I was a child in the 80s. Or at least it still said it on the sign. Don;t know if I ever actually saw someone use that stall though. Here in TN I've only ever seen self service.

I disliked having to have someone pump my gas in Oregon. I'm perfectly capable of pumping my own gas.

 

[bcla]

I buy most of my gas at ARCO AM PM, and during normal business hours they have 4 or 5 people working. But their business model is different, their prices on gas are lower because they make their money on the hot food they sell. During the morning and evening commute they have 2 checkouts going, and 2 people cooking. http://www.ampm.com/food

At all the locations around me, you're lucky if there are even two employees working. Since they don't have pay at the pump (just debit card mostly at island kiosks with a fee) the lines tend to be long with people paying in cash and coming back for change. But I suppose that also leads to more convenience store sales.

 

[bcla]

I don;t recall ever seeing full service in WA when we lived there, and the last time that I saw full service in CA was when I was a child in the 80s. Or at least it still said it on the sign. Don;t know if I ever actually saw someone use that stall though. Here in TN I've only ever seen self service.

I disliked having to have someone pump my gas in Oregon. I'm perfectly capable of pumping my own gas.

The first time I was in Oregon and needed to refuel, the attendant stopped me. There was pay at the pump and everything, but the attendant did all that for me. I was allowed to clean my own windows.

I always wondered why there was a self-service pump at Crater Lake even though that was before the Oregon laws (both the nighttime hours and the new one allowing 24 hour) kicked in allowing self-service in less populated counties. I thought maybe it was subject to the same laws, but I looked up more info on it and it's been self-service for a long time. The only thing I can think of is that certain Oregon laws don't apply because it's considered "exclusive jurisdiction" of the federal government.

http://www.craterlakeinstitute.com/online-library/administrative-history/appa9.htm

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

My gas is always cheek slapping full service.

My wife's on the other hand are self serve silent but deadly

Oh wait you were talking about gasoline.

My bad.

 

[leebee]

Although I no longer live there, New Jersey prohibits self-service gas stations. You MUST have your gas pumped by an employee of the establishment.

As for "full service," no, the majority of stations in NJ just pump gas. My company's NJ locations even have a sign stating the gas "attendants are unable to perform any other automotive services," such as checking/filling oil or washer fluid or tire air pressure. They might volunteer to wash your windshield on rare occasions.

True full service stations are a dying breed.

I never really thought about this when I first posted; I was thinking self-pump as opposed to an attendant pumping. I'd forgotten all about true full-service, where the attendant would check your oil, radiator, tire pressure, wash the windshield, etc., while waiting for the tank to fill.

To be honest, I think I prefer pumping my own gas, paying at the pump, of course! Think about it... if we had people pumping our gas, cleaning the windshield, etc., then we'd have to have this whole long thread about whether or not to tip them, how much to tip, am I being a jerk if I don't tip, etc!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Georgia - self service stations. I prefer pay at the pump which is what most stations have although you do have the option of going inside and paying first then going out and pumping gas.

In 1979-1980 I worked for my Uncles small full service gas station in MN. I was the one who pumped the gas, cleaned the windshield, checked the oil and tire pressure. It wasn't bad in the summer but that winter was rough on me. I worked 3 days a week after school and on all day Saturday. They were closed on Sundays. I made minimum wage and nobody tipped.

I quit after that first year - I didn't want to deal with another winter of doing that. On the plus side I'm the one who showed my husband how to check everything on his first car and have done the same with my teens when they first started driving.

 

[AMW86]

I live on the PA side of the PA/NJ border, and I will drive to NJ for gas.

The ADA may require stations to pump gas for the disabled, but in my experience, it doesn't always happen, so it is easier to drive to NJ then pull my wheelchair out of the car

 

[MillauFr]

The true full service is where the mobile fueling trucks will come to you and fill your tank. You don't even need to drive to the gas station.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

NJ here...no self service options at all and we are fine with that

I'd prefer the choice of both self and full service. NJ can pass a law requiring 90% of pumps be full serve, that full serve can't cost more than self, etc. But sometimes I'd just like the option of pumping my own gas.

Strangely enough, self serve diesel is allowed in New Jersey, even at the same pump where self serve gas is outlawed.

Cause Jersey girls don't pump gas!

Don't pump, or CAN'T pump????

 

[MillauFr]

I'd prefer the choice of both self and full service. NJ can pass a law requiring 90% of pumps be full serve, that full serve can't cost more than self, etc.

Why not let consumers and businesses figure it out without any interference from the government?

 

[momto2girls]

I would love to still have that option! The higher price would be fine with me!

 

[prprincess]

We have full service in NJ and I am in the minority who hates it. I love self-service--put your card in, and you're in and out. With full service I feel like I have to wait forever to get gas!

 

[goofy4tink]

Living in Mass...our town has one gas attendant station, all others are self-pump. My dh has always filled my car, so I've never had reason to. In fact, I've always had a huge fear of gas pumps..no idea why though. So, I traveled to Fl for two weeks...just returned yesterday. I rented a car for my first week...drove from MCO to Kissimmee, to Pompano Beach and back to WDW. Obviously, I needed to refuel! I used to just pay, up front, for gas, when renting the car....that way I didn't have to worry about it. But, that wasn't an option this time...not with driving 250 miles away, and back! So, I pumped my own gas for the first time ever...at the ripe old age of 68!!! Of course the first time, the pump wouldn't take my cc, so had to go inside. The second time I just went in and prepaid, same the third time. My step-sister who is a Broward County Deputy Sheriff, told me that it was better to go inside and pay anyway. So, I do. I guess I can now say that I pump my own gas, but I sure did resist it.
I won't do it at home though...it's way too cold!!!!!

 

[MIGrandma]

There is one gas station in a nearby town that has both. The pumps in front are full service so if you pull up to one of those someone will come out of the building to pump the gas for you. But if you go to the pumps in the back those are self-serve.

All other stations are self serve only. I do kind of miss the old days when all stations were full service, especially during the winter months or when it's raining.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Self-service in IN. I swear I want to move to a state where it is mandatory to have full service because I truly hate pumping gas. I know it is bad to let your vehicle run low on gas, but I try to stretch it out as far as I can just to put off getting gas

 

[mrsg00fy]

NJ resident here. Full service means something very different now vs. 25 years ago. Back then, they would clean your windows and check the oil, etc. I don't recall that having been done for me in at least 20 years. Maybe more. That said, I am very happy to not have to pump my own gas and I am very unhappy when I am out of state and have to pump my own.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm in MA. My usual station is self-serve, pay-at-the-pump, and I've always very happy there (especially because I get 10 cents off per gallon with my loyalty card). But they recently remodeled, so I had to get gas other places for a few weeks, and I found out we have one full-serve station nearby. I felt so spoiled! My usual place is back up and running, and most of the time, I go there. But it's nice to know I can be waited on if I want.

 

[MillauFr]

I just wish Costco had an app where I could request they fill my tank while I am shopping in the store. Those lines for gas at Costco are very long some days...