Jersey girls don't pump gas

[Tiggeroo]

There were many more reasons not to re-elect him. I had no idea about the gas issue and I didn't vote for him.'


I don't think any of use from Jersey think its "beneath us" to pump gas, but why is it that we have lower gas prices and get full service? I do not want to give up full service and than have to pay higher gas prices. Makes no sense

You mean you don't want to give our reps the chance to issue another backdoor tax?
Why do you think Phila. and NY people always fill up their tanks in NJ when they can?

 

[mjkacmom]

http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_gastemperaturemap.aspx

There are plenty of states with lower gas prices then NJ too-I think your legislators are feeding you a line about being the lowest.

Actually, do the the fact that we have the second hightest COL, our gas prices are amazing! Look at the prices in our surrounding states, look at California. When you factor in our COL, are gas prices are dirt cheap compared to other services here.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Wow. Just wow.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Oh, btw we have female gas attendants in NJ too. They don't want to lose their jobs.

 

[phragmipedium]

I'm from Oregon. I like not having to pump my own gas, or at least I'm not upset about it. I grew up here and it's what I'm used to. I'd never vote or not vote for a candidate based on their stance on the issue, however. It would be different if our gas prices seemed quite a bit higher because of it, but I think it's just something that we've adjusted to. There are gas prices both higher and lower in all parts of the country than it is here, and various cities/counties have their own gas taxes anyway - there are a lot of things that go into the price. Prices throughout the state vary quite a bit. Right now here I think it's around $2.75, but I just saw it around $2.57 in a neighboring town. I'm not convinced that if we went to self-service the prices would come down much if at all - perhaps for a short time, but I just don't see it happening.

The law here was instituted a very long time ago - I think it had to do with job creation, the idea that pumping gas was unsafe, etc - they had a list of reasons when it was instituted. It's been up for a vote several times and for some reason Oregonians never overturn the law. We do a lot of things differently here than many states though - no sales tax, real minimum wage for servers, legal assisted suicide, we only vote by mail, etc.

I do like not having to get out of my car, though sometimes it means I'm at the mercy of a slow attendant. Sometimes I also have to get out anyway if they don't twist the cap enough because my car's touchy about it and the check engine light will come on sometimes. But it is nice to just hand them my card and ask them to fill it with regular, and not have to get out if it's raining/snowy/icy/super hot.

Occasionally when I go just into another state, or onto a reservation locally here, I will forget for a bit that I'm expected to get out and pump it myself. I worked in a gas station as a cashier for a bit during a college summer and was offered an extra day each week pumping gas - it was the first time I'd ever pumped gas in my life, and I declined it after the first day. I'm sure it's easy enough to get the hang of, but I was afraid (after one unfortunate incident) that I would accidentally spray gas on a car because I still had the lock on the nozzle. Plus I'm very short and it was hard for me to clean windshields. I don't think it's beneath me to pump gas nor do I think I can't do it because I'm a woman - if it something you grow up doing I'm sure it sounds crazy not to do it yourself. It's just what we're used to around here and I don't mind it at all, and if it changed I'd get used to that in a hurry also I'm sure.

ETA - I've never once seen a sign or bumper sticker around here to the effect of "Oregonian girls don't pump gas." To each their own, but I'd kind of take offense at that as a person with some feminist leaning. Oregonian boys don't pump gas here either, so there.

 

[Tink888]

This thread is hilarious.

I'm a PA gal and I've been pumping my own gas for as long as I can remember. Not a big deal. Sometimes I'll even put gas in the hubby's car. He appreciates that.

Whatever works for you. I gotta say though, if I was at the pump and saw a woman having trouble pumping with a bumper sticker that said "Jersey Girls Don't Pump Gas", I don't think I'd be too inclined to help her. Sorry, that does come off as a little pretentious to me.

I do have a question though - what happens if an unknowing out of stater attempts to pump their own gas in Jersey? Do alarms go off? Does the attendant start screaming at the person? If the police are around, will you get a fine? Do they stone you right there at the pumps or is it more like an alien encounter and the natives surround your car in awe of the person pumping?

 

[pearlieq]

but why is it that we have lower gas prices and get full service?

You're paying for it somewhere, somehow. Gas doesn't magically cost less just because you cross a state line. It may be subsidized out of something else (tax breaks somewhere in the supply chain would be my guess) but the money is coming from someplace.

I've got no beef with full service. Heck, I wish we had it here. I can see liking it and valuing it. I'm just horrified at the idea that someone would consider it a valid reason for choosing an elected official.

 

[frndshpcptn]

I grew up in NJ and remember the first time I drove out of state (was heading up to visit a friend at Syracuse - about 15 years ago). I pulled into a station in NY and sat in my car and waited and waited and waited for someone to come over to pump the gas.

Finally I got out and went inside and asked in a VERY confused state why there wasn't anyone working.

The guy laughed at me. then explained that in NY, it was self serve.

Had never done it before so I honestly had NO idea - but it was easy and when I left for college the next year I lived in 2 additioanl states where it was self serve and actually sarted to prefer that over the NJ full service stations.

 

[ChrisFL]

Wow, very interesting thread...

I'm not a girl and never lived in New Jersey, but I work for a company that deals with gas stations, so I know about these laws.

I'm curious that if I was in NJ or Oregon and I began pumping my own gas, would they have to call the police if I refused to stop? Seems a bit crazy.

I am of the belief that everyone should learn how to pump their own gas, but then again I'm also of the belief that everyone should learn how to drive a manual transmission car, but that's a lost cause in this country.

 

[nmmom95]

I grew up in NJ and remember the first time I drove out of state (was heading up to visit a friend at Syracuse - about 15 years ago). I pulled into a station in NY and sat in my car and waited and waited and waited for someone to come over to pump the gas.

Finally I got out and went inside and asked in a VERY confused state why there wasn't anyone working.

The guy laughed at me. then explained that in NY, it was self serve.

Had never done it before so I honestly had NO idea - but it was easy and when I left for college the next year I lived in 2 additioanl states where it was self serve and actually sarted to prefer that over the NJ full service stations.

I've lived in NJ my whole life, but went to college in PA. The first time I went to a gas station there, I did the same thing!
BTW, I hate pumping my own gas.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't even know if we have any full service stations in this area. I don't recall ever seeing any.

It's so interesting that only two states require this. When we were in Philadelphia, I decided to drive into New Jersey to look for an aquarium over there. I remember commenting that we needed to gas up first because New Jersey didn't allow people to pump their own gas. (I wonder if visitors ever try, not knowing the law there?) I wasn't sure how that worked so I felt more comfortable doing what was normal for me.

To each their own I say.

 

[Disney Doll]

I didn't realize Jersey girls were such delicate flowers.
Connecticut girls must be sturdier...we've been pumping our own gas for years.

 

[chisnpeke]

You're kidding, right?? the millions of women in the 48 other states manage to pump their own gas...in heels and in below zero temps even!!

i think it's nuts not to want to pump your own gas. It sounds snooty and pretentious that you can't "lower" yourself enough to put some gas in your car.

ita.

 

[Buckalew11]

From NJ and I remember gas station attendants pumping our gas. I live in TN now and pump my own and don't think a thing of it. Funny thread though.

 

[lsyorke]

I think feminism just took a huge step backwards in this thread.

Yeah, because we know that real woman pump gas...give me a break.

Bottom line..it's the ONLY perk we get living in NJ.

 

[jx3smom]

I am proud to say I am from NJ and have never pumped gas and hope it stays that way.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I always check my oil, throw away trash, or in the cold duck into the car while my gas is going.

PSA!!

If you duck into the car when its cold while the gas is pumping, be sure when you get out again to touch the side of the car or other metal object (NOT near the gas nozzle!) to disburse the static electricity you may have built up by sliding in and out of your car. You really don't want the gas nozzle to be the first thing you *spark* when you get out of the car. Fumes are flammable!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuZxFL9cGkI

This is especially important for anyone who wears sweaters or coats that may easily build up static (down-filled coats, nylon shells, etc).

I should add that I apologize to any woman in NJ who watched that video and now doesn't want ANYTHING to do with pumping gas ever again. Things like that don't happen often, but they DO happen. Just take the proper precautions.

 

[Briarmom]

OK, seriously. I don't care if you hate pumping gas, I mean does anyone LOVE pumping gas? But HOW have you avoided it your whole life? What about when you drive in another state or country?
Can someone enlighten me?

 

[mjkacmom]

I do have a question though - what happens if an unknowing out of stater attempts to pump their own gas in Jersey? Do alarms go off? Does the attendant start screaming at the person? If the police are around, will you get a fine? Do they stone you right there at the pumps or is it more like an alien encounter and the natives surround your car in awe of the person pumping?

You'd be just as likely to check yourself out using the cash register as you would be allowed to pump your own gas - it is against the law here, and yes, the attendant would stop you.

 

[chisnpeke]

Yeah, because we know that real woman pump gas...give me a break.

Bottom line..it's the ONLY perk we get living in NJ.

I don't think that is what she was implying. It seemed to me the OP thinks pumping gas is beneath her because she has to wear "heels, stockings and dresses." So just because you are wearing all of that means you can't pump gas? To me that deserves a "give me a break."