Tipping the gas station attendant?

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, we were having a discussion at work today about future gas prices, and it evolved into current prices, and I mentioned the really really low price at a "full" serve station near me (cash only).

My coworker mentioned tipping the person who pumps your gas. I never heard of this, and never considered it. Even 'back in the day' (when I was a kid and full service really meant full service - check the tires, check the oil, clean your windows) my parents never tipped.

Most of the (few) people asked agreed that it's just not something they've ever done or considered, but some - generally not natives of Massachusetts - said that you're getting a service, so of course you/they tip.

So, what do you do?

 

[autumnsmommy]

I am rarely in an area where there is full service, but I don't think I'd pay more since "full service" gas used to be priced higher than self serve (back in the day).
However, if full serve was keeping me from going out in crappy weather, yes, I would tip.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Well, there really wasn't a "No". Thought about it? No. Gonna do it? No.

NJ is the only place I've seen that still has full service stations.

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

Oregon is one of two states that still have ONLY full sevice stations, NJ is the other one. I never want that to change.

 

[4 DZNY NUTZ]

I live in Jersey so all of our gas stations are full service......we NEVER tip

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, there really wasn't a "No". Thought about it? No. Gonna do it? No.

NJ is the only place I've seen that still has full service stations.

Sorry about that - I thought I covered all options, but you're right. I missed that one

Thanks for all the responses so far!

 

[Handbag Lady]

I haven't seen a full service in ages, so I wouldn't even know HOW to use it!

 

[branv]

Holy cow, they still have those?!

The last time I remember seeing full-service was when I was a kid. And I do remember my grandmother and my mom always tipping. Can't say how much, but it was always green.

 

[sherry7]

I seldom use full-service gas stations, but I've never heard of tipping for that.

But seriously...isn't tipping getting a bit out of hand? I tip waitresses and waiters of course. And I tip baggage handlers (even though the ones at the cruise ship ports make VERY good money, minus their tips). I tip while I'm on a cruise, and I leave a tip for the maid when I'm at a hotel. I tip taxi drivers too, even though most of them are rude. There's probably some more tipping instances I'm forgetting about.

But....I absolutely refuse to tip at fast food type joints where there is a tip jar on the counter. Like excuse me, but I walked up to the counter to order, I'm carrying my food back to the table, and I'm going to deposit my remains in the trash when I'm done. Why should I tip?

There was another thread on here recently where people were talking about tipping the garbage men, and mail person. The garbage men (in most areas) are Teamster Union members, and make excellent money and benefits. The mail person is a government employee, and they get very good pay and benefits.

I'll probably get flamed for my opinion, but that's my 2 cents.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I haven't seen a full service in ages, so I wouldn't even know HOW to use it!

You should have seen my mother when she visited us in IL from NJ. She had to ask some guy pumping his gas how to do it! DS14 was quite mortified, apparently....

 

[mousehouselover]

However, if full serve was keeping me from going out in crappy weather, yes, I would tip.

The last time I used our full serve station the weather was wickdly cold, like frostbite in 5 mins cold. We needed gas and happened to be near the station so we took advantage of it. We tipped handsomely for the few minutes the guy was pumping our gas. Other than that time, we haven't used the full serve.

 

[DOOM1001]

Why is it illegal to pump your own gas in Jersey?I remember when we took a road trip and hit Jersey and being totally dumbfounded by why was this guy there to pump our gas!!

 

[starwood]

Why is it illegal to pump your own gas in Jersey?I remember when we took a road trip and hit Jersey and being totally dumbfounded by why was this guy there to pump our gas!!

It has to do with static electricity. They say you can create a static spark by sliding out of the car and when you touch the pump it ignites. That being said - I wouldn't mind pumping my own gas IF it was cheaper. But you know they are going to charge just as much if you pump your own (at least around here anyway).

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I love not having to pump my own gas and I hope it never ends.

For those of you thinking it's all "full service" here, it isn't. They just pump the gas. When I was a kid they used to clean your glass and offer to check your oil. There's one station near us that still cleans glass but they're about .20 higher per gallon than the one across the street that doesn't, now around $ 1.81/gal.

My brother worked at a gas station as a teenager and sometimes received tips from regulars but that was back in the old days when it really was full service.

 

[lovesmurfs]

It has to do with static electricity. They say you can create a static spark by sliding out of the car and when you touch the pump it ignites. That being said - I wouldn't mind pumping my own gas IF it was cheaper. But you know they are going to charge just as much if you pump your own (at least around here anyway).

Yep. It's a 1949 law -- legislators felt that it was too dangerous for "untrained" people to dispense such a flammable liquid.

 

[Poohlovr]

There's only one station around here that will pump your gas (and it's not full service-pump gas is all they will do). It cost 9 cents/gallon extra for them to pump (used to be a penny).
I figure that 9 cents is enough of a tip.

 

[starwood]

Yep. It's a 1949 law -- legislators felt that it was too dangerous for "untrained" people to dispense such a flammable liquid.

Also I can just imagine some of these people would think nothing of pumping their own gas with a lit cigarette.

 

[girli565]

I haven't seen full service stations in 15+ years here in FL. But when there was stations I remember them being priced higher than the self serve stations so my mom never tipped because the extra was supposed to be for that service.

 

[kellia]

LOL!!! If it is such a hard skill to learn, how on earth are we in the other 48 states managing? I don't remember "gas pumping" on my driving test!!

I have to say in Michigan in the winter, I'd love to have someone else put my gas in, though I obviously have no idea tipping etiquette.

 

[JB2K]

Having done some time in one of the full-service states, I can comment...

I never did (and if I were still there, never will) tip a gas station attendant -- the main reason being is that the only reason N.J. (and Oregon) has mandatory full-service is to create jobs (otherwise, the pump prices could go even lower than what you're paying, today).

Also keep in mind if these attendants are working for a major convenience store (e.g., 7-Eleven, On the Run), they're getting paid the same wages as anyone else in the service sector.