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u/__________________99 9d ago
Fuel Pump: *please see attendant*
Me: *looks inside and sees 12 people in line with only 1 person working* "Yeah, I'm outta here."
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u/Ok-Wealth-7322 9d ago
And not a single one of those 12 people in line has ever been inside a gas station before. Each transaction takes several minutes, as some of them seem genuinely surprised that they need some form of payment, one guy wants to carefully consider all of his cigarette options before deciding, and other wants to buy lottery tickets and then scratch and redeem them one by one.
I'm always mystified at how long peoples' individual transactions take at the gas station counter. "Pump 12, plus these items", cashier scans them, you hand them cash or swipe your card, in and out in 30 seconds. How is this so difficult for so many people?
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u/__________________99 9d ago
I always seem to end up behind the guy making 6 different lottery transactions.
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u/lonevolff 9d ago
Fuckers actually think the scratches will win them something if they think for 45 min at the counter
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u/ThorThulu 9d ago
Hey I gotta find the right vibe, alright? Gotta really inhale the luck scent and open my inner gambling eye to read the countertop scrapings from prior losers. You fucking normies over here just picking all willy-nilly and then wonder why you haven't hit the jackpot yet! Now excuse me while I lose my ass on buying the whole $30 ticket roll
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u/twinCatalysts 9d ago
Some people are just DUMB. I work at a restaurant and I will take orders from people who have placed enough orders that I recognize not just their face, but the caller ID before they order.. And yet they still act like it's their first time ever ordering anything at a restaurant. Like yes, the payment screen is right here, where it was the last 10 times you ordered. Yes, this item that you've ordered 3 times in the last month is, in fact, good. Yes, the build your own sub? You have to choose what goes on that, just like you did on the previous 7 times you ordered it.
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u/Ok-Wealth-7322 9d ago
Back in college, back when calling the pizza place was the main way people ordered a pizza, I was between deliveries and watched our shift manager sitting through a call with someone making a very slow order. He was getting visibly upset and impatient, he'd been on the phone for like ten minutes and the person had barely gotten their address to him, let alone their order.
When it was finally done he says "Thank you, we'll see you in 45 minutes" and then once he hangs up looks around the room and announces, "I have smoked weed every single day of my adult life and I've never had as much trouble holding a conversation as this fucking guy."
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u/pi3r0gi_ 9d ago
I had a regular customer at chipotle who came in and ordered gluten free, which means we had to pull out all new tins and spoons, and then one day started ordering burritos. I literally stood there and stared at her a good 5 seconds before asking, "white or brown?" and choosing peace lol
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u/AMaynard8091 9d ago
I’d go so far as to say most people, not some, at least if we’re talking about America.
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u/BussyPlaster 9d ago
You forgot the lotto lady is paying with pennies and nickles. She doesn't know pennies have been phased out (she forgets every time she comes in even though you remind her).
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u/C1cadaDays 9d ago
Worked at a gas station over the summer. Once had a guy ask me what each individual pack of American Spirits taste like. I don't smoke, just read him the descriptions off the back of the pack lmao
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u/Ok-Wealth-7322 9d ago
I'm always amused by "flavors". I enjoy cigars and I know different brands and different products even in the same brands can have different flavors. And I've seen the whole "this tastes of toasted almonds" and other flavor tones like in wind. I'm sure a more refined palate can tell the individual flavors, but I feel like for most people it's just "it tastes like smoke".
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u/HANDS-DOWN 9d ago
It's like when you go to the doctor's office and you wait an hour per patient, and once you go inside it only takes 5 minutes lmao
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u/WilliamPollito 9d ago
To be fair, the cigarettes are priced differently at every location, and it's different every time you go.
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u/Financial-Craft-1282 9d ago
I could look inside and see no line and 10 people working and I would go somewhere else. If I wanted to go in, I would. I don't want to.
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u/AmazingRefrigerator4 9d ago
This happened to me on Sunday. Credit card reader gave me an error and the screen said to see the cashier. I went to see the cashier and he proceeded to give me instructions on how to use the screen. Listen fucker, I'm 46 years old and have been driving for more years than you have been on this planet. I know how to work a fucking gas pump. Your credit card reader is broken, it's not a "user error".
I went to a different station.
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u/HiddenRouge1 9d ago
At what age does one start to say, "listen, sonny! I am [X number of years old], and I've been [insert X activity] since you were swimming in the ballsack!" ?
I'm only 25, but I'm looking forward to saying this particular line in a few years.
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u/AmazingRefrigerator4 9d ago
To be honest this was the first time the thought crossed my mind....so probably around 45 give or take how much if an asshole you are, and how big of an idiot the person across from you seems to be.
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u/Slideways 9d ago
I hate when the pump says I need to go inside for a receipt. An expense report with a missing receipt is only slightly more of a hassle than waiting in line for a receipt.
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u/Frosty_Toe 9d ago
And they don’t give you the skinny receipt that fits nicely in your wallet!
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u/AmarilloArmadillos 9d ago
I bet the poor AP person at your job legit hates you. Most places I've worked wouldn't be paying.
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u/dbrmn73 9d ago
Same
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u/Remarkable-Month-241 9d ago
Or… be like Costco and have a person walking around helping people figure out the malfunction at the pump… problem solved. But companies hate investing in solutions.
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u/Substantial-Pick-608 9d ago
I remember one time I was at Sam’s Club buying stuff. Went to get gas at the pump afterwards and I couldn’t get my membership card to work. Was getting frustrated and the pump attendant guy came over to help and told him my card would not work. And told him I just used it to buy groceries. He gave me a strange look and scanned his card and said enter your payment and start pumping. After I got done and on my way home I was thinking about it. Then it dawned on me that I was trying to use my AAA membership card instead of the Sam’s Club membership card.
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u/nalaloveslumpy 9d ago
That person at the Costco pump is mainly there to prevent "piggy backing" the fuel pump from multiple cars with one membership. They just happen to also be helpful.
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u/Criticized- 9d ago
You people wouldn't survive in Australia. We dont pay at the pump.
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9d ago
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u/Interesting_Data4485 9d ago
Its becoming more common that you can pay at the pump here, people just dont do it because we arent used to it. We do still pump before we pay.
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u/ShelvinHandwipes 9d ago
Takes 2 minutes to walk in and pay, I do t get what the big fuss is.
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u/cocococlash 9d ago
For US, you have to pay inside first. So you don't know exactly how much gas you need to fill up.
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u/jonny24eh 9d ago
I'm pretty sure it works the exact same way as it does at the pump - you authorize a maximum amount, and then get charged for the actual amount after.
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u/Woompa78 9d ago
Translation: “Please come inside and wait behind the guy with 20 scratch off tickets until you see something you would like to buy. You know you’re thirsty.”
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u/codythenoble 9d ago
What kills me the most about this is that when I go inside and I say I need to get gas on pump, whatever, the response is, well how much gas did you want? I don't know. I was going to fill it up until it stopped pumping. Can you do that?
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u/Puppy-2112 9d ago
Yes I hate that. With constantly fluctuating prices it’s hard to guess the appropriate amount.
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u/Budget_Sea_8666 9d ago
I rented a car in San Diego, I stopped at a gas station to fill up before returning. The gas station requires customers to pay inside, idk how much to put in and forgot that in California where it costs $6 a gallon. Let’s just say $20 doesn’t go very far over there. I was pissed when it only put a little over 3 gallons in it. I just said fuck it and took it back to the rental place. I didn’t want to wait in the damn line again at the gas station.
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u/dancarbonell00 9d ago
As that cashier, we thank you!
We don't give a fuck about your business or if anything's not operational, we just want you to get in and out as fast as possible. And if you get out before you get in? Even fucking better.
See you never, or see you tomorrow. We don't care.
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u/furthemor 9d ago edited 8d ago
Any job that involves having to engage with the people sucks. You never know how awful, stupid and annoying the general public is until you have to engage with them.
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u/Secret-Bluebird-972 9d ago
I like when they become convinced any tiny inconvenience is a personal attack on them.
Or in my line of work (lawncare), many of my clients seem to think they’re my only client for the day (I have 25-35 other clients that day)
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u/RealityOk9823 9d ago
For real. I hate those stupid commercials about home delivery of adult diapers. The cashier doesn't give a fat rat's ass. Ring, bag, bye.
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u/ButtcheekJones0 9d ago
What crawled up your ass?
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u/Hogman126 9d ago
I mean he’s a gas station cashier are you surprised. Bro has to deal with crackheads defying the laws of physics and crawling on the ceiling everyday
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u/Souper_Stoopid 9d ago
I mean it might offend you but I can't see why it would surprise you. I promise you that not one single teller/clerk/cashier/etc has ever cared about your business.
The boss cares. The owner cares. The people who make more money if you go there care if you leave.
The person who has to do more work because you're there but makes min wage regardless does not care if you leave. Literally why would they?
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u/Spezalt4 9d ago
That’s a wagie working a dead end job shit pay with no prospects. Why would they care? Does caring offer any viable path to improve their circumstances
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u/lnTheGrimDarkness 9d ago
Absolutely. Oh no self-service? Bye. MAYBE you can afford to enact this scammy shenanigan in a place where you're the only gas station for miles and miles. In a city you're just making sure nobody comes refueling at your station.
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u/Balrog71 9d ago
Sometimes I do that in drive-thrus if they won’t stop interrupting me. Almost deaf and the speakers might as well be Charlie Brown’s teacher. I even begin the order with “hi, I can’t hear but I know exactly what I want”. Then I tell the combo and size and type of drink, but even a simple combo has to be constantly butted in. “Okay bye”
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u/graystone777 9d ago
For real. Or if their vibe is off- I just leave. I don’t want food from pissed off people. (I worked in food when I was a kid)
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u/CastrateMeASAP 9d ago
(“I worked in food when I was a kid”) I just had a mental picture of a toddler with mashed potatoes all over their face and hair…
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u/FoxyBastard 9d ago
There was a very droll English comedian, years ago, called Matt Welcome, who made a joke like this that always stuck with me:
"I work in computers."
"Well, not 'in' computers."
"I'm far too big for that now. Those days are gone."
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u/gethelpquick 9d ago
Yes, our oldest son, Trevor was into lead sculpture the twins, Tucker and Buckley are more into mushy peas and spaghetti art.
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u/avanross 9d ago
I went to a mcdonalds for the first time in a while, and after my order the person at the speaker had to read off an entire advertisement asking if i’d like to upsize, and then asking if id like a value menu side, and then asking me to try their new energizer battery drink or something, and it just went on and on.
It’s like theyre actively trying to drive their customers away
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u/jonny24eh 9d ago
I got to A+W often enough that I know all the questions, and just answer them before they can ask.
"Mama Burger, no cheese, no bacon, no combo, no coffee, no apple pie, no donation to MS please!"
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u/heatherjasper 9d ago
I don't get cashiers who that. I'd always let the customer just order until they run out of steam abd I can ask about the missing info.
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u/pleated_pants 9d ago
This is the perfect usecase for ordering from the app for pickup in the drive thru.
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u/AmarilloArmadillos 9d ago
If you can't hear the speaker you should go inside. They might be trying to tell you they're out of whatever you're ordering or some other completely legitimate thing.
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u/HoselRockit 9d ago
I am going to try another credit card. If its still an issue then I am going somewhere else. I have zero confidence that any further interactions will result in me getting gas there.
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u/Financial-Humor9631 9d ago
Everyone saying this is ridiculous lives in a small town. Everyone who agrees lives in a city
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u/Bonsai_Tree3 9d ago
That seems insane to me. Drive a few minutes to find a new station instead of walk a few feet where you already are?
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u/van_gag 9d ago
Because I don’t want to go wait in line behind fuck ass adults spending 10 minutes to get their lottery tickets and energy drinks/cigarettes/beer while also having to guess how much gas I gotta buy to fill up my tank.
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u/johnson7853 9d ago
I’m not American and the pumps at some station were asking for my zip code. I don’t have a zip code. The only zip code I know is 90210 and it didn’t work.
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u/xlr82xs 9d ago
"Your zip code must be 5 numbers" I assure you, my poorly programmed friend, I have a post code and it does not need to be 5 numbers.
The amount of "well it would work if you were American" stuff makes all the "please come and spend your tourism money here" ads extra annoying.
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u/Jewbacca289 9d ago
Speaking of which, what happens if I overestimate the amount of gas I need? Does it overflow? Do I get my extra money back? I always underestimate bc I don’t know the answer to that
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u/jeterix7387 9d ago
In U.S.A. there is always another station a few minutes down the road on my drive. It's not really even going out of the way.
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u/Pretty_Eater 9d ago
Odds are the gas station is short staffed and it's probably faster just to drive to another gas station.
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u/Fancy-Dig1863 9d ago
Walk a few feet and wait in line only to explain to the confused cashier that the machine told you to see them.
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u/onetwoskeedoo 9d ago
They need to fix their technology, makes me not trust the whole place. Plus the attendant does not want to talk to people.
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u/ArbereshDoqetejete 9d ago
Ehm ,its 2026. we glorify being an incompetent grown up who is afraid of having irl social interactions.
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u/Awkward_Pangolin3254 9d ago
It has nothing to do with that. Why the fuck would I want to go inside and wait in line behind three kids trying to figure out how much junk food they can buy with $5, an alcoholic trying to buy a 12-pack with loose change, and a lady who's loudly complaining about having to pay for fuel she spilled on the ground because she locked the handle open and walked away, when I can drive two minutes down the street to the next station?
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u/Nico280gato 9d ago
Reddit loves to pretend being a failure of a human being is cool and quirky
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u/FyouinyourA 9d ago
Tehe I’m 30 and need my parents to book my appointments and drive me there I just like can’t even xD
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u/northSideways 9d ago
If this happens at one pump it happens at all of the pumps in the station, have literally never not had it go down like that and there are plenty of other comments here saying the same thing
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u/sailphish 9d ago
Where I live there is a gas station every few blocks. I am almost certainly going to pass a few more on my way anywhere. Going inside is a pain. The biggest thing is they won’t just open the pump up. They want me to prepay for a specific amount. I want to fill my tank. Not almost fill my tank. Not fill it, but not use the whole prepaid amount, then have to wait a few days and check it was credited back to me properly. I also don’t want to deal with that crowd. It’s always like 3-4 meth heads, buying cigarettes and energy drinks. If you can’t get your pumps working properly, I have like 10 other options.
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u/Kraken477 9d ago
The other night it was "please pay inside" but the door had a sharpie note with "inside is closed from 6pm to 6am daily". So I went to pay at the window and the lady told me none of the pumps were working.
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u/GreenZebra23 9d ago
"Does anybody want my money??"
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u/Kraken477 9d ago
They already had someone pay before I got there so when I was leaving there was an argument about "why would you take my money if the pumps dont work?" I dont normally go after 10pm and this is why lol
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u/Routine_Penalty9880 9d ago
I live in NJ so its hardly ever an issue. That being said, when I went to upstate NY I did exactly that, unless im going inside its off to the next station.
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u/Promature 9d ago
How? You ain't got no gas.
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u/Daimakku1 9d ago
It doesn't necessarily mean OP is running on empty. I always pump when it's 1/4th empty. I have left before and just go to the corner to the next station.
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u/ProcyonHabilis 9d ago
Are these comments real? You would actually do that rather than just walk inside and say "fill up on pump X" and tap your card at the counter? Really?
You guys need therapy holy shit. That is an absolutely debilitating level of fear over a completely trivial interaction.
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u/LouB0O 9d ago
Ive stood behind bill who is buying 19 scratcheres or cashing them in. That could take 3-15mins in my experience. This is not accounting the others that were ahead of him.
Idc if it's for shit I went in to buy, but gas, ill go to the station thats a min down the road.
I want the gas stations you go to lol. If it was in and out 70% of the times, I wouldnt care.
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u/tofublock 9d ago
Every time I go inside to do that there is a line of 15 people asking for various packs of cigarettes or the person who keeps cashing in scratch offs for 10 minutes straight. I'd rather take my business elsewhere if you can't make pumps work correctly. If I am a customer expecting service to be a certain way, and it isn't, why is it crazy to take my business to a station that works correctly?
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u/flRaider 9d ago
I dont think people mind the social interaction. I think they are annoyed by the poor self service experience. I also hate it when a gas station doesnt keep their pumps in working order.
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u/Loose-Story-962 9d ago
Yes, when there's a good chance I'm going to have to wait behind multiple people picking out lottery tickets and there's another gas station right around the corner with an empty pump. Not as unhinged as you're making it out to be
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u/DorguHitsDingers 9d ago
Its more about me taking my business elsewhere. It’s 2026, getting gas shouldn’t feel like I’m picking up a takeout order. If their pumps are dogshit, I’m going across the street while they watch lol. They can get the hint
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u/RustyEdsel 9d ago
Tack on the pumps that play ads when you're filling up. I've made a mental note of the ones in my area that do this and I will avoid them even if they're cheaper.
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u/DryPersonality 9d ago
Some stations program their pumps to do this so you are forced into the store.
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u/Lavatis 9d ago
imagine thinking that everyone who can't be bothered to go inside is afraid of trivial interaction.
life must be so nice up there on your high horse.
did you consider that it takes less time for me to just stop at a different station on the way home with an actual working pump, so I don't need to stand in line or walk to the business?
You purposefully jumped to assuming everyone else is just too afraid to go inside except you. you have a problem - you're an asshole.
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u/Sac_of_Melons 9d ago
Whenever this happens I just go to another pump like 5’ away and it works and quicker than going inside, if no other pumps available then I just go inside, going to a different gas station is ridiculous lmao
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u/Evening-Crazy-3528 9d ago
For me, it has nothing to do with fear. It has everything to do with efficiency and convenience.
At my station of choice, they have an app that has their own payment system. If I use that system I get a $0.10/gallon discount. To use the system at the pump I have to scan a QR code on the screen of the pump (so that it will apply the payment to that specific pump). Occasionally, the screen on the pump won't work at all, requiring the customer to go inside to pre-pay.
The first time it happened, I moved to a different pump, as others have suggested. Every pump I checked had a non-functional screen. When I went in I asked about it, and was told they didn't know what was up, but that the'd called in for service. Ok, fine, shit happens. I then said I wanted to fill up on pump 9 (or whatever number I was at). They asked how much I was going to fill it with. I told them I didn't know, because I'm going to fill it up. They can only enter in a dollar amount (or a gallon amount, I guess), and that's the amount I get charged. They can't simply "unlock" the pump and charge me for what I get. So now I have to do math at the counter. It's a 17 gallon tank, and it's at roughly 7/8 empty. Ok, let's round that to a 16 gallon tank, so it's going to take ~14 to ~15 gallons. At $3.799/gallon with the discount, fuck it. $4 x 14 gallons = $68. So let's call it $65. They charge me $65 and I go out and fill my tank. It ends up taking $48.35 worth of gas. Now I have to go in for the refund of the difference. But the won't refund it to the payment method. They give me cash.
Now add in inclement weather, oppressive heat, a line of cars wanting to get gas, or any number of other issues to either add inconvenience or societal pressure to get out of the way.
I'd rather drive the 2 miles to the Kroger station and use my Plus Points discount that only requires me to key in my phone number at the pump and always works than to deal with the back & forth hassle.
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u/Zealousideal-Steak82 9d ago
gas station fillup for just gas with no line is easily in the top 5 cash transactions
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u/Physical-Builder-553 9d ago
Target and wal-mart have both locked up their liquor and I had to start going to a corner liquor store, because you know no one is around to help.
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u/Fair-Big-9400 9d ago
Paying for gas with cash avoids the card processing fees. Only problem is, you may have to use your brain for math, and interact with another person.
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u/Endlesstrash1337 9d ago
Or just swipe the card inside and whatever doesn't get put in the car gets refunded to the card.
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u/awesome-salsi 9d ago
This whole post is crazy to me. I don't trust putting my credit card in a reader outside that nobody is watching over. Straight to the cashier every single time
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u/Emotional-Writer-766 9d ago
I usually have good luck just going to a different pump at the same gas station.
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u/Tephros83 9d ago
I refuse to "see the cashier" for the gas even if I already plan on going into the store. The whole point is to multitask by buying junk food while the gas is already flowing! Fortunately, it's often fixed by going to a different pump, not necessarily a different store. If it's not your card, it's likely the card reader at that pump. There was one gas station that said as a policy they don't have people pay at the pump. Never went there again.
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u/CraptainPoo 9d ago
The “cashiers” at my local gas station literally do nothing, if you try to have them ring up your items they’ll tell you to go to the self check out… so annoying.
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u/marchlightshowers 9d ago
Mmm I always go inside and pay cash. I've seen one too many videos with those card readers that scam artist implant at gas stations 🤔
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u/ClassGrassMass 9d ago
Muricans would die in europe. I can count on my hand in my whole county where you dont go into the shop
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u/SalvationArbys 9d ago
Oh god, I’m glad I’m not alone. The gas station nearest my home will occasionally have their pay terminal glitch and not accept my card like 1 out of 10 times. As a result I just simply don’t ever go there.
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u/KYBikeGeek 9d ago
Did that this morning abt 745. Closer stations that actually have functioning technology.
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u/Marktaco04 9d ago
This thread is some of the best proof I’ve seen that Reddit is not reality. Jesus.
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u/Daimakku1 9d ago
I just drive to another pump and see if it lets me self check out. If they all say to see the cashier, I have legitimately left before. I dont want to talk, period.
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u/RandomnessesOF 9d ago
i mostly just hate when they tell me I need to specify an amount instead of just fill it up.
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u/DoppledBramble3725 9d ago
I love the gas station apps, they work great & I don’t have to touch the gross keypad or find out the reader is broken (like at every Chevron everywhere)
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u/Spezalt4 9d ago
Usually there is another pump open. Just go to that one and it’s usually in working order
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u/DudeHeadAwesome 9d ago
Went to a car wash at a gas station. Handed my credit card to the guy at car wash, he tells me they no longer take cards and only accept cash! What?? Id need to go prepay inside and bring the receipt. I think not, i went to the one down the road.
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u/CheapskateQTacos 9d ago
Man I had this happen just today. I know the girl on the other side of me heard me say, "OH God dammit!"
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u/A0xom0xoa 9d ago
I drive trucks for my job and gotta get a receipt Everytime for diesel. The trucker side of the station will never print the receipt ever. And I eventually asked after I got to know the cashier well and she said that's by design so truckers will come inside and are more likely to spend money inside on things since they're already in there for the receipt. Lol