OT: Why do people from out of state get out of their cars at full serve gas stations

[Upstream]

I get that in other states, you have to get out of your car. But why get out of your car at a full serve station in NJ.

I stopped to get gas at a small station yesterday. There were 4 cars on both sides of the 2 pumps. I went to the left side of the pumps (since my gas tank is on the passenger side). The attendant completed the sale for the front car, that car pulled away, and the attendant walked to the back car. I considered pulling around the back car to the front pump, but I figured that since the attendant was waiting by the back car, that car car was almost done. And sure enough, within seconds, the pump stops and the attendant removes the nozzle. He says something to the guy standing in the back of the car (I assume he is asking if the guy wants a receipt), and the guy waves him off.

Then I have to wait for over 3 minutes while the guy walks back to the car door, takes off his coat and puts it in the back seat, gets into the driver seat, does who knows what before starting the car, and eventually pulling away. In the amount of time it took him to pull away, the attendant has already finished serving the 2 cars on the other side of the island, and both of them have pulled away, and the attendant is standing there waiting for this guy to pull away and for me to pull up so he can serve me.

I'm watching this and wondering why this guy got out of his car on a cold, snowy evening. Since he put his coat in the back seat, I assume he put on the coat when he got out of the car. I'm wondering why he got out of a warm car in the cold to stand in the back of his car. I'm wondering why he was wasting everyone's time when he could have been sitting in the driver's seat ready to pull away seconds after his transaction was complete. And then I notice his out-of-state licence plate.

I get that in other states, you have no choice but to get out of your car and pump your own gas. But in NJ you have someone to do it for you. The concept is not to hard to figure out; you tell the attendant to put gas in your car, and the attendant does that while you get to sit in your warm car and listen to music or look at your phone. And then when you are done, you don't have to take off your coat, or fumble with your keys, or put on your seat belt, or do whatever else this guy did before driving away. In NJ, when you are done, you are ready to leave, and you just pull away.

So for any of you from out of state, when you get gas in NJ, don't get out of your car. That's the whole point of full serve.

 

[mildone]

Maybe people from out of state have flatulence issues?

 

[Abro1975]

I'm in state and often do it myself (have a gas card) if place is busy.

 

[WhiteBus]

Simply, I'm faster than a guy/gal getting paid minimum wage. Plus the lowest priced stations usually are crowded so if I can offer some help to those working, why not? The crew at the WAWA on Route 130 right before the Turnpike entrance certainly are happy that I jump in and get my own. Lastly, it's really easy to do. Much easier than the gloom and doom situation the OP suggest.

 

[MrsScrew]

maybe he'd been driving for a few hours and needed to stretch his legs?

 

[RU205]

Maybe he was in the car for a while and used this chance to stretch ?

 

[ATIOH]

Simply, I'm faster than a guy/gal getting paid minimum wage. Plus the lowest priced stations usually are crowded so if I can offer some help to those working, why not? The crew at the WAWA on Route 130 right before the Turnpike entrance certainly are happy that I jump in and get my own. Lastly, it's really easy to do. Much easier than the gloom and doom situation the OP suggest.

That's up to a $500 ticket.

 

[WhiteBus]

That's up to a $500 ticket.

And when was the last ticket ever issued for that? During the 70s oil crisis?

 

[RU4Real]

That's up to a $500 ticket.

Yeah, that never happens.

I'll pump myself when the local gas station is busy. I get a "thank you" from the attendants.

 

[RUinPinehurst]

Could it be they want to keep an eye on their credit cards, you know, the threat of skimming?

 

[RUsSKii]

In your particular situation, I'd say that the guy you were waiting for to pull away was a putz, who could have easily put away his coat and fumbled around while gas was actually being pumped into his vehicle.

I've seen people from out-of-state get out of their vehicles at NJ gas stations and attempt to begin pumping gas, before being stopped by the attendant, giving them confused looks, and finally realizing that NJ is full-serve only.

Personally, I tend to fill up my car at a nearby Costco, where there is usually a line of cars and it can take 5-15 minutes just to get to the pump. In order to save a little time after having waited to pull up, I get out of my car, open the gas tank door/fuel cap, and stand there ready with my card to pay the attendant to fill up my car. The station attendants are thankful for this. Conversely, I get back into my car by the time refueling is complete and start it as soon as the attendant takes out the nozzle, ready to pull away as soon as being given my receipt.

Additional edit, per 4Real: I have had no problems with pumping my own gas in other states, and have completed the task myself at a couple of quiet local NJ stations at odd hours when the attendant either wasn't around for a long time or perhaps temporarily indisposed..

 

[ClassOf02]

It doesn't sound like the issue is that the guy got out of his car; rather that he took his sweet ass time getting back in and driving away once gassed up.

Which would drive me insane. I have one pet peeve, but unfortunately it gets applied across a wide range of scenarios so it SEEMS like I have a million pet peeves. And that is people who are not aware of their surroundings and act like they're the only ones that matter.

So I'm with ya OP -- not because he got out of his car, but because he just sounds like an unaware dbag.

 

[srru86]

As a guy that spent 30 years driving in NJ and now live in a pump it yourself state, once or twice I have pulled into a station and sat there wondering where the attendant was for a minute until realizing I wasn't in NJ anymore.

 

[Knight Shift]

When I get gas out of state, I pull up to the pump and sit there and wait for an attendant. . . . .

I drive a diesel, and WaWa sucks. They pull the stunt that diesel is not flammable enough that it has to be pumped by a petroleum transfer engineer, and diesel is self serve. I rarely stop at WaWa, but when I do, it pisses me off that I have to get out and pump the fuel myself.

 

[Panthergrowl13]

Is New Jersey the only state that prevents you from pumping your own gas.

HAIL TO PITT!!!!

 

[Upstream]

Could it be they want to keep an eye on their credit cards, you know, the threat of skimming?

At this station, the attendant hands you back your card after he is done swiping it. I got my card back immediately. And I assume that the guy who was in front of me did as well, since he never walked over to the attendant to pay cash, get his card back, or get a receipt.

I get that some people may get out of their cars to help attendants in crowded, slow stations. But that wasn't the case here. The attendant was in a rhythm, ready to pump as each car pulled in, and ready to complete the transaction as each pump finished fueling. This guy actually took the attendant out of his rhythm, and if there was a car behind me, he would have had to wait, because of the out of state guy taking so long to pull away from the pump.

It was very frustrating. It was like when you are waiting for a parking space and someone takes a long time to pull out of the space. I don't know what people do that takes so long before they start driving their car. But at least at full serve gas stations in NJ, you can do that while you are waiting for the pump to finish fueling your car.

 

[Knight Shift]

 

[Upstream]

Is New Jersey the only state that prevents you from pumping your own gas.

HAIL TO PITT!!!!

NJ and Oregon (except that Oregon now allows self serve at night in sparsely populated counties, where there are an insufficient number of gas stations open 24 hours). There are also some parts of other states (like parts of Long Island) that prohibit self serve.

 

[srru86]

Is New Jersey the only state that prevents you from pumping your own gas.

Oregon is/was the only other one, but they changed somewhat recently for limited cases.
Daily Astorian
A change at the pump- A new Oregon law allows for self-service at gas stations but within strict limits.

 

[jay_hq]

And when was the last ticket ever issued for that? During the 70s oil crisis?

I have. Some of my family members have too.

But we are African American so... thats the price we pay for being black in America.

 

[WhiteBus]

I have. Some of my family members have too.

But we are African American so... thats the price we pay for being black in America.

Id laugh at the cop and beat in court. The law for safety is invalid as is shown in 48 other states.

The WAWA I referred sometimes has a local cop hiding there to catch speeders. According to the attendants they have never given anyone a ticket.

 

[RutgersRaRa]

I get back at these people by not getting out of my car at the pumps in the other states. I know I'm making an impact by the way the women check me out as they drive around me after they fill up. #representing

 

[theRU]

full serve gas is the most overrated thing out there.

 

[Local Shill]

We really need some football news.

 

[RutgersRaRa]

We really need some football news.

Did you see the squirrel thread?

 

[RUBigFrank]

why would you want to pump your own gas - when in NJ some one will do it for you! Do you really want the gasoline smell on your hands?

And by the way - one of the reasons gas is cheaper here - is that by having an attendant reduces the insurance cost for the station.

really never understood the complaints and wants to pump your own gas.

 

[ElmiraExpress]

I get that in other states, you have to get out of your car. But why get out of your car at a full serve station in NJ.

I stopped to get gas at a small station yesterday. There were 4 cars on both sides of the 2 pumps. I went to the left side of the pumps (since my gas tank is on the passenger side). The attendant completed the sale for the front car, that car pulled away, and the attendant walked to the back car. I considered pulling around the back car to the front pump, but I figured that since the attendant was waiting by the back car, that car car was almost done. And sure enough, within seconds, the pump stops and the attendant removes the nozzle. He says something to the guy standing in the back of the car (I assume he is asking if the guy wants a receipt), and the guy waves him off.

Then I have to wait for over 3 minutes while the guy walks back to the car door, takes off his coat and puts it in the back seat, gets into the driver seat, does who knows what before starting the car, and eventually pulling away. In the amount of time it took him to pull away, the attendant has already finished serving the 2 cars on the other side of the island, and both of them have pulled away, and the attendant is standing there waiting for this guy to pull away and for me to pull up so he can serve me.

I'm watching this and wondering why this guy got out of his car on a cold, snowy evening. Since he put his coat in the back seat, I assume he put on the coat when he got out of the car. I'm wondering why he got out of a warm car in the cold to stand in the back of his car. I'm wondering why he was wasting everyone's time when he could have been sitting in the driver's seat ready to pull away seconds after his transaction was complete. And then I notice his out-of-state licence plate.

I get that in other states, you have no choice but to get out of your car and pump your own gas. But in NJ you have someone to do it for you. The concept is not to hard to figure out; you tell the attendant to put gas in your car, and the attendant does that while you get to sit in your warm car and listen to music or look at your phone. And then when you are done, you don't have to take off your coat, or fumble with your keys, or put on your seat belt, or do whatever else this guy did before driving away. In NJ, when you are done, you are ready to leave, and you just pull away.

So for any of you from out of state, when you get gas in NJ, don't get out of your car. That's the whole point of full serve.

I always get out of my car while the guy is pumping my gas (I live in NJ), even on cold snowy days. Quite frankly, it is really boring to sit in a car that is not moving. If I am out of the car, I can at least walk around a bit, stretch the legs, etc.

 

[WhiteBus]

At this station, the attendant hands you back your card after he is done swiping it. I got my card back immediately. And I assume that the guy who was in front of me did as well, since he never walked over to the attendant to pay cash, get his card back, or get a receipt.

I get that some people may get out of their cars to help attendants in crowded, slow stations. But that wasn't the case here. The attendant was in a rhythm, ready to pump as each car pulled in, and ready to complete the transaction as each pump finished fueling. This guy actually took the attendant out of his rhythm, and if there was a car behind me, he would have had to wait, because of the out of state guy taking so long to pull away from the pump.

It was very frustrating. It was like when you are waiting for a parking space and someone takes a long time to pull out of the space. I don't know what people do that takes so long before they start driving their car. But at least at full serve gas stations in NJ, you can do that while you are waiting for the pump to finish fueling your car.

I'm wondering what kind of gas station you go to that doesn't have enough room for you to not be able to turn around? I would think the NJ legislators would be more concerned about people getting trapped if a firs started than those pumping gas. I don't think I have ever gone into a gas station where you would be blocked in like that.

If that is the case where you go try this next time there is an R on your dashboard. It will allow you to back up.

I understand your frustration but I believe you blaming it solely on this going getting out of his car is misguided. We all have run into people who are unaware of their surroundings or simply don't care. The person who whips out the check book at the Shop Rite on a Saturday when you are right behind, the person who wants the 5cents discount on an item that was scanned wrong with a line a mile long or my favorite are the ladieds who spend time trying to fix their duffle size pocketbook after she pays. Than cracks wise to you that she has too much stuff in there and should clean it out...with a laugh. Listen bitch, you are right but don't clean it out at the counter.

 

[ElmiraExpress]

why would you want to pump your own gas - when in NJ some one will do it for you! Do you really want the gasoline smell on your hands?

And by the way - one of the reasons gas is cheaper here - is that by having an attendant reduces the insurance cost for the station.

really never understood the complaints and wants to pump your own gas.

I'm curious, how do you get the gas on your hands when pumping gas ?? I'm not that mechanically inclined, but never managed to pour the gas on myself. I would actually be willing to pay $.01 or .02 more per gallon if I could pump it myself here in NJ (but that is just me I guess). It is so much faster and efficient - swipe card, pump and go!

 

[RutgersRaRa]

I always get out of my car while the guy is pumping my gas (I live in NJ), even on cold snowy days. Quite frankly, it is really boring to sit in a car that is not moving. If I am out of the car, I can at least walk around a bit, stretch the legs, etc.

I have a new game I play while sitting in my car--I count squirrels. The stations in western and northern Jersey have the most, the ones in Essex and Bergen have the least.

 

[WhiteBus]

why would you want to pump your own gas - when in NJ some one will do it for you! Do you really want the gasoline smell on your hands?

And by the way - one of the reasons gas is cheaper here - is that by having an attendant reduces the insurance cost for the station.

really never understood the complaints and wants to pump your own gas.

The real reason is state taxes not insurance.. NJ state sale tax is 32 cents, PA is 51 cents

You need more practice pumping your own. I never get the smell of gas on my hands.

 

[theRU]

why would you want to pump your own gas - when in NJ some one will do it for you! Do you really want the gasoline smell on your hands?

And by the way - one of the reasons gas is cheaper here - is that by having an attendant reduces the insurance cost for the station.

really never understood the complaints and wants to pump your own gas.

Might be true on the insurance cost, but gas is cheaper because you have among the lowest gas taxes in the nation. NJ is 10 cents vs CA 41 cents

 

[theRU]

The real reason is state taxes not insurance.. NJ state sale tax is 32 cents, PA is 51 cents

You need more practice pumping your own. I never get the smell of gas on my hands.

i think your number includes the federal tax... state only is 10.5 cents

 

[RUBigFrank]

saying it is one of the reasons - and agree lower taxes is the most significant. Also - are folks aware that when you pump your own gas you should ground yourself by touching a metal part of the car once you get out. Static electricity is the biggest danger in pumping gas.

And yes - in a response to the curious - when out of state - particularly on the thruway - the pumps are lousy and you do get residue on your hands.

 

[RutgersRaRa]

 

[RUsSKii]

why would you want to pump your own gas - when in NJ some one will do it for you! Do you really want the gasoline smell on your hands?

And by the way - one of the reasons gas is cheaper here - is that by having an attendant reduces the insurance cost for the station.

really never understood the complaints and wants to pump your own gas.

Believe it or not, to some people it is usually preferable to perform certain tasks yourself, with an equal or greater level of efficiency than someone else (or technology) doing it for you. Driving, pumping gas, navigating, picking up ordered food or just preparing some are ones that come to mind.

At my local Costco, the line for each set of twin gas pumps can be anywhere from 3-8 vehicles long depending on time of day. Each attendant is responsible for four adjacent pumps, and during peak times simply cannot keep up with promptly re-fueling every single customer's vehicle that pulls up. If those who know how had the choice to do so themselves if the attendant is occupied at another pump it would speed the process, preventing both unnecessary waiting and extra vehicle idling.

P.S. having learned to drive in NJ, I've probably pumped gas myself around 25 times or so, and never got any gasoline residue on my hands. A few drops spilled inside my fuel tank door once because the nozzle was removed from the fuel intake a second before it stopped pumping; but then again, attendants who have pumped gas for me countless times have also made the same mistake before.

 

[RutgersRaRa]

 

[imbazza2]

That's up to a $500 ticket.

why would you want to pump your own gas - when in NJ some one will do it for you! Do you really want the gasoline smell on your hands?

And by the way - one of the reasons gas is cheaper here - is that by having an attendant reduces the insurance cost for the station. really never understood the complaints and wants to pump your own gas.

I am a Jersey home grown and I have out of state plates so I do get out and pump it my self never been stopped or ticketed (but unlike Jay_hq I am white)
1 to stretch a long ride ahead
2) if busy it is faster and I get thank you from over worked underpaid attendant
3) as I track MPG I like to top it off so my numbers come out the same
4) gas fumes gives a cheap buzz :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
Frank sound like a girl and I bet he pees on his hands when he got to the bathroom as well

 

[iReC89]

Its common elsewhere to leave your car parked at the pump after self serve to go into the store. Those places tend to not have other people waiting for your spot though.

During the last snowstorm the attendant at a busy WaWa said I would have to fill my gas can myself because he was too busy. He handed me the nozzle. For a second I thought I was on "what would you do". I had no issue doing it, but I didn't want a ticket.

 

[DHajekRC84]

no, the WORST thing is the a$$hats who get out of their cars and go into the store to buy stuff and just leave their freaking car sitting there blocking the pump!

Two signs that need to be front and center. 1) Don't leave your car unattended. This ISN'T a rest stop and 2) turn off the god darn motor. I don't want to breath that crap all day.