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Marthe48

(16,692 posts)
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 03:20 PM Apr 2021

I'd like to see gas attendants again

I had to get my car filled up today, and ran some other errands, including a curbside pickup. I thought about how you can get your shopping done for you and set in your car. I haven't had to go to a food bank, but heard President Biden mention cars lined up at food banks, waiting for someone to put a box of food in the back. I thought, why not have gas attendants? At least while the pandemic rages.
It would employ some people, and add some social distancing.

34 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I'd like to see gas attendants again (Original Post) Marthe48 Apr 2021 OP
How much additional would you pay for gas? brooklynite Apr 2021 #1
I don't buy it often Marthe48 Apr 2021 #21
I would like to call consumer help and push one doc03 Apr 2021 #2
I'd like to push one and actually speak to a real-life someone yonder Apr 2021 #12
Pretty sure New Jersey still does not allow you to pump your own gas. CabbageAndBeans Apr 2021 #3
Not from NJ, but have driven through quite a bit MiniMe Apr 2021 #10
I live in NJ now.. PCIntern Apr 2021 #13
Because Christie raised that damn gas tax about 5 or 6 years ago Polybius Apr 2021 #31
It is too dangerous for civilians to pump gas in NJ Klaralven Apr 2021 #27
Move to Oregon. Jeebo Apr 2021 #4
Only legal in small towns after dark MurrayDelph Apr 2021 #34
Oregon does. People cannot get their own gas. Was challenging when I first moved here LizBeth Apr 2021 #5
This was true when I grew up in NJ, and when I last visited there. Silent3 Apr 2021 #8
Gets jobs and especially for an age that now needs to continue working, without any sort of retire LizBeth Apr 2021 #17
I know of one locally that still pumps gas. nt doc03 Apr 2021 #6
Come to Oregon and experience our highly-trained technicians. Sneederbunk Apr 2021 #7
Will at least pay 12.75 in July. Jobs. LizBeth Apr 2021 #19
I will pass on that. Grew up in the 60's and 70's and remember that well madinmaryland Apr 2021 #9
I pay cash Polybius Apr 2021 #32
Looking forward to getting an electric car. marybourg Apr 2021 #11
When I fill it full of gas no one's even close to me, so I don't get your worry! Nt USALiberal Apr 2021 #14
Not worried Marthe48 Apr 2021 #23
If there is a market out there that is clamoring to pay more for gas so someone else can pump it tritsofme Apr 2021 #15
My wife, Karen, agrees. Buckeye_Democrat Apr 2021 #16
Here in Costa Rica you can't pump your own. LakeArenal Apr 2021 #18
Remembering when they were transitioning moonscape Apr 2021 #20
How about we forego gas altogether? gldstwmn Apr 2021 #22
As has been mentioned in New Jersey Raftergirl Apr 2021 #24
They still have them in Oregon. . . . BigDemVoter Apr 2021 #25
bring back... JuJuChen Apr 2021 #26
I needed air in my tire (it was a false alarm by the automated warning system on my dash) CTyankee Apr 2021 #28
Kwik-Fill will pump your gas for you Deminpenn Apr 2021 #29
I was a pump jockey as a teenager. TomSlick Apr 2021 #30
Repeated daylong exposure to benzene is not a good thing. roamer65 Apr 2021 #33

Marthe48

(16,692 posts)
21. I don't buy it often
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 04:54 PM
Apr 2021

I have a Prius, and on top of that have hardly been out in the last year. Price would be a concern. But if the gas stations hired a couple of people to cover shifts, and an attendant was optional, I don't think it would add that much to the price. Seems like the overworked clerks would appreciate having help.

I saw people posting on DU the other days about how much their meal at McD's cost. I stopped eating fast food about 1 1/2 years ago, so I thought the current prices are steep. Gas is a necessity and fast food isn't, so there's that. Lots of ways to look at it.

When gas went to over $6/gal in CA around 2012, the highest we paid in OH was 4.21/gal. We got the Prius that year, plus as we got older, drove less.

doc03

(35,148 posts)
2. I would like to call consumer help and push one
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 03:27 PM
Apr 2021

for English and get someone that can actually speak English.

yonder

(9,631 posts)
12. I'd like to push one and actually speak to a real-life someone
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 04:21 PM
Apr 2021

instead of being put on hold before being spun on a phone tree merry-go-round.

CabbageAndBeans

(33 posts)
3. Pretty sure New Jersey still does not allow you to pump your own gas.
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 03:28 PM
Apr 2021

Maybe someone from NJ could chime in on the pros and cons from a cost/employment perspective.

MiniMe

(21,677 posts)
10. Not from NJ, but have driven through quite a bit
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 03:57 PM
Apr 2021

It is still hard for me to sit in the car and let somebody else pump gas. God forbid that the attendant isn't there right away.

PCIntern

(25,347 posts)
13. I live in NJ now..
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 04:23 PM
Apr 2021

It’s like the old days (no self service) here and our gas prices are a little lower than PA but they used to be a LOT lower.

 

Klaralven

(7,510 posts)
27. It is too dangerous for civilians to pump gas in NJ
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 06:30 PM
Apr 2021

We have highly trained, superbly competent gas dispensing professionals here.

Mrs Klaralven does not want to get out of the car and pump gas, especially when it is cold or wet or hot or windy....

People don't linger at attended gas pumps. In other states, it appears that people park at the pump, pump gas, wander into the store, and tie up the pump indefinitely while others wait.

LizBeth

(9,946 posts)
5. Oregon does. People cannot get their own gas. Was challenging when I first moved here
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 03:33 PM
Apr 2021

but used to it now and good to go.

Silent3

(15,020 posts)
8. This was true when I grew up in NJ, and when I last visited there.
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 03:49 PM
Apr 2021

AFAIK you still can't pump your own gas in NJ, unless that's changed in the past 20 years.

LizBeth

(9,946 posts)
17. Gets jobs and especially for an age that now needs to continue working, without any sort of retire
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 04:35 PM
Apr 2021

cause we po. I am good with it. And Oregon is also increasing minimum wage yearly. So, I am good with it. I might be doing it. A job my body and brain can still do and they will hire this old ass.

madinmaryland

(64,920 posts)
9. I will pass on that. Grew up in the 60's and 70's and remember that well
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 03:52 PM
Apr 2021

with the carbon copies that did an impression of the credit card. Given COVID, I will take personless credit transactions.

Marthe48

(16,692 posts)
23. Not worried
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 05:05 PM
Apr 2021

saw a possible opportunity for someone to work, another way to keep from touching a surface.

tritsofme

(17,325 posts)
15. If there is a market out there that is clamoring to pay more for gas so someone else can pump it
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 04:25 PM
Apr 2021

Then this idea might be a hit. Otherwise...probably not.

Buckeye_Democrat

(14,847 posts)
16. My wife, Karen, agrees.
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 04:31 PM
Apr 2021

We long for a return to the good ol' days of verbally abusing gas station attendants.
~ Kyle

Kidding!!! And I'm not implying anything bad about people who'd like to see them again.

It's been so many years for me, I was compelled to look for online videos of them!

Young guy in Oregon, describing irritable customers (of course):

LakeArenal

(28,729 posts)
18. Here in Costa Rica you can't pump your own.
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 04:36 PM
Apr 2021

They’ll wash windshields, check oil, tire air and the are nice and polite while they do it.
To us Gringos, we feel like we have to tip.
Also restaurants add a ten percent gratuity required by law. We always give a bit more but don’t feel obligated to do so. Most Ticos do not leave tips.

PS... This is off topic but I can’t resist.

THERE ARE NOOOO PHARMACEUTICAL COMMERCIALS HERE.

moonscape

(4,664 posts)
20. Remembering when they were transitioning
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 04:42 PM
Apr 2021

to self serve and thete were pumps where the gas was a bit higher for full-serve like the old days and cheaper self-serve. Self serve won. Those other pumps languished mostly ...

Raftergirl

(1,276 posts)
24. As has been mentioned in New Jersey
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 05:14 PM
Apr 2021

you cannot pump your own gas and it is significantly cheaper than in NY. I always fill up on the wee part of the Palisades Parkway that is in NJ on my way home to NY from the city.

There are also a few towns in Westchester County where you cannot pump your own gas but it’s more expensive than self serve.

BigDemVoter

(4,149 posts)
25. They still have them in Oregon. . . .
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 05:17 PM
Apr 2021

For anybody from Oregon, feel free to correct me. . .

I was so confused in OR when driving through, as the attendant just insisted on filling the car for me. I think it might be a state statute that only they can fill cars as they are trained not to spill and cause environmental damage? I think?

In any case, it WAS welcome change for once. It reminded me of my childhood, but then the attendant would also check the oil and wash the windshield as well. . . .

JuJuChen

(2,214 posts)
26. bring back...
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 05:41 PM
Apr 2021

milk men
lamplighters
cigarette girls at games
switchboard operators
bowling pins setters

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
28. I needed air in my tire (it was a false alarm by the automated warning system on my dash)
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 08:02 PM
Apr 2021

and I couldn't find any gas station that did it. I finally drove to the auto dealer that I leased the vehicle from and they had full service there. And no charge.

TomSlick

(11,035 posts)
30. I was a pump jockey as a teenager.
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 10:28 PM
Apr 2021

I was astounded daily by how rude and demanding people could be to a kid pumping gas. The boss was the owner's cantankerous old cuss father. As bad a job as I've ever had and I've had some bad jobs.

roamer65

(36,739 posts)
33. Repeated daylong exposure to benzene is not a good thing.
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 11:06 PM
Apr 2021

I think it’s best to distribute the risk.

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