Oregon now lets people pump their own gas and some Oregonians are losing their minds over it

[MissB]

19. It was really only implemented for convenience of rural

folks because the populations are so sparse that staffing the stations isn’t profitable. Keeping the stations open is only profitable if there isn’t a requirement to have staff. Some of these counties are pretty desolate, some have a single decent sized city but then nothing else for miles and miles.

We passed through a couple of the counties in the way back from dropping off our youngest at his college out of state this fall. DH ignored a sign - on the interstate- that said last gas for 80 miles. We barely coasted to the next station. There were several other stations along the way but they’d all closed down over the years because they couldn’t make money. And this was on an interstate - just one that isn’t terribly well travelled compared to I-5.

I live in a major population center. Gas stations are everywhere. They are all staffed with attendants. I have to say I don’t mind not getting out in a downpour and pumping my gas. I generally use the Costco station, which has at least one attendant per lane and generally more during busy times.