Posted on 09/10/2005 6:38:23 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s
................All but one of the gas retailers attributed the problem to the high cost of gas.
"It's not a matter of gas price. It's a matter of character," said Abul Azad, a cashier at the Gas 1 U.S.A. station on State Road 60 east of Bartow. "These people are criminals."...........
(Excerpt) Read more at theledger.com ...
For many years all of the stations I've purchased from have required customers without credit cards to pay first. These are all "self serve" stations so I don't know what "full service" stations, if there are any, are doing. Pay first makes sense to me.
I'm shocked the Ledger actually used this guy's quote in their story. This paper is owned by the New York Times, so that'll tell you everything you need to know about it. Everything is Bush's fault all the time.
I thought all these guys were named Lifde Handel.
I wonder how this will affect their traffic- if I have to walk in and leave a credit card, go back & fill up, then return to complete the transaction, I'd just as soon use cash. It mitigates the former convienience of using the card at the pump.
Don't worry, they more than make up for in elsewhere /snicker
Krugman and Goodman are two of their favorite columnists.
There are a few stations with full service pumps around here, and they do the typical stuff full-service used to mean: pump your gas, clean your windshield, check under the hood. However, full serve comes with a $.25-$0.30/gal premium, so very few people use it. As for me, I always pay at the pump (self serve) with a debit card.
I always use my card at the pump. But, most of the places have had "pay first" policies for years as far as I have noticed.
However, some don't because it hurts the sundries sales in the store, where they actually make a profit. It's a tough business, one I wouldn't want to be in. If someone is not stealing your gas, they're sticking a gun in your face for your cash. We had several clerks murdered last year.
My company has a subscription to it, so we have a copy every morning. About the only thing I look at in it is the rainfall totals on the back page of the local section. Even for free, I won't look at anything else inside it.
Is there a way to find out what other papers are owned by the New York Times?
I use a credit card also. On the few occasions I've had to go in the store because the receipt didn't print I've noticed the "pay first" customers browsing in the store and most of all buying lottery tickets. I don't know if in store sales are hurt since cash customers still have to go in to pay. Some stations do not have pumps that they can control so "pay first" is not an option even when using credit cards. I avoid those places.
LOL. You noticed that too. Not very subtle, are they?
Funny story about the Leger's incompetence. I had a subscription, for local news and obits. At least once a week they did not deliver. Well, six months ago, I mailed my renewal bill back with a written request to not renew AND to stop delivery on the expiration date. Yep. Still getting it, *and* they haven't missed a day.
I was travelling with a friend and he had to get gas. He had only $10 on him and so he made sure to tell the clerk to allow only that much gas.
The clerk didn't do it, and my friend didn't pay attention and filled up the tank, $55 worth. Oops.
Fortunately I was there to bail him out, but that's a pretty serious consequence for a simple dumb mistake.
I think it might be better to force people to pay in advance and therefore prevent that kind of incident.
D
OK, let me see if I understand what you are saying:
You have friend who is too stupid to stop the gas at $10 himself.
Therefore, EVERYONE else should be inconvienenced to the extent of having to walk into the store, stand in line, pay, fill up, and then go back in to stand in line to get change.
Wouldn't it be easier, and more convenient to just have your friend locked up? :)
Now everywhere is 'pay first' in So Cal. and it seems perfectly natural.
No problem. You can still use your card at the pump.
There was a report earlier this week that those stations that now require paying first are actually losing other business such as snacks and drinks in their stores. Too bad.
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