Prepay gas stations
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
I love pay-at-the-pump for the simple reason that I don't have to stand in line behind all the scratchers, gluttons and soda-camels. I don't do partial fills, either--I run the tank near empty, then fill it all the way so that I spend as little total time at gas stations as possible. The one exception is that sometimes I'll top off the tank before a long road trip, even if it's nowhere near empty.
Jason
Jason
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
Since we're on the topic, who else hates people that don't pull forward? You know, the people who could easily pull up to the farthest pump to free up the pump behind them, but instead stop at the first one they see. What really gets me is how they look at you with the "what's that person's deal" look as you pull around them and back up to the pump that they should have pulled up to.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,024
Likes: 1,519
From: Maine, Virginia
You can't get that deal with cash nor are you going to get it with a debit card or CC. They're giving you a discount for loyalty and it's a pretty good deal.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 0
From: Clarksburg WV
I never carry cash and I prefer paying with a card for fuel anyway. Especially at the local go-mart--they have the "big truck" pumps set a little ways away from the store, so I just pull up to them, swipe my card, fill up, and I'm done and out usually in 5 minutes, or less.
Nobody in this area offers a cash discount that I know of...I'm a member at Sam's Club and the local one has diesel. But, it's all the way across town and usually only a 5 cent advantage over everyone else, so it's not even worth driving clear over there for it.
Nobody in this area offers a cash discount that I know of...I'm a member at Sam's Club and the local one has diesel. But, it's all the way across town and usually only a 5 cent advantage over everyone else, so it's not even worth driving clear over there for it.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 13
From: west plains spokane,wa
A lot of the local grocery chains have their "loyalty" cards and also sell gas/diesel. Using the card gets a 5 cent discount at the pump and you can use debit,credit or cash. All the same price.
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 39
From: EXTREME southwest CT
They're giving you a discount because they have your money in hand to float....
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
These days, there's a couple things that are getting rarer by the day. Common sense and honesty. The days of pump-then-pay are gone forever, with the only real exceptions being small stations that the staff knows you personally, or a small town where everyone knows everyone else.
Common sense says getting gas, and not paying for it is theft. And honesty says that theft isn't right. With both items getting in very short supply, station owners have no choice, really.
Common sense says getting gas, and not paying for it is theft. And honesty says that theft isn't right. With both items getting in very short supply, station owners have no choice, really.
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 4
From: Harrisburg, NE
strange I don't mind at all, and rarely make any impulse buys (400 mile trips are different than 4 mile trips)
in rural nebraska/colorado there are still alot of stations that use the honor system, but I prepay anyways, part of that is because I have had some problems with my dc not scanning, and getting really paranoid about somebody punching the numbers in. but anymore I prepay everywhere I go. I can spare the extra minute to BS with random people (yep, i'm THAT guy) and have no problems walking the little bit extra.
in rural nebraska/colorado there are still alot of stations that use the honor system, but I prepay anyways, part of that is because I have had some problems with my dc not scanning, and getting really paranoid about somebody punching the numbers in. but anymore I prepay everywhere I go. I can spare the extra minute to BS with random people (yep, i'm THAT guy) and have no problems walking the little bit extra.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
Here you have to go pretty far out into the sticks before you can find a non-prepay gas station. They've been prepay for a long, long time. I almost always use my check card to buy gas so I don't worry about it. The few times I've used cash it annoys me having to go into the store twice, so I definitely know where OP is coming from.
As for CC transaction fees, rest assured that the gas station does not pay them - you and I do. That cost of doing business is built right into the price of the product. What irks me is that there are very few gas stations that offer a discount on cash purchases. Instead they just pocket what they would have paid in credit card transaction fees.
As for CC transaction fees, rest assured that the gas station does not pay them - you and I do. That cost of doing business is built right into the price of the product. What irks me is that there are very few gas stations that offer a discount on cash purchases. Instead they just pocket what they would have paid in credit card transaction fees.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,180
Likes: 669
From: Scio, OR
I just filled up today and the guy at the pump said that their credit card at the pump things weren't working very well and asked me to pay inside after he'd pumped it. So I guess they're not too concerned here about getting ripped off.
We have a "loyalty" card type program at the local Safeway grocery store. For every $100 worth of stuff you buy, you get 10 cents per gallon off at the Safeway gas station. The only problem is the nearest Safeway with a gas station is about 150 miles in a direction I never go.
We have a "loyalty" card type program at the local Safeway grocery store. For every $100 worth of stuff you buy, you get 10 cents per gallon off at the Safeway gas station. The only problem is the nearest Safeway with a gas station is about 150 miles in a direction I never go.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 963
Likes: 1
From: wichita kansas
I generally use my credit card because stations started going to pre pay. We have a chain of stores called Quick Trip that offer a free card that allows you to swipe and then come in and pay after filling. Since you have to show ID before getting the card in the first place it is rather painless. Don't know how much the cost is to the store, but it must be a lot cheaper than people running off without paying or going down the street to another store.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,724
Likes: 1
From: Butler, IN
We have a "loyalty" card type program at the local Safeway grocery store. For every $100 worth of stuff you buy, you get 10 cents per gallon off at the Safeway gas station. The only problem is the nearest Safeway with a gas station is about 150 miles in a direction I never go.