Some Oregonians are now allowed to pump their own fuel

[Honair]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

But Wisconsin (along with most other states) was offered a choice. They voted with their feet and moved over to the self service pumps, like they did everywhere else. So, stations abandoned full service for the most part because there was no market. If the market was there, you'd have more full service stations. Creating a market and keeping it in business under penalty of law is - how do I put this kindly - unnecessary.

Yup.... in the free market.... people choose to save cents a gallon by pumping themselves and the full service went away.

[Honair]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

In the meantime, come and visit in one of the most beautiful states in the country. You can keep your hands clean while you're here

YES we will!!!!

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

...I do know in Florida at many stations there are signs that state if you have a physical impairment they will pump your fuel for you. That may be required by the ADA; perhaps someone else familiar with the ADA can clarify

Fueling up a car/truck is really a pretty simple task. It does not give me a lot of confidence regarding someone's driving abilities if they have a physical impairment that would not allow them to refuel their tank, but are still out their driving on the roads. Maybe the trend towards driverless cars is a good thing.

[Ruthe]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I can't even remember the last time I experienced this or saw it happen to someone else, but readily admit I have a narrow point of view. I usually purchase fuel at the same service station, close to my house and have for 20+ years. Most people either pay with a card or cash... and say $20 or $30 dollars worth, rather than fill-it-up. And with a fill the card doesn't care. If it's an odd amount of money, ($29.41), rounding just helps the attendant from handing back a bunch of pennies. Alright Canadian's... let us have it about THIS.

Part of the big trip I'll be making this summer is seeing the wonderment and differences in people, experiences and laws. Wonder if I can fuel-up in New Jersey and make it back to Oregon??

Donna, Why don't you start a new thread and tell us about the trip you're planning? I'd love to hear about it.

[floorpanel]

Okay, someone with more economic sense than me explain how it is the same price whether you pump your own gas or have a $20.00 per hour attendant pump it.

[Ray B.]

When I first went to Oregon last fall, I jumped out of my truck to fill the tank. An attendant came out and said that I couldn't do it myself which surprised me. I quickly learned the law of the land and just went inside to use the washroom or buy snacks.

My preference is to pump the gas myself. That way there is no overfill or spillage and the gas cap is always on correctly. In Ontario there are stations that still offer full service but in some places it seems to be a matter of pride for the attendant to put that extra dollars worth of gas into the tank. My son worked pumping gas at one of these stations. It was a good first job for him but he told me of two instances where the wrong fuel was put into the vehicle (diesel or gasoline). It certainly caused a lot of grief for those owners.

I prefer to pump my own gas.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Ruthe

Donna, Why don't you start a new thread and tell us about the trip you're planning? I'd love to hear about it.

ooooh, that would be fun! I'll get something going the end of the month or first of February. Right now, there's not enough known to make it interesting. The only thing I absolutely know is I'm going to be in Winnipeg for the http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f1...come-8766.html

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

(snip)
In the meantime, come and visit in one of the most beautiful states in the country. You can keep your hands clean while you're here

I've pulled into some places with the truck and trailer and I've had to pump my own gas in Oregon. Other places it's been done for me. I think it has to do with which type of filling area you're in. When I did it myself it was in an area set aside for RVs (one was RVs and semis combined). I was kind of surprised at the RV only spot (they had a different area for semis) that I had to do it myself. Figured there was some law exempting it.

[Patandlinda]

When we need gas besides the better prices in Oregon , we really appreciate someone will clean the windshield . Our truck is a bit high and we need to pull out a step to clean it ourshelves . So nice to have it done for us . Pat

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Kent

Yeah I know anyting to show off my cars!

Cheers!

Yup, you're truly shameless. Like I'd let anyone fill my little car and risk fuel spilled on the rear boot cover or the interior.

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

If the customer were to be paying with Canadian currency.?

With the greatest respect may I offer the observation that going to another country and using your home currency seems to be an American thing. Most Canadians don't expect to use Canadian currency south of the border except in border shopping malls.

Ron

[Ron in BC]

Opps, no photo

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

With the greatest respect may I offer the observation that going to another country and using your home currency seems to be an American thing. Most Canadians don't expect to use Canadian currency south of the border except in border shopping malls.

Ron

I think it has more to do with the strength of the currency rather than just being an American thing. I don't know anyplace in Portland where I can spend any Canadian money, including coins. It's because of the money value. But boy, when I was in Canada, everywhere I went they wanted US money... but often didn't give any exchange. Just a US dollar for a Canadian dollar product or service. Canadian's won! And that was fine. I budget based on my home currency. If I wanted the $46 sweatshirt, I wasn't going to quibble over the exchange rate. I didn't go to Canada to save money, but to have fun! And at that point who wants to worry about getting too much or too little and carry around a calculator. But boy, those Canadian coins were heavy in my pocket because I always got change back in Canadian money.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

Not sure if you are referring to Canadians no longer having pennies, but rounding up to avoid handing back pennies would be further complicated by any existing exchange rate. It would be unlikely that a gas pump attendant would know when to stop the pump to get a nice round figure if the customer were to be paying with Canadian currency. And I think we can be sure that with the favorable exchange rate currently on the south side of the border, the gas retailers will want any calculations accurate so that they get every last penny.

And jokingly Donna, don’t think you are going to make it from NJ to OR on a tankful.......unless you are towing it with a 757!

Unfortunately, if an Oregon resident ventures outside of their home State, they are just going to have to get out of the vehicle and pump their own fuel like they do in 95.8% of the rest of the country (and all of Canada). I do know in Florida at many stations there are signs that state if you have a physical impairment they will pump your fuel for you. That may be required by the ADA; perhaps someone else familiar with the ADA can clarify

NY goes one step further. Most pumps have a button to push to request an attendant. Technically, they are suppose to come out & fill your tank, ADA physical impairment or not. I've never tried it, but have a friend that has difficulty getting in & out of her vehicle (no mirror or plate ADA ID). She says, depending on the station, she sometimes has to wait a long time, but eventually someone comes & pumps her gas.

[wetzk]

Originally Posted by floorpanel

Okay, someone with more economic sense than me explain how it is the same price whether you pump your own gas or have a $20.00 per hour attendant pump it.

For the same reason it's the same price cash or credit. Visa credit is 1.51% + .10 cents per transaction surcharge so you would think the cash would be cheaper at all stations. Same with everywhere else. Pay cash, the store thanks you I guess.

[steve dunham]

The gas station in our area charges "X" per gallon of fuel if you pay with CASH the price is X - 5 cents. Credit cards are not free to the merchant. Many of the businesses in our small town give a discount for cash . Possibly because some of the cash goes in the till and some goes directly in the pocket.

[Greg A]

As far as I've encountered "cash discounts" pass muster, but we've run into some businesses that try and add a "surcharge" if you use a ccard. That is usually a violation of the contract they sign with the providers and if you report it to V, M or AE you'll find the surcharge practice is discontinued at that business going forward.
I don't recall that when we've been in OR in the past anyone pumped our gas, maybe we just hit the wrong towns or service stations.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I think it has more to do with the strength of the currency rather than just being an American thing.

Uh-oh, I've got to respectfully disagree with you. (Again ) As a veteran hard core international traveler that's not my view. We've been in more than a dozen countries in Europe and Central America in the past 2 months. We spent Euros, specific non-EU countries currencies and good old US bucks. Not one loonie.

It's my observation that Americans are more likely to expect that their greenbacks are welcome anywhere in the world. Well they are, just don't be surprised that the answer to "how much is that in American dollars?" calculates out to more than you'd pay in local currency.

Ron

[santacruzer]

A couple of months ago I was filling up at a Rotten Robbie in town when three young girls in a small compact car pulled in for gas just across from me, giggling and laughing with the music loud. They first of all had a great deal of difficulty with the credit card process. Eventually conquering that, the one doing most of the work asked the others, "It's the green hose, right?" as she pushed the button and stuck the nozzle into the tank. I probably should have let them learn their lesson the hard way, but I hastily pointed out that the green hose was diesel fuel, not gasoline, and they'd be well advised to start the process all over.

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by santacruzer

A couple of months ago I was filling up at a Rotten Robbie in town when three young girls in a small compact car pulled in for gas just across from me, giggling and laughing with the music loud. They first of all had a great deal of difficulty with the credit card process. Eventually conquering that, the one doing most of the work asked the others, "It's the green hose, right?" as she pushed the button and stuck the nozzle into the tank. I probably should have let them learn their lesson the hard way, but I hastily pointed out that the green hose was diesel fuel, not gasoline, and they'd be well advised to start the process all over.

Like This?

[Jim Bennett]

Diesel pump handles are yellow here. Same as diesel fuel cans.