After the past few hurricanes this fall, the media starts a feeding frenzy by reporting that gas prices will be going up again. This causes panic and everybody breaks their necks to go fill up. We hear news reports of people driving off without paying, but I'm surprised we haven't heard about people getting into fights at the pumps over over people not following proper gas pump ettiquite. Here's a few things we need to be aware of to make our gas pump experience a pleasant one.
1. Make sure you know what side of the car your gas tank cap is on. I'm first to admit I have to think for a second when I pull up to the pump; the Blazer's gas cap is on the driver's side, and the BMW's is on the passenger side. I'm not ashamed to say that a time or two, I've had to circle back around the gas station because I pulled up to the pump only to find my gas cap was on the other side. I really get discombobulated when I take the 'rent's Odyessy - it's gas cap is in the rear. Please rest assured that this does not happen often. The gas stations are usually packed these days, and I have ample time to assess where my gas cap is.
2. Please be kind to everybody else and pull up to the farthest gas pump. Don't pull in to the first pump you come to and get out and start to pump your gas. It really hacks everybody else off when they can't get to the vacant pump in the front because you weren't considerate and got the gas from the most conveineint pump. This morning, we had to wait 7 minutes to get our gas at Speedway because a hoopty full of PATs stopped at the middle pump instead of pulling on through. They had to get $3 worth of gas, which didn't take long, plus put a bottle of something in the engine. It was interesting to note that this car didn't have a hood, and the driver's door didn't open so the driver had to get in the car like Bo and Luke Duke.
3. If you're going to pay for your gas at the pump, please make sure you know how to use the pay-at-the-pump feature with your credit or debit card. OK - I'll come out and say it: please make sure you know how to properly insert your credit/debit card. You have no idea how frustrating this is to those of us waiting behind you. (In an unrelated matter, this also goes for those using anATM machine.) If you don't know how to use your credit/debit card at the gas pump, maybe you don't need to have one in the first place.
3 comments:
Please allow me the opportunity to expand upon number 3--pay at the pump. This could also apply at the drive-thru ATM and teller. Upon receiving your receipts/cash, please pull up one car length and then resume sorting, cleaning and storing your receipts in your purse or wallet. It is frustrating to be behind someone stalled at the ATM sorting through their purse or wallet when experienced people like us could perform the needed ATM transaction in the time it takes the previous ATM user to store his or her receipts.
Oh my heavens yes, MP - that is even more frustrating than the people that don't know how to use an ATM. Incidentally, next week an ATM will be installed inside Zoeller Company. It will be installed just a few feet from our cubicle. We won't have any confused drivers to deal with as we wait in line for our turn, I'm sure the antics around it will make for some interesting journal entries in the future.
It's always interesting when there's a dispute about which way the traffic flow should proceed through the pump line. You'll have two or three cars in line to approach the pump and someone comes in from the other entrance and sits waiting for someone to leave the pump. There is inevitably a stand off when the first car leaves the pump. The car behind it usually tries to whip in to position while the car who comes in from the other direction tries the same.
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