Grumbling at franchise gas stations

[Donald]

Around where I live most Exxon gas stations seem to be owned by Pakistani men. The workers are brothers or cousins, etc.

I filled up my pickup in PA at one ($80 in diesel) and went inside to use the bathroom and both men's and women's were out of order with a sign on the door. I walked by the guy behind the counter and said "no bathroom" his reaction was that there were no bathrooms and he did not care. I would guess they have been out of order for awhile and he does not want to pay to have them fixed.

Went to another one in MD and after the screen told me to remove my credit card the screen went all blue. Waited and nothing on the screen to "begin fueling" or "select fuel". Just a blue screen. Went inside and told the guy it was not working and he said it was and I should just start pumping. I pressed CANCEL and went through it again and same thing. Guy came out of the station far enough to say "just begin fueling". I did and it worked. After I was done I replaced the nozzle and screen stayed all blue and then displayed the welcome logo. No msg about printing receipt. I had tried to tell him his pump was not working and he could not be bothered to come all the way out to see what I was trying to tell him.

Now we also have Royal Farms that I believe are all company owned and they are a clean and friendly place to stop at. I fill wife's car there.

I do try and buy all diesel at an ExxonMobil gas station as I think the diesel fuel is the best.

 

[Chris142]

Customers tear up the restrooms so they put a sign on them saying out of order as to not have to deal with the mess.

Can't comment on the blue screen. As far as fuel quality imo it's all the same.

 

[Blagoje]

I think I mainly go to truck stops like road ranger and grocery store gas stations like Meijer and maybe Kroger on occasion.

 

[Boomer]

Now you know one reason why Buc-ees is so successful!

 

[SC Maintenance]

There are a few places like that here. I suspect the original owners have retired and given the transition to these newer full service stops like Wawa or Sheetz they struggle.

My formerly favorite station - a P66 store where the owner or his wife was almost always there used to serve fried chicken at lunch, and I used to take the kids for their huge selection of ice cream novelties. There is no more fried chicken, not much ice cream either. There is an entire isle of vapes now.

 

[jjfw]

There are a few places like that here. I suspect the original owners have retired and given the transition to these newer full service stops like Wawa or Sheetz they struggle.

My formerly favorite station - a P66 store where the owner or his wife was almost always there used to serve fried chicken at lunch, and I used to take the kids for their huge selection of ice cream novelties. There is no more fried chicken, not much ice cream either. There is an entire isle of vapes now.

Or water pipes (bongs).

 

[slo town]

My second "corporate job" was pumping gas at a Texaco station back in the full service days. We even checked tire pressures if asked.

Part of that job was to clean the restrooms. The men's restrooms always remained clean and needed nothing. The women's bathroom was disgusting - total slobs. That was a learning moment for me at age 17.

Scott

Edit: As an aside, many years ago I was out bicycling with 3 or 4 of my good riding buddies. We stopped at a Chevron station to take a pee. I was the last one of the group to use the bathroom. When I walked out there was a woman standing there with a "militant" female attitude. As I walked out she rudely said "I hope you put the toilet seat down." I replied "Why would I do that? I'm not going to touch that effing toilet seat. I left it down and pee'd right through it." (the toilet seat was up when I went in and I left it up). We could see her anger go full boil in an instant so all of us laughed at her out loud, just to rub it in and toy with her lousy attitude. In hindsight I wish I "dropped a bomb" and hadn't even flushed it. What a miserable piece of work she was.

 

[Donald]

There are a few places like that here. I suspect the original owners have retired and given the transition to these newer full service stops like Wawa or Sheetz they struggle.

My formerly favorite station - a P66 store where the owner or his wife was almost always there used to serve fried chicken at lunch, and I used to take the kids for their huge selection of ice cream novelties. There is no more fried chicken, not much ice cream either. There is an entire isle of vapes now.

I don't know what people see in vaping. Or smoking. If I am going to do something a little unhealthy I would rather eat a warm oatmeal raisin cookie or a slice of carrot cake. Maybe pecan pie.

 

[4wd]

There are a couple of CS’s that I avoid after guys like him buy them.
Other than fuel - I tend to use dollar stores as CS’s - better price and selection …

 

[4wd]

Maybe pecan pie with Blue Bell ice cream

FIFY

 

[KCJeep]

My second "corporate job" was pumping gas at a Texaco station back in the full service days. We even checked tire pressures if asked.

Part of that job was to clean the restrooms. The men's restrooms always remained clean and needed nothing. The women's bathroom was disgusting - total slobs. That was a learning moment for me at age 17.

Scott

Edit: As an aside, many years ago I was out bicycling with 3 or 4 of my good riding buddies. We stopped at a Chevron station to take a pee. I was the last one of the group to use the bathroom. When I walked out there was a woman standing there with a "militant" female attitude. As I walked out she rudely said "I hope you put the toilet seat down." I replied "Why would I do that? I'm not going to touch that effing toilet seat. I left it down and pee'd right through it." (the toilet seat was up when I went in and I left it up). We could see her anger go full boil in an instant so all of us laughed at her out loud, just to rub it in and toy with her lousy attitude. In hindsight I wish I "dropped a bomb" and hadn't even flushed it. What a miserable piece of work she was.

I had the same experience as a young man. As a busboy at a local cafe I was also tasked with cleaning the public bathrooms. The ladies was always far worse, I won’t go into details but ugh.

Gas stations are a pet peeve of mine. How hard is it to keep a clean lot and store, pumps that work and stock the windshield wash with a working squeegee?

 

[The_Jeff]

I had a half dead credit card interface but the clerk inside assured me it would go through. Basically it said "swipe card" then nothing else happened but the pump was "on." I was mostly concerned that I might be considered stealing gas. Everything worked out.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I don't know what people see in vaping. Or smoking. If I am going to do something a little unhealthy I would rather eat a warm oatmeal raisin cookie or a slice of carrot cake. Maybe pecan pie.

Yes, well people eat too much and get fat, don't exercise, or drink, or do drugs. Its there choice.

I would much rather they vape than earlier generations that smoked and we all breathed the second hand.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Around me there are similar chains that seem to be indian(from india) or foreign owned.

They use snap benefits from their massive combined families
to stock up their gas station.

I was a meijer shopping for the a relative .. they had a 1$ 2 liter sale..
should have seen the people(all similar appearance) wheeling out full carts of them.
I don't doubt a bunch were going straight to the gas station shelf.

Wow. I would have never connected those dots - thank you.

 

[shortyb]

Been to some real winners over the years, but have different experience with the local ones. There are now 5 stations near me that "compete" for business, so it comes down to how customers are treated and if the bathrooms are clean (as well as the rest of the store) Fortunately, since all are so competitive, the restrooms and store areas are always clean and stocked. Every store also have friendly, attentive staff as well. Even the food at the ones that serve it is fresh. The 2 QTS put out new squeegees every month. Surprised the rednecks don't steal them .

 

[4wd]

Wow. I would have never connected those dots - thank you.

I’m pretty sure that’s the same dozen that pre-boarded DFW-DOH in wheelchairs - but only 2 got in them when we landed …

 

[SC Maintenance]

Been to some real winners over the years, but have different experience with the local ones. There are now 5 stations near me that "compete" for business, so it comes down to how customers are treated and if the bathrooms are clean (as well as the rest of the store) Fortunately, since all are so competitive, the restrooms and store areas are always clean and stocked. Every store also have friendly, attentive staff as well. Even the food at the ones that serve it is fresh. The 2 QTS put out new squeegees every month. Surprised the rednecks don't steal them .

Are these indy's, or chains?

The corporate chains here - Parkers and Refuel are very nice.

I really like the QT's in your corner of SC. None here yet, but one made it to Watlerboro so maybe soon?

 

[The_Jeff]

Are these indy's, or chains?

The corporate chains here - Parkers and Refuel are very nice.

I really like the QT's in your corner of SC. None here yet, but one made it to Watlerboro so maybe soon?

I suspect it's more of an affiliate licensing arrangement, the station owner owns the land and licenses the brand name. Unsure of who owns the fuel tanks, some oil companies demand they do.

 

[Pablo]

I thought the title was GAMBLING at gas stations. Bring it on!

 

[shortyb]

Are these indy's, or chains?

The corporate chains here - Parkers and Refuel are very nice.

I really like the QT's in your corner of SC. None here yet, but one made it to Watlerboro so maybe soon?

2 indies, well, CORPORATE idies, ie; Spinx, which are Mainly SC only. The Spinx Corporation owns the real estate and all of the equipment so they are independent of any branded oil/gas corporation. They buy all their fuel on wholesale/spot so have no fuel contracts with any major brands, Stewart Spinx is a pretty shrewd businessman. The others are 2 QTs, and a new Murphys USA.