Our First visit to Buc-ees

I'm in southern California and unfortunately the closest buc ees is in tx.
Like I told you in a different Buckee's related thread come next year you will be 340 miles from one when it opens here in AZ.

I am sure at some point I will check it out.
 
In my neck of the woods, there were a number of Mobil stations with a "Bucky's" convenience store. Not affiliated in any way. I think they've all been converted to Casey's now.
Many in the early days sold Exxon here - but now have their own gas …
 
That's the same one I showed 😂 I Googled which ones were non-huge and that's the first one mentioned.
Fished Lavaca Bay many times - but now I’m thinking where the next small one may be. Angleton or Eagle Lake … ?
Wharton is a bigger store …
 
Many in the early days sold Exxon here - but now have their own gas …
Yup, most likely like Sheetz and most other convience stores (exception: Rutters) they sell gas that meets minimum Government Mandated Standards for detergents.
First, I don't like crowds
Second, I usually use only Toptier fuels
Third, I prefer sitting down and enjoying a meal, having some "down" time.
Fourth, I can usually find clean restrooms at Cracker Barrel, Perkins or most national chain restaurants.
Fifth, I'm not a souvenir buyer
Generally I use only ExxonMobil, Shell or Sunoco cards to buy gas as i get discounts with them. I never buy gas with credit or debit cards, they get skimmed regularly here in Pennsylvania. I'll use cash elsewhere.
Sorry, don't find Buckee's attractive, but to each their own.
 
Speedy3861 beat me to it.

I like driving and I've read these Buc-Kee's posts. I don't care if I have the name right. It's kind of an 'over-genericized' sounding name.
I read many gas pumps and charging stations = COOL
I read clean rest rooms = VERY COOL
I rejoice at the publicized competitive pay rates...if they're true and honest, as in 'absent prolonged probation periods', etc.
I see tee-shirts and plush toys = MICSYDN (Made In China Stuff You Don't Need) = garbage for undiscriminating people.
I read long lines inside = May I buy gas and just pay and go? Does this vary by hour?
I read mediocre brisket sandwiches = At least they have that...See, I'm a sport
Other food offerings are a complete NO GO right out of the box. Can you say, "preservatives and artificial color?

How the charging stations are managed might be THE pivotal point.
I can not fathom the excitement.
 
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you're excited and interested.
Nope.
I'm a BITOGer. my fellow BITOGers are describing something seemingly addictive.

I'll be blunt and illustrative.
I can grow up seeing pictures of the Grand Canyon and be "excited and interested" about it AND GO LOOK AT IT (which I've done).
I can read threads and wonder what shallow depths SOME OF my fellow American consumers find interesting in big soda pop stores which purvey commercially processed meat. And I can drive by one and even go into one and NOT reach the common -perhaps hypnotic- tipping point to which you allude so condescendingly.

Hey, I'm still wondering how my fellow Americans decided they wanted 1958 cars with all their disgusting chrome.

In short, there's an element of judgementalism absent when people worship big, gosh gas stations.
 
I read long lines inside = May I buy gas and just pay and go? Does this vary by hour?
Yes, the lines are long at peak hours, but they usually have several registers open so the lines move fairly quickly. I often just go inside to empty my bladder, grab a fountain drink and something to snack on while driving as I do a lot of night travel.
 
Please explain. Tourist trap? ...like South of the Border or Wall Drug for cross country travelers?
Actually South of the Border was the first thing I thought of the first time I walked into a Buc-ees. Only much cleaner and under one roof.

Fun fact - former fed Chairman Ben Bernanke worked at South of the Border as a kid. He grew up in rural South Carolina.
 
I visited I think 3 buc-ees in my travels. I likely won't be back. Just too crowded and takes too long to get in and out.

I didn't find the food so great either. Maybe I set too high expectations based on the hype. QT has the best gas station grub IMHO - but I haven't had the chance to try WaWa yet.

I like that they pay their staff well, so if others are willing to take the time to shop there it works for me.
They pay well, yes , this here is proof positive that a business can pay well and succeed, but most don't pay ****
 
Speedy3861 beat me to it.

I like driving and I've read these Buc-Kee's posts. I don't care if I have the name right. It's kind of an 'over-genericized' sounding name.
I read many gas pumps and charging stations = COOL
I read clean rest rooms = VERY COOL
I rejoice at the publicized competitive pay rates...if they're true and honest, as in 'absent prolonged probation periods', etc.
I see tee-shirts and plush toys = MICSYDN (Made In China Stuff You Don't Need) = garbage for undiscriminating people.
I read long lines inside = May I buy gas and just pay and go? Does this vary by hour?
I read mediocre brisket sandwiches = At least they have that...See, I'm a sport
Other food offerings are a complete NO GO right out of the box. Can you say, "preservatives and artificial color?

How the charging stations are managed might be THE pivotal point.
I can not fathom the excitement.
I'll say this ,they check you out quick
I've been to regular stations where it takes 20 minutes to get checked out , annoying as hell
Long lines , slow cashiers only one cashier.....
 
Nope.
I'm a BITOGer. my fellow BITOGers are describing something seemingly addictive.

I'll be blunt and illustrative.
In short, there's an element of judgementalism absent when people worship big, gosh gas stations.
Think you won top weird message - regardless, the guy who’s nickname adorns these stores will die a billionaire …
 
I think maybe 10 years ago Pilot / Flying J were spotless, had food to go, and were a good place to stop - not just truckers. Somehow in the pandemic they went way downhill. So its not surprising that Buc-ees is popular in these regards, those attributes are definitely lacking.
 
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