Tipping Gas Attendents

[hbelkins]

I'd be hard-pressed to identify a full-serve station in my area. There may still be one or two in Lexington, but I don't know where they are.

Full-serve stations existed around here into the late 80s. I stopped using them when a self-serve option was available simply because the gas was usually cheaper.

As late as the mid-1990s Swifty stations in Kentucky had a full-serve or self-serve option, and the prices were the same. I often used the Swifty on US 60 (Versailles Road) when I filled up.

I never tipped a pump jockey, even back then. My thought was they were being paid to provide that service.

I still maintain that tips should be a reward for extraordinary service, not an expected financial benefit as part of the job. As such, i try to avoid most places other than restaurants where tipping is commonplace. My wife cuts my hair, I don't use valet parking or hotel concierge/bellhop services, etc.

[Rothman]

I'd be hard-pressed to identify a full-serve station in my area. There may still be one or two in Lexington, but I don't know where they are.

Full-serve stations existed around here into the late 80s. I stopped using them when a self-serve option was available simply because the gas was usually cheaper.

As late as the mid-1990s Swifty stations in Kentucky had a full-serve or self-serve option, and the prices were the same. I often used the Swifty on US 60 (Versailles Road) when I filled up.

I never tipped a pump jockey, even back then. My thought was they were being paid to provide that service.

I still maintain that tips should be a reward for extraordinary service, not an expected financial benefit as part of the job. As such, i try to avoid most places other than restaurants where tipping is commonplace. My wife cuts my hair, I don't use valet parking or hotel concierge/bellhop services, etc.

HB is Mr. Pink.

[jeffandnicole]

I don't think any NJ resident tips a gas attendant. I have read out of staters have tipped, often because they're not expecting to be served in NJ so they feel compelled to tip.

One reason I don't like stopping for gas in New Jersey is that I've observed that gas station attendants will just let the gas cap dangle so that it bangs against the side of the car instead of hanging it from the fuel-filler door.

Yeah, this is an issue, and some attendants are worse than others.

[hotdogPi]

Are there really places where full serve doesn't exist? Here, about 1/4-1/3 of stations are full serve.

[Rothman]

Are there really places where full serve doesn't exist? Here, about 1/4-1/3 of stations are full serve.

Very rare in NY and MA.  Can't remember the last station I stopped at in the Northeast that had a full service option at all.

[1995hoo]

Are there really places where full serve doesn't exist? Here, about 1/4-1/3 of stations are full serve.

Around here, I don't remember any full-serve-only stations for as long as I can remember, though some may have existed in the 1970s. Once upon a time, at least into the early 1990s, many stations had one or two full-serve pumps (for which they charged more) and the rest were self-serve, but very few people used the full-serve pumps and I'm not aware of any stations that offer it anymore. There is a provision for staff to help handicapped drivers who need assistance, as described on a sticker on the pump somewhere.

My parents used to talk about how all their friends ridiculed them during my father's law school years in Charlottesville–they went to a self-serve gas station that was substantially cheaper than the full-serve ones everyone else used. That was before I was born. Their friends couldn't believe anyone would pump his own gas.

[US 89]

Are there really places where full serve doesn't exist? Here, about 1/4-1/3 of stations are full serve.

Absolutely. I can think of one station in all of Utah that I've ever seen full serve at, and it's just a couple pumps physically separate from the rest of the station. I have never seen a full-serve-only station outside of a state that requires that.

[abefroman329]

I'd be hard-pressed to identify a full-serve station in my area. There may still be one or two in Lexington, but I don't know where they are.

Full-serve stations existed around here into the late 80s. I stopped using them when a self-serve option was available simply because the gas was usually cheaper.

As late as the mid-1990s Swifty stations in Kentucky had a full-serve or self-serve option, and the prices were the same. I often used the Swifty on US 60 (Versailles Road) when I filled up.

I never tipped a pump jockey, even back then. My thought was they were being paid to provide that service.

I still maintain that tips should be a reward for extraordinary service, not an expected financial benefit as part of the job. As such, i try to avoid most places other than restaurants where tipping is commonplace. My wife cuts my hair, I don't use valet parking or hotel concierge/bellhop services, etc.

HB is Mr. Pink.

With a pinch of Mr. Underhill, methinks.

[1995hoo]

Are there really places where full serve doesn't exist? Here, about 1/4-1/3 of stations are full serve.

Absolutely. I can think of one station in all of Utah that I've ever seen full serve at, and it's just a couple pumps physically separate from the rest of the station. I have never seen a full-serve-only station outside of a state that requires that.

I saw such one time, and it was in Pennsylvania just across the river from Trenton, so I figured they were catering to Jersey drivers (though I didn't understand why someone would pay Pennsylvania's higher gas tax other than when absolutely necessary).

That's not counting in Mexico, of course.

[hotdogPi]

As I said, we get them here. Now that I think about it, it's probably more like 1/10, not 1/3-1/4, but that's still a significant number out of hundreds.


https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7261598,-71.1507525,3a,68.7y,269.33h,85.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRZwwbd7_UuQzgcQKxeArCg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5961182,-70.9925112,3a,75y,280.42h,77.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sn223MapGp9IuRa4jRkaFhw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

I believe this one is, although I'm not seeing any signs for it.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5602907,-71.1066504,3a,62.7y,203.24h,84.57t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1simdgFsoWBUtoJEZHt9DKqw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DimdgFsoWBUtoJEZHt9DKqw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D95.016426%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Optional for an additional cost (top row/bottom row is a 4¢ cash/credit difference; front pump/back pump is a 10¢ self/full difference)
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7416562,-71.1682178,3a,24.8y,61.37h,89.13t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s6HpVlKPOnHCbfqmkfOJJLA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D6HpVlKPOnHCbfqmkfOJJLA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D21.23158%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

[Rothman]

As I said, we get them here. Now that I think about it, it's probably more like 1/10, not 1/3-1/4, but that's still a significant number out of hundreds.


https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7261598,-71.1507525,3a,68.7y,269.33h,85.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRZwwbd7_UuQzgcQKxeArCg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5961182,-70.9925112,3a,75y,280.42h,77.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sn223MapGp9IuRa4jRkaFhw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

I believe this one is, although I'm not seeing any signs for it.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5602907,-71.1066504,3a,62.7y,203.24h,84.57t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1simdgFsoWBUtoJEZHt9DKqw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DimdgFsoWBUtoJEZHt9DKqw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D95.016426%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Optional for an additional cost (top row/bottom row is a 4¢ cash/credit difference; front pump/back pump is a 10¢ self/full difference)
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7416562,-71.1682178,3a,24.8y,61.37h,89.13t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s6HpVlKPOnHCbfqmkfOJJLA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D6HpVlKPOnHCbfqmkfOJJLA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D21.23158%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Interesting.  Now find full serve in western MA for me.

[kphoger]

I have never seen a full-serve-only station outside of a state that requires that.

I think (but am not 100% certain) that Beards 66 here in Wichita has full-serve-only gas pumps.  But the reason I'm not 100% certain is that I've never seen anybody getting gas there, and I'm pretty sure the reason for that is that it's really a mechanic's shop that also happens to have gas pumps outside.

[JayhawkCO]

I only know of one location that has full service out here, but as you can see, they also have self serve (and some of the highest prices around for gas, too).

[US 89]

The only full-serve pumps I know of in Utah are these two pumps in Bountiful. The rest of the station has 14+ self-serve pumps and also known for some of the highest gas prices in town. I used to go there every so often because you could get a code for a $4 automatic car wash with a fuel purchase of over $5, but those prices both went up and it is now no longer worth it.

Fun fact: that's one of the only stations I can think of with above ground fuel storage tanks (better view from the back, and from 2016 when there were a lot more of them). It also at one time was supposedly the largest in the world with 43 pumps (source).

[SP Cook]

- I know of exactly two full-service stations near me.  One each in the richest neighborhood of Charleston and Huntington.  Frequented by little old ladies, mostly.  They charge about $2 over the going rate/gallon for the privilege.

- I have never used a full-service station outside a few trips to NJ.  Usually tipped the guy, didn't really know what was the custom.

- As I just pay for darn near everything with cards these days, I never break the $20s that most ATMs dispense, and thus get caught with no small bills.  Recently my bank (Huntington) got new ATMs that will dispense any bill they make (except $2s of course) from $1 to $50.  Very handy. 

- OT.  Said ATMs give you a choice of three languages.  English, Spanish and Somali.  Somali?  In my area, the #3 language would probably be Japanese (Toyota has a big plant as does NGK) or Levantine Arabic (significant Orthodox Christian Arab community) or maybe Mandarin.  I never met anybody who speaks Somali.   Wikipedia says there are less than 150K in the country.  Weird.

[JayhawkCO]

Huge Somali population in the Twin Cities.

[kphoger]

The only time I've pulled up to  a full-service gas pump in the USA was somewhere near the Missouri-Illinois state line on US-54, after dark, during a snowstorm.  I didn't notice that the pump was full-service.  Then the attendant, all bundled up, came out into the blustery weather to serve me.  Only then did I realize my error, told him to never mind, moved to a different pump, and dispensed my own gas.  Afterward, I felt kind of bad for the guy.  But looking back now, I'm guessing that sort of error probably happened all the time.

[kphoger]

Recently my bank (Huntington) got new ATMs that will dispense any bill they make (except $2s of course) from $1 to $50.

Why is it "of course" that an ATM wouldn't dispense $2 bills?  If they make ATMs with slots for ones and fives, then why can't they make them with slots for twos?

[1995hoo]

....

- As I just pay for darn near everything with cards these days, I never break the $20s that most ATMs dispense, and thus get caught with no small bills.  Recently my bank (Huntington) got new ATMs that will dispense any bill they make (except $2s of course) from $1 to $50.  Very handy. 

....

The Citibank ATMs in downtown DC used to dispense $20s and $50s (may still do so, I don't know). I once owed a colleague $50 after a group of us took our secretaries out to lunch for Secretaries Day, but all I had was a $100. He didn't have change, "but I wouldn't want a $100 bill anyway." So as a bit of a way of giving him the middle finger, I went to Citibank to get some cash and I made sure to get enough for it to give me two $50s. He was not too pleased when I gave him one, but he accepted it. Back then, the ATM didn't let you choose your denominations. The Bank of America nearest to our neighborhood now does let you choose, which is nice for things like going to the barbershop because you can get smaller bills for tipping. (I'm not sure what exactly it dispenses other than I know it offers $100s, $20s, and $10s.)

[oscar]

Fun fact: that's one of the only stations I can think of with above ground fuel storage tanks (better view from the back, and from 2016 when there were a lot more of them).

Very common in the Arctic, where permafrost can preclude underground fuel (or most anything else) storage. Obviously doesn't explain the station in Utah.

[abefroman329]

....

- As I just pay for darn near everything with cards these days, I never break the $20s that most ATMs dispense, and thus get caught with no small bills.  Recently my bank (Huntington) got new ATMs that will dispense any bill they make (except $2s of course) from $1 to $50.  Very handy. 

....

The Citibank ATMs in downtown DC used to dispense $20s and $50s (may still do so, I don't know). I once owed a colleague $50 after a group of us took our secretaries out to lunch for Secretaries Day, but all I had was a $100. He didn't have change, "but I wouldn't want a $100 bill anyway." So as a bit of a way of giving him the middle finger, I went to Citibank to get some cash and I made sure to get enough for it to give me two $50s. He was not too pleased when I gave him one, but he accepted it. Back then, the ATM didn't let you choose your denominations. The Bank of America nearest to our neighborhood now does let you choose, which is nice for things like going to the barbershop because you can get smaller bills for tipping. (I'm not sure what exactly it dispenses other than I know it offers $100s, $20s, and $10s.)

Some BofA ATMs dispense $5 - I only know this because I participate in focus groups for extra cash, and one of the companies used to give the honorarium as a BofA Visa gift card that you could take to BofA ATM and exchange it for cash - but the honorarium was frequently in multiples of $25.

[epzik8]

I've never gotten gas in New Jersey or Oregon. I have strenously avoided filling up on the New Jersey Turnpike.

[Scott5114]

Are there really places where full serve doesn't exist? Here, about 1/4-1/3 of stations are full serve.

I've never seen one in person.

[Scott5114]

Recently my bank (Huntington) got new ATMs that will dispense any bill they make (except $2s of course) from $1 to $50.

Why is it "of course" that an ATM wouldn't dispense $2 bills?  If they make ATMs with slots for ones and fives, then why can't they make them with slots for twos?

There's no technical reason they couldn't do so, but it requires adding a seventh bill cassette and transport mechanism to pull bills out of it. That's an added expense that presumably most ATM operators wouldn't want to spring for, especially for how rarely people would get out amounts that aren't divisible by $5.

At the casino, we had six-cassette ATMs, but instead of $10s and $50s, those cassette slots were configured to dispense $20s and $100s respectively, so that the machine could hold double the amount of those denominations and thus would require service less often. This meant it was impossible to find $10s anywhere in the facility, which would occasionally make people irate. (Why couldn't they get $10s from the cashiers? Because the cashiers got their money out of what is essentially a bi-directional ATM as well.)

[Bruce]

I've had to get gas in Oregon a few times in the past year and split the difference between full service and self service zones. The Costcos are the fastest of the full service places I used, but not by a lot.

The only self service station in my home area is at a car wash that also has a few pumps for gas that no one seems to use.