Have You Ever Wondered ......

George Grand

... what gas station attendants think when they stop in Dunkin' Donuts and see a tip jar overflowing with bills? I do.

In order to put this in proper perspective, New Jersey mandates that a gas station attendant is the only operator of the gas pump. You cannot legally service your own vehicle.

Knucklehead

Im assuming you still cant pump your own gas in Jersey?

George Grand

Correct. Hi Russ! Love ya Cutes!

Knucklehead

I remember several years ago my oldest Son was playing AAU basketball, we were at a tourney up in NJ, I stopped at a local station to pump some gas and the guy comes running out to me telling me to stop....I was like WTF? After a friendly chat, i promptly tipped the poor guy $5.

packetjones

I have never heard of this... Is there any reason that this law is in place? What is the typical tip that is given, is it like a restaurant?

I feel sorry for the person. I would assume that it is a minimum wage job and most people are probably rude to them.

Pycroft

Never thought about it...does anyone actually tip the gas station. When I was a kid, I had a friend whose dad owned a gas station. He would work there on Christmas and make tons in tips. I don't think I've ever tipped a gas station person once in my life. Reminds me of the opening scene of Reservoir Dogs

bobman1235

As my dad would say, "Sure, I'll give them a tip. 'Find a new job.'"

steveinaz

Oregon does that too, the attendants must pump the gas. Anyone know why they do this?

Willow

Around here it's impossible to find a Full Serve stattion. Which I would love when it's -20C or worse.

Jstas

How many times have we discussed this?

NJ state law. Passed in 1949. They say it was for safety concerns but in reality, it is easier to keep checks on taxes and assessment for regulation. I don't know Oregon's lame reason.

Though the safety thing has merit. I've seen some real stupid stuff done at gas stations.

In NJ, if a cop is having a bad day and sees you pumping your own gas, he can be a jerk and fine you over $200 and the gas station gets a hefty fine as well. On the same note though, we are not allowed to pump our own gas unless on an interstate rest stop. So all the rest of you laugh at us for this stupid law but NJ has some of the lowest gas prices in the country and we don't pay extra for full service. Makes you wonder who the joke is really on.

mmadden28

Pycroft wrote: »

Never thought about it...does anyone actually tip the gas station. When I was a kid, I had a friend whose dad owned a gas station. He would work there on Christmas and make tons in tips. I don't think I've ever tipped a gas station person once in my life. Reminds me of the opening scene of Reservoir Dogs

Ditto. I've never tipped an attendant. Full Serve is almost nonexistent in PA, but you can still find them once in awhile.
It should also be known that Full Serve is not what it used to be--they don't check the oil, and wash windows anymore, etc.

I guess its just ingrained in me not to tip at a station since usually the Full Serve prices are higher than Self Serve prices, so I guess I always justified that extra cost was to pay the guy to do what he was hired to do. If there was no Full Serve he wouldn't even have job there. (of course in NJ Full Server is cheaper than Self Sever in PA, but that is really more about taxes).

I especially don't feel guilty about it in NJ since Full Serve is forced on you-as mentioned -if they don't like the job find another. Although I do feel sorry for them at times, esp. in the winter--I recall one time on a very cold and snowy day the guy had icicles on his mustache :eek:

The only time I ever tipped at a gas station is in a car wash.

But I tip in every other situation where its common to do so. I guess there are just situations where tipping is appropriate and expected and then there are jobs where it's not expected. I'll tip even where I don't think its warranted if its the norm to do so (well unless the service was atrocious).
I don't tip at Ice cream stands or Dunkin Donuts or any of those places that have the jars on the counter--I don't get them either. I mean what special thing are they doing outaside of what they were hired for to warrant it?
I will tip the bartender though.

When I used to have people offer me a tip for something I did for them, while I appreciated it, I always turned down the tips. In my mid I was doing my job, and if I expected to get more pay it was going to be through my employer.

Think about all the folks that don't get or expect tips in your neighborhood, like the volunteer fire dept, or the police, or the ambulance crews--do you thing they deserve a tip? I do. But you would never see me offering one. In those cases I would send a donation to the organization instead.

I hate when the guy at Sears, or other warehouse, 'whose job it is' is to retrieve your merchandise and wheel it out to you on a dolly, etc, actually expects a tip, even if they did squat to help you get it in the car. If a guy goes out of his way that's a different story, but to expect it for nothing-not, especially where I have no choice but to use their services-I'd sooner take it off the shelf myself.

While I would love to know the real reason why NJ is Full Serve by law, I suspect it has to do with all the idiots on the road--Honestly I think there should be formal training in operating a gas pump based on some things you see other idiots doing at them. It's funny sometimes though, when my Mother-in-law, who's is a NJ native, had no idea how to pump her own gas the first times she was in PA and needed to get some.


Well I've babbled on long enough...

reeltrouble1

sometimes we have to shower without pipe water in Georgia, but just sometimes. Its something about the fellow down at the water plant having to first mash on the water knob, bless his heart.

RT1

hearingimpared

Jersey does have low gas prices but the attendant always takes the nozzle out on the first click off leaving the 5 to 6 gallons that the tank could take empty.

Jstas

mmadden28 wrote: »

While I would love to know the real reason why NJ is Full Serve by law,

The law has been on the books since '49. It was put there because the legislators felt it was "too dangerous" for untrained individuals to handle such a flammable liquid. But in 1932, Hoover signed the highway tax into law. 10 years later states, now responsible for road maintenance, started levying their own taxes.

Now, if you want to make sure you are getting every possible red cent out of the consumer, you aren't going to leave the dispensing of the commodity up to the consumer. They will take the "baker's dozen" so to speak. It may be pennies on the dollar but how many times do you fill up in a year? It adds up.

So what do you do? You make a law, citing people's personal safety as the reasoning, which requires a station attendant to meter the commodity. Then, you tax the wazoo out of the station to ensure that profit margins are so tight that they don't fudge a single thing otherwise, they come up short that week. That way, you get your fuel, the gas dude gets his income and the gubment gets it's cheese. Everybody is sorta happy and life goes on.

The law was put in place "for the greater good" but in reality, it was an easier way to regulate tax collection.

Jstas

hearingimpared wrote: »

Jersey does have low gas prices but the attendant always takes the nozzle out on the first click off leaving the 5 to 6 gallons that the tank could take empty.

That doesn't happen at the Sunoco station I go to. Dude always fills it to the 2nd stop and the squeezes it to the nearest dollar.

Besides, about 8 years ago, they passed a law that said the attendants couldn't overfill the tanks anymore because it was not safe and did not allow proper venting/management of fuel fumes in the fuel system. They can only fill to round out the price for cash purchases. The pumps are monitored and data logged now so if the state tax dude sees it happening often, they will fine the station.

But when I'm filling the 25 gallon tank in my truck on an interstate, that fuel neck holds almost 4 more gallons. Since I'll be sucking it down like a fat kid eating pixie sticks, I fill it to the brim and take the extra range so I don't have to stop as often.

bobman1235

hearingimpared wrote: »

Jersey does have low gas prices but the attendant always takes the nozzle out on the first click off leaving the 5 to 6 gallons that the tank could take empty.

I always stop at the first click. Too much stupid **** sets off the check engine light, I'm not gonna tempt fate.

Plus, I've had the automatic stop fail on me before and gas come pouring / shooting out of the nozzle... not fun.

George Grand

I ask for $19 every time, and always throw the attendant a $20 bill.

I am the kind of person that wonders why somebody in their shirtsleeves, in a climate-controlled environment, that can process an order for a double mocha latte soy whatever, is somehow more deserving of a gratuity than somebody that's exposed to the elements for 8 hours at a time.

I pumped gas for Texaco in Brooklyn around 1970. Tips were non-existent back then too.

hearingimpared

Jstas wrote: »

That doesn't happen at the Sunoco station I go to. Dude always fills it to the 2nd stop and the squeezes it to the nearest dollar.

Besides, about 8 years ago, they passed a law that said the attendants couldn't overfill the tanks anymore because it was not safe and did not allow proper venting/management of fuel fumes in the fuel system. They can only fill to round out the price for cash purchases. The pumps are monitored and data logged now so if the state tax dude sees it happening often, they will fine the station.

But when I'm filling the 25 gallon tank in my truck on an interstate, that fuel neck holds almost 4 more gallons. Since I'll be sucking it down like a fat kid eating pixie sticks, I fill it to the brim and take the extra range so I don't have to stop as often.

Yep, I lived in Cherry Hill for 5 years and everytime I would get the tank filled I would ask the attendant to top it off and it never happened. Oh well cheap gas atleast. I remember in 1998 gas was as little as 75 cents a gallon in Jersey where it was much higher in Pennsey. Whenever I'm in Jersey whether I need gas or not I always stop for a fill up.

Jstas

Sorry George, I gotta do it...

...this post keeps making me sing the WKRP in Cincinnati song in my head.

Baby, if you've ever wondered,
Wondered, whatever became of me.
I'm livin' on the air in Cincinnati
Cincinnati, WKRP

Got kind of tired of packin' and unpackin'
Town to town
Up and down the dial
Maybe you and me were never meant to be
But baby, think of me once in a while

I'm at WKRP in Cincinnati.

George Grand

Went over my head.

reeltrouble1

George Grand wrote: »

I pumped gas for Texaco in Brooklyn around 1970.

Ethyl???

You still got your star???

RT1

Jstas

George Grand wrote: »

I ask for $19 every time, and always throw the attendant a $20 bill.

I am the kind of person that wonders why somebody in their shirtsleeves, in a climate-controlled environment, that can process an order for a double mocha latte soy whatever, is somehow more deserving of a gratuity than somebody that's exposed to the elements for 8 hours at a time.

I pumped gas for Texaco in Brooklyn around 1970. Tips were non-existent back then too.

They are happier that I fill the tank with 93 than anything. They apparently get a kickback from Sunoco for every "Ultra 93" fill-up they do (used to be Ultra 94, truck ran like a scalded dog on that stuff!). The dude was smiling ear to ear when I pulled in yesterday. Must have been a slow day. But with the computerized pumps, they just punch numbers in to the pump, squeeze the handle and go huddle in the heated shacks and wait for the lights to come on when the pump is done. Granted, it's still nasty work but a far cry from just a decade or so ago let alone 50 years.

steveinaz

I also was a gas station attendant at a full serve in the late 70's in STL. Winters were a ****!

tonyb

I never thought about it, but can't believe some states won't let you pump your own gas. Thought that went away years ago. Is someone trying to say the people in NJ or Oregon are too stupid to do it themselves? Just kidding.....still don't understand it though.

mmadden28

Jstas wrote: »

The law has been on the books since '49. It was put there because the legislators felt it was "too dangerous" for untrained individuals to handle such a flammable liquid. But in 1932, Hoover signed the highway tax into law. 10 years later states, now responsible for road maintenance, started levying their own taxes.

Now, if you want to make sure you are getting every possible red cent out of the consumer, you aren't going to leave the dispensing of the commodity up to the consumer. They will take the "baker's dozen" so to speak. It may be pennies on the dollar but how many times do you fill up in a year? It adds up.

So what do you do? You make a law, citing people's personal safety as the reasoning, which requires a station attendant to meter the commodity. Then, you tax the wazoo out of the station to ensure that profit margins are so tight that they don't fudge a single thing otherwise, they come up short that week. That way, you get your fuel, the gas dude gets his income and the gubment gets it's cheese. Everybody is sorta happy and life goes on.

The law was put in place "for the greater good" but in reality, it was an easier way to regulate tax collection.

I knew you would have the answer :)

How about this then? Why do gas stations continue to charge 9/10 of a cent for each dollar when tenths of a cent is not even valid US currency. Talk about a rediculous scheme. It sure would be nice to get some kind of tax credit for all those 9/10ths we overpaid--or do they only charge the extra cent every 10 gallons?


Personally I would like to see a return of Full Serve to PA. Mainly because of all the idiots that in reality don't know how to pump their gas and take twice as long at the pump. And then you have the ignorant Aholes who, esp on busy days, pump their gas, then go into the store (typ. at Wawa) and just leave their car parked at the pump preventing others from using it while they get their coffee and sandwich-too lazy to park in a parking spot. I can understand when somebody parks at the pump where they have to go inside and pay cash first, but come on--especially when they can see the lines of cars waiting for a free pump.
It would be nice if they would at least make some of the pump-ways one-way--it causes such a cluster, esp when Aholes try to cut you off by coming in from the other side when you have been patiently waiting for a pump. Last week a lady sat in her car for about 10 minutes yapping on the phone, and she didn't even have the nozzle in the car yet.

At full serve stations in NJ, I never have to wait too long to get through, even when I have to wait for an attendant. I also find myself filling up whether I need it or not in NJ because of the lower prices.

Jstas

mmadden28 wrote: »

I knew you would have the answer :)

How about this then? Why do gas stations continue to charge 9/10 of a cent for each dollar when tenths of a cent is not even valid US currency. Talk about a rediculous scheme. It sure would be nice to get some kind of tax credit for all those 9/10ths we overpaid--or do they only charge the extra cent every 10 gallons?

I really don't know. I see people calling it a "marketing ploy" but I think that's just typical ignorance and "conspiracy theory" tripe. Gas prices have been using the tenths system since the 20's and 30's. That's one hell of a "marketing ploy" to be running between 60 and 80 years. Especially after the price standardization measures imposed in the 70's during the oil embargoes.

But back in the 30's and 40's, a penny was worth something. Lots of things were priced down to 5/10ths or a "half penny". Gas was stupid cheap then too so I can see how a tenths system of pricing could matter. Gasoline and even further, oil, are commodity traded items. The market determines price based on speculation, not necessarily supply and demand. Even now prices change daily. But they change by 5-10 cents a gallon. Fractions of a cent are no longer necessary but for some reason it sticks around. Most likely because the fractional pricing is built in to the system. Everything from taxes to wholesale pricing uses it so it's just easier to run with it.

Here is an article from Slate that talks about it and is probably the most logical answer I found:

http://www.slate.com/id/2125099/

Big Dawg

Bumper sticker seen from time to time in NJ:

Jersey girls don't pump

George, you are a better man than me (not much of a surprise) - I don't think I've ever tipped a gas station attendant. However, I've also never tipped for someone handing me a doughnut (okay, sometimes I throw the change into the cup). For the record, though, I do tip well in restaurants.

F1nut

Now, if you want to make sure you are getting every possible red cent out of the consumer, you aren't going to leave the dispensing of the commodity up to the consumer. They will take the "baker's dozen" so to speak. It may be pennies on the dollar but how many times do you fill up in a year? It adds up.

Just how is the consumer going to take the "baker's dozen" from a gas pump? It matters not if the consumer or attendant does the pumping as neither can cheat the pump.

Jstas

F1nut wrote: »

Just how is the consumer going to take the "baker's dozen" from a gas pump? It matters not if the consumer or attendant does the pumping as neither can cheat the pump.

Way back when the law was put in to place pumps didn't meter by the dollar, they meter gallons, that was it and you told the attendant what you pumped. In the not so busy stations, the attendant could check your honesty but the pumps would reset as soon as you picked up the handle again. It was easy to get away with if you were paying while the next guy was pulling up and starting the pump.

Besides that, taxes are levied on the wholesale, not the retail. So even the station owner could fudge the wholesaler a bit.

Also, owners would put thinners in or even water because they could get away with it. The engines back then did not have tight tolerances nor were they all that reliable. All that stuff meant tax revenue was slipping away.

F1nut

GG, I would never tip a Dunkin' Donuts employee, nor do I tip anyone in any place that has a tip jar on the counter.

As for full service verses self, it should be full service nationwide as it once was.

F1nut

Jstas wrote: »

Way back when the law was put in to place pumps didn't meter by the dollar, they meter gallons,

Yeah ok, as hard as it might be for some to believe, I wasn't alive back then.