Gas stations in my area don't have change when you fill up...

[WaTaGuMp]

Are you really seriously will go inside the store and prepaid multiple 1 cent of gas purchase with the clerk?

If I REALLY wanted to piss a station off for having such a policy as exact change, FUCK YES I WOULD.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

How do you make it stop fast enough though? 1c is only like 6ml, when you go to pay they see how much you put in and will charge you accordingly. Or do some pumps actually let you set an amount? I've seen some older pumps that have buttons for $5 $10 and $20 which is funny by today's standards but back in the day I guess $20 could fill a car.

Either way doing this is going to harm the gas station itself, not the oil industry. The best way to hurt the oil industry is to get an electric car, provided your hydro actually comes from a hydro dam or nuclear and not fossil fuel.

Around here, when I go inside to pay with cash, I give them whatever amount and the pumps stops at that amount. It would be the same if you gave them a penny. Today I filled up at Costco, the pump stopped around $47.80, I rounded up to $48.00. They only take debit and Amex cards, all the same price.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Around here, when I go inside to pay with cash, I give them whatever amount and the pumps stops at that amount. It would be the same if you gave them a penny. Today I filled up at Costco, the pump stopped around $47.80, I rounded up to $48.00. They only take debit and Amex cards, all the same price.

So you go in before you start to pump? How does that work, how do you know how much you need till it's done?

 

[WaTaGuMp]

So you go in before you start to pump? How does that work, how do you know how much you need till it's done?

I just give them what I think will fill the tank, if I am going for a complete fill up. After you get your gas, if there is change you go inside and they give it to you. Plenty of people just go in and buy $20 worth etc, pump that and leave.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I just give them what I think will fill the tank, if I am going for a complete fill up. After you get your gas, if there is change you go inside and they give it to you. Plenty of people just go in and buy $20 worth etc, pump that and leave.

Interesting, did not know you could do that. Some of the newer high tech pumps have a credit card slot but all the ones I've seen always have that portion covered with a note to pay inside after pumping. Guess they're too lazy to set it up lol. Seems simpler to just pump then pay after though. I just pump into it clicks then pay that amount.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Interesting, did not know you could do that. Some of the newer high tech pumps have a credit card slot but all the ones I've seen always have that portion covered with a note to pay inside after pumping. Guess they're too lazy to set it up lol. Seems simpler to just pump then pay after though. I just pump into it clicks then pay that amount.

Some stations like Arco, you can insert cash into the same machines that take debit cards. If you don't use the full amount, you then go inside to get your change. The days of pumping gas then paying are long gone from here.

 

[SlitheryDee]

This kind of boggles my mind. Its change. All reputable businesses give you back your change. Convenience stores are the businesses that are most likely to have change at any given time. This is a bullshit money grab policy that makes no sense in the long run.

 

[sdifox]

I get why they do it and and it's a good idea.

I also get why they wouldn't give a refund for the gas that the OP couldn't fit in his tank. Why put up with a customer who can't figure out how to buy something as simple as gasoline?

Right, as if you know exactly how many dollar of gas you can put in your tank.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Right, as if you know exactly how many dollar of gas you can put in your tank.

It's like going to walmart and paying for your purchase before you go get the items. :biggrin:

 

[Possessed Freak]

The corner gas station near me charges 5¢ more for credit I think. I always use cash, and put in $20 at a time. No point in moving weight I don't have to move.

Seems like an incredibly poor business practice. The 5cent charge is well worth it for the station to eat it if it means they can get an extra customer or two to pump. To have the customer wait in line to pay cash holding up the pump for minutes is ludicrous. Just to fuck with them, I would go inside and pay with my credit card if they had a fee for credit to try to show them the error of their ways.

 

[Humpy]

Right, as if you know exactly how many dollar of gas you can put in your tank.

WTF? I nor anyone else said you would.

This is simple stuff. If a store tells you they won't give out change most people will figure out how to proceed in their own best interest.

 

[lxskllr]

Seems like an incredibly poor business practice. The 5cent charge is well worth it for the station to eat it if it means they can get an extra customer or two to pump. To have the customer wait in line to pay cash holding up the pump for minutes is ludicrous. Just to fuck with them, I would go inside and pay with my credit card if they had a fee for credit to try to show them the error of their ways.

I think margins on gas are razor thin. That's why gas only stations are dying off, and are getting replaced by convenience stores, some of which stretch the definition being almost full restaurants and gift shops. They use the gas to get you there, and you buy other crap from them.

Anyway, the point is a credit service fee charged to the station can really eat into the profits, and they make even less than the small amount they were already making. It was standard practice years ago to have cash/credit price differences at gas stations. That died out for awhile, and I guess it's coming back. It's not as good for the consumer, but I think it's fair, and I can live with it.

 

[sdifox]

Around my area you prepay for gas.

If you go in and buy $30 worth and don't have a container big enough to hold it all then it's your own f'n problem, not the gas stations.

Most people just use a card at the pump because it makes more sense.

I get why they do it and and it's a good idea.

I also get why they wouldn't give a refund for the gas that the OP couldn't fit in his tank. Why put up with a customer who can't figure out how to buy something as simple as gasoline?

WTF? I nor anyone else said you would.

This is simple stuff. If a store tells you they won't give out change most people will figure out how to proceed in their own best interest.

So you are saying my interpretation of your posts is incorrect?

 

[Humpy]

So you are saying my interpretation of your posts is incorrect?

Yes.

I'm saying that it is a bad idea to purchase more gas than you can carry from a station that doesn't give refunds if you buy too much.

I think that is pretty clear, no?

I can also see why a station might decide to operate that way. I'd bet that the majority of gas is now purchased with a card. The security issues of cash transactions might be more expensive than the costs of pissing people off.

 

[amdhunter]

can you go back in the store and just take $4.50 worth of crap?

Probably. But I'd rather have the $4.50 in my pocket.

 

[BUTCH1]

I think margins on gas are razor thin. That's why gas only stations are dying off, and are getting replaced by convenience stores, some of which stretch the definition being almost full restaurants and gift shops. They use the gas to get you there, and you buy other crap from them.

Anyway, the point is a credit service fee charged to the station can really eat into the profits, and they make even less than the small amount they were already making. It was standard practice years ago to have cash/credit price differences at gas stations. That died out for awhile, and I guess it's coming back. It's not as good for the consumer, but I think it's fair, and I can live with it.

I've been noticing that it's making a comeback too so I do as you do in an earlier post, just pre-pay $20 a pop, that lasts me almost a week anyway..

 

[ch33zw1z]

I've never heard of this before...

 

[EagleKeeper]

Anyone ask the OP where the fuel station was?
Exact location?

 

[Svnla]

If I REALLY wanted to piss a station off for having such a policy as exact change, FUCK YES I WOULD.

I would love for you to go inside the store and do it (several 1 cent of gas purchases) . Then post here your experience.

 

[MotionMan]

So if a candy bars costs $1.50 and you give them $2.00, will they give you change for that?

Seriously. If not illegal, this "no change" policy seems just wrong.

I don't know if I would do a penny at a time, but I would consider doing about $80, then a dollar at a time (it usually takes $80-$100 to fill my car).

Then again, I always pay with a CC at the pump. I do not interact with gas station employees unless it becomes absolutely necessary.

MotionMan

 

[JamesV]

OK - lets say I paid $20.

I put in $15.50 worth.

I'm supposed to accept the fact that they keep $4.50 because they don't give out change?

You probably know how much within a certain range how much it's going to take to fill up your car ($40-$50) for mine.

I never fill up before the tank is over half empty, so if I ran into a place that didn't give change, I'd just put in $20, but more likely I'd just go to other 10 gas stations within 5 miles because not giving change sounds shady.

 

[gothamhunter]

Why didn't you just fill up first...

 

[MotionMan]

Why didn't you just fill up first...

Probably not allowed.

Here, the attendant has to turn the pump on for cash transactions.

MotionMan

 

[KK]

take that 4.50 worth of gas and start spraying everything with it, or just start filling up the windshield washing container they have on the side of the pumps with it. Maybe if you spray it on the ground, you can then report it to the attendant and tell them to call the epa, as I'm sure thats a hazardous spill that they need to roll out the haz mat trucks for.

 

[Auric]

take that 4.50 worth of gas and start spraying everything with it, or just start filling up the windshield washing container they have on the side of the pumps with it. Maybe if you spray it on the ground, you can then report it to the attendant and tell them to call the epa, as I'm sure thats a hazardous spill that they need to roll out the haz mat trucks for.

Hee-larious way to get arrested for reckless endangerment and such as (not to mention actually endangering people... oh, I just did).

Refrain from referring to "change" folks, it was a "refund" the OP expected if they bought more than they wanted. Ima guessing change was actually available -i.e. remit the $30 to purchase $25 worth and receive $5 change before fuelling.