For the first time in more than seven decades, drivers in Oregon are allowed to pump their own gas.
I can’t see myself headed back to Oregon any time soon, but good. It was so frustrating trying to get gas behind a line of twenty five cars being “served” by a single slack jawed yokel taking smoke breaks between each car and God help you if you needed gas at night when everybody was closed.
New Jersey gas attendants can be surly, but my experiences driving there at least moved the cars through getting gas efficiently.
As someone from NJ I agree 100% with surly. Also you can get someone weird or the guy who just wants to talk the entire time. I really do hope this changes one day.
Or the guy who tries to wash your windows then asks for a tip. I’m still annoyed at that, and it was at least 15 years ago.
Having lived in NJ most of my life, and recently driving almost cross country to FL, the only benefits of living in FL is that there are like never any lines waiting for gas, and I don’t have to wait for a guy to come out. I just pull up, fill up, and GTFO.
Moved from Florida to New Jersey. You can keep Florida and I’ll keep my gas attendants! 😉
There are some bizarre and pointless laws in this country.
Was probably reasonable when they were enacted - before your grandparents met.
Just because we have chiseled abs and stunning features, it doesn’t mean that we too can’t not die in a freak gasoline fight accident.
The way I heard it, if the only people pumping gas were employees, the company didn’t have to pay as much liability insurance.
Then why make it a law? Gas stations would all choose to have full service only if it was cheaper.
It’s a law specifically so that these jobs exist. It has nothing to do with liability insurance. Rather, one guy was able to lower his prices by having people pump their own gas and other gas stations didn’t like that
Reingold decided to offer the consumer a choice by opening up a 24-pump gas station on Route 17 in Hackensack. He offered gas at 18.9 cents a gallon. The only requirement was that drivers pump it themselves. They didn’t mind. They lined up for blocks.
"The other gas station operators didn’t like the competition. Someone tried shooting up Reingold’s station. But he installed bulletproof glass, so the retailers looked for a softer target - the Statehouse. The Gasoline Retailers Association prevailed upon its pals in the Legislature to push through a bill banning self-serve gas. The pretext was safety, but the Hackensack fire chief had already told all who would listen that Rein- gold’s operation was perfectly safe.
Man, fuck lobbies representing business. What a load of shit.
You never went to Switzerland where the only noise you’re allowed to do after 10 pm is pooping.
Now I’m curious about the situation that lead to that to that exception being added and if there was a death involved where someone held it in until morning when they should have just gone right away.
The legend says that you aren’t allowed to flush the toilet after 10 pm. Actually, people must avoid making noise after 10pm by law. It’s not here for fun.
Switzerland has a reporting culture. People will report you to the police and/or your landlord if you’re making too much noise after 10pm. Also, Sundays and holidays are by law a day of rest.
The state’s 72-year ban on self-service pumps was due in large part to safety concerns for drivers. A state law cited “increased risk of crime and the increased risk of personal injury resulting from slipping on slick surfaces.”
What an abomination of an excuse, and I live here.
Well, it may have been true 72 years ago.
Modern pumps are engineering marvels so probably right.
I’ve used vintage gas pumps, and they work the same. It is cooler to see the mechanical counter turn over though than a digital display
Fraud is a legitimate concern though. Skimmers are rampant, so I wonder if Oregon will see an uptick in card compromise.
That is a very good concern to have but even when the station had attendants, people still got skimmed at gas stations. It’s a concern that everyone should have at any place where you swipe or insert your card to pay. Banks, stores, ATM’s, etc
so you take your hand, place it on the card reader and give it a shake. If the card reader is loose and can pull off its a skimmer.
Hahaha so instead of fixing cime we just spend less time outiside… Fucking stupid state
That must’ve been one of the most useless regulations. Is that just about jobs? I can’t really imagine it being a security risk issue or any other reason
Yeah, jobs. And yeah, it was fucking stupid. Imagine outlawing opening the front door to any business, so that every business would have to hire greeters to generate jobs. Same same.
It’s just welfare, but in its cruelest possible form. If we’re going to require someone to piss 8 hours of their day away contributing nothing to society (worse than nothing in practice… gassing up in Oregon took FOREVER cuz you’d be stuck waiting for an attendant to serve a backup of 15 cars) just so that person can collect a pay check… why not just give them the pay check with no strings attached? Then they can use that time to improve themselves, or at the very least, not spend their waking hours inhaling gasoline fumes and ruining their knees and such.
Protect people, not jobs. Robots and AI are replacing most of us soon anyway: mandating busywork is NOT the solution to getting food on everyone’s table.
Did that also apply to electric cars? Or were you allowed to plug it in yourself
You can plug it in yourself but you are obligated to have the following conversation every time: https://youtu.be/FzAb8rVqDkY
Haha this is perfect^^
As long as you’re a certified electrician, go right ahead. Otherwise, jail.
Sounds like union territory. Which IBEW local is that?
Local 48. That said, in Oregon electricians and plumbers have to be licensed whether they are union or not.
Time for me and my male model homies to finally have that gasoline fight we’ve been putting off forever.
Don’t forget that orange mocha frappuccino!
Don’t worry guys. Whole continents manage to pump their own gas without Major issues. I’m sure you will manage it too 😉
We know. This wasn’t a ‘citizens needing help’ thing. This is a ‘propping up an archaic “job creation” law at the annoyance of the citizen’ thing.
They’re going to keep the full-service option. Now we have a choice.
Clearly no Oregonians in this thread. Everyone I’ve met in Oregon loves that they don’t have to pump their own gas.
If enough people love it, then full service pumps will still hang around as an option. Personally as someone who lived in Minneapolis for 20 years, full service pumps would have been fucking amazing in the winter, but mandating them by law is just stupid.
The fact that full service doesn’t exist even in the frozen tundra of MN leads me to believe very few people are actually willing to pay extra for it.
Granted I’m not a native Oregoner, but when I lived there I also thought it was stupid. I have not missed that part of Oregon one bit.
Do they? My entire family lives there and they fucking hate it.
Born and raised Oregonian that prefers to pump his own gas. It’s about damn time.
I live in Oregon most of my life. I moved to Montana for work for a period of time and moved back to Oregon. I absolutely hate having my gas pumped. I found it so much quicker to pump my own gas. Though when I traveled to and from Montana I noted there are a lot of idiots that don’t know how to responsibly pump their own gas. The only time where I somewhat even remotely hated pumping my own gas was when living in Montana and pumping when it’s -30F outside.
I was about to say. I appreciate every time they agree to pump my gas. The convenience, and the speed of just staying in your car is awesome!
Pick a better gas station is what I have to say to people that are upset at how the service was at one gas station.
Having grown up in the east, and the size of MEGA GAS STATIONS that let cars just SIT PARKED IN THE GAS STALL was the true goal of this bill. It was about commercializing the “store” because there is no profit in the gas industry.
I’ll still search out and return to gas stations that employ attendants.
Sad day.
How is having one attendant pumping gas for six vehicles faster than me pumping my own?
Answer; it’s not. Source; I live in Oregon. Fun fact; due in part to this law, Oregon has relatively far fewer gas stations than other states, so picking another station often is not a viable option.
I guess there is a difference in frequency. I fill up once every two weeks, at 510 miles to the tank. I tend to do it when I run an errand near a gas station that has the best quality gas, and the best prices. I tend to see the same attendants, and they are always on top of every car there, and have mine filling in no time flat.
I do recognize that in the east, many cars would pull up and get only $5 in gas, very quickly, and then drive away. I get that scheduling a moment to stop and let someone fuel up your rocket-ship is a a little more of a hassle. But the last many years living in Oregon have been a blessing I’ll continue to look for.
Thankfully attendants will still be available, and there is no penalty to the customer for getting “Full Service”, so we both can get what we desire.
Doesn’t it just make gas more expensive?
Also, how about electric vehicle charging? Do these attendants have to plug the car in for you? Just a matter of time before gasoline cars are obsolete.
No it’s actually cheaper than Washington and California prices. Companies aren’t going to lower their prices just because their costs went down. That isn’t how the gasoline market works.
Wonder how this will work in an electrified world. Especially in NJ.
Doesn’t apply to electric vehicles here in Oregon. At this point, the law just remained because people like not having to pump their own gas and it creates jobs. I’ve pumped my own gas plenty of times in other states and it honestly isn’t any faster. The longest I’ve ever had to wait for gas was at a station in NorCal where everyone wanted to go stretch their legs for 30 minutes inside the store before coming out to pump their gas.
Currently, I fill up twice a week and never wait more than 5 minutes even with one attendant working.
I see this change as a way for fuel companies to increase their profits while sticking the work on customers. Nobody is going to reduce their price when people were willing to pay the current ‘higher’ price. The gas/oil industry doesn’t exist inside a normal capitalist market (much like healthcare).
Obviously you’ve never had the misfortune of going to the 7-11 station in Hillsboro.
Also, not being able to pump our own gas is why most of our gas stations aren’t open 24-7, which sucks for working people who often have to leave home early in the AM before the gas stations are open. If you forgot to fill up the day before? Forget about it, you’re going to be late to work.
Obviously you have never been to NJ where there are 24/7 gas stations. I can also get a freshly made sandwich at 3 am.
That’s nice, but I’m talking about Oregon, not NJ which is far more densely populated and accordingly is a very different place. I can get a freshly made sammich here in Portland at 3am too, I just can’t get gas.
Electric vehicle charging is usually done at places you stop for a while, like department store parking lots. I don’t see the stations at gas stations much at all
And they were never governed by the gas station laws
I fuckin’hate it. Most people I know hate it. I know maybe a handful of people who like it, but they are the exception. In any case, we still have the full-serve option, except for in rural Oregon.
It’s probably 50/50 for me. Half the time I wish I could do it myself to get it done, but the other half of the time it’s nice to not have to get out
I grew up in WA state but have been in Oregon for 20 years now. I’ve become accustomed to someone pumping my gas, but it’ll be like it was. I guess I don’t understand the big deal either way.
I traveled through Oregon in June and didn’t know about this law. I pumped my own gas in Astoria, Portland, and another place and no one stopped me. No one came out to pump my gas either.
I’ve been to Portland 3x and nobody has ever stopped me from pumping my own gas. I’ve definitely interacted with attendants inside prior to gassing up as well. Wonder if it’s due to the Canadian license plates/accent?
That definitely might be it. We definitely share the plates and I can’t shake the northern BC accent.
They always let me pump my own gas when riding a motorcycle in NJ. My mom would be clueless if they dropped that law though.
I drove through Oregon and that threw me off when I was at the gas pump. What a weird law. Someone must have super fucked up to get that law pushed in the first place lol.
Is an attendant required to plug the charger connector for you at a supercharger station?
As someone from NJ and recently took a trip with a friend in his Tesla, no. Most likely because the law never included language for it because it never existed when it was put in place. I also doubt anyone is going to adjust this either not only because it is stupid to do so but because NJ has even had some rumblings in the past few years about ditching attendants and will most likely happen someday, just who knows how soon.
They don’t have attendants, at least not here in Oregon. Maybe they do where you live?
Doesn’t long island NY still have this too?
LI still has full service gas, but they have no law against self service, so it’s not really the same as NJ or Oregon.
I love in western New York and places have full service still here, although it’s not as common and you can always pump it yourself.
Don’t give in! I’ve been in NJ my whole life. I’m not ready for this
Why would you want that bullshit?
I’m not for or against this law. I just like not having to get out of my car when it’s freezing outside.
At the expense of someone else being outside for hours?
Where I live, the business can choose. We have both options. People rarely choose the full serve since it’s more expensive.
That’s fine as well. If NJ allowed businesses to choose than I’d likely do full serve when I don’t feel like doing myself.
Why do I want to get out my car and do that bullshit. Let someone else do it
Because it’s faster and it’s really easy.
Sure it’s easy. And it’s fast either way. Let the other person do it. I’ll stay in my car
That is impressive levels of lazy.
I guess you don’t pay anyone to do anything in your life
Not something that easy, no. Would you pay someone to tie your shoelaces too?
Pretty idiotic example. Can’t come up with something better?
No, it’s not, it fits perfectly with how simple the task is. The fact that you think it doesn’t fit just furthers my point.
Pumping gas isn’t hard to do. I drive through Jersey sometimes and although I’m always happy that their gas runs a bit cheaper, I’m always annoyed that I can’t just get out and do it and be on my way.
I’m curious, do you have to tip the gas attendant?
When I was in Oregon, I saw them being tipped.
No
When I did the job in OR about 10 years ago, it wasn’t expected. More of a “oh hey here’s a dollar for washing my windshield while it pumped” or “$48.60? Here’s a 50, keep the change”, if anything.
They don’t really tip when I was in Jersey
I’d like the option for days where i’m in a rush, but definitely don’t want it to be the norm.
When I was a kid, gas stations in Indiana had “self-serve” and “full-serve” (they pump it for you) options. I’m not sure why they stopped. Probably to save money by hiring less people.
Or, hear me out, having someone else pump your gas for you in the modern age is fucking wild
But why? What makes it different than any other service job? I pumped gas in NJ for several years, and it was a decent job all things considered.
I hate pumping my own gas. It’s dirty, it smells, the machine is always different in every company, so you have to get used to a new thing if you go to some place you don’t usually go to, and if the weather is bad, you have to stand out in the cold and wind. I’d absolutely pay a premium not to do that. Maybe not 100% of the time, but often.
Gas pumps are pretty standardized, I’ve traveled all over the country and not once have I looked at a gas pump and been like “how the fuck do I use this?”, that sounds like a personal problem.
It’s the payment part that’s confusing. Because each pump does it differently. It’s not the dispensing gas part.
Either you put the card in the slot or tap it on the reader. I’ve never seen any pump do it differently. And they all have prompts on the screen that walk you through it if you’re confused.
If you really can’t handle it, you can go in and ask for 10 gallons on pump 3 or whatever.
Yeah I’ve ne
Yeah, i’ve never been confused by that either.
A hess gas station I was at a few years ago put regular in the middle instead of on the left. Started pumping before I noticed. Also, as I totally believe you about driving all over the country, you should know that octane levels vary a bit in places like Wyoming.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bigger first world problem.
I never said it was a problem.
Everyone in this thread is complaining about other people’s job for them like they actually care. It’s just a job for someone. Sure, it’s a stupid law but someone is being paid to do it, it isn’t slavery and you never said it was a first world problem. People are so fucking sensitive but pretend to care about others so they can make a post to get upvotes.
That doesn’t keep gas stations from offering it, does it? It’s just not mandated anymore
Pumps now also include ads as you pump your gas too. Now we’ll be able to stand in the rain listening to ads while we pay the same price to pump our own gas.
That sounds fair, but be aware that full service stations are probably going to disappear there within ten years because of the change.
Maybe not completely. There was one near the really wealthy area in Fort Worth, Texas when I lived there.
There as in Fort Worth. I am not obscenely wealthy lol. This was near where the Bass family lives, if you’re familiar.
Self serve drives up gas prices due to insurance. Insurance goes up due to a couple of people smoking while filling gas and gas station without anyone being the favorite place for looters. The self serve campaigns advertise how gas will come down due to it, but it actually goes up. So question is who you want to pay - insurance companies or min wage employees…
Oregon has the fourth most expensive gas by state. New Jersey is pretty high up there, although admittedly cheaper than its neighbors by a few cents. I would doubt that full vs. self service has any real impact on gas prices
I suspect you tip the guy filling your car though? Probably a few dollars each time?
From what I read tipped workers are generally paid below minimum wage and as such the cost difference to a station is probably negligible.
But the real cost to you will be less because I doubt you’re going to tip the cashier and definitely not pay at the pump…
I’ve never seen anyone tip a gas station attendant in NJ before. I don’t know what they get paid though
My son used work as a gas attendent years ago in NJ, and he was paid a little above minimum wage. Sometimes he would get tips.
Amecdotal experience incoming…
I used to pump gas in NJ at a Wawa. I got paid around $9 an hour in the early 2000s. At Wawa at least, the gas attendants get paid the same as the inside staff.
Tips were always appreciated, but never expected.
That’s interesting. I’ve seen all kinds of people you wouldn’t tip elsewhere routinely be tipped in the USA. So I assumed as someone performing a service they would be included.
Assuming = making an ass out of you and me.
I suspect you tip the guy filling your car though? Probably a few dollars each time?
No, but continue to express an opinion on something that you don’t understand and doesn’t impact you.
Will do, sir!
I live in the UK and for as long as I can remember and probably considerably before that (and I’m not young) fuel has been self service.
I also have seen plenty of people smoking and using phones (surely the bigger danger is backfiring cars though). You know I cannot recall a single news story about a fuel station exploding due to this. I reckon that’s the kind of story that makes it onto the news. Not to say it never happens, but with the amount of fuel pumped daily, I’d expect it to be a common event yet I cannot recall a single time I heard about it happening.
So, feels like insurance companies fear mongering stations into higher payments to me. Sure it’s possible, but highly unlikely.
Because it is bull. A cigarette doesn’t burn hot enough to light gas on fire. If anything it would be the wood matches, you know that thing no one has anymore. There is a reason why sailors are allowed to smoke on tankers.
Yeah you are gonna need to cite some type of credible information for this.
The rare station around me that offers full service, is always more expensive, usually 10-15 cents per liter (40-60 cents per gallon). So that logic doesn’t hold up.
If this were true, full-service gas stations would be common in places where they’re not mandated by law because it would be cheaper and more profitable for the owners. They are not.
