Wait. I have to pump my OWN gas now?

@Genipher (5405)
United States
January 11, 2018 5:56pm CST
I just discovered today that, as of January 1, Oregon now allows people to pump their own gas. Well... As long as you live in a rural town. Which I don't. Thankfully. I admit it. As an Oregonian, I'm pampered. I appreciate not having to get out of my car to pump gas. I can just sit and listen to music or chat with the kids while someone else gets paid to stand in the windy rain or snow in the winter and scorching sun in the summer. Besides, I thought we were trying to create more jobs...not less. With the coming of fast food kiosks and now pump-yer-own gas stations...where will college kids go to get a job??
11 people like this
14 responses
@NJChicaa (115992)
• United States
12 Jan 18
No self-serve in New Jersey either. I have no idea how to pump gas and I prefer it that way!
3 people like this
@NJChicaa (115992)
• United States
12 Jan 18
@Genipher on my few out of state adventures when I’ve needed to get gas, I’ve been able to find people to help me. Women are usually more helpful than men in my experience but that might be a northeastern thing.
2 people like this
@Genipher (5405)
• United States
12 Jan 18
When I was a teen I went on a car trip with my grandma to Washington (I think). I remember when she had to stop for gas, she was completely flummoxed as to how to pump it herself. Eventually someone saw our plight and helped us out. Never having had to pump gas, I'd probably take awhile to figure it out, too.
2 people like this
• Philippines
12 Jan 18
That's never going to happen here, we got Gas station attendants here. Besides, I've heard people getting robbed while pumping their own gas and paying them with their card.
3 people like this
• Philippines
13 Jan 18
@Genipher yeah, I've seen that in youtube already so be extra vigilant and cautious.
1 person likes this
@Genipher (5405)
• United States
12 Jan 18
Yikes! Yeah, it seems safer to stay in the car. Not to mention if you have to drag all the kids inside to pay. What a hassle.
2 people like this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
12 Jan 18
In Australia, we definitely help ourselves. Some help themselves out of there without paying, those buggers . When I was in Philippines, that is exactly the only reason why there are "gas boys", to deter the runners. Well, of course the convenience of not having to get out of your car. Enjoy the independence, mate.
2 people like this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
14 Jan 18
@Genipher We have machines equipped with pre-pay system , or pay through the machine kind of thing but as to how that works, I have no clue. Looks like you need to sign up to get a card or something.
1 person likes this
@Genipher (5405)
• United States
12 Jan 18
Here, the gas don't run until you pay.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458072)
• Switzerland
12 Jan 18
This service is no more available in our country, you pump your gas. Nobody lost his job, they stay inside to receive your payment and sell the goods inside the gas store. Never we had someone who ONLY pumped gas into the cars.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458072)
• Switzerland
13 Jan 18
@Genipher I think that it's at least 20 years we have no more someone pumping gas in our cars. It's the same in Italy and when we moved from France only a very few stations still offered the service. When we visited California, everywhere we had to pump our gas, same in Florida.
1 person likes this
@Genipher (5405)
• United States
12 Jan 18
That takes one person, right? We often have 3-5 people manning the pumps here in Oregon. So a few people will, potentially, lose their jobs. Here, the attendant runs our card into the machine and then pumps our gas. If a person has cash, he or she takes it into a tiny building in the midst of the gas pumps. The bigger stations have the attendants outside and one cashier on the inside. The attendants run the payments inside unless the driver wants to go in and buy donuts or soda or something.
2 people like this
@paigea (35680)
• Canada
12 Jan 18
It is nice to have someone pump my gas. I agree. We have a few places that do it here in Alberta. But it saves pennies to do it myself. So, I mostly do it myself.
3 people like this
@Genipher (5405)
• United States
12 Jan 18
I don't mind paying a few extra pennies to sit in a relatively warm car and let someone else pump the gas.
1 person likes this
• Kathmandu, Nepal
11 Jan 18
Perhaps, children should search the alternatives!
2 people like this
@Genipher (5405)
• United States
12 Jan 18
Job alternatives?
2 people like this
• Kathmandu, Nepal
13 Jan 18
@Genipher Teah! They can search for other jobs!
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71664)
• United States
12 Jan 18
When I was a kid there were more stations that would pump the gas for you. A few years ago there were still two here in PA that I knew of. Now there are none. I never would have imagined it wasn't allowed for someone to pump their own gas though as was the case in your state.
2 people like this
@shaggin (71664)
• United States
12 Jan 18
@Marty1 I'm sure there are still some just not any that I am aware of. These two I used to go to are no longer open at all. It was worth it to me paying a few cents more a gallon to not have to get out in the snow to pump it myself.
2 people like this
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
16 Oct 18
I hope they have decreased they gas prices if this is the case. Cause they’re not paying for a gas assistant.
@Shavkat (137214)
• Philippines
12 Jan 18
It is not a common practice to pump gas by a customer in my country. But I am so fascinated that it is done in America and seen it in films.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
26 Mar 18
*sigh* I came looking for you, Genipher... It looks like you are gone again. I hope you return soon. When I was a kid, there were always gas station attendants who pumped your gas, checked the air in your tires, checked your oil and changed your windshield wiper blades. All while waiting for the gas to pump into your car. Now, I rarely see a gas station attendant. I pump my own gas, put air in my own tires, check my oil and if needed, change my windshield wiper blades... College kids here usually don't work during the summer. Their parents foot their bill and let their kids do nothing... SMH!
@JESSY3236 (18923)
• United States
12 Jan 18
I heard about this through JJ's post. I was telling my mother about it. College kids can still work the cash register and they can stock shelves at other stores.
2 people like this
@Genipher (5405)
• United States
12 Jan 18
There's waiting tables too, I suppose. I'd prefer that to smelling like gasoline...
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Oct 18
We've been pumping our own gas for years now. It's a great day when someone does it for you and nearly a miracle if they wash your windscreen as well.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
12 Jan 18
Pumping your own gas is a way of life everywhere but Oregon and New Jersey.
2 people like this
@Genipher (5405)
• United States
12 Jan 18
I thought Oregon was the last state still doing this. Learned something new!
2 people like this
@Hannihar (129458)
• Israel
8 Feb 18
I remember when I started pumping my own gas when I had a car. I really grew to like it.
1 person likes this