# Gas stations as salt cellars (strikeout) sellers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 30, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369 "2018-04-30T18:46:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/1 "2018-04-30T18:46:44Z")
The bumped thread on gas stations selling mulch (which I’ve never seen) made me think of something else. I was in Florida during the summer a couple of years back, and it seemed like every gas station was selling giant bags of salt, piled near the gas tanks. Why? Not the time of year for freezing roads, not a state likely to see that happen often anyway, and not something I remember seeing in SC, GA, NC, etc where the roads do ice in winter. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/2 "2018-04-30T18:49:41Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > The bumped thread on gas stations selling mulch (which I’ve never seen) made me think of something else. I was in Florida during the summer a couple of years back, and it seemed like every gas station was selling giant bags of salt, piled near the gas tanks. Why? Not the time of year for freezing roads, not a state likely to see that happen often anyway, and not something I remember seeing in SC, GA, NC, etc where the roads do ice in winter. Perhaps it was in an area where pretty much everyone is on a well and has a water softener? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/3 "2018-04-30T18:52:26Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Perhaps it was in an area where pretty much everyone is on a well and has a water softener? A bag of de-icing salt is pretty obviously different from a bag of water softener pellets. Do you believe \*\*Darren’\*\*s identification of the salt in question was erroneous, in spite of this? ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/4 "2018-04-30T19:00:19Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > A bag of de-icing salt is pretty obviously different from a bag of water softener pellets. Do you believe \*\*Darren’\*\*s identification of the salt in question was erroneous, in spite of this? I’m not seeing any identification of what kind of salt the OP saw, other than ‘giant bags’. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/5 "2018-04-30T19:09:50Z")
Bags that I would guess weigh 50 pounds with “salt” written on them. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/6 "2018-04-30T19:19:09Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > A bag of de-icing salt is pretty obviously different from a bag of water softener pellets. Do you believe \*\*Darren’\*\*s identification of the salt in question was erroneous, in spite of this? I don’t know what you put in your water softener, but I put big bags of salt in mine. I’m not even sure what a water softener pellet is. I live where it doesn’t freeze, so there’s no road de-icing salt, but if it looks like big bags of salt, that’s consistent with water softeners to me. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/7 "2018-04-30T19:25:47Z")
I’m aware of four things that go in water softeners. Salt pellets-salt compressed into pellets a little bigger than peanuts. Solar salt-course salt with flakes larger than kosher salt. Salt blocks-aprox 12" by 12" by 16" Potassium Chloride-for those avoiding sodium. ---
**Author:** ![Stana\_Claus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stana_claus/32/13874_2.png) [@Stana\_Claus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stana_Claus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/8 "2018-04-30T19:29:47Z")
Maybe folks in the local area were REALLY into home made ice cream! ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/9 "2018-04-30T22:33:35Z")
Deer hunting region in Florida, maybe? Sometimes hunters put out salt to attract deer. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/10 "2018-04-30T23:30:05Z")
Usually saltblocks for wild life and livestock are solid blocks. I don’t think they use granulated or pellated type. I may very well be wrong. Different area, differing customs, and all. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/11 "2018-05-01T00:43:11Z")
I’m in Missouri and my local home store sells blocks labels softener salt. I have bought “mineral blocks” for deer and they are not the same. Thought I suppose the softener blocks could serve. > **[Diamond Crystal 50-lb Water Softener Salt Block Lowes.com](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Diamond-Crystal-50-lb-Salt-Block/50107194?cm_mmc=SCE_PLA-_-RoughPlumbingElectrical-_-WaterTreatment-_-50107194:Diamond_Crystal&CAWELAID=&kpid=50107194&CAGPSPN=pla&store_code=1648&k_clickID=d13a3aad-ea25-4b0b-863e-61c904b0ef34&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_ZrXBRDXARIsAA8KauRQKJSJA-puWIMHVMuG-B-cNdOaDg5i1btCiFtE4Y5tiPG3Mst5z3UaAhgAEALw_wcB)** > > Shop Diamond Crystal 50-lb Water Softener Salt Blockundefined at Lowe's.com. Virtually 100% water soluble and made with up to 99.8% pure salt, these blocks are specially formulated to resist mushing and bridging in the brine tank-- ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/12 "2018-05-01T02:43:48Z")
We used pellets for our water system. They came in big bags labelled “salt”. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/13 "2018-05-01T04:59:15Z")
FWIW, these stations were along the upper half of the Gulf coast. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/14 "2018-05-01T06:37:06Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Usually saltblocks for wild life and livestock are solid blocks. I don’t think they use granulated or pellated type. I may very well be wrong. Different area, differing customs, and all. Could be. In northern Michigan, its carrots, apples and sugar beets in 50 pound bags, for deer. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/15 "2018-05-01T06:48:33Z")
Dunno about Florida, but when you see 50kg bags of salt being sold in Western Australia, they’re for swimming pools. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/16 "2018-05-01T06:56:25Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Could be. In northern Michigan, its carrots, apples and sugar beets in 50 pound bags, for deer. I remember that in the U.P. They use corn around here. The bagged salt must be for pools and softeners. I can’t think of another reason for that much salt. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/17 "2018-05-01T07:10:03Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > Dunno about Florida, but when you see 50kg bags of salt being sold in Western Australia, they’re for swimming pools. I hadn’t realized that saltwater swimming pools had become a big thing in the U.S., but, apparently, about one out of four in-ground pools in the U.S. are now saltwater, and three out of four new pool installations are saltwater. [http://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/living/home-garden/article86058742.html](http://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/living/home-garden/article86058742.html) So, yeah, I’d guess either swimming pools or water softeners. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/18 "2018-05-01T09:55:31Z")
Buying bags of salt in the store is kind of a pain. Those bags are heavy, and you have to pick them up, put them in the cart, take them to the checkout, take them out to your car, lift them out of the cart, and then put them in the trunk. It’s much easier to simply pick them up and throw them in the trunk, hence the reason gas stations sell them near the pumps. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/19 "2018-05-01T16:14:34Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I’m in Missouri and my local home store sells blocks labels softener salt. I have bought “mineral blocks” for deer and they are not the same. Thought I suppose the softener blocks could serve. > > [https://m.lowes.com/pd/Diamond-Crystal-50-lb-Salt-Block/50107194?cm\_mmc=SCE\_PLA-\_-RoughPlumbingElectrical-\_-WaterTreatment-\_-50107194:Diamond\_Crystal&CAWELAID=&kpid=50107194&CAGPSPN=pla&store\_code=1648&k\_clickID=d13a3aad-ea25-4b0b-863e-61c904b0ef34&gclid=Cj0KCQjw\_ZrXBRDXARIsAA8KauRQKJSJA-puWIMHVMuG-B-cNdOaDg5i1btCiFtE4Y5tiPG3Mst5z3UaAhgAEALw\_wcB](https://m.lowes.com/pd/Diamond-Crystal-50-lb-Salt-Block/50107194?cm_mmc=SCE_PLA-_-RoughPlumbingElectrical-_-WaterTreatment-_-50107194:Diamond_Crystal&CAWELAID=&kpid=50107194&CAGPSPN=pla&store_code=1648&k_clickID=d13a3aad-ea25-4b0b-863e-61c904b0ef34&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_ZrXBRDXARIsAA8KauRQKJSJA-puWIMHVMuG-B-cNdOaDg5i1btCiFtE4Y5tiPG3Mst5z3UaAhgAEALw_wcB) Those look exactly like the salt blocks sold for livestock. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-salt-cellars-strikeout-sellers/813369/20 "2018-05-02T03:09:39Z")
Gas stations here in Minnesota sell several kinds of things like that. It’s a simple way to add profits with little effort or space needed. Generally, the products sold meet several criteria: - they are heavy & bulky, a nuisance to buy elsewhere (like Crafter Man said). - they are cheap. Often they aren’t moved inside when the station closes, so they need to be cheap enough that it’s not worthwhile for people to steal them. - semi-impulse or seasonal buys. Around here they are mulch in Spring & Fall, sand or salt in Wintertime.