# I Heartily Dislike Full-Service at the Gas Station **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 8, 2002, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395 "2002-04-08T00:41:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/1 "2002-04-08T00:41:51Z")
Then why don’t I just go to the self-serve pump? BECAUSE I CAN’T! See, New Jersey doesn’t allow self-serve gas pumps. It’s full-serve or nothing. I’ll spare you the details of my many recent encounters with exceptionally slooooow service attendants. I’m sure you can imagine. All I want is to get my gas and leave. Why why why must I wait to have someone else pump my gas and collect my payment when I can pump it myself and pay at the pump everywhere else? I really don’t know why New Jersey requires full-serve. Common explanations are: 1. It doesn’t raise the price of gas–we have the cheapest gas in the nation. (But would it be even cheaper if we had self-serve? What about the value of our time?) 2. It provides jobs for people. (This one could be a great debate, eh?) 3. It’s a safety issue. (Then why isn’t self-serve outlawed everywhere?) Does anybody know the reason for this asinine law? Are there any other places that require full-serve? What are the rules in other countries? p.s. Toxic waste. Armpit of the nation. What exit? There, I’ve spared you the trouble of making the requisite Jersey jokes in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/2 "2002-04-08T01:08:42Z")
Oregon does not allow self-serve gas stations. And, as a former service station attendant, I say good! I’ve pumped enough gas to last me a life time. I don’t mind the wait for an attendant if it means I don’t have to get out in the rain/snow/sleet, get gasoline smell on my hands, and so on. So there. (Actually, the above points I made are, for me, moot, because I don’t drive anymore–too disabled. But once upon a time that’s the way I felt.) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/3 "2002-04-08T01:15:03Z")
IIRC, most stations with self-serve do have full-serve as an option. I’m certainly not arguing for the elimination of full-serve for those who want it or need it. I just wish I had the choice. ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/4 "2002-04-08T01:38:17Z")
Well, according to the [Lundberg Survey](http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/05/06/gas.prices/), generally considered the benchmark for such things, the current lowest prices are right here in metro Atlanta, at least as of Friday. According to Lundberg, the average price for self-serve regular in Atlanta is $1.46 – 10 to 20 cents higher than I’ve seen driving around north Fulton & Gwinnett counties this weekend. Atlanta usually has low prices, due to Georgia’s very low state gasoline taxes (something like $0.02/gallon, IIRC). ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/5 "2002-04-08T02:32:27Z")
I wouldn’t mind having full-serve gas stations around here…because at least that might justify the price! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/6 "2002-04-08T12:41:56Z")
Got ya beat, **3waygeek**. I paid $1.35/gallon yesterday when I filled up. Actually **Green Bean** , I can’t remember the last time I saw a full service gas station. I don’t understand any possible reason for it being a law in NJ, other than some very powerful lobbying is going on. It’s not a safety issue really. How many times do you hear about gas stations blowing up? ---
**Author:** ![Lucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/7 "2002-04-08T12:49:23Z")
I hate the damn things, too. We drive from MD to CT _a lot_, and on peak travel times (which we try to avoid, but it doesn’t always work), it can be a much as an hour wait to get filled up on the Jersey pike. We’ve worked out a system, when the lines at the pumps are long, we just go ahead and get in line, then take turns going to the bathroom, getting food, etc. I would _much_ rather fill up myself than spend the extra hour cooped up in a minivan with 3 kids and a dog. ---
**Author:** ![OneChance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/74df32/32.png) [@OneChance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneChance)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/8 "2002-04-08T13:02:07Z")
New Jersey enacted the law in 1949 for safety reasons. [More info](http://www.wspa.org/issues_policy5.htm). ---
**Author:** ![OneChance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/74df32/32.png) [@OneChance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneChance)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/9 "2002-04-08T13:12:58Z")
BTW, is it really against the law in NJ to slurp your soup? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/10 "2002-04-08T13:34:35Z")
Agreed, there is nothing more frustrating than driving up to an empty pump, only to wait for the guy to finish up pumping gas at 3 other cars. I almost never have to wait, not even a minute, to get gas in New York. Sometimes it takes them so long to make it around to your car, that I would’ve been done and gone if I could’ve pumped it myself. Not to mention that the guys always top it off and let some gas drip out of the nozzle onto my paint :mad: ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/11 "2002-04-08T13:35:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 3waygeek \* > \*\*Well, according to the [Lundberg Survey](http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/05/06/gas.prices/), generally considered the benchmark for such things, the current lowest prices are right here in metro Atlanta, at least as of Friday. > > According to Lundberg, the average price for self-serve regular in Atlanta is $1.46 – 10 to 20 cents higher than I’ve seen driving around north Fulton & Gwinnett counties this weekend. Atlanta usually has low prices, due to Georgia’s very low state gasoline taxes (something like $0.02/gallon, IIRC). \*\* Do you have a newer copy of the Lundberg Survey? The one you linked to is from May of last year. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/12 "2002-04-08T13:38:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OneChance \* > \*\*BTW, is it really against the law in NJ to slurp your soup? \*\* If it is, then I really should be in Rahway state prison. ::shlurrrrp:: Thanks for the link on the “safety” issues. Here’s an interesting point: “Moreover, self-service is statistically safer by a substantial margin than attendant-serve outlets.” Not surprised. How many times has the attendant over-filled my tank and spilled gas down the side of my car. Plus, I’ve seen attendants _smoking cigarettes_! :eek: **3WayGeek** : NJ’s gas prices are always _among_ the lowest in the nation. Feel better? (We’re paying $1.29 at the moment.) **Lucretia** : An hour to fill up??? That’s insane! Would it be faster to just get off the turnpike and go to a local station? (EZPass is your friend.) ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/13 "2002-04-08T13:56:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ffmdavis \* > \*\* > > Do you have a newer copy of the Lundberg Survey? The one you linked to is from May of last year. \*\* Damn Google! That’s why the prices I saw over the weekend ($1.20 - $1.30) didn’t match the survey. BTW, the last time I filled up (about a week ago) I paid $1.25. ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/14 "2002-04-08T14:27:50Z")
If I did the conversion correctly our price here works out to about (U.S.) 1.80 / gallon. Folks in other parts of Canada pay even more than we do here. It seems like only the smaller companies offer full serve while the big guys like Shell and Imperial (Esso) are mostly self serve. I only opt for full serve when it’s really nasty outside. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/15 "2002-04-08T14:39:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OneChance \* > **New Jersey enacted the law in 1949 for safety reasons.** 1949? I also thought self-service was a creature of the 70s (or maybe 60s), and that all gas stations from the 40s had at least 3 attendants per car (or at least they did in old advertisments I’ve seen). Here in NY we have gas lines of up to 20minutes (of course, this is only at a gas station that’s about 15cents cheaper per gallon than it’s neaby competitors…) ---
**Author:** ![OneChance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/74df32/32.png) [@OneChance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneChance)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heartily-dislike-full-service-at-the-gas-station/102395/16 "2002-04-08T15:08:20Z")
**SirRay** , from [Chevron’s web site](http://www.chevron.com/about/learning_center/hst_road/): “Although self-service stations had been around since the 1930s, and despite advances that improved self-serve safety and technology, only 6 percent of U.S. stations allowed customers to pump their own fuel in 1974.”