# Self service gas stations **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2012, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404 "2012-10-11T11:40:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404/41 "2012-10-11T23:59:41Z")
> [@Dissonance](#): > > Except as has been noted, you’re not saving a buck, you are actually paying **more** for the privilege of the triumph of will to pump your own gas. Moreover I don’t know how things are where you live, but I can’t recall the last time I was at a self serve station that had the option of full service. There’s no choice but to pay more and have to pump it yourself. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a gas station with full service in Minnesota. Not in over 20 years. Of course, most of the grocery stores where you could have employees bag your groceries are gone here, too. And those stores used to be cheaper, but now they are not. I do remember the gas station where I grew up in Montana that had a full-service and a self-service island. My family always went to the self-service island, and eventually they both became self-service sometime in the 1980’s. ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404/42 "2012-10-12T01:52:22Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > In Oregon it is illegal for either the customer to insist that he be allowed to pump his own gas or for the station owner to allow it. Possible $500 fine. If a customer wants to be a jerk and pump his own gas the attendant is likely to call the police, since allowing him to pump his own gas opens the station to the same fine. It’s illegal for the customer to _insist_? I highly doubt that. “Hey attendant: I insist on pumping my own gas.” “That, sir, is illegal! I’m calling the police!” I doubt it would be illegal to insist pretty much anything in Oregon or any other state, unless you were backing your insistence with a threat of force. In any case, when I was last in Oregon with my '74 VW bus, I insisted on pumping my own gas after the attendant displayed his own incompetence at doing so–gas all over the side of the bus–and he happily let me. Maybe he called the police after I left, I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404/43 "2012-10-12T02:30:43Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > In fact, using this site for Portland gas prices it shows the current lowest price of $3.85 at Costco in Portland. Entering Vancouver, Wa in the search box shows the lowest price for self-serve in Vancouver, Wa. at an Arco for $3.93. The Oregon gas tax rate is 7.5 cents per gallon less than Washington State. I regularly find gas prices identical on both sides of the river in the Portland/Vancouver area. That being the case, Oregonians are getting shafted on gas prices. There will always variances in gas prices. Bulk pricing, independent dealers, jobbers, etc., all contribute to price variances, even though the Portland/Vancouver area is all served by the same same gas lines, same bulk storage, and same refineries. Getting back to the OP, 48 states allow you to pump your own gas. Two do not (exceptions notwithstanding). Somehow Oregonians are so inept at pumping their own gas that they are danger to themselves that Oregon Legislature decided to protect their citizens (it’s in the law). Yet 48 other states must believe their citizens are quite competent in pumping their own gas and not a danger to themselves. Yeah, right. ---
**Author:** ![bizerta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404/44 "2012-10-12T02:46:44Z")
> [@ethelbert](#): > > … I know it always annoys the hell out of me when I pump my own gas in Connecticut and pay 20 cents more a gallon for the privilege. I know that I am paying a small premium to stay in my car (and I don’t even know how much that is), but personally, I am happy with the situation. Another person who wants to impose his will on others. The gasoline tax in CT is $0.486 per gallon. In NJ it’s $0.145. The gas tax difference accounts for 34 cents per gallon. etnelbert says that gasoline in NJ costs 20 cents less than CT, but the it should cost 34 cents less. The NJ gas station pockets 14 cents per gallon more than the CT station. Here in MA, about 10% of the gas stations have both self-serve and full-serve. Full-serve is usually about 6 cents a gallon more. But in NJ, it’s 14 cents. The gas tax in NJ is 34 cents less than NY, and 17 cents less than PA. For those of you that think full-serve saves you money, it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404/45 "2012-10-12T02:54:43Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > “Full service” is a misnomer. They won’t check your oil, clean your windshield or check your tire pressure. Having some guy pump gas for you just means a few more jobs for the state, and they pass along the cost to the customer. Yeah, I used to work at a self-service gas station where we were actually _prohibited_ from doing any of that. Actually, I’m not sure about the windshield, but we couldn’t do anything with oil or check tire pressure/fill tires. Corporate really didn’t want use changing a tire for anybody. We also couldn’t pump gas for customers when only one clerk was on duty unless the store was empty. I hated that job. > [@vd](#): > > …Unrelated peeve: The stations I do not use are the ones that disable the little tab that keeps the gas pumping while I clean the windows. We ended up just ripping those little tabs of our handles because customers kept using them and then going inside while the gas was still pumping. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404/46 "2012-10-12T03:21:24Z")
A few old threads on the subject: > **[I Heartily Dislike Full-Service at the Gas Station](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=108233)** > > 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... > **[Not enough full serve gas stations](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=573475)** > > Why are there so few full-service gas stations around? I don’t mind paying an extra dollar or so, so I can relax in the car instead of getting out to pump. I’m sometimes even inclined to go a couple of miles out of my way to get to a full-service... > **[Are there any more full service gas stations?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=487948)** > > Any near you? I haven’t seen one in I don’t know how many years. Actually, I’ve seen the opposite – basically concrete aprons that have gas pumps and vending machines, and no attendant whatsoever. When’s the last time a gas jockey has offered to... There seems to be a consensus that NJ and OR banned (or failed to legalize) self-service stations because of _perceived_ safety issues, and/or because of lobbying by \, or possibly just because “We’ve ALWAYS done it that way, and damned if we’re going to change things now!” So if Adam and Eve got their gas pumped for them, you can too! ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404/47 "2012-10-12T10:25:51Z")
Growing up in Oregon, I never pumped my own gas. Sure, I left the state from time to time, but my parents were always the drivers. So, on my very first road trip I took when I was 20 years old, I went through Nevada and had to fill up. I had no idea what I was doing! At one point, I tried inserting my credit card into the slot where the receipt comes out. I finally did manage to do it, but wow, I was so embarrassed. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404/48 "2012-10-12T10:42:22Z")
> [@bizerta](#): > > That’s very laudable of you to want to impose your will on those of us who want to pump our own gas and save a buck. If there were self-service stations you could always opt to go to a full-service station. With the current system, I have no choice. Yes, and the grocery store won’t let me slice my own meat at the deli. Damn government with their health and safety laws. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404/49 "2012-10-12T10:44:04Z")
> [@vd](#): > > (snip)Unrelated peeve: The stations I do not use are the ones that disable the little tab that keeps the gas pumping while I clean the windows. That screw cap from your filler nozzle serves the purpose admirably. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404/50 "2012-10-12T12:59:30Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > … Nothing happened to my car, but I can’t help but wondering if there was an epidemic of evaporative emissions failures in Umatilla traceable to that guy. Oh, Umatilla. That reminds me of a downside of attendant pumping, especially in more remote places in Eastern Oregon. The attendant will check under the hood and find that the fan belt has a small cut, the air filter is clogged, the battery is dripping some weird green stuff. And of course he’ll insist you don’t cross the desert without getting that fixed right now. There was a station at Farewell Bend that was notorious for this. Do NOT let any of these people do anything other than pump the gas. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404/51 "2012-10-12T13:18:01Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > It’s definitely something akin to featherbedding, in that it makes work that isn’t necessary. In 48 states, full service gas stations are rare to nonexistant, and people do just fine without them. Are you sure they’re non-existent? In my experience, most areas have one or two full service stations, you just have to look for them. They’re not necessary IF you’re young, able-bodied, and the weather is good. Around here, for example, we have a big population of old people. When the last full-service gas station announced it was going fully self-serve, there was a huge uproar. When you’re 75 years old, frail, and there’s 2 feet of snow on the ground, getting out of your car to pump gas can be downright dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![bizerta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404/52 "2012-10-12T14:05:40Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > Yes, and the grocery store won’t let me slice my own meat at the deli. Damn government with their health and safety laws. WTF R U talking about? Anyone CAN buy unsliced bread and unsliced meat. You have free will to choose what you want. The free market has shown that most people buy the pre-sliced stuff. Outside of NJ & OR, the free market has shown that people would prefer to pump their own gas to save money. Featherbedding, pure and simple. A Mad Magazine poem I remember from 50+ years ago: You shovel up the coal that gives our railroad trains their power. For this your union sees to it you get six buck an hour. So why do people call you a featherbedding weasel? Because you know as well as we that the whole darn railroad’s diesel. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404/53 "2012-10-12T16:22:24Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Are you sure they’re non-existent? In my experience, most areas have one or two full service stations, you just have to look for them … When you’re 75 years old, frail, and there’s 2 feet of snow on the ground, getting out of your car to pump gas can be downright dangerous. There’s not a one to be found in the New Orleans area – or at least not one that advertises full-service fill-ups. There are a very few independent gas stations that have a light-maintenance service bay nearby. Great for getting flats fixed, tires rotated, hoses & belts looked at, etc. Theoretically, if someone needing help pulled up for gas and called out to the mechanic or another employee … someone would come out and fill the tank. But seriously – it’s hard to think of a situation where someone is able-bodied enough to drive, but not to pump gas. Can’t say it’s impossible, but the odds have to be very long. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-service-gas-stations/637404.md?page=2)