Waiting for a diesel pump at Loves exit 233 on I-65

Years ago, at a large truck stop, the lanes were backed up with two-three cars waiting for each side of the gas pump islands. The guy in front of me decides to go shopping after he fills up and leaves his truck parked in front of the pumps. I wait 5 minutes, then 10. I'm trapped and can't move my truck, but, if only... sure enough, he left the keys in the ignition. So, I moved his truck and parked it safely away from the pumps. I pull up and begin filling. I'm nearly finished when he comes storming out of the store screaming "who moved my truck???" Nobody answered and I stood calmly by my truck, dark sunglasses on, trying to hide my smirk. Finally someone caved and pointed to me. He stomps over, cussing and screaming and threatening to beat me to an inch of my life. I calmly reach behind my back and tell him he will die before he gets the chance. As with most bullies, he stomps off, jumps in his truck, revs the engine and throws it into drive... only I set the emergency brake and I set it hard. He kills the engine after trying to tear the rear end from the suspension. The entire place burst out laughing... Don't know that I would do that anymore, but it sure was funny at the time.

Steve

ctilsie242 wrote:
You might look into cardlock stations like Pacific Pride. .

I did this until PP refused to send me email bills because it 'wasn't working out.'

Paper billing doesn't work so well on the road.

You might look into cardlock stations like Pacific Pride. While the circus is going on at the the Kwikee Marts, you can pull up, swipe your card, fill up, and be on your way.

one of the very few nice things about oregon not allowing pump your own gas, is the pump jockies will get these people moving quick. At the truck stops the loudspeaker comes on with description, license number and a warning to move and stop blocking the pump.

and since you can pump your own diesel, don't need to wait for the pump jockey to start filling.

Tom/Barb wrote:

Bubblechaser wrote:
Pulling a big 5th wheel thru Alabama stopped at Loves where there is not much room. Pulled around waiting on a Class A to finish fueling. After he is done instead of moving out of the way his wife brings out lunch from the subway and they sit there blocking 2 pumps eating lunch. Has this ever happened to anyone?

Yes.. Rude people are every where.

Especially RV'ers, as confirmed in these posts. I RVed for 6 yrs. and experienced all kinds. No longer travel in anything other than a auto or pickup. I am returning the favors. :B

fj12ryder wrote:
I think anymore selling gas is just a sideline. :)

Gas has never been a high-profit item. Snacks and drinks are. Another reason for gas pump card limits.. get them in the store.

2oldman wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
And people are also afraid they'll get in trouble for pulling away from the pumps before they have paid

Most places I've been it's near impossible to pump first.

Yes, but a lot of people don't consider they've paid for their gas until they've gone back inside to run the card. So the car sits until they come back out.

Let's face it, the gas stations want those people inside the store, they don't want them to fill up and drive off. They want them inside buying snacks, drinks, sandwiches, cigarettes, etc. I think anymore selling gas is just a sideline. :)

The only gas station for 100 miles in either direction on the Alcan had plenty of parking. A caravan finishing up at the pumps ahead of me did just what the op describes. Went inside store because he had plenty of time before the cruise director said start your engines. Wound up blocking traffic on the highway.

fj12ryder wrote:
And people are also afraid they'll get in trouble for pulling away from the pumps before they have paid

Most places I've been it's near impossible to pump first.

MrWizard wrote:
I'm in and out as fast as possible
But blame the "piddilin around" on the oil companies and gas stations operators
Who turned every gas station into kiwki mart mini truck stop
With all kinds of drinks and snacks
And unlike truck stops, there is little to no extra parking spaces at most gas stations
So there is no place to move your or truck away from the pump

I've noticed this quite a bit, that there's not many parking spaces in front of the store. And people are also afraid they'll get in trouble for pulling away from the pumps before they have paid. Before all the foo-fa-raw about driving away without paying, and having to pre-pay people would pull away from the pumps and then go inside to pay. Now they don't so much.

I don't know that I would look at it as the total disintegration of society as we know it though. :)