Craziness at the gas pump

[Camprat]

Hi all. My wife and I just returned from a three week motor home trip from Orange county CA to New Baltimore MI and back. The trip was awesome. Met a lot of great people in all the states we visited. We camped four nights each way averaging 600 miles a day driving. Stopped for gas twice each day. I usually top off my tank when it gets around the half way mark.
The only flaw in the whole trip was on the return trip, last gas stop in Ludlow CA where we met some people who set a new standard for inconsideration! We pulled into a very busy Union 76 gas station where there was also an attached Dairy Queen. It being around 100 deg. outside, it was very busy with travelers getting ice cream and drinks as well as their fuel.
I'm driving a 37 ft. coach towing a jeep wrangler. I pulled in to the pumps and they were all full so I decided to wait for a motorcycle and car to gas up and leave. Neither driver was at the vehicle when I pulled up. We waited, and waited, fifteen minuets go by, so we wait some more. My wife says, I bet these people are eating in there. I say no way! Know one would leave there vehicles at the pumps and go in and eat. Keep in mind, this place is packed! After another ten minuets I go inside the station to see. Guess what? I see a motorcycle helmet sitting on a stool. So I ask who owns the bike and car at the pumps. The guy says Oh sorry bout that. And his wife owns the car. I tell him I've been waiting 20 mins. for the pumps, as I can't back up while towing etc. He said he just drove his bike from Laughlin NV and he wanted to keep his bike and car in the shade! I still can't believe that this guy and his wife would tie up an island of pumps so he could park in the shade! Just when you think you've seen it all!
It was all I could do to keep my temper under control.
In 25 years of motor homing this is the most inconsiderate encounter I've had. Only in California!
Thanks for letting me vent.

[down_home]

Horns! I haven't used them yet. Huuum, why not?
Especially the time on I35 in Tx at Pilot Car full of undergrown adults pulled in head to head as I was pulling up after mh left, in front of me.
My wife was driving she should have given them a blast. Didn't pay any attention when I gave them a piece of my mind pooolitely.

[thirtydaZe]

it's not that people are inconsiderate now days, it's plain stupidity. people have become stupid, and the issues is getting progressively worse.

[4x4van]

Camprat wrote:

4x4van wrote:

Camprat wrote:
In 25 years of motor homing this is the most inconsiderate encounter I've had. Only in California!

Except that they were from Nevada, not California!

I guess I assume too much!
CA license plates on bike and car. Said he just rode all the way from Laughlin NV.
OK guess there from NV.if you say so.
This was my last gas stop of a 5000 mile trip through nine states, so yea, Only in CA!

Got it, I thought they were actually from Laughlin as you didn't mention the CA plates!

[TNGW1500SE]

Pull in on the lever on the left side of the handlebar and push it over a steep hill.

[Camprat]

4x4van wrote:

Camprat wrote:
In 25 years of motor homing this is the most inconsiderate encounter I've had. Only in California!

Except that they were from Nevada, not California!

I guess I assume too much!
CA license plates on bike and car. Said he just rode all the way from Laughlin NV.
OK guess there from NV.if you say so.
This was my last gas stop of a 5000 mile trip through nine states, so yea, Only in CA!

[4x4van]

Camprat wrote:
In 25 years of motor homing this is the most inconsiderate encounter I've had. Only in California!

Except that they were from Nevada, not California!

[Camprat]

Hank MI wrote:
Been there done that. Pulled in behind a van filling up. I couldn't get in far enough to use the 1st pump, he was at the 2nd. So I waited. He finished filling up. Went inside and God knows what he was doing in there while we waited. When he finally came out he fiddled around in the rear seat for awhile, I'm still waiting. Finally gets in the van and it's another 5 minutes before he moves on.

I'm buying a cow pusher for the front of the MH.

Wold have been a great time to give a good long blast on the air horns!

[Camprat]

bartlettj wrote:
This is one of the nice things about Oregon and the no-self-serve laws. There are always attendants who ask people to move on once they get filled, and usually larger gas stations have one way lanes so you don't get blocked in. I hate having to buy fuel in California due to inconsiderate people who don't move after fueling.

While it is nice that there are no- self- service laws in some states, It is sad that there people out there that are really that rude and inconsiderate of other people. It just astounds me.
I even told my wife when she suggested that the people must be in there eating, I said "No-Way someone would do that"!

Iv'e had my share of people leaving their cars while they take their time and shop etc. But this takes the cake!
Just when you think you've seen it all!

[bartlettj]

This is one of the nice things about Oregon and the no-self-serve laws. There are always attendants who ask people to move on once they get filled, and usually larger gas stations have one way lanes so you don't get blocked in. I hate having to buy fuel in California due to inconsiderate people who don't move after fueling.

[Camprat]

Tango, AE7UI wrote:
Courtesy and manners are a thing of the past!
Perhaps those folks were brought up that way; I think thrown up that way is more fitting.
The parents just don't know any better and it is the "me first" attitude these days.

Sad but true! This couple also had a couple of kids with them as well. They were all enjoying their ice cream sitting by the window, probably so daddy could keep an eye on his prized motorcycle. While watching all the traffic at the pumps backing up. AGGG makes my blood boil. When this happened, I don't know why I kept my cool. I guess I was in shock that someone could actually be this rude! It helps that I am also a mild mannered person. I just politely asked them to move their vehicles as I have been waiting more than 20 mins. and cant' back up, and they complied while mumbling something about wanting to be in the shade.

[mgirardo]

NJRVer wrote:
This is why there will never be self service in NJ.
There would be fists flying if you even walked away from your vehicle for 2 minutes.

The gas jockeys don't tolerate anybody leaving their vehicle while they are gassing up.

Having to get gas in NJ is the worst. Pull into a gas station, empty or full and sit and wait and wait and wait. I grew up in NJ, learned to drive in NJ. The nice thing about visiting NJ, since it is illegal to pump your own gas (except diesel for some reason), the attendant will sometimes move a little quicker if I get out to pump it myself.

I've been to many a gas station in NJ where people leave their car and go inside to do whatever. Give people the opportunity to leave their car and they will. In NJ, I try to seek out the gas stations without a convenience store attached to it.

-Michael

[Bobbo]

I once had a guy at a one pump station sitting at the pump in his car reading the newspaper. Got huffy when I asked if I could use the pump.

[pennysmom09]

rjxj wrote:

NJRVer wrote:
This is why there will never be self service in NJ.
There would be fists flying if you even walked away from your vehicle for 2 minutes.

The gas jockeys don't tolerate anybody leaving their vehicle while they are gassing up.

What is it like? I remember my uncle owning a Clark gas station and wearing a perfect white uniform and cap. Are they professional looking?

No, they are not professional looking.

[westernrvparkow]

ken56 wrote:
Managements problem, in not wanting to deal with these dolts. Management should have TOLD them to move their vehicles or they would be towed. They were preventing them from selling gas.

Unfortunately, there is no way a tow truck would get there in time even if they had that policy. Any actual action they took against those vehicles would open them up to liability issues. In practical terms, there is pretty much nothing anyone can do about inconsiderate (insert your own derogatory term). They are as much a fact of life as stink is to a bowel movement.