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.

[Tango__AE7UI]

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.

[time2roll]

Just for some shade. That is a new one... thanks. Good on you for calling him out.

[azrving]

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?

[NJRVer]

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.

[Dutch_12078]

On the other hand, I pulled into the end island at one station where a small SUV was gassing up at the forward pump. Within a minute or so, the young fellow pumping the gas came back to my window and asked if I needed to pull up to reach the other pump. I said yes, my filler is at the back corner. He said he'd need to go inside to pay and there weren't any parking places left by the store, but if I held back, he would pull ahead a little and then back up to the side of our coach before he went in. I thanked him, and that's exactly what he did as soon as he finished filling up a couple of minutes later, leaving me plenty of room to pull up. I missed him when he came back out or I would have thanked him again. It's good to know there's still some considerate folks out there!

[rockhillmanor]

I ran into the same thing.

Pulled in behind a car at the pumps with my MH towing. I was at a 45 degree angle and partially blocking the truck exit as I pulled up behind the car.

She was just getting back from inside with some food and her kids in tow, so I thought it was safe to pull in behind her because I thought she would be pulling right out.

Well.....she proceeds to start feeding all her kids inside and outside the car like a big picnic and not leaving! I can't back up and now none of the trucks can leave because I'm blocking them. :E

The trucks can't see from where they are at why I am not moving up. One big and I mean big trucker comes up to my MH door and as he does I quickly point to the car in front of me. So he headed for the car.

He didn't mince any words because she was a woman either! All I saw was here packing up food with one hand and shoving kids into car seats with the other and taking off as fast as she could. Trucker gave me a thumbs up and went back to his rig.

Whew, just another fun filled day of wonderful, peaceful, RV'ing. :B

[JaxDad]

Many moons back I had an inconsiderate driver like that, blocking the only diesel pump in the place, with his p/u and (empty) gooseneck horse trailer.

After about 10 minutes I snugged up against the far side of his vehicle and ran the hose out between the truck & trailer to fill mine.

I put the hose in my truck and waited...........

Just as I saw him heading to his truck I put the pump on the slowest fill notch on the handle and stepped back.

He went to get in his truck & I said something like 'Sorry friend, I couldn't wait any longer, I started filling already.'

He objected.

Then he waited.......,,

A very long time...........

For my 85 gallon fill up.........

Oh well. Didn't bother me in the slightest. LOL.

[TomG2]

Mine was a family that left their van blocking me in for at least twenty minutes. When they came out with their empty lunch packaging, I pointed out that it was not a great lesson in good citizenship for the kids. I was told where I could go with my citizenship.

More recently, a driver parked her car at one of the busy pumps and disappeared for fifteen minutes without purchasing one gallon of fuel. She wanted to enjoy the shade while she was inside the store.

[wa8yxm]

I once pulled into a station and waited for ONE car to move so I could get to the pump. Well before they moved a kid (Likely too young to drive) Moved his mother's car from parking to the other pump in that lane, effectively blocking me, and proceeded to wash the windshield.. NO gas, just a squeege job.

Eventually Mommie came out and got in and drove away.

[NC_Roamer]

Stopped for gas with the class C on I-95 in May. As with the OP, it was a gas station with a fast joint on one end and the place was packed. Pulled in behind a pickup with no one there, but figured the driver was paying inside. A young (maybe 19-20 year old) male sauntered out to the pickup.

While he pumped, I stepped into our bathroom. As I plopped back into the driver's seat, I saw him sauntering (that seemed to be his only speed) towards the fast food entrance. After about ten more minutes, I was able to back out and get into the next pump aisle.

About five minutes after I started filling the RV, he ambled (even slower than a saunter) across the parking lot carrying a drink and a bag of food. I could not believe it. I stepped in front of the RV and very loudly called out, "You saw me waiting behind you, BUT YOU WENT TO GET (expletive deleted) LUNCH?!?"

I thought that was the height of rudeness until I read the OP's post.

[Hank_MI]

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.

[down_home]

Kingman Az Flying J/Pilot. A pickup, with bicycle in back, jumps in front of us in the RV lane that has curbs. Another Mh was in front fueling.
The guy aired up the bike tire and then tried to get the Mh Operator to move so he could get out, He got belligerent with Mh Operator, for taking so long. He then tried to get us to back up. Told him we couldn't back up with the toad. He waited a few minutes and somehow maneged to get the small pickup over the left curb nearly tearing down something or other, I have forgotten what. I wouldn't have pulled in behind him but was already on that trajectory and had to get out of the road.

[K_Charles]

When my dad drove truck he was waiting to make a pickup ad a straight truck cut in front of him and said he wouldn't be long and was in a hurry. He talked to workers on the dock, pulled his trailer up to block the guy in and told him he was going to lunch, was in a hurry and wouldn't be long. The guy was stuck, waiting his turn would have been quicker.

[ken56]

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.

[lawnspecialties]

At least you said something. He's a boob and needed to be called out on it. Good job.