Self service...a boon or not??

brin · May 11, 2014

I think Gas Stations really lost a key interface with their customers when they went to self service, lost a chance to use suggestive selling to sell more products and find issues that needed to be serviced but I don't mind pumping my own gas.

Self service checkouts are a pain to use...I tried them at the Grocery store and Home Depot...the few times I tried there was always a problem the service person had to fix...So I refuse to use them any more.

JDgreen227 · May 11, 2014

Brin....."lost a chance to do suggestive selling....?" Don't you pay attention to the display on the gas pumps that asks if you want to buy a supersize pop or large bag of air (oops, chips) while you are there? "Find issues that need to be serviced...." Yeah, right. I recall the time my ex took my Buick to Mr. Monkeywrench for an overpriced oil change, they told her the car needed a new air filter (and I had just replaced it six months ago) and left the air filter box misconnected. And they told her a tail light was out and that it was a safety hazard and charged her $25 to replace a $2 bulb.

Suggestive selling, my wazoo....they know where they can stick their suggestive selling. MORONS !!!!

downsizingnow48 · May 11, 2014

First two years at college was night manager at large service station in San Fernando Valley. Six guys working 4-10 seven nights a week. Lotsa stories. The day manager used to keep a shelf of used oil filters in the supply room, polished like new. I asked him why. He said guy comes in for oil change if he watches to make sure we do it right he gets a used oil filter. Well I could never bring myself to do that but thought of it more than once dealing with jerky customers.

TomSeller · May 11, 2014

Cat_Driver said:
I took a trip up to Washington a few years ago and it was forbidden to pump your own gas - HUH, been doin it for 40 years. Nope, you can't do it. At first I was "man that's stupid" then I realized the fuel price was the same as Ca., but now there is a job created for a young person. BRILLIANT.
.

Oregon has the state law that people can't pump their own gas, but you are right the gas is about the same as the surrounding states. I once had a visitor from Oregon and he would drive his rental car up to a gas station pump and sit there out of habit.... Like someone was going to come out and pump his gas!!!! I joked that I would have to show him where the gas goes in the car.

3930dave · May 11, 2014

downsizingnow48 said:
First two years at college was night manager at large service station in San Fernando Valley. Six guys working 4-10 seven nights a week. Lotsa stories. The day manager used to keep a shelf of used oil filters in the supply room, polished like new. I asked him why. He said guy comes in for oil change if he watches to make sure we do it right he gets a used oil filter. Well I could never bring myself to do that but thought of it more than once dealing with jerky customers.

Yep, stories like that are part of why I still change my own oil.

New cars have been found after 3 or more oil changes to still have the production line only PN oil filter still in place.

And, on and on...... If you want it done right......

Rgds, D.

aczlan · May 11, 2014

3930dave said:
Yep, stories like that are part of why I still change my own oil.

New cars have been found after 3 or more oil changes to still have the production line only PN oil filter still in place.

And, on and on...... If you want it done right.....

Ayep. I run synthetic oil, so I change the oil every fall when I install snow tires. Works out to about every 10k miles.
Currently I run all Mann filters as that was the OEM for Volvo and the Caravan uses the same filter as my Volvo V90 . Will have to see what's available for the Yukon when it gets here.

Aaron Z

cqaigy2 · May 11, 2014

I like the self serve gas and checkouts. Buzz in, get the stuff, check out, then out the door. I have notice that somebody checking things out that can't read or comprehend usually have more of a problem with the self serve.

smstonypoint · May 11, 2014

Most of my travel is in NC and SC, and I seldom see a retailer that sells gasoline and provides mechanical services. Those that I do see are off major thoroughfares.

A question for those of you from Oregon or New Jersey. Do most of your retailers also provide mechanical services?

Steve

bcp · May 11, 2014

smstonypoint said:
A question for those of you from Oregon or New Jersey. Do most of your retailers also provide mechanical services?

Steve

I can't think of any that have more than gas and food. No shops, lifts, tire repair, etc. Most don't even have air or water.

Bruce

jerrybob · May 11, 2014

smstonypoint said:
Most of my travel is in NC and SC, and I seldom see a retailer that sells gasoline and provides mechanical services. Those that I do see are off major thoroughfares.

A question for those of you from Oregon or New Jersey. Do most of your retailers also provide mechanical services?

Steve

I live in Washington but shop in Oregon often. The stations are like everywhere else......very few provide any mechanical services. Most have a convenience store........but state laws require a paid attendant pump your gas. They have signs on the pump.....saying......exactly that.

Why can't Oregonians pump their own gas? Let us count the reasons | OregonLive.com