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Chris Jacob
I live in Michigan, and there's no way I'm going to stand there holding onto the pump handle in the dead of winter. I stopped using one gas station when they (apparently intentionally) broke off all the little latch flaps on their pump handles, forcing you to manually squeeze the trigger the entire time (later they got debranded for several months, so I wouldn't ever go back there under any circumstances). Aside from all of that, I'm not really fond of breathing in the gas fumes, so what I generally do is get the pump started, and then back up a few feet until I can't smell it anymore.
@Purple Dave: I heard, on Lifehacker, there's these things called "gloves" that are truly revolutionary for performing cold-weather tasks.
Also, as a sidenote.... there is no difference between "branded" and "unbranded" gas. They all come from the same 2 or 3 vendor/distributors. The primary difference is the added detergents (of questionable quality and performance) that a few "branded" vendors add.
@BeautifulAgony: Firstly, there's this thing called "getting the stench of gas on your gloves". I keep my gloves in my coat pockets. My wool coat's pockets. I don't want to have to be sending it out for dry-cleaning in the dead of winter because my pockets reek of gas. And it still requires standing over the pump handle and breathing in all the fumes (or are you going to suggest I keep a VOC filter in my pocket?).
And it's not the fact that the gas that's unbranded that matters. It's the fact that the gas station (which had very recently changed ownership) pissed off the distributor (in this case, BP) enough that they didn't want their name associated with whatever shady business practices were going on at that station. One of the specific things that I know BP will debrand a station for is tweaking the fuel pumps so they don't deliver a full gallon of gas for each one that they charge for, or so that it rings up a gallon or two before the pump actually engages. _THAT'S_ why I will never again go to that station. They have since gotten either Citgo or Firebird branding (for a while they had signs for both brands stuffed in the big light-up sign, and I can't remember which one they eventually switched the whole station over to).
For those who are uninformed (and/or perhaps too lazy to find out for themselves), some states prohibit latches (or the use of gas caps) because it can interfere with the auto shutoff in some instances. And, although unlikely, the lack of a latch or inserted object can prevent the free flow of gasoline in the event that the auto shutoff failed.
If you are too weak to pump gas yourself I would suggest going to a full service station.
While they're at it, why not offer some kind of text-to-speech converter so drivers who are blind won't have any problems selecting the right kind of fuel.
@Imagism: It makes me sad that people choose to pick on those less fortunate. I choose to stand up for those less fortunate. You, if you would like, are free to join the masses and be a sheep. Slam those that may have arthritis or other ailments which would be benefited by this product. If this is what you may find humor in I will fight for your right to do so. I, however, do not agree.
@sunshinelizard: Driving is serious business. One idiot making a wrong move can wipe out an entire family tree on their way to wherever. If you can't operate a fuel pump manually, how are you going to be able to react to drastic changes in your driving environment.
Grammar Nazis and Typo Police do not intimidate me. It won't win you any friends here or anywhere else. If you have a better comment, post it.
In Massachusetts it's against the law to have the latch on the pumps. A few people started fires by going into their cars and then having a static shock taking out the pump, so now they make you stand there. I wonder what the law would say about this? I like cleaning my windows, or buying snacks, when the gas is pumping...
12/19/08
we got peoples for that
12/20/08
A mullet is a high price to pay for full-service gas stations.
12/19/08
12/20/08
Also, as a sidenote.... there is no difference between "branded" and "unbranded" gas. They all come from the same 2 or 3 vendor/distributors. The primary difference is the added detergents (of questionable quality and performance) that a few "branded" vendors add.
12/20/08
Firstly, there's this thing called "getting the stench of gas on your gloves". I keep my gloves in my coat pockets. My wool coat's pockets. I don't want to have to be sending it out for dry-cleaning in the dead of winter because my pockets reek of gas. And it still requires standing over the pump handle and breathing in all the fumes (or are you going to suggest I keep a VOC filter in my pocket?).
And it's not the fact that the gas that's unbranded that matters. It's the fact that the gas station (which had very recently changed ownership) pissed off the distributor (in this case, BP) enough that they didn't want their name associated with whatever shady business practices were going on at that station. One of the specific things that I know BP will debrand a station for is tweaking the fuel pumps so they don't deliver a full gallon of gas for each one that they charge for, or so that it rings up a gallon or two before the pump actually engages. _THAT'S_ why I will never again go to that station. They have since gotten either Citgo or Firebird branding (for a while they had signs for both brands stuffed in the big light-up sign, and I can't remember which one they eventually switched the whole station over to).
12/19/08
If you are too weak to pump gas yourself I would suggest going to a full service station.
12/19/08
12/19/08
12/19/08
@ ANSIx12 Transactor
....If you're not smart enough to use proper words you do not need to be posting!
12/19/08
12/20/08
12/20/08
12/21/08
Grammar Nazis and Typo Police do not intimidate me. It won't win you any friends here or anywhere else. If you have a better comment, post it.
12/19/08
12/19/08