Full Service Gas in NJ (1 Viewer)

[Baloney Sandwich]

I was down in NJ last week and gas down there is apparently all full service. Does anyone know if this is a statewide law? For those that do know, why exactly was the law put in place? The gas down there seemed pretty cheap so not sure if this has any affect on the price but I was having a really hard time understanding the reasoning behind the law. Are there any other states that also have this law?

 

[Smack Tripper]

Basically a jobs protection. I think there have been other threads. As a jerseyan I love it.

 

[General Malaise]

I was down in NJ last week and gas down there is apparently all full service. Does anyone know if this is a statewide law? For those that do know, why exactly was the law put in place? The gas down there seemed pretty cheap so not sure if this has any affect on the price but I was having a really hard time understanding the reasoning behind the law. Are there any other states that also have this law?

Yeah, Oregon. I've probably wasted a good 4-5 hours of my life waiting for the gas jockeys to fill my tank. So dumb.

 

[Joe Summer]

It's been that way since 1949. New Jersey and Oregon are the only 2 states that ban self-serve gas.

BTW, the definition of "Full Service" has changed over the years. "Full Service" used to mean that the attendant would clean your windshield and take your payment in to the clerk (while "Minimum Service" meant that the attendant would only pump your gas). But there are very few stations that still over a true "Full" service anymore.

 

[Swing 51]

No U-turns either, I say we boycott NJ

 

[zamboni]

But there are very few stations that still over a true "Full" service anymore.

Those all became message parlors.

 

[DreamTheater]

Most "Jug-Handle" u turns from the right hand lane in NJ.....and yes, we don't pump our own gas...Technically illegal.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

these laws are some of the dumbest in the world.

 

[RUSF18]

People were happy having their gas pumped without leaving the car back when that nutjob was sniping people.

 

[Dickie Dunn]

My former town here in Massachusetts has it as a town bylaw. I'm pretty sure someone accidentally drove off and blew up a place or something many years ago.

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

I'm still trying to figure out why a state would pass such a law, the only thing I could think of would be some type of liability issue with people pumping their own gas.

 

[eoMMan]

My former town here in Massachusetts has it as a town bylaw. I'm pretty sure someone accidentally drove off and blew up a place or something many years ago.

I was an attendant during college and saw a couple people drive off with the hoses still attached. People are dumb. No explosions though.

 

[Amused to Death]

these laws are some of the dumbest in the world.

I was very happy sitting in my heated car during those single-digit temp days while someone else pumped it. And paid significantly less than my neighboring states.

Rarely do I have to wait for the pump jockey as they are usually sitting in a booth about 5 feet away from where I pull up.

 

[zamboni]

Much lower prices than the national average and you get to avoid smelly gas hands. I don't see the problem.

 

[kentric]

People were happy having their gas pumped without leaving the car back when that nutjob was sniping people.

Are you sure that nutjob wasn't shooting at the oil cans?

 

[kentric]

I'm still trying to figure out why a state would pass such a law, the only thing I could think of would be some type of liability issue with people pumping their own gas.

The Force is very strong in the Gas Pumpers Union # 453 in New Jersey.

 

[Amused to Death]

Much lower prices than the national average and you get to avoid smelly gas hands. I don't see the problem.

Not to mention I can pull up and tell an attendant to give me $20 regular and be gone in a few minutes without having to leave my car. I don't have to get out and wait in line behind someone getting a water bottle and a pack of smokes to tell the guy to put $20 on pump 3.

 

[belljr]

My biggest issue is the pump "Nazis". Most of the guys at my regular station are cool if I hop out and pump my own gas, especially when they are crowded.

They even thank me for doing it.

But every once in a while I get some dork that "yells" at me that I'm not allowed to pump my gas.

 

[General Malaise]

My biggest issue is the pump "Nazis". Most of the guys at my regular station are cool if I hop out and pump my own gas, especially when they are crowded.

They even thank me for doing it.

But every once in a while I get some dork that "yells" at me that I'm not allowed to pump my gas.

Yeah, you aren't doing that in Oregon I assure you.

 

[msommer]

I'm still trying to figure out why a state would pass such a law, the only thing I could think of would be some type of liability issue with people pumping their own gas.

The Force is very strong in the Gas Pumpers Union # 453 in New Jersey.

Pure communism

 

[comfortably numb]

My biggest issue is the pump "Nazis". Most of the guys at my regular station are cool if I hop out and pump my own gas, especially when they are crowded.

They even thank me for doing it.

But every once in a while I get some dork that "yells" at me that I'm not allowed to pump my gas.

The dork is probably just trying to save his job in case his boss sees a customer using the pumps.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Much lower prices than the national average and you get to avoid smelly gas hands. I don't see the problem.

Not to mention I can pull up and tell an attendant to give me $20 regular and be gone in a few minutes without having to leave my car. I don't have to get out and wait in line behind someone getting a water bottle and a pack of smokes to tell the guy to put $20 on pump 3.

who waits in line to pay for gas? Pay at the pump eliminated that years ago...

 

[belljr]

My biggest issue is the pump "Nazis". Most of the guys at my regular station are cool if I hop out and pump my own gas, especially when they are crowded.

They even thank me for doing it.

But every once in a while I get some dork that "yells" at me that I'm not allowed to pump my gas.

The dork is probably just trying to save his job in case his boss sees a customer using the pumps.

Probably, he doesn't need to be a meanie about it

 

[Amused to Death]

Much lower prices than the national average and you get to avoid smelly gas hands. I don't see the problem.

Not to mention I can pull up and tell an attendant to give me $20 regular and be gone in a few minutes without having to leave my car. I don't have to get out and wait in line behind someone getting a water bottle and a pack of smokes to tell the guy to put $20 on pump 3.

who waits in line to pay for gas? Pay at the pump eliminated that years ago...

See, living in NJ all my life I've never had to get one of those. Whenever I'm out of state I have to go inside. So yeah, I guess there's that.

ETA: when you pay at the pump, are you paying a cash (debit) or credit price?

 

[belljr]

Much lower prices than the national average and you get to avoid smelly gas hands. I don't see the problem.

Not to mention I can pull up and tell an attendant to give me $20 regular and be gone in a few minutes without having to leave my car. I don't have to get out and wait in line behind someone getting a water bottle and a pack of smokes to tell the guy to put $20 on pump 3.

who waits in line to pay for gas? Pay at the pump eliminated that years ago...

See, living in NJ all my life I've never had to get one of those. Whenever I'm out of state I have to go inside. So yeah, I guess there's that.

:wut: do you pay only cash?

 

[Sinn Fein]

Much lower prices than the national average and you get to avoid smelly gas hands. I don't see the problem.

Not to mention I can pull up and tell an attendant to give me $20 regular and be gone in a few minutes without having to leave my car. I don't have to get out and wait in line behind someone getting a water bottle and a pack of smokes to tell the guy to put $20 on pump 3.

who waits in line to pay for gas? Pay at the pump eliminated that years ago...

See, living in NJ all my life I've never had to get one of those. Whenever I'm out of state I have to go inside. So yeah, I guess there's that.

ETA: when you pay at the pump, are you paying a cash (debit) or credit price?

You don't have a credit card or debit card?

ETA - lol - its been years since I have seen a cash/credit difference in price...

 

[Amused to Death]

Much lower prices than the national average and you get to avoid smelly gas hands. I don't see the problem.

Not to mention I can pull up and tell an attendant to give me $20 regular and be gone in a few minutes without having to leave my car. I don't have to get out and wait in line behind someone getting a water bottle and a pack of smokes to tell the guy to put $20 on pump 3.

who waits in line to pay for gas? Pay at the pump eliminated that years ago...

See, living in NJ all my life I've never had to get one of those. Whenever I'm out of state I have to go inside. So yeah, I guess there's that.

:wut: do you pay only cash?

Yup. I'm one of the few I guess that always pays in cash. For everything.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

at "never had to get one of those"

 

[matttyl]

People were happy having their gas pumped without leaving the car back when that nutjob was sniping people.

That was happening in DC, a few hours away.

 

[Amused to Death]

at "never had to get one of those"

Yeah I was thinking of the old fast pass or what ever. Again, in NJ all my life its never been an issue. Just hand the guy cash and go.

Fact remains, I pay less and never leave my car.

 

[fantasycurse42]

NJ:

Close to NYC, some of the most affluent towns in America, some of the best school districts in America, close to the beach, and full service gas cheaper than most places in the country...

Great place to live and raise a family

 

[msommer]

at "never had to get one of those"

Yeah I was thinking of the old fast pass or what ever. Again, in NJ all my life its never been an issue. Just hand the guy cash and go.

Fact remains, I pay less and never leave my car.

It must be pretty smelly by now

 

[fantasycurse42]

Much lower prices than the national average and you get to avoid smelly gas hands. I don't see the problem.

I made this statement in a previous gasoline thread and everyone proclaimed that doesn't happen to them...

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

at "never had to get one of those"

Yeah I was thinking of the old fast pass or what ever. Again, in NJ all my life its never been an issue. Just hand the guy cash and go.

Fact remains, I pay less and never leave my car.

nobody disputes that full service gas can be a nice perk at times...but legislating it as mandatory for everybody is still silly.

 

[RUSF18]

Much lower prices than the national average and you get to avoid smelly gas hands. I don't see the problem.

Not to mention I can pull up and tell an attendant to give me $20 regular and be gone in a few minutes without having to leave my car. I don't have to get out and wait in line behind someone getting a water bottle and a pack of smokes to tell the guy to put $20 on pump 3.

who waits in line to pay for gas? Pay at the pump eliminated that years ago...

See, living in NJ all my life I've never had to get one of those. Whenever I'm out of state I have to go inside. So yeah, I guess there's that.

ETA: when you pay at the pump, are you paying a cash (debit) or credit price?

You don't have a credit card or debit card?

ETA - lol - its been years since I have seen a cash/credit difference in price...

New York differentiates.

 

[RUSF18]

People were happy having their gas pumped without leaving the car back when that nutjob was sniping people.

That was happening in DC, a few hours away.

I know. But not only were there plenty of stories back then about people being scared to pump their own gas all over the place, but he had connections to New Jersey and the car he was shooting from was registered in NJ.

 

[Amused to Death]

Much lower prices than the national average and you get to avoid smelly gas hands. I don't see the problem.

Not to mention I can pull up and tell an attendant to give me $20 regular and be gone in a few minutes without having to leave my car. I don't have to get out and wait in line behind someone getting a water bottle and a pack of smokes to tell the guy to put $20 on pump 3.

who waits in line to pay for gas? Pay at the pump eliminated that years ago...

See, living in NJ all my life I've never had to get one of those. Whenever I'm out of state I have to go inside. So yeah, I guess there's that.

ETA: when you pay at the pump, are you paying a cash (debit) or credit price?

You don't have a credit card or debit card?

ETA - lol - its been years since I have seen a cash/credit difference in price...

New York differentiates.

As does NJ, about $0.10 more per gallon for credit at most stations.

 

[belljr]

It's random here. When prices came down most places stopped the cash or credit pricing. Wawa never had it (I don't think).

Some places still do it. It's usually 5 cents but have seen it 10 cents also. But we also have gas stations that are 15-30 cents higher only 1/2 mile away from other stations

 

[kentric]

NJ:

Close to NYC, some of the most affluent towns in America, some of the best school districts in America, close to the beach, and full service gas cheaper than most places in the country...

Great place to live and raise a family

NJ is also a great place to pay $20K in property taxes/year for a moderately sized home..

 

[St. Louis Bob]

at "never had to get one of those"

Yeah I was thinking of the old fast pass or what ever. Again, in NJ all my life its never been an issue. Just hand the guy cash and go.

Fact remains, I pay less and never leave my car.

How does it cost less to pay somebody to fill your car up instead of doing it yourself?

 

[Amused to Death]

at "never had to get one of those"

Yeah I was thinking of the old fast pass or what ever. Again, in NJ all my life its never been an issue. Just hand the guy cash and go.

Fact remains, I pay less and never leave my car.

How does it cost less to pay somebody to fill your car up instead of doing it yourself?

NJ prices are lower than national average (thanks to the 2nd lowest gas tax in the nation) I can drive about 5 miles from my house to PA and pay as much as 25 to 30 cents per gallon more and have to pump it.

Right now I can pay $2.05 in NJ. A few miles away in PA the lowest (on gas buddy) is $2.43.

 

[fantasycurse42]

NJ:

Close to NYC, some of the most affluent towns in America, some of the best school districts in America, close to the beach, and full service gas cheaper than most places in the country...

Great place to live and raise a family

NJ is also a great place to pay $20K in property taxes/year for a moderately sized home..

Like Montclair, Livingston, Middletown, Holmdel, Colts Neck, or Rumson?

I'm exploring the possibility of moving to one of the above towns, their school systems and nonexistent crime rate make it well worth it.

Paying $20k in taxes sure beats sending two kids to private school if you are considering moving out of NYC.

 

[St. Louis Bob]

at "never had to get one of those"

Yeah I was thinking of the old fast pass or what ever. Again, in NJ all my life its never been an issue. Just hand the guy cash and go.

Fact remains, I pay less and never leave my car.

How does it cost less to pay somebody to fill your car up instead of doing it yourself?

NJ prices are lower than national average (thanks to the 2nd lowest gas tax in the nation) I can drive about 5 miles from my house to PA and pay as much as 25 to 30 cents per gallon more and have to pump it.

Right now I can pay $2.05 in NJ. A few miles away in PA the lowest (on gas buddy) is $2.43.

So if you didn't have to pay the guy to pump the gas, it would be even less expensive?

 

[fantasycurse42]

Is anyone disputing that pumping your own gas is better than having someone do it for you?

 

[17seconds]

I was down in NJ last week and gas down there is apparently all full service. Does anyone know if this is a statewide law? For those that do know, why exactly was the law put in place? The gas down there seemed pretty cheap so not sure if this has any affect on the price but I was having a really hard time understanding the reasoning behind the law. Are there any other states that also have this law?

Yeah, Oregon. I've probably wasted a good 4-5 hours of my life waiting for the gas jockeys to fill my tank. So dumb.

My mom told me a story of driving through Oregon, stopping at a gas station, and starting to pump her own gas. An Indian guy (dots) comes running out of the building yelling "STOP! WE ARE PEOPLE TOO! WE ARE PEOPLE TOO!!!"

 

[Fat Nick]

Raised in VA, moved to NJ about 5 years ago. I HATE waiting on the attendants to pump gas. I honestly would rather do it myself. I don't understand what these gas station attendants do that requres them to have Bluetooth headsets on and be on important conversations every time I need gas. Just pump my gas. Sorry if that sounds arrogant, but I'd do it myself, BUT I CAN'T

Oh, and Jughandles are odd at first, but actually are quite efficient, so I give those a

 

[belljr]

Raised in VA, moved to NJ about 5 years ago. I HATE waiting on the attendants to pump gas. I honestly would rather do it myself. I don't understand what these gas station attendants do that requres them to have Bluetooth headsets on and be on important conversations every time I need gas. Just pump my gas. Sorry if that sounds arrogant, but I'd do it myself, BUT I CAN'T

Oh, and Jughandles are odd at first, but actually are quite efficient, so I give those a

Except for the time you get in the right lane for a jug handle and it's the one intersection that has a left turn

 

[Bri]

I worked in a NJ Mobil station while going to school. We were right along the NY/NJ border. Opened at 6 to lines, closed at ten, by 10:30 people were cursing at us for closing despite them pulling up.

A few blocks away was an Exxon and maybe 2 miles was a Texaco. All were top ten busiest gas stations in the country for their company.
We'd get a truck a day and once a week two. IIRC that's 7000 gallons of gas.

This competition meant we had to do windows and check the oil and even went through a spat where we had to wear collared shirts and old man shorts.

Nearby were the national headquarters for Mercedes, Sony, Marriott, A&P, many others including Medco. Medco the biggest of them all dealing with meds and pharmacy pills. Post office nearby was also one of the busiest in the country. Might have some non-city type disclaimer but....tons of mail went through there via all these company headquarters.

We were a sometimes a dollar cheaper than NY, generally more toward 50 cents.

A zillion people take trips to the jersey shore and AC-they milk it til they can hit NJ and fill up. Same with on the way back.

This was also one of the 7th richest counties in the country. Wealthy people almost get off on having someone else do their windows and check their oil.

For many it was stress at work, pull up get some gas and chill a minute, before turning into mom or dad.

Thousands of jobs, happy citizens getting a menial task done for them-really don't think it's a bad law at all.

Where I live now, you work at Walmart, KFC, Subway, or McDonalds if you're under 22 and there's really not a lot of options.

 

[RUSF18]

at "never had to get one of those"

Yeah I was thinking of the old fast pass or what ever. Again, in NJ all my life its never been an issue. Just hand the guy cash and go.

Fact remains, I pay less and never leave my car.

How does it cost less to pay somebody to fill your car up instead of doing it yourself?

NJ prices are lower than national average (thanks to the 2nd lowest gas tax in the nation) I can drive about 5 miles from my house to PA and pay as much as 25 to 30 cents per gallon more and have to pump it.

Right now I can pay $2.05 in NJ. A few miles away in PA the lowest (on gas buddy) is $2.43.

So if you didn't have to pay the guy to pump the gas, it would be even less expensive?

Probably depends. Not only with living in NY, but I've spent a lot of time in PA and have also traveled enough to see plenty of locals #### up the process on their own, whether it's with actually filling the pump or not being able to swipe their card correctly. Add in the rare times people go inside to pay cash and having a pump basically out of commission at times and it could end up being cheaper to have a couple guys earning minimum wage.

 

[Fat Nick]

Is anyone disputing that pumping your own gas is better than having someone do it for you?

Yes...when the attendants are slow and the station is busy. It shouldn't take 10 minutes to get gas. I'd honestly rather pump it myself most of the time just for the efficiency.