+1 for me. Always try to covertly use my shirt over my finger to avoid fingerprints...thinking that's a little obsessive?

 

I do the same. Or use my bent pointer finger (knuckle) instead. Smaller print.

 

It's not a cultural norm, it's protectionism via legislation. If you can't pump your own gas, stations have to hire people to do it for you, making it economically unfeasible to have mega-stations competing with mom and pop operations. I say this as a former resident.

Whenever I go back to NJ, I don't wait for the attendant, I just get out and pump my own gas as I smile to the attendant and wave. They usually appreciate it.

Fuel door mechanisms differ by manufacturer, for some you push the hinge side and it opens right away, for the GS you push the latch side and then have to release it. I have compassion for the attendant who has to guess whether you didn't pop it open or he needs to push and if so where he needs to push.

 

Cultural norm is like when Japan has a natural disaster, there is never any looting. People help one another. Not being able to pump your own gas is legislative abnormality in certain states. It's akin to say socialist France where people are accustomed to high taxes, month long vacations and no one can work more than one job. Legislative norm vs Cultural norm.

 

No, it's not... NJ is a communist hack state and there's lots of union garbage. The gas pumping thing was some rig job someone did to artificially create a bunch of jobs.

The only reason people in NJ put up with the full serve bull**** is their gas tax I think is the lowest in the nation- that's kind of the concession is made; that's why nobody *****es about it too much.

-Mike

 

I would disagree, 14,000,000 people, the combined population of OR and NJ, doesn't even make a sizeable dent in the US population of 350,000,000.

Then you make it like people in other states MUST pump their own gas. Not true. There are full service stations though they are the exception rather than the norm.

With pay at the pump, there's no reason for an attendant for 99.9756% of the driving public. I was so overjoyed when that came into popular being and I didn't have stand behind the guy buying 2 quick picks, taking time his to mark his lottery numbers and a pack of lucky strikes.

I'm not in a hurry, I have low tolerance for impede the flow.

 

Glad I'm not the only one!

 

I hate cars with separate button for gas cap, especially when that button is either right besides the trunk release, or it's the ones where it's a lever where pull opens the trunk and push opens the gas lid.

The push-open lid just makes so much sense.

 

I often drive from PA to NH and always wait until NY or CT to get gas.

 

I wonder if self-check out at grocery stores will be allowed. Even surprised that counter ordering and pick-up are allowed in restaurants. Now they want the minimum wage for cashiers and counter workers to be $15/hr. Now it is common that on pickup orders they want tips.

 

I personally don't mind getting my gas pumped by an attendant. Saves my lazy self from getting out the car lol. I guess I'm spoiled by NJ gas stations.

 

Been a few days since I read this post so didn't realize the conversation went politically sideways. I remember 20+ years ago when Indiana used to have the option to choose whether someone pumped our gas or we did it ourselves (excluding Swifty gas stations where full service was the only option). A lot of benefits to full service, such as when the temperature is below zero and you want to stay in your warm car. Or, if you're a parent chewing out your kids for a bad report card, you threaten them that they'll only be able to pump gas for a living with those grades (I may have heard that once or twice growing up).

I digress... I liken full service gas stations to paying someone to mow your lawn, or a maid to clean your house, or buying that Groupon for car detailing. Everyone has their reasons, and drivers, why they choose to like one service vs another. But to be forced into something you're not fond of is something I'll never grasp onto and maybe the politically driven reasons are accurate.

Me, I'm in the boat with others that don't like fingerprints on the gas door (yes, I absolutely use my shirt to close the door whether it's my t-shirt or the cuff on my dress shirt). But, to be honest I don't like a lot of things when it comes to my car. 17+ years with my wife and she still "can't" shut the door correctly when she gets out! Good thing she doesn't read these posts... When I go to the dealer, I specifically tell them not to wash the car because I don't want water spots and more so because I don't trust them. And I never ever have them fill the windshield washer fluid since I use Rain-X brand only - the nerve of them thinking blue colored water is worthy of my Lexus! And, unlike some folks, detailing my cars is my own self therapy so I can't imagine paying someone to do that, whereas several folks I know can't imagine having a 7-foot tall gladiator cabinet in their garage mostly filled with car detailing goodies...

Obviously we all have our opinions and thoughts, but in the end it comes down to whether you want another careless knucklehead leaving prints on the car you "spent all day waxing" (thank you DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince for your contribution to our conversation ) and whether a gas door button is something we should or should not have (I'm in the boat to not have one - hate the one on my wife's MDX).

Based on so many of the creative things I've seen done to cars on this forum, I'm guessing someone will figure this out as workaround. And who knows, maybe that creative workaround will convince me to wish a button was readily available for me also. Enjoy your day my friends

 

Hmm...maybe I'm just lazy but I love when I get gas in Oregon and I don't have to do it. It doesn't bother me at all that it isn't allowed. Though I have forgotten a couple times in the past and been yelled at for starting to do it myself.

 

I did that one time in Oregon on a rental car. I filled it up myself and was wondering why I got weird looks from everyone. Then I remembered Oregon has full service gas stations.

It's a force of habit since we don't have that luxury here in CA. Plus I like doing things myself to avoid SCRATCHES!!

 

One of the many reasons I love Oregon. My wife grew up in Portland and she really misses the attendants.

I've always wondered/worried about that too, but I've never had any issues with that. The attendants at the stations I use when in PDX have been quite careful. Thankfully. (Hope I didn't just jinx it!)