3 ms·

I just imagined I had this much in my pocket and the awkwardness that would ensue should I misspump. Takes me back to my first years of driving.

by Tade0 5y ago

dragontamer 5y ago
Most pumps I've been to are "cash first". If you give $20 to the counter, the pump shuts off exactly at $20.
- frosted-flakes 5y ago
  Not in Canada. Some pumps are pre-pay, particularly in bigger cities like Toronto where fill-n-fly is more of an issue, but usually you can just start pumping, then go inside to pay after. Most pump handles still have the trigger locks, too, so you can wash your windshield while it pumps.
- bee_rider 5y ago
  I wonder if those are more recent. It would be funny if they changed it up in the game, since it does give you years explicitly. Like, Initially they could simulate pump-then-pay. Then a brief time of pay-then-pump. Then essentially pump-then-pay as it switches over to debit card. Finally, pump-then-pay with a random chance of a massive score penalty, to simulate the modern "maybe my card got skimmed" gas pumping experience.
  - Nbox9 5y ago
    Maybe somehow asking the question “Will this pump up a $50 hold or a $100 hold on my card, because I only have a $75 balance and a $100 hold would create an overdraft fee”. This game really lacks realism.
    - maxerickson 5y ago
      The store I usually go to does $300.
  - dr_orpheus 5y ago
    Yes, the pumps that automatically stop at a pre-set amount of money are newer. They aren't very common, but in some more rural areas of the US, I have come across the old style pumps that do not stop automatically and the attendant is just reading the value off of the pump to settle up. You can pay with a card at most of these places these days, but it is still paying a preset amount and then a sale and/or refund afterwards.
    - cgriswald 5y ago
      They've had those pumps since at least the 90's. They were used at stations where people were frequently driving off without paying.
  - astura 5y ago
    >I wonder if those are more recent. Oh, definitely! When I first started driving (which was, eek, more than 20 years ago) there was no such thing as prepaying for gas, at least for all the pumps in my area. You pumped the gas, then entered the store to pay for it. I always told the cashier the amount I pumped so I'm not sure if they would have the amount you pumped on their register or not. There were warning signs saying "drive offs will be prosecuted." Year later, around 2004, I started paying for gas with a credit card at the suggestion of a friend. At first I was super uncomfortable doing so because a casual observer from a distance wouldn't be able to tell if you actually paid for your gas if you didn't enter the store. I'd take the receipt so I had proof I paid if anyone accosted me. Shortly after that, around 2005-ish(?) I started seeing signs that said "cash transactions need to prepay." Now I don't see any signs because prepaying is the standard procedure now. Another difference between now and back then was kids (teens and preteens) would regularly pump gas for their parents (or whoever was driving). Not me, specifically, but I had a few friends who were always expected to pump the gas and pay for it if they were in the car. It was one of their assigned chores.
    - bee_rider 5y ago
      That's really interesting. I think we're around the same age-ish (I'm in my mid 30's). It must be a regional thing -- "Can I get $X on pump Y" goes back forever here as far as I can remember (Northeast US). I bet we got it earlier in these less trusting areas (I grew up in a tourism town).

I just imagined I had this much in my pocket and the awkwardness that would ensue should I misspump. Takes me back to my first years of driving.

by Tade0 5y ago

I just imagined I had this much in my pocket and the awkwardness that would ensue should I misspump. Takes me back to my first years of driving.

dragontamer 5y ago

Most pumps I've been to are "cash first". If you give $20 to the counter, the pump shuts off exactly at $20.

frosted-flakes 5y ago
Not in Canada. Some pumps are pre-pay, particularly in bigger cities like Toronto where fill-n-fly is more of an issue, but usually you can just start pumping, then go inside to pay after. Most pump handles still have the trigger locks, too, so you can wash your windshield while it pumps.
bee_rider 5y ago
I wonder if those are more recent. It would be funny if they changed it up in the game, since it does give you years explicitly. Like, Initially they could simulate pump-then-pay. Then a brief time of pay-then-pump. Then essentially pump-then-pay as it switches over to debit card. Finally, pump-then-pay with a random chance of a massive score penalty, to simulate the modern "maybe my card got skimmed" gas pumping experience.
- Nbox9 5y ago
  Maybe somehow asking the question “Will this pump up a $50 hold or a $100 hold on my card, because I only have a $75 balance and a $100 hold would create an overdraft fee”. This game really lacks realism.
  - maxerickson 5y ago
    The store I usually go to does $300.
- dr_orpheus 5y ago
  Yes, the pumps that automatically stop at a pre-set amount of money are newer. They aren't very common, but in some more rural areas of the US, I have come across the old style pumps that do not stop automatically and the attendant is just reading the value off of the pump to settle up. You can pay with a card at most of these places these days, but it is still paying a preset amount and then a sale and/or refund afterwards.
  - cgriswald 5y ago
    They've had those pumps since at least the 90's. They were used at stations where people were frequently driving off without paying.
- astura 5y ago
  >I wonder if those are more recent. Oh, definitely! When I first started driving (which was, eek, more than 20 years ago) there was no such thing as prepaying for gas, at least for all the pumps in my area. You pumped the gas, then entered the store to pay for it. I always told the cashier the amount I pumped so I'm not sure if they would have the amount you pumped on their register or not. There were warning signs saying "drive offs will be prosecuted." Year later, around 2004, I started paying for gas with a credit card at the suggestion of a friend. At first I was super uncomfortable doing so because a casual observer from a distance wouldn't be able to tell if you actually paid for your gas if you didn't enter the store. I'd take the receipt so I had proof I paid if anyone accosted me. Shortly after that, around 2005-ish(?) I started seeing signs that said "cash transactions need to prepay." Now I don't see any signs because prepaying is the standard procedure now. Another difference between now and back then was kids (teens and preteens) would regularly pump gas for their parents (or whoever was driving). Not me, specifically, but I had a few friends who were always expected to pump the gas and pay for it if they were in the car. It was one of their assigned chores.
  - bee_rider 5y ago
    That's really interesting. I think we're around the same age-ish (I'm in my mid 30's). It must be a regional thing -- "Can I get $X on pump Y" goes back forever here as far as I can remember (Northeast US). I bet we got it earlier in these less trusting areas (I grew up in a tourism town).