A situation
happened a few days ago that still has me surprised and a bit amazed.
I’m in a
little town called Mason, Texas and stopped at a local Chevron gas station to
get some gas. I pulled up at the pump
and a man came out and snatched the fuel line and started to open my gas tank. In shock, I looked at him and looked at the
pump – and saw the price was $4.25. I
looked again at the big sign on the road that said $3.53. I asked him what the correct price was – he told
me it was $4.25 for full service. Full
Service??! Since when do we have full
service gas stations? I told him I didn’t
want to pay that price and he told me I’d have to pump it myself at the other
pump. There were no signs or warnings.
Obviously, I
pulled around to the other pump – really – over $.70 per gallon to have someone
pump your gas? I got out at the other
pump with my credit card – no place to swipe it through. No signs telling me what to do. I start to the office and he stopped me,
saying “Pump first, Pump first.” OK, I
guess I can do that. As I was pumping
gas into my tank, I got a bit suspicious and figured I’d only put $20 in, just
in case. Most stations want the credit
card swiped through first – there has to be a catch.
I went in to
pay, he swiped my card and then I saw him figuring something on his calculator and the price on his cash
register increased from the amount I pumped in.
I asked him what the increase was for – he told me that it was a 5%
charge for using a credit card. I shook
my head and told him it would be the last time I would stop in there. I’m so glad I didn’t fill my tank, my truck
is thirsty and it could have run up to $60 or more. This
guy also does some auto repairs there, but he doesn’t seem too busy, you can imagine
why.
I’ve been in
Texas now for about 6 weeks and have really enjoyed my time here. The people have been friendly and helpful and
I’ve really enjoyed the places I’ve visited.
Even Mason, the town is a cute little gem in the middle of the state, a
no-stoplight town. I won’t let one
greedy man change my opinion of the state.
Still – I can’t
get over it – full service at a gas station!
OK, when is the last time anyone ever saw that – except for the handicap
signs that we had on the fuel pumps in Florida?
And then it was the same price.
