Why can't you pump your own gas in Oregon? (Beaver: minimum wage, sales tax)

[KaaBoom]

Originally Posted by pdxMIKEpdx

I will admit I have had to wait a bit a few times, but that has been when filling up during peak hours, or filling up at large low cost station like Costco or Freddies or something.

It's not that hard to find another station if you are upset with the level of service you are getting at another.

If you have to wait, you would be waiting a lot longer if you had to wait behind some old person with shaky hands trying to fill up their own gas.

Also, you might want to avoid Costco and Fred Meyer. Not only to save time waiting in line, but also because 1. They are selling you a lower grade of gas. 2. They are probably still not cheaper. Right now in the area where I usually fill up my gas, there is an ARCO station selling gas for 4¢ a gallon less then Fred Meyer ($2.37 vs $2.41). I don’t know what those stupid reward points they are always trying to get me to sign up for, would get me, but I seriously doubt they would save me more then 4¢ a gallon. Then there is the Safeway which also has rewards points, and their gas is the highest price in town by about 10¢. The reward points probably lower the price by 5¢.

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by TurcoLoco

But a full service gas price has always been more from what I have seen. Never even the same, that is a fact.

I do not see a logical explanation to how a gas station with people pumping gas for you instead of you doing it yourself could ever allow cheaper gas prices? Makes no sense!

If OR somehow managed to prevent this from not causing higher gas prices then that is great but if the people or the state is not funding it, then that means the gas stations are which would force them to leverage this extra cost by passing it back on to customer. Am I right or am I right?

I do understand this creates jobs but could there be something else (and better) these people do and let the customers pump their own gas? Or, at least, offer both and let people choose?

If they are fast and courteous that is great but I wouldn't want anyone else pumping gas when I am on my motorcycle. I have to be very careful not to spill any onto the painted surfaces, would an attended be that careful too?

The only thing that I am against is the fact that people have no choice in the matter. You simply have to freedom of choice.
No good.

I explained that, and people called me crazy. The major oil companies have a self-serve business model and don't want to employ individuals. That means many Oregon gas stations are locally owned independents. This cuts the legs from under major oil company price fixing. As soon as you give up the independents, you are stuck paying whatever the majors decide to charge you. An independent can just broker in whatever gasoline is cheapest, add the brand additive package, and sell it as Shell or Exxon or BP.

If you go to self service, the money just goes into rich people's pockets instead of local earners, and it actually costs you more.

[wolfdog]

Always had problems with ARCO gas. I'll fill up with Chevron, wherever possible. Techron is a superior additive.

I haven't seen anyone refute the fact that it's far safer to have a paid professional fill our cars. Of course, there are varying degrees of "professional".

[pnwguy2]

Let's face it...the Oregon no-self serve law is archaic. It is time to get Oregon into the 21st century. Perhaps bring those jobs into the C-stores for better service. If not, then so be it. Let Oregon run their stores/stations at maximum efficiency, something they can't do with current laws.

[McFrostyJ]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

Let's face it...the Oregon no-self serve law is archaic. It is time to get Oregon into the 21st century. Perhaps bring those jobs into the C-stores for better service. If not, then so be it. Let Oregon run their stores/stations at maximum efficiency, something they can't do with current laws.

Let's face it, Washington State needs to lower their gas prices and put about 10,000 or more people to work by getting into the 21st century and doing as we do it Oregon.






It's kinda silly to tell people in another state how to live, isn't it?

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

I explained that, and people called me crazy. The major oil companies have a self-serve business model and don't want to employ individuals. That means many Oregon gas stations are locally owned independents. This cuts the legs from under major oil company price fixing. As soon as you give up the independents, you are stuck paying whatever the majors decide to charge you. An independent can just broker in whatever gasoline is cheapest, add the brand additive package, and sell it as Shell or Exxon or BP.

If you go to self service, the money just goes into rich people's pockets instead of local earners, and it actually costs you more.

Thank you for the explanation Larry, I guess I missed your prior post (too many to read when you are at work at doing a quick scan).

If what you are saying is a fact, then I agree. I can't argue either way because I can only reference what I have seen in a few other states. That said, AZ has self-pump stations too and their gas prices are about $0.60 per gallon cheaper than CA, so, not sure how they manage that?
You could argue saying land/rent is cheaper in AZ and that is true but CA would have an advantage of higher sales volume due to having way more people/vehicles which should easily offset the difference, if not more.

Don't get me wrong, I loved Oregon both times I was there like 13 years ago and I would like to settle down there sometime in the future but I vehemently dislike any law that doesn't allow me to do something as trivial as pumping my own gas. I wonder how it would effect the current set up if they offered at least couple of self-service pumps at each gas station?

Originally Posted by wolfdog

Always had problems with ARCO gas. I'll fill up with Chevron, wherever possible. Techron is a superior additive.

I haven't seen anyone refute the fact that it's far safer to have a paid professional fill our cars. Of course, there are varying degrees of "professional".

Say no to ARCO if you love your vehicle and/or it doesn't run on gas+alcohol combination.
Yes, they don't buy their oil from Middle East but the quality of their petrol at the pump is terrible.

Even though Chevron, Mobil, Shell buy from ME Oil companies, due to their quality, I typically get it from one of them.
BP is also selling only American Oil just like WalMart but did not see one around where I live.

As a motorcycle owner/rider, I try to buy non-Ethanol gas whenever possible.

In that regard, kudos to OR for having so many gas stations all around the state that sell non-Ethanol gas!

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by McFrostyJ

Let's face it, Washington State needs to lower their gas prices and put about 10,000 or more people to work by getting into the 21st century and doing as we do it Oregon.






It's kinda silly to tell people in another state how to live, isn't it?

No it really isn't silly, as I live near the border and frequently drive and buy gas in Oregon.

BTW, according to gasbuddy, gas prices are almost identical in Washington and Oregon after you subtract each state's gas tax. If you want to argue the gas tax, fine. But the actual cost of gas is the same.

[SETabor]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

No it really isn't silly, as I live near the border and frequently drive and buy gas in Oregon.

BTW, according to gasbuddy, gas prices are almost identical in Washington and Oregon after you subtract each state's gas tax. If you want to argue the gas tax, fine. But the actual cost of gas is the same.

Do you subtract the gas tax when you buy it? You pay what they charge at the pump. Oregon gas is usually cheaper.

[ccjarider]

Originally Posted by SETabor

Do you subtract the gas tax when you buy it? You pay what they charge at the pump. Oregon gas is usually cheaper.

You are missing the point, as is Larry Caldwell and his phony big oil monopoly argument.
Oregon prices are a little cheaper because of a lower state tax, that's it.

Oregon should eliminate mandated Non-value-add gas pumpers and then raise the state gas tax to generate the revenue this state claims it needs so bad. This would be a win-win for citizens and state coffers.


You can safely assume you are paying about 7-10 cents per gal to the dude/dudette filling your tank.
Assumptions:
$12/hr. mandated min wage
10 cars filled/hr.
20 gal/car. (200 gal/hr)
This equals 1200/200 = .06 cents plus 30% overhead and payroll tax; means we pay 7-10 cents gal for this "privilege."

You can play with my assumptions but the point is that these people ARE additional cost. We all pay this and for those of us who feel it is Non value add; it is wasted $.

I would rather see state spend it on roads as tax $.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

I would rather see state spend it on roads as tax $.

The problem with that is the state would probably use the money for anything but that.

At least we know where the money is going now.