Statalyzer
10,000+ Posts
I want to move to Oregon and open a shoe-tying business. Anyone with me? Based on how people are acting the last few days, it's sure to make millions!
New Oregon business proposal
- Thread starter Statalyzer
- Start date
You would first need a regulation banning people from tying their own shoes.
What's remarkable is that plenty in Oregon still defend this ban - say it creates jobs, protects the elderly, is safer, etc. Link. It's not that they're wrong. It probably does do all of those things, but is the benefit significant enough to encumber the free market and put that burden on gas stations? I think that's a pretty hard case to make.
NJlonghorn
2,500+ Posts
I think that leaves NJ alone as the only state that doesn’t allow self service at any public gas stations.
Honestly, I had no idea that full service was even an option anymore, let alone required anywhere. I remember seeing full service at least as an option when I was a little kid in the early '80s (if you were willing to pay more for it) in California. Once I moved to Texas in 1984, I never saw it again.
I was working in Portland for a couple of weeks in the 80s. I stopped at a little convenience store (had 2 pumps) to get gas. A guy comes out of the store towards me as I am grabbing the pump nozzle. He says, "Stop! You are not allowed to do that!" I thought he was kidding. He explained about their laws up there and proceeded to pump my gas. I was just wondering how a little mom-and-pop store like that could afford such an extravagance. I had no idea it was still like that up there until this came up.
NJlonghorn
2,500+ Posts
For stations that don’t have volume, it wouldn’t work. But stations with sufficient volume can spread the labor across enough tanks to make it cost-effective.
Proponents of allowing full service in NJ say it adds an average of 8 cents to a gallon of gas (including a profit margin on the extra costs). In areas that pass as low-volume here, it can be as high as 15 cents per gallon. High-volume areas are more like 4-5 cents.
In places with truly low volume, the cost of mandatory full service would be higher — but lower than it is for optional full service.
Seattle Husker
10,000+ Posts
As someone that travels to OR often, I always feel uncomfortable with having someone pump my gas. I tip ~50% of time because I feel obligated but I noticed the locals don't tip.
when you say "anywhere" I presume that means in These USs of A?
In Buenos Aires, and their propane fuel/NG perhaps? ... the occupants are not only forced into "full service" they have to exit the vehicle. Most of 'em stand at the demarcated line of distance (15-20') ... at "parade rest" while the attendant services the vehicle.
I suppose that really is relatively insignificant when fuel is $3.60 gallon as it is in Kaly. Still ... it's a bit ridiculous. If you can't safely and effectively refuel your vehicle, you have no business operating it.
NJlonghorn
2,500+ Posts
For stations that don’t have volume, it wouldn’t work. But stations with sufficient volume spread the labor across enough tanks to make it cost-effective.
Proponents of allowing full service in NJ say the restriction adds an average of 8 cents to a gallon of gas (including a profit margin on the extra costs). In areas that pass as low-volume here, it can be as high as 15 cents per gallon. High-volume areas are more like 4-5 cents.
Of course, the cost per gallon would be higher for stations in lower-population areas.
NJlonghorn
2,500+ Posts
I’m conflicted on this issue.
Philosophically, I think businesses and their customers should be able to make their own decisions. Experience shows that where full service is optional, it almost always becomes hard to find and prohibitively expensive, proving that the market doesn’t value it enough to keep it. There are no safety or environmental issues like there once were, so the government should butt out.
But on a selfish personal level, I like mandatory full service. I would prefer to fill my own tank most of the time. But when it’s cold out, or when I’m going somewhere nice and don’t want my hands to smell like gasoline, I appreciate having full service available on demand at every station and at minimal extra cost. It’s a luxury I’m not interested in giving up.
I'm too into my cars/trucks to let anyone else do any kind of service on them, and that includes filling the tank.
NJlonghorn
2,500+ Posts
We’ll blow me down there IS a Las Vegas in New Mexico!
It was the first Las Vegas ... foremost city in New Mexico for a few years before 1900. Outlaws, grandchildren of the Conquistadors, ranchers, railroad men, penitent Catholics ... colorful place that the more successful Las Vegas was named after.
If you've watched Red Dawn, you've seen downtown Las Vegas. Though the story was set in a fictional Colorado town, most of the scenes were shot in Las Vegas and the surrounding countryside.
Indeed!
I agree. I don't oppose the full service stations ... but they shouldn't be required by law for crying out loud.
Attachments
Seattle Husker
10,000+ Posts
It seems that the OR has a self created economic problems. They now have 10k workers in state that are dependent on this law. Then again, maybe the majority of Oregonians are like NJ in that they like the convenience of simply pulling up to a gas station and not having to get out. Either way, their state their choice.
Last edited:
Had a station near the house in West Lake Hills that had full-serve as an option...not sure if they still do since it has been close to a decade since I moved.
The few places I have seen it tend to be stations that actually have mechanics on duty with multiple service bays. IMO it was the move from having a real service station that did away with the need for full service pumps...well, that and the fact that people are inherently cheap and don't want to pay the extra dime or two per gallon for the sake of staying warm while the gas is pumped.
Monahorns
10,000+ Posts
Regulations like these are always advertised by the proponents as helping the little guy or an employment program.
They are really ways that large companies used to reduce competition and raise prices. It is illegal for businesses to form a trust and set prices (as it should be). But it is legal for large businesses to work with their government friends to do the same thing. It is actually what the law does itself. It ultimately hurts the little guy and consumers.
They are really ways that large companies used to reduce competition and raise prices. It is illegal for businesses to form a trust and set prices (as it should be). But it is legal for large businesses to work with their government friends to do the same thing. It is actually what the law does itself. It ultimately hurts the little guy and consumers.
Yes. However, I've also bought gas in Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, and the UK. In all of these countries, I was allowed to pump my own gas. I'm surprised some busybody at the EU hasn't thought to mandate full service. Hope recent news stories out of Oregon don't inspire them.
That's how I feel about smoking bans. I oppose them on the basis of private property rights, but I really do enjoy being able to go into a bar or restaurant and not smell like *** when I leave.
Yep. Cartelization is illegal (can even be a felony). Agency capture to facilitate all the advantages of forming a cartel is perfectly fine.
ProdigalHorn
10,000+ Posts
What's been hilarious is the typical hysteria that has to take place. All of a sudden people are claiming that this means that full service stations will be gone, and they'll have to get out of their cars - and their kids will have to get out of their cars, and their elderly mother, too. And then all the homeless people will come up and attack them (or ask for money or something)! And apparently only qualified people should be allowed to pump gas...
The law only allows stations to have self-service options. Doesn't mean they can't still do full service. But from a safety standpoint, I'd be more worried about getting stuck in the middle of nowhere and the only service stations around are closed because they can't afford 24-hour staffing. That's an ACTUAL problem.
Living in NJ, I can tell you it's seriously annoying to sit there for five minutes while the attendant checks his Facebook, or is actually busy running around trying to take care of everyone.
It's good for the stations across the board, and it will improve service and either decrease gas price or improve service.
The law only allows stations to have self-service options. Doesn't mean they can't still do full service. But from a safety standpoint, I'd be more worried about getting stuck in the middle of nowhere and the only service stations around are closed because they can't afford 24-hour staffing. That's an ACTUAL problem.
Living in NJ, I can tell you it's seriously annoying to sit there for five minutes while the attendant checks his Facebook, or is actually busy running around trying to take care of everyone.
It's good for the stations across the board, and it will improve service and either decrease gas price or improve service.
NJlonghorn
2,500+ Posts
I don’t know what stations you go to, but I’ve never experienced that. Sometimes you have to get the guy’s attention, but I’ve never had someone flat-out ignore me.
I do experience some amount of waiting sometimes (not usually), but I don’t think I’ve ever waited anywhere near 5 minutes. It may seem like that, but time spent waiting always passes slowly.
ProdigalHorn
10,000+ Posts
It's certainly not everywhere, and the service is good more often than not. I remember one time that I parked in front of one of the pumps at a location where there were two islands. I sat there for about 15 minutes while the guys stood at the other island, sometimes taking care of people and sometimes just wandering around. And they looked over and saw me, so that wasn't an issue. Turns out that the island was out of service - but rather than someone coming and telling me, they just decided to stay where they were.
Ultimately, I'd just rather do it myself.
Ultimately, I'd just rather do it myself.
NJlonghorn
2,500+ Posts
That would piss me off, lol. Of course I wouldn't wait longer than a minute or two -- no way I'd sit there for 15 minutes.
ProdigalHorn
10,000+ Posts
Honestly, this probably points to a flaw in my mentality as much as anything, but I waited because I wanted to see how long it would take. At some point, it was almost out of spite. I'm going to sit here and confirm that this service is THAT BAD... I must not have had some place to be that evening, I guess!
Statalyzer
10,000+ Posts
Exactly - if there's a market to support it, it can still happen. Nobody is being forced to do anything.
I just never went to those places and was fine.
Well, based on the number of Oregonians who think pumping gas without being trained is a difficult thing to attempt....
I like beer too much. Lol.
Weekly Prediction Contest
* Predict HORNS-AGGIES *
Sat, Nov 30 • 6:30 PM on ABC
Recent Threads
-
The Media Industry
- Started by texas_ex2000
- Replies: 8K
- West Mall
-
President Biden Accountability Thread
- Started by 2003TexasGrad
- Replies: 4K
- West Mall
Prediction Results Threads
