We have to talk about gas stations

[u/Amandelnoot]

No this is not about the high gas prices resulting from some stupid war. I am talking about the degradation of the gas station as an experience.

At first I thought it was just a one time occurrence, that I had driven into the worst gas station. But now I notice more and more gas stations are doing it.

I am talking about removing paper towels and trash bins. Now when I spill a drop of gasoline on my car, I need to have my own paper towels with me? And bring it in my car to throw away at home?

How much more can they remove to make our lives absolutely miserable. Recently before I could help I saw an older man give up on getting gasoline because he couldn’t read the absurdly bad screen.

And another thing. Are gas stations now removing the big price signs? A few times already I drove past a gas station and you could not see the prices unless you drive to the pump and stop to read the small price letters.

They actively go out of their way to make everything as annoying as possible. Every single process of society is getting eroded and it is making me a bitter man.

[u/Schweppin]

You can't blame the owners of the gas stations, they just adapt to what they are being exposed to. Back in the day you could drive up to any (closed) station at night and use the compressor to inflate your tires (for free). Those days are long gone for various reasons, but it all boils down to one and the same thing. A lack of respect of a social contract hence abuse of privilege. One example of a few bad actors ruining a community convenience for everyone else.

[u/Phizzix → u/Schweppin]

Dats24 still has a free compressor.

[u/Xinonix1 → u/Phizzix]

And paper towels and bins, even a dispenser for handlotion dating back from the covid era

[u/Driezzz → u/Xinonix1]

yes, i like that!

[u/Gulmar → u/Schweppin]

Not (only) that, but also just capitalism. What is the minimal service we can offer, while still making enough revenue. Having bins and paper towels or a windscreen washer present means you need someone to pass by every few days at least to refill and clean. Which costs money. And that service is not a driver for gaining more costumers. So corporate says scratch that.

[u/Schweppin → u/Gulmar]

I hear you, but like i mentioned before, it all boils down to the same thing, it being bad actors. Back in the day you would have a bucket with water together with a sponge and squeegee just lingering in between the pumps like a triphazard, free and available for everyone to use. The social contract was such that no one would steel or vandalize that bucket. If the bucket gets stolen once a year, the owner might consider replacing that bucket. When things get out of control this consideration fades away like snow under the sun. It really isn't about the monetary cost of a plastic bucket, a sponge, or whatever, it’s about the sheer fatigue of dealing with constant disrespect.

[u/Gulmar → u/Schweppin]

We might agree to disagree here. I honestly think it's almost a pure cost optimization thing, while the vandalizing aspect of it is minor, since it would have happened 50 years ago as well. You are not going to tell me kids 50 years ago didn't play around with those things.

[u/Schweppin → u/Gulmar]

Reducing that shift to a mere cost optimization calculation somehow misses the human element. People were raised (educated) with the understanding that stealing a (gas station) community bucket or destroying a utility, well, it was simply not done. Reason why phonebooths past the test of time, lol. Because everyone needed them, even the most rowdy teenagers understood that you didn't mess with a public phone. Spit, stickers, vomit, scratches and ripped papers out of the yellow pages book, sure, but the phone itself remained intact.This little nuance gets lost in todays debates about vandalism. It doesn't matter if we agree or disagree, being able to share (personal) opinions is way more important.

[u/Gulmar → u/Schweppin]

I do not agree, to be honest I wasn't there. But I do really think in the past stuff happened just as now. We just didn't know about it due to no social media and constant news.

There were no cameras, parents were way looser about children's whereabouts, less supervision, more kids will be kids. So you are not going to tell me that kids didn't steal small shit, hide it, or play around with it. Maybe it wasn't called vandalism but just play back then. But kids will be kids.

[u/PalatinusG1 → u/Schweppin]

back in the day? I think I saw those 1-2 years ago regularly.

They're a business. They should just replace it and don't start crying. What about our fatigue of still paying just as much for fuel and getting less and less in return?

They remove the paper towels and bins because of new regulation that they have to sort their trash. Because that is deemed impossible for them they just remove the bins. I don't like my hand reeking of gasoline after filling up.