Complaint Thursdays

[Weave]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

What makes me upset is that you have to put coins in a machine to get air for your tires. Having to pay for air is an outrage! Recently, I had to put air in my tires. I put 6 quarters in the machine that had a short time limit. So unsurprisingly, the machine didn't work. No air. I went into the gas station establishment to get a refund. The person working in the enclosed glass area told me that the machine was not owned by the establishment so he couldn't reimburse me. As everyone here knows very well, I'm usually a mellow fellow. I went berserk! I started screaming at him like a maniac. He told me he would be willing to give me 75 cents back. I went even crazier on him to the extent that he backed up with fear in his eyes. He then opened up the cash register and gave me $1.50, a full refund. 

The question I pose to the members here is: Did I act in an unreasonable manner?

Yes, you were the *****.  For the reasons Stoner adequately described.

And you didn’t attempt to pay for air, you attempted to pay for the use of an electro-mechanical delivery system.  Try using your mouth to blow air into your tires and see how effective it is.

1 minute ago, SwampD said:

 

You were right. That guy was full of *****. I disagree with Stoner.

You are incorrect.  I have experienced the same.  Gas stations don’t own the air dispensers anymore.  They are basically vending machines owned and operated by another company.

[SwampD]

4 minutes ago, Weave said:

Yes, you were the *****.  For the reasons Stoner adequately described.

And you didn’t attempt to pay for air, you attempted to pay for the use of an electro-mechanical delivery system.  Try using your mouth to blow air into your tires and see how effective it is.

You are incorrect.  I have experienced the same.  Gas stations don’t own the air dispensers anymore.  They are basically vending machines owned and operated by another company.

Don’t care. He knew it was broken and couldn’t let JohnC know?! Why, because it’s not his job? Whatever happened to just being a decent human just cause it’s the right thing to do? And he can’t put a sign on it now that says it’s broken? ***** that guy John was right.

Edited 2 hours ago by SwampD

[Weave]

14 minutes ago, SwampD said:

Don’t care. He knew it was broken and couldn’t let JohnC know?! Why, because it’s not his job? Whatever happened to just being a decent human just cause it’s the right thing to do? And he can’t put a sign on it now that says it’s broken? ***** that guy John was right.

Whatever, boomer.  😂

[Believer]

Why not buy a handheld digital air compressor? This is the one I bought a few years ago. Works great on my auto and bike tires. Can’t recall where I got it or the cost. 

 
 

[SwampD]

58 minutes ago, Weave said:

Whatever, boomer.  😂

Guilty.

[LTS]

1 hour ago, SwampD said:

Don’t care. He knew it was broken and couldn’t let JohnC know?! Why, because it’s not his job? Whatever happened to just being a decent human just cause it’s the right thing to do? And he can’t put a sign on it now that says it’s broken? ***** that guy John was right.

Point of parliamentary procedure. I did not read that the guy ever knew the machine was not working. I also did not read that the guy did not go and put a sign on it afterward.

We are also assuming that in the gas station the person working inside is in a good position to leave the register area and the inside of the store unattended.

Lots of assumptions being made for someone whose job is to sell what the gas station sells, not care for that which it does not.

And as a person who worked at a gas station and had a shotgun put into his chest I can confirm that the fear of an irate customer or being robbed at gunpoint is a very real thing. I was concerned about it before it happened and I quit working there after it happened.

 

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, SwampD said:

Don’t care. He knew it was broken and couldn’t let JohnC know?! Why, because it’s not his job? Whatever happened to just being a decent human just cause it’s the right thing to do? And he can’t put a sign on it now that says it’s broken? ***** that guy John was right.

I made the point to this fellow that he should have had an out of order sign placed on air machine. As far as seeking reimbursement from that air compressor company, this fellow and his establishment could have sought reimbursement, instead of me. It should also be pointed out that I frequently "filled up" at this establishment, and this employee knew that I was a regular customer. I no longer patronize that establishment. 

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, Weave said:

Yes, you were the *****.  For the reasons Stoner adequately described.

And you didn’t attempt to pay for air, you attempted to pay for the use of an electro-mechanical delivery system.  Try using your mouth to blow air into your tires and see how effective it is.

You are incorrect.  I have experienced the same.  Gas stations don’t own the air dispensers anymore.  They are basically vending machines owned and operated by another company.

I did pay for air that I didn't receive. It wasn't an attempt to pay because I actually did pay. I paid for a service that I didn't get. In most gas stations you pay upfront before receiving gas. What if I paid upfront $20 for gas and the gas pump didn't work? Wouldn't I get all my money back? If the guy working the counter said that we don't own the defective pumps so you have to notify the gas pump company to get reimbursed would that make sense? Absolutely not. So how is this different? 

Just because the gas station doesn't own the dispenser doesn't mean that they don't collect a fee or a percentage for allowing the device to be on their establishment. The gas station and car wash establishment does have a business relationship with the "air" company. If the machine is broken they have the ability to put a notice on the device and also contact the company. It's not my responsibility to contact the company, it's the responsibility of the gas station to notify the air company. 

 

[Weave]

21 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I did pay for air that I didn't receive. It wasn't an attempt to pay because I actually did pay. I paid for a service that I didn't get. In most gas stations you pay upfront before receiving gas. What if I paid upfront $20 for gas and the gas pump didn't work? Wouldn't I get all my money back? If the guy working the counter said that we don't own the defective pumps so you have to notify the gas pump company to get reimbursed would that make sense? Absolutely not. So how is this different? 

Just because the gas station doesn't own the dispenser doesn't mean that they don't collect a fee or a percentage for allowing the device to be on their establishment. The gas station and car wash establishment does have a business relationship with the "air" company. If the machine is broken they have the ability to put a notice on the device and also contact the company. It's not my responsibility to contact the company, it's the responsibility of the gas station to notify the air company. 

 

Its a vending machine outside of a gas station hut.  Its no different than any other vending machine outside of a service provider. The service provider has no relationship with the vending machine company, other than the rent they receive from them. This is the new normal that isn’t that new.

[Weave]

FTR I had the same thing happen to me at a gas station air pump about 4-5yrs ago.  Got the same answer when I asked for a refund.  My response was “well that sucks, getting gas here used to be convenient”, and I left.  Getting in some persons face that has no control, no say, and no responsibility is a dick move.  
 

I now have a pancake compressor in my garage.  

[JohnC]

5 minutes ago, Weave said:

Its a vending machine outside of a gas station hut.  Its no different than any other vending machine outside of a service provider. The service provider has no relationship with the vending machine company, other than the rent they receive from them. This is the new normal that isn’t that new.

They have a business relationship with the company. If the machine is broke, the gas station has a responsibility to put up an out of order sign and notify it.  What normal are you referring to? Screwing customers who patronize their establishment!

[JohnC]

2 minutes ago, Weave said:

FTR I had the same thing happen to me at a gas station air pump about 4-5yrs ago.  Got the same answer when I asked for a refund.  My response was “well that sucks, getting gas here used to be convenient”, and I left.  Getting in some persons face that has no control, no say, and no responsibility is a dick move.  
 

I now have a pancake compressor in my garage.  

We can go around in circles on this issue but to say that this dismissive fellow has no control over the situation doesn't resonate with me. He can reimburse me and seek his own reimbursement from the company that he has a business relationship on his premises. The money is not a consideration for me. I'm not going to be cheated without responding. You feel differently---that's fine.