Submitted by eternalrefuge86 t3_117qihh in tifu
Whane17 t1_j9ex85d wrote
That's actually interesting, I'd look into this as you may have been taken for 80$. I worked at a gas station (ran it as manager) for over a year, the nozzles have a break point on them and just snap back on pretty simply because of how often it happens. I can't say for sure because I don't know where you are or how things are there, but I can say here we just used to snap em back on and continue with the day.
MakapoXJ t1_j9fznji wrote
Perhaps something broke when was dragged, hard to know without pics.
plopseven t1_j9hltw1 wrote
They could also charge people whether it breaks or not as a deterrent. Imagine if the same person just kept breaking a pump - I don’t think I would care if it snapped back on at that point.
Whane17 t1_j9i9248 wrote
Even then average joe pump jockey isn't going to know what it costs.
spookycocoapuff t1_j9ghxh7 wrote
In california at least, its illegal to snap them back on now and the part is $150 for the gas station. We charge $250 because of parts and labor. $80 is cheap
source: I own a gas station
Whane17 t1_j9i9w47 wrote
I mean I haven't worked at a gas station in 15 years but that seems like a huge step backwards to go from snap together to needing parts. Kind of sounds like Apple and their proprietary parts that you absolutely can't get anywhere else and you have to have :P
spookycocoapuff t1_j9llebp wrote
I felt like that at first but reusing the same pieces multiple times an affect flow rates and cause the pump to need to be serviced and calibrated more often.
It often happens and the people that drive away without owning up to it make some stations charge more to make up for others that aren't honest. I've heard some stations charge $1200 for driving away with the pump. This could also be because other parts were damaged.
One way or the other an invoice for anything paid for is necessary for you to keep because once you've paid for any damage, any further payment is hard for the station to acquire without some sort of written statement. If you think you're being scammed - ask for a receipt. Make sure it's specific - parts and labor/description of damage.
Whane17 t1_j9noxze wrote
Not disagreeing with any part of what your laying down. I understand and mostly agree. I do want to add YMMV though up here in Canada (at least in Alberta) pumps are required to be checked for new flow valves every 3 months, fuel levels in ground checked daily, and outflow inspection done daily as well so it should (should being the operative word) get caught real fast if there's an issue :P
spookycocoapuff t1_j9qwcp7 wrote
You guys are wayyyyy ahead of us then. We have inspections by weights and measures once every 2 years. It used to be once a year but they're "overloaded". We have a yearly inspection by the fire department, but they are only looking for specific issues, and I don't believe flow rates are one of the things they look at.
Fuel levels in the ground are checked constantly and reconciled daily, but fluctuations in temperature have us over or short up to 60 gallons a day, so it's less accurate a representation of how calibrated the pumps are. California leaves it up to each station to stay on top of all the maintenance, but the fines for equipment not working right or tampered with are heavy to make the owners want to have accurate and properly working equipment.
mook1178 t1_j9glz4e wrote
It is just the dumbass tax.
Pistolwhipits t1_j9gfrc7 wrote
I'm not sure if incidents like this need to be reported to the police/the drivers insurance company so the $80 might have been the stations hush fee.
Whane17 t1_j9i9n57 wrote
They do not. The nozzles have a break point specifically for this and provided there's no damage to anybody else insurance isn't going to care.
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