spookycocoapuff t1_j9ghxh7 wrote on February 21, 2023 at 7:55 PM

Reply to comment by Whane17 in TIFU by driving away from the gas pump with the nozzle still in the tank by eternalrefuge86

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 on February 22, 2023 at 4:00 AM

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 on February 22, 2023 at 9:23 PM

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 on February 23, 2023 at 7:20 AM

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 on February 23, 2023 at 10:37 PM

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.