Every man is an island. In this area it’s more like “Every Man has an Island.” Welcome to the gas station world. Here in Oregon you are not allowed to pump your own gas. It’s even gasp worthy if you don’t want to wait for the attendant to finish their cell phone conversation and you opt to replace the hose after you pay so that you may leave.
There’s an entire world going on in the gas station world that seems to be untouched by Man’s Laws here.
They get to you when they want. They change prices whenever they want. They can do whatever they want (apparently) and they may refuse you service should they want.
Here is an example: My friend Michelle went to the gasstation close to our homes last week. After waiting for a painful amount of time as the attendant who opted to thrust his power of “You can’t go anywhere unless I fill your vehicle with the fuel that it requires to run.” He left her sitting there until he was damn good and ready to pump the gas. Now we don’t ask these people to apply at these places, we’re quite knowledgable on how to get gas into our cars like we’ve done in every other state we’ve lived in (those of us who are not native to Oregon). We’re at their mercy and they know this.
Please keep that in mind:
Letter she sent to Cheveron Headquarters about the Employee:
Please Follow Up: Mike Hendrickson
I would like to preface this for those of you who live in normal states by explaining that this experience comes from the state of Oregon, where only gas attendants are allowed to pump gas.
First of all, I would like to express my appreciation that as a would-be and willing-to-pay customer, your station owner/ manager “Ron” did not feel the need to follow up on any accusations of trespassing made by one of the worst gas attendants I have ever had the misfortune of meeting. This inattentive gas attendant, Mike Hendrickson, ignored me when I pulled in and after the person in front of me finally finished filling up, signaled me to pull forward. After I began to pull forward he jumped out in front me and smacked the hood of my car. I was rattled and irritated and happened to be on the phone with my husband. While still in the car but with the window down to hand my credit card, I referred to the young attendant as a punk to my husband because of his behavior. Then I removed the gas cap and waited for him to pump my gas. Instead, he put the gas cap back on my car and said I could go down the road. Confused, I demanded an explanation. He said he was refusing service and to just leave. This bewildered me, so again I asked why. He sneered, and said “I heard you in the car.” I replied, “But I was on the phone, I was talking to my husband, I used no vulgar language, What have I done that was so bad you have the right to refuse service.” He accused, “You used bad language.” This false accusation angered me so I yelled “WHAT DID I SAY?! WHAT EXACTLY DID I SAY THAT I CAN’T GET CHEVRON GAS?!!” He replied, “You called me a punk” Unbelievable. Yes, I referred to him as a punk, albeit not directly but to my husband. And I stand by the fact he IS a punk, as it is defined: 2 : nonsense foolishness3 a: a young inexperienced person : beginner novice; especially : a young man b: a usually petty gangster, hoodlum, or ruffian (from http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/punk)
So I asked for the manager. The attendant arrogantly replied HE was an S.P.A. I asked what that meant and he told me Senior Pump Attendant. I laughed in his face and said, No, I asked for a MANAGER. He wouldn’t give me any information other than I could not speak to a manager. The person that I later came to find out was assistant manager did not assist, speak up or give any information. All I wanted was to get gas and this punk was power tripping as the lord of the gas pump and said, in a threatening tone, that he would call the police. I requested he do that because I still did not understand why I could not get gas and be on my way. A decent manager, even assistant manager, would have intervened and in good sense and as good customer service, simply swiped the card, pumped the gas and sent me on my way. Instead, AFTER calling the police, I was told the REAL manager, “Ron”, whose last name I was NEVER given would be there the next day at 5 am. No other phone number/email/contact info could be given. Then I had to wait for the police as he had already been called by the punk. The sheriff sent me on my way after advising me that in the future, if refused service, I should just leave, essentially doing anything else is a waste of time.
I understand that it is a minimum wage job, so there will likely be inattentiveness and a lack of service to a certain degree. But to waste my evening because of the attendant’s inappropriate behavior is unacceptable. I did fill up at a competitor’s station as I did not want to be trespassing. And I will not return to the Chevron station unless invited. I’d rather deal with the punks at the other stations that keep their hands off my car and are at least willing to fill my gas tank!
Below are the details from your website on the station:
CHEVRON STATION
3333 LANCASTER DR NE
SALEM,OR 97305-1355 US
Thank you,
Response:
Dear Ms. Williams,
Thank you for taking the time to contact Chevron regarding the treatment you described experiencing at your local Chevron service station in SALEM, OR. On behalf of Chevron, please accept our apology.
Chevron is committed to providing safe practices and excellent service to all our customers, and when this is not afforded we are very disappointed.
We would like to explain that a Chevron retailer doing business as TRUAX #35 owns this station. While Chevron retailers are independent businesspersons who hire their own employees, we are very concerned about anything that causes customer dissatisfaction. Accordingly, we have asked the owner to review your comments with the station manager. We find that Chevron retailers are as concerned as we are when they hear that customers are displeased and they make every effort to correct problems that occur at their stations.
It is very difficult to keep up with events at all stations, however, it is concerned customers such as you that enable us to take corrective action when we can. Thank you for bringing it to our attention so that we can inform the proper station personnel.
Again, we are very sorry you encountered such a negative experience at this Chevron station. Contrary to what happened, we sincerely value your patronage, and hope this incident will not keep you from visiting stations in our retail network in the future.
Sincerely,
Louanne Tracy B. Cruz,
Consumer Connection Specialist
Consumer Connection Center
Chevron Products Company
PO Box 4000
Bellaire, TX 77402-4000
Attention: Consumer Connection Center
Phone Number: 1 800 962-1223
Fax Number: 1 866 756-1522
Email: conaffrs@chevron.com
My thoughts:
Each little man there apparently has his own island. But he needs to answer me this, “I can take this and let it go. I can mess with someone who is on a power trip and crush the reality of his little world. So answer me this oh little senior pump attendant… is my life so preoccupied and busy in which I shall refrain from popping your little illusion bubble? Do you feel lucky? Well do ya, punk?”
