Slick 60's

So, this morning my wife and I hopped in "Low Tech" to run a few errands. I stopped at the Shell staion in old downtown Buckeye, Arizona for some fuel and to air up one of the tires. As I was getting out of the truck, a Shell service tech (an older gentleman) walked up and asked, "May I wash your windshield?" I was shocked and replied, "I have not been asked that at a service staion for longer than I care to remember! Please do!"

We drove away with a very clean windshield and nostalgia running rampant.

I am sure that "Low Tech" remembers those "Good Old Days" also.

Jake

Cool I thought thosedays were long gone.

Are you sure you didn't take a wrong turn into .......................................


THE TWILIGHT ZONE?

But was he happy with a nickel tip?

If he is that old, he is happy to be alive!!!

Sounds like he enjoyed it as much as you did!

That is cool! :D

Reminds me of the days of my youth when I worked at my father's Esso station. Wash the windshield,rear window, offer to check the oil even if the customer only got $1.00 worth of gas. Now you are lucky if the attendant ( I live in NJ where there is no self serve) can even speak English.

I got to tell you though I have the occasion to drive through the state of Oregon once in awhile, and there is no such thing as self serve. You are not allowed to do it yourself, period. The service has always been friendly and the gas prices cheaped than in most places...

Guess it says something about greed doesn't it
John

Found out about Oregon a couple weeks ago when I tried to fill up my rental car.

62galxe wrote:Found out about Oregon a couple weeks ago when I tried to fill up my rental car.

that's just their way of saying "howdy" up there. lol

Its a state law in Oregon Something about employment I think. Some of the Oregon members might shed light on this Im sure

foodstick wrote:Are you sure you didn't take a wrong turn into .......................................


THE TWILIGHT ZONE?

You know, the name on his shirt was Rod...

Jake

I travel to Portland Oregon a couple of times a year. Last time on the way home we stopped in Hood River Oregon. The atendent washed the windshield and had treats for our dog. Great friendly service. I worked at a Sunoco service station when I was in highschool. This was in 1969 and 70. It was part of the full service to wash windshield check the oil and air on request. Rain or shine hot or cold we did it with a smile. No overhead canopy to keep the weather off just some islands with rows of pumps. Sometimes 3 or 4 cars going at a time when it was busy. Some shifts 2 attendents some only one on duty it was for me a fun way to make money when I was in highschool.

macgiobuin wrote:But was he happy with a nickel tip?

Tip? I was supposed to give him a tip? I never got tips when I worked at the Shell station in Riverton, IL in my younger days!!!

Jake

It's just Oregon's way to get people to work, mostly young kids. I started out working at a Union 76 station in Astoria, Oregon. They had leaded premium when I was working there. We would check oil, wash windshield, and check tire pressure as well. The station was a full service station, we sold tires and had a full time mechanic that actually new what he was doing. The one dollar of gas thing brings back memories. During the summer the Harley riders ( Some gangs) would invade the station filling up their small gas tanks, If you were alone it took time. All of the guys with hopped up rides would come in and by leaded premium as well. I worked there after graduating high school for a year before I went into the Coast Guard.

I had heard while doing a brief training session at Klamouth Falls Air National Guard base the reason for having non-self serve gasoline had to do with gas spills if the auto matic nozzle failed and did not shut off. And the EPA types were the ones behind it.

Last week I was talking with one of the guys that works at the Shell station and he told me that since things have been a little slow, they decided to go back to the old way of doing things. It has been working out good for them, so far.

Jake

I know of one full service station in my area but you're going to pay quite a few more cents a gallon for the personal service.
Think mostly uppity types use it 'cause they don't want the smell of gasoline on thier hands.

As for the auto shutoffs not working, I had a nozzle come out of the filler tube once and spray me with gas. Never again does my hand leave the nozzle.