rainy days

With the onslaught of rain comes the onslaught of people who do not want to get out of their vehicles.  Or rather, there are just more of these people when it's raining than when it isn't.  Though there are still people who do not want to get out of their vehicles no matter what the weather.  I would like to clear up a common misconception.  I do not get paid MORE because I work at a full serve gas station. I am paid the exact same minimum wage as the guy working in the dry and warm self serve gas station.  I have worked both full and self serve at Shell so can I honestly assure you, it is the exact same pay.  It is the same pay in winter as in summer, whether it is raining, sleeting, snowing, hailing, shining or so windy I'm walking sideways.  The wonderful thing about it is that YOU do not pay more for all of this extra service.  If the gas at the full serve station is 127.9, then it is 127.9 at the self serve, except there you have to pump your own gas and wash your own windows and check your own tire pressure and washer fluid and oil level.  Sometimes I think people must truly believe I am a trained mechanic (which I am not) as they ask me to check all the dipsticks their car possesses or help them find the lever that opens their hood or advise them on which oil to use or what pressure their tires should be at.  They seem surprised when I tell them the only thing I was taught when I was given the job was how to check oil (not even change it; usually only the lifers know that...).  This, by the way, is not influenced by the fact that I am a girl.  In my time at gas stations I have taught many a boy how to check the oil or wash windows or even how to properly pump gas.  A lot of people just don't know. 

If you are handicapped, injured, old or have small children, I will gladly run your cards in for you.  I will print out the reciept, take it back outside for you to sign and then run the receipt and the clipboard inside before returning out to finish the other vehicles whose owners are standing inside waiting patiently.  Since you don't have to come in or wait in line and the employee who is inside is probably helping someone else, you will get to bud in front of the line. I will run your cards through the other till in my hurry to get back outside to finish all the other cars.  You will leave, then, having never left your vehicle, never getting wet if it is raining, or cold if it is winter.  If, however, you are simply lazy, and expect for some CONFOUNDING reason that full serve means I will bow low and drag my face in the dirt to make sure you are comfortable and happy, then you were sorely misinformed.  I know a man who calls it "butler service" and goes on a ten minute cursing rage behind your back before he calmly returns with your reciept.  I know a man who doesn't mind if it means he gets to hit on such a goodlooking gal.  If you are the only vehicle out there and the weather's nice, really, we don't mind.  If there are five other cars, we're running as fast as we can and there is rather inclement weather, you can guarantee you're getting a dirty look behind your back.

If you thought I get paid more for working at a full serve gas station, you were wrong.  It is my job, but so is what you tip a waitress for.  It is the waiter/waitress's JOB to give you good service, and you tip, OH how you tip: ten, twelve, fifteen percent!!  You are already paying for the food, as you are already paying for the gas.  The waiter/waitress is already being paid a base amount, though it is normally more than my minimum wage and yet you tip that waiter/waitress.  It is common courtesy, is it not?  You are kind and thankful and hopefully not rude, depending on how kind and courteous and hopefully not rude your server was.  Why then, do you give them an extra amount than they are already paid?  It is not the law, it is not automatically added on, and your server is not paid more than the cook in the back who MADE your food.  (Disclaimer: this depends on the restaurant but is general a good example for the point I am making.  Not trying to make, because I believe this point is made.  I am also not saying waitresses should not be tipped, only that they get paid a little extra from you to do their job, and I do not, no matter how much extra I do for you.)

If you are one of the people who tend to hand the pump attendant your credit card, I just wanted to let you know that you are lazier than most eighty year olds.  I see little old ladies slowly making their way inside, or someone with a very prounounced limp or several small children.  People I would gladly run cards in for and yet the majority of people who don't want to get out of the car are my age or my mother's age.  They are simply lazy.  I could go on and tell you about the men a full foot taller than me who stand there and watch as I stand on my tip toes to try to wash the window of their monstrously large truck.  I could recall conversations, where someone comments on how hard it's pouring or how low the temperature is or how wet I am or how cold I look and then hand me their cards from the warmth of their dry vehicle.  I'm not even going to start on the people who come up to the till talking on their phone or bluetooth, acting like I was the one who interrupted their conversation as they don't even give me the time of day. I could tell you how people blame ME for the high price of gas, or if the machine doesn't work or if there are no special airmiles promotions on at the moment, but really, in the end, it's a dog eat dog world.  In the end, when I am dripping more water than the sky is and you are completely dry, it doesn't really matter anyways.  It's not like I'll get any wetter and besides, it's my job, and you expect it.