ANGRY MINUTE #0027: Gas Station Carwash
It’s a beautiful January day here in Ohio (which means it is 29F with Scattered Flurries) and before venturing towards work today I decided to stop off and let the old automobile grab a nice cold drink. We’ve all been there before, you swipe your card at the gas pump, push the 400 keys to insist it truly is gas you wish to purchase, and just before you can start making your sale an advertisement pops up on the screen asking if you’d like a car wash with your gas.
A car wash? Really? In the middle of FARKING winter?!? Really? REALLY!
This doesn’t make sense to me at all, and is just down right annoying. Why is it annoying? Let’s go to the LIST OF ANGER to discuss!
LIST OF ANGER GAS STATION CAR WASH EDITION:
1. Paying At The Pump – Maybe they great gas Gods think it is just more convenient to pay for my car wash at the gas pump. Why this makes any sense is beyond me, because even if I buy a car wash at the gas pump I still have to travel over to the car wash area, wait in line, and then when I’m next I need to punch in a code so the car wash knows I already paid. So why in the BLUE HELL don’t I just pay for the car wash… AT THE FRAKING CAR WASH?!?!? If anything this popup at the pump COSTS me time because typically I don’t need to wash my car EVERY FRAKING TIME I pump gas!
2. Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful – Did I mention that it’s winter? Maybe I could tolerate these advertisements (because that is really what they are) if it was a beautiful summer day. The idea of having my shitmobile sparkling in the sunlight is a majestic thought, but the truth is there is snow in the sky and a car wash is the last thing on my mind. Instead they want to waste my time at the pump instead of letting me do my business. Frakin jerks.
3. If At First You Don’t Succeed – Plain and simple these “suggestions” for a car wash at the pump is just another form of advertisements, and I think it needs to stop. Doesn’t it piss you off when you are trying to buy something and the seller pipes up, “Would you like to buy a bag of Doritos for $1.29? How about one of out Energy Drinks, 2 for $3.49?” Maybe if I was getting a deal or even some savings I can understand, but I’m not. They are just trying to sell me a car wash, no discount or anything. Well FRAK them.
========================
POSTANGER:
I guess this is more of an annoyance then anything, but this is very annoying to me and when something annoys me for long enough it starts to piss me off… and that ANGERS ME!
Stop shoving you’re shit down my throat! If I WANTED to buy your product I would have PURCHASED your product!
Let me do the business I want to do and let me get on my way. I am too busy to deal with your product placement. If anything when I’m asked this question it makes me NOT want to buy a car wash from you! So STOP IF MOTHER FRAKERS!
Advertising car washes is not to make your car gleaming and radiant in the winter, however it is a way to keep road salt off of your car especially underneath the car. I would suggest everyone wash their car 2-3 times during the winter to ensure that road salt is kept off your car. Road salt destroys cars over time by rusting them out.
This one must be a joke. We know companies must advertise and this one is not even that bad of one. You just push the button that says no. It takes a matter of one second to do. Some of our other angry minutes I can see some complaints, but this is just pure whining over nothing.
Are you just not that angry this go around? It seems that you are trying to find something to be angry about. I really think you need to pick your battles and this one is not a good choice.
@Heath – I always pick something that has angered me during the week. Esp when I’m in a hurry the BP across from work is the best option, yet I’m alwasy bombarded with car wash requests. A gas pump should not be used to advertise in this way, and thats my opinion but I know others agree. If they start to advertise like this what is next? Before playing a video game will it prompt me, “Would you like to order a pizza before you starting Mass Effect”?
If people want me to buy their product they should make a good product. I understand they need to advertise, but companies do not need to prompt me for any purchase OTHER then the purchase I am currently making. IMO.
In other countries they do advertise before video games. As far as the car wash why not let ask you if you want a car wash. You are right there maybe you didn’t know you could get one. When they ask you are right beside your car you look over and see it needs a wash. What are they supposed to do wast paper and put a sign up next to the pump so you can see it? Or go the cheaper way and use the screen that is right there.
As customers we should not be inconvenienced. Any inconvenience is annoying. As such because BP (and other gas stations that offer the car wash on their pumps) does waste my time (no matter the amount, it is my time and I should be able to choose to do what I wish with it) with their advertisement suggestions I choose to shop at other gas stations other then BP. With this article I hope others follow suit until this injustice ceases.
I understand the want and even need to advertise (and the screens DO advertise products before, during, and after the pumping of my gas. Hell even the receipt for my purchase of the gas has advertisements on them) but in no way should I be given any option to buy a product other then the one I want to purchase. I worry about those people who accidently agree to the carwash, without realizing it, and maybe don’t even redeem their carwash because they have no idea they even purchased one. What about those people (And though we are smart, the majority of the US is not. I work in Tech Support and I see on a daily basis those who click past screens without realizing what they have done).
This tactic is in place for that company to trick us into something we didn’t even want. It reminds me of Gift Cards and how much money companies make because people don’t redeem all of their giftcard, so the company gets to keep it. It’s a very shady business practice and I do not agree with it. But unless something is said this shit is gonna go on and I don’t want to have to decline 10 different products before I’m allowed to purchase the one I intended.
As customers we should not be inconvenienced. Any inconvenience is annoying. As such because BP (and other gas stations that offer the car wash on their pumps) does waste my time (no matter the amount, it is my time and I should be able to choose to do what I wish with it) with their advertisement suggestions I choose to shop at other gas stations other then BP. With this article I hope others follow suit until this injustice ceases.
I understand the want and even need to advertise (and the screens DO advertise products before, during, and after the pumping of my gas. Hell even the receipt for my purchase of the gas has advertisements on them) but in no way should I be given any option to buy a product other then the one I want to purchase. I worry about those people who accidently agree to the carwash, without realizing it, and maybe don’t even redeem their carwash because they have no idea they even purchased one. What about those people (And though we are smart, the majority of the US is not. I work in Tech Support and I see on a daily basis those who click past screens without realizing what they have done).
This tactic is in place for that company to trick us into something we didn’t even want. It reminds me of Gift Cards and how much money companies make because people don’t redeem all of their giftcard, so the company gets to keep it. It’s a very shady business practice and I do not agree with it. But unless something is said this shit is gonna go on and I don’t want to have to decline 10 different products before I’m allowed to purchase the one I intended.