Foo - Gas Station Incident

I was at a Shell gas station yesterday here in middle Tennessee and had a disturbing thing happen to me. I swiped my card and proceeded to open the tank. As soon as I pulled out the nozzle, it started spurting gas all over the place, soaked both of my arms, my feet and sprayed on the inside of the driver side door trim panel. I was furious. Either the pump was bad, or some jerk/idiot left gas in the nozzle. Seriously though I highly suspect the former.

Immediately I went inside to tell the owner/cashier about it and he did not even pay attention to me. All he asked was, which pump and then completely ignored me. What a jackass.

I did not know whom to call to report an incident like this. Do you guys have any ideas?

Also, the inside of my car smells of gas now. How can I get rid of the smell? There wasn't any spread on the carpet or the seats, just the inside of the door trim panel because it was open. Anyone know of a way to get rid of the smell without having to take it to a professional?

Call corporate. Get $$$$.

A match should work, but it has to be an Ohio Blue Tip. ;)

The state should have a dept. of weights and measures that is in charge of insuring accuracy of gas pumps. I would contact them as well as corporate offices of Shell. Contact the local news, have them send out their investigative reporter to investigate the "pump of death". Or just get a huge placard stating your case and hang out on the corner by this station in your free time, protesting. Pretty soon the owner will get tired of this and meet your demands for interior cleaning, etc.

A match should work, but it has to be an Ohio Blue Tip. ;)

Hmm. Getting rid of the smell.

I'd have never thought of that. But if it works for a fart, your reasoning is sound.



;)

Yup, not just another pretty face. :D

I'd try Cypress's advice first, and if that doesn't result in satisfaction, try jsharr's suggestions.

I'd try Cypress's advice first, and if that doesn't result in satisfaction, try jsharr's suggestions.

You're being such a buzzkill!

Immediately I went inside to tell the owner/cashier about it and he did not even pay attention to me. All he asked was, which pump and then completely ignored me. What a jackass.



How do you know it was the owner? Also if this is a crime, what is the charge?

I'd try Cypress's advice first, and if that doesn't result in satisfaction, try jsharr's suggestions.

Zorro, you realize you just sorta agreed with a TEXAN?!:beer:

How do you know it was the owner? Also if this is a crime, what is the charge?

Not really a "crime", but negligence, faulty equipment and the like.

I would call corporate and the TN dept. of weights and measures. Can you imagine what could have happened if a really stupid person experienced what you did? I've got a cousin in middle TN who is a real dingbat. She would have followed Stacey's advice.

Not really a "crime", but negligence, faulty equipment and the like.

OK, so you just sue for negligence? Crap I didn't know you could sue for that, I'd be a millionaire if I would have known that.

Zorro, you realize you just sorta agreed with a TEXAN?!:beer:

Cypress moved down there? :eek: :D

I would call corporate and the TN dept. of weights and measures. Can you imagine what could have happened if a really stupid person experienced what you did? I've got a cousin in middle TN who is a real dingbat. She would have followed Stacey's advice.

Just doing my part to help keep the gene pool clean. :)

Good chance that "corporate" has no control over the individual business owner. The department of weights and measures is a good idea, though. Also, see if Tennessee has an environmental quality agency. In Texas, the Commission on Environmental Quality has jurisdiction over any facility with underground gasoline storage tanks and can regulate/penalize gas station owners.

Good chance that "corporate" has no control over the individual business owner. The department of weights and measures is a good idea, though. Also, see if Tennessee has an environmental quality agency. In Texas, the Commission on Environmental Quality has jurisdiction over any facility with underground gasoline storage tanks and can regulate/penalize gas station owners.

Corporate meaning Royal Dutch Shell, or the company that owns the station? I think you're correct in that that Shell wouldn't be the company to call, but the company that owns the station ought to be able to give some satisfaction.

Move to New Jersey, then you don't have to pump your own gas.

Zorro, you realize you just sorta agreed with a TEXAN?!:beer:

Pobody's nerfect.

Also, the inside of my car smells of gas now. How can I get rid of the smell? There wasn't any spread on the carpet or the seats, just the inside of the door trim panel because it was open. Anyone know of a way to get rid of the smell without having to take it to a professional?

Time is usually the best cure for gasoline smell. Wipe it down good with mild soap and water and leave the windows open when possible. It really should not take more than a few days.

this would be a good time to quit smoking. Anything.

"Move to New Jersey, then you don't have to pump your own gas."

Oregon won't allow you to pump your own gas either, I got in trouble for trying once. :)

And by the way, New Jersey wouldn't even notice any more toxic stuff in their ground. :)

Steven

jsharr: Thanks for the suggestion about Weights and Measures Dept. I searched on the web, found an email address and sent them a complaint. Within 2 hours I heard back from there that they're sending an inspector to check the pump and will send me a copy of the inspection report.

:beer:You are welcome!:beer:

What happens is, people put the little trigger lock thing up so it fills and stops unattended. Then they put the handle back in the pump with the thing still engaged, so the handle is still pulled, and therefore 'on'.

Then when the pump starts for the next poor ******* the handle is pulled to the gas starts coming out.

What happens is, people put the little trigger lock thing up so it fills and stops unattended. Then they put the handle back in the pump with the thing still engaged, so the handle is still pulled, and therefore 'on'.

Then when the pump starts for the next poor ******* the handle is pulled to the gas starts coming out.

I don't think that is possible.

What happens is, people put the little trigger lock thing up so it fills and stops unattended. Then they put the handle back in the pump with the thing still engaged, so the handle is still pulled, and therefore 'on'.

Then when the pump starts for the next poor ******* the handle is pulled to the gas starts coming out.

Thats not possible, because the pump should deactivate as soon as you replace the nozzle. Moreover the lock trigger is unlocked when the tank is full. That is how the nozzle stops pumping more gas in the tank.

I've encountered one gas pump that had the trigger lock engaged when it was on the pump. I assumed it was some malicious cretin who thought it would be amusing.