Delta (Oakland/Valley)
2. The Hang Up: You pull in and ask for a fill up. The pump is still running from the guy who just asked for $10 and got $7. You get a fill up and this time you check the pump. But did you check it to see if it was cleared before you started?
Bottom line is to always check the pump. I always park so I can see it or I get out of the car to watch.
crazy_quilter said:
it's only NJ and one other state which don't allow you to pump your own. everywhere else you either have to , or it is cheaper to use the self-serve.
I'd rather the occasional rip off than having to pump my own gas! This is the thing I think I might miss the most when we leave NJ!
fabulouswalls said:
1. Short Pump: Ask for $10 and they pump $7 or $8. You don't check the pump to see if they put it in and you drive off.
2. The Hang Up: You pull in and ask for a fill up. The pump is still running from the guy who just asked for $10 and got $7. You get a fill up and this time you check the pump. But did you check it to see if it was cleared before you started?
Bottom line is to always check the pump. I always park so I can see it or I get out of the car to watch.
And... also check that if you say "cash" that the lower number on the pump shows the cash price. I once noticed that it was pumping using the credit price, and told the guy. A back-and-forth ensued (that he insisted that I said 'credit') before he gave me a dollar off the final price.
Call or post on nj consumer affairs
you can pay a little more for someone to pump the gas in most places.eliz said:
crazy_quilter said:
it's only NJ and one other state which don't allow you to pump your own. everywhere else you either have to , or it is cheaper to use the self-serve.
I'd rather the occasional rip off than having to pump my own gas! This is the thing I think I might miss the most when we leave NJ!
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think when you pull the nozzle from the pump and flip that thing up to enable the flow of gas, it automatically resets the dials to 0, unless it just resets the pump but has nothing to do with the ability for gas to flow.
In any case, it started at 0, and I even wrote down all the numbers on my last fill to make sure the values were correct, and they were. Their gas was around $0.20 per gallon less than what I saw elsewhere, so it's a good deal.
The guy tried to distract me from looking at the pump by saying how cute my baby in the backseat was.
*Of course we'll never know if they ripped us off other times when we just weren't paying attention. That may explain why they were always so happy to see us.
I reported two issues I had (telling me the charge was more than was on the pump... but the pump was difficult to read, twice) to the Maplewood PD a couple years ago. The MPD said they didn't have any other complaints about them.
ETA: Ooops... accidentally posted on a thread from last year.
Essex Co. has an office of weights and measures. You may be able to report there. The Delta across from the car wash also has dim lights on the pump that make them unreadable at night.
The other Irvington Ave Delta seems to be without problems so far.
Our Delta in West Orange has the same problem with attendants ripping off customers. I wish someone would press charges instead of just complaining online. I've never had the experience but I would call the police because I'm tired of these people getting away with it.
fabulouswalls said:
I wish someone would press charges instead of just complaining online.
The station in Irvington Ave next to the car wash had been fined repeatedly.
In regards to the comments about checking the pump, that isn't the only way stations can rip off customers. As ctrazcka said above, sometimes they actually rig the pump, so it will read that you were given X gallons, but each gallon was actually short. The only way you would catch this would be if you came in on E and also knew how many gallons your car took, so you knew it would be impossible for your 11.4 gallon tank to take 13.7 gallons. If you get half or a quarter of a tank you likely won't realize something is off.
After hearing complaints from the old thread, I was more careful about the station although my wife swore by it. I never noticed any cheating, and I thought they were very friendly. That is not saying it doesn't happen. I'll start being more careful again.
Have never had issues at Delta on Valley Road.
Up the street at the 7-11, across from the high school, is another issue. Had to fuel up there on Christmas Day and the fueling charge was $13.75. Gave the attendant $15 and he walked away without giving me change. I followed him to the booth, asking where my change was. His response was, "You got your gas." I didn't get my change.
I have notified Consumers Affairs and 7-11. Frankly, I don't expect to hear from either.
The Valley 7-11 guys give me the creeps. I never get gas there for that reason.
MOLers have been reporting fraud at that Delta at Oakland for at least 10 years. I believe I've read at least one post explaining the follow up to formal complaints about that station, made to the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. But it sounds like the conduct continues. They must make out better continuing the scams and taking the occasional ding from the Man.
Not using that gas station. Ever. Unless I run out of gas in front of it.
So you've got 3 Delta's, two of which are regularly accused of cheating customers.
The Exxon in SO that's always about 30 cents more than the state average.
Then the high school Shell that walks off with your change.
Maybe it's time for a Leaf.
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Is the theory that they don't reset the pump before pumping?