Gas station
A gas station or gasoline station is a place that sells gasoline and diesel fuel. In the United Kingdom and Ireland they are known as Petrol Stations where they sell petrol and diesel fuel.
History of gas stations
As automobiles were replacing horse-drawn vehicles on the roads of the United States, the first gas station was invented in 1907 by Standard Oil of California (now ChevronTexaco). Standard Oil began erecting gas station signs of their logos for advertising. They were known as filling stations. The mass-production techniques of Henry Ford allowed consumers to purchase cars at an affordable price. Increased car ownership resulted in the greater demand for filling stations.
By the gallon or liter
Gas stations sell gasoline by the US gallon in the United States and by the litre (US: liter) in Canada, Mexico, and most parts of the world.
Types of gas stations
There are generally two types of gas stations: premium and discount brands.
Gas stations with premium brands are often international brands that include Esso, Exxon, Chevron, Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Sinclair, and Texaco. Non-international premium brands include Petro-Canada. They accept credit cards and often issue their own company cards. These stations often charge much higher prices. However, the stations are numerous in locations with more pumps available. They are also much more modern with brighter lighting and are cleaner. For ease and convenience, these stations have fully automated pay-at-the-pump facilities. Premium gas stations tend to be highly visible from highway and freeway exits as they use tall signs to display their logos.
Discount brands are often smaller regional chains or independent stations that offer lower prices on gasoline. Most purchase wholesale gasoline from independent suppliers or even the aforementioned major petroleum companies. In some cases, discount brands typically accept cash only and some may accept credit cards (sometimes with a added surcharge, sometimes not). The customer would have to walk inside the store or up to the window to pay and obtain a receipt later. Many discount stations have a few locations and, in some cases, appear outdated (i.e., non-digital pumps) and rundown. In addition, these discount gas stations are often located well away from the highway and freeway exits; many are obscurely tucked away in commercial and residential neighborhoods. An exception to these trends is the discount brand ARCO (part of BP), which has a combination of modern and dilapidated stations.
Examples of discount gas station chains are Valero, Rotten Robbie, and USA Gasoline. Lower price gas stations are also found at some co-ops, supermarkets (Albertsons, Kroger, and Vons), convenience stores (7-Eleven), mass merchandise stores (Wal-Mart) and membership warehouse stores (Costco, Sam's Club). At some stations (such as Vons, Wal-Mart, Costco, or Sam's Club), a special membership card is required to receive the discounted price.
Some countries have only one brand of gas stations. In Mexico, where the oil industry is nationalized (i.e, state-owned) and prices are regulated, the country's main operator of gas stations is called Pemex.
Gasoline prices
Gas station prices are often higher at highway exits and major intersections, especially if there is the only one station around. Gas prices tend to be competitive if there are at least two or more gas stations within the same area. Stations across the street from or nearby each other may sometimes engage in so-called "gas price wars".
In the United States, the states of California and Hawaii have the highest prices of gasoline. In Canada, prices are the highest in the provinces of British Columbia and Québec and the lowest in the oil-producing province of Alberta.
Contrary to popular belief, many individual gas stations in the United States do not determine or set gasoline prices. Prices are determined by area by oil companies supplying the gasoline. Boycotts against individual gas stations to protest gas prices have largely failed.
During many public holiday weekends (e.g., President's Day or Labor Day), when American road travel is at its peak, gas prices tend to soar and then drop as the holidays come to a close. At these times, many oil companies provide varied reasons for explaining the sudden rise in gas prices; for example, an oil-well fire or alleged terrorist threats.
Even with oil market fluctuations, prices for gasoline in the United States are among the lowest in the industrialized world. In leftist-leaning countries such as Canada, Britain, and the European Union, gas prices are much higher due to higher fuel excise or taxation (in order to fund e.g. costly social welfare programs). This is unpopular, and has lead to harsh criticism of the policy, and protests, including a large scale protest in the summer of 2002 known as 'The Fuel Crisis' which caused wide-scale havoc across the UK and some EU countries. The British government eventually backed down and reduced taxation a little, and leglislated an emergency law change to outlaw strikes by fuel tanker drivers. In other foreign energy-reliant countries like Japan, gasoline costs are higher because of fuel transportation costs.
Features of gas stations
In small towns and rural areas, gas stations generally allow customers to pump gas first and pay afterwards. However, due to the higher incidence of crime in large urban areas (especially drive aways without paying), customers must generally pay first and then pump fuel.
Modern gas stations have pay-at-the-pump capabilities - in most cases credit cards, debit and ATM cards are normally accepted. At some stations, cash is also taken at the pump, although change must be collected by going to the bulletproof cashier window.
Service at the pump differs from state to state. For example, gas stations in the state of New York allow customers to use self-service pumps after paying attendants in their booth. All stations in neighboring New Jersey are full service, where attendants are required to accept payment from customers and directly pump gas.
In the United States and Canada, many gas stations are also convenience stores that sell food, beverages, cigarettes, lottery tickets, motor oil, and sometimes auto parts, among other things. Prices for these items and others tend to be higher at convenience stores when compared to a supermarket or Wal-Mart.
Gas stations also provide squeegees, towels, and toilet facilities for customer use. But a large number of discount gas stations do not provide these amenities. The cleanliness and standards of gas station toilet facilities vary and restrooms (Canada: washrooms) in a fast food restaurant would be a wiser choice.
Many gas stations have air compressors with tire gauges and water machines. Some machines are free of charge whereas some may charge a small fee to use (usually 25 cents to $1). In many states of the US, free air must be provided for paying customers as required by law. In most cases, a token provided by the attendant is used in lieu of coins.
Some gas stations are equipped with car washes. Car washes are sometimes free of charge or given a discounted price with a certain amount of gas purchase (usually 8 US gallons or more). This promotion is usually advertised near the gasoline price boards. Conversely, car washes operate a gas station to supplement their businesses.
There are a number of gas stations with a smaller fast food outlet inside such as a McDonald's, Jack in the Box, Pizza Hut, Sbarro, Taco Bell, and Wendy's. They are usually express versions with limited seating while others may be are regular-sized and have plenty of seating.
Service stations
A gas station that also offers such services as oil change and mechanical repairs to automobiles is called a service station. Until the 1970s the vast majority of gas stations were service stations; now only a minority are.
In the UK, a 'service station' refers to much larger facilities, usually attached to motorways or major trunk routes, which provide food outlets, large parking areas, and often other services, such as hotels, arcade games, and shops in addition to 24-hour fuel supplies and a higher standard of restrooms (UK: water closets). Fuel is typically more expensive from these outlets due to their premium location. UK service stations do not usually repair automobiles. In parts of the U.S. this arrangement occurs on tollroads and is called an oasis. In many cases, these centers might have a food court or cafeteria, In the US, the TravelCenters of America is one the largest full-service chains.
Octane
In the United States, all gasoline is unleaded and is available in several grades: 87 (Regular), 89 (Super Unleaded), 91 (Premium). Some other octanes are 93.
Self-serve and Full-serve
Many stations are self-service. However, in some American states like Oregon and countries like Mexico, gas stations are exclusively mini-service or full-service as mandated by law. Mini-serve usually means the attendant will pump gas and clean the windshield. Full-serve includes the aforementioned services and checking oil levels. Where full-service is provided alongside self-service, slightly higher prices for the former should be expected.
Differences in gas pumps
British petrol pumps differ from US and Canadian gas pumps. The latter involves turning on the pump first by lifting a lever and then selecting the proper octane by pushing a button. In most cases, British visitors to Canada or the United States would likely have some difficulty using the gas pumps at stations.
Miscellany
Gas station maps
Gas stations were known to offer free oil company road maps as a strategy to build brand loyalty. However, the oil companies discontinued distributing free maps in the 1970s to concentrate on their gasoline products. Nowadays, the stations sell maps produced by Rand McNally, the AAA (American Automobile Association), CAA (Canadian Automobile Association), and other auto clubs in the world.
Stereotypes
The common stereotype include a gas station being the only one in the desert for miles around. They have been labeled "Last chance gas". This has been shown in numerous films and television shows.
Gas stations in film and TV
- Back to the Future & Back to the Future Part II - Three versions of Texaco stations (i.e., product placement) are shown, such as a contemporary self-serve station (1980s), 1950s version with full-serve, and a futuristic version where the station is fully-automated to serve flying cars.
- Breakdown - Kurt Russell's character is adding oil to his Jeep at a Texaco station when he meets his "redneck" antagonist.
- Nothing to Lose - Tim Robbins' character daydreams while pumping gas before realizing he's overfilled too much gas in his SUV. In other scenes, several gas stations are robbed.
- RoboCop - A bookish Shell gas station attendant is robbed at gunpoint. Robocop appears on the scene. Later, the station ends up in a fiery explosion.
- The Andy Griffith Show - In the show, Gomer Pyle and his cousin Goober Pyle are gas station attendants and mechanics.
Well-known gasoline/petrol station brands
Related topics
External link
Referenced By
7-11 | 7-Eleven | 7/11 | Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. | Citgo | Cities Service Company | Costco | Station
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