EZPublications

Years ago, the filling station was called a service station. For 22 cents per gallon, you could drive up to a gas pump, a pleasant attendant would fill your tank or dispense whatever amount you requested (Give me two bucks of ethyl please). Then he would clean your windshield, check the battery, put air in the tires and water in the radiator. And to compete with the other gas stations, they gave green stamps or blue stamps. I remember collecting a whole set of amber glasses from the Mobil station in Dickenson, Texas. People went where they gave the trading stamps and the best service.

Now we pump our own gas at outrageous prices and pay for air and water! What happened to the real service that used to be offered at the gas station?

Maybe it happened something like this:

Possibly John, the chairman of Standard, called Ralph, the head of Shell, and David, the head honcho at Mobil, and said, “Guys, we’re giving American consumers all this service for 22 cents a gallon for our gas. We can really get their money if we create a gas shortage. Then we can force them into working for us, pumping their own gas, paying higher prices, and we can even get them to put air in their tires and charge for it besides.” After Ralph and David expressed shock at such a revolutionary idea, John explained that the government continues to raise taxes to pay for unnecessary wars and ridiculous government programs and if the public will accept that without a rebellion, then Big Oil can do the same thing.

It took a while, but John convinced the boys to create a phony oil crisis that had motorists waiting in long lines to fill up their tanks. After all, Americans cannot go two blocks on foot, much less two miles, the auto rules the nation’s commerce, an oil crisis would make Americans understand just how important gasoline is to life and the pursuit of happiness. Liberty was left out of the entire discussion. It just wasn’t relevant.

So the great oil crisis of early 1974 was created and Americans cried for an end to gas lines, screamed at paying 40 cents a gallon for the gas they did get but paid it anyway, and waited in long lines. Once their spirits were broken, they meekly paid the tab and shut up, happy to see an end to the gas lines.

Seems like no one has to run a competitive business or satisfy consumers anymore. Where do customers get treated with respect, pay a fair price and get genuine service?
Oh, it probably didn’t happen like that, but it is interesting how we think of service these days. With our Wal-Mart greeters, the “free” minutes on cell phones and credit card use at the second window at McDonald’s.

Now we have a whole generation, or two, who never went into a full service filling station and had real service.

One time I received an “estimated bill” from the power company because they were too lazy to read my meter. They didn’t like it when I went to their office to pay the bill and gave them an estimated check!