Full Service Gas Stations

in On Entrepreneurship

Where, oh where, have they gone?

Other than the People’s Republic of New Jersey and other states where full service is mandated by law, it’s hard as heck to find a gas station that offers full service. Why don’t they invent a gas pump that can switch between full and self service. Instead of blocking of an entire lane for a full day, they can open a single lane (or single pump) for full service during peak operating hours. This is differentiation folks, and there is always room at the high end.

On a related note, far too many successful businesspeople pay attention to far too many small things. The price of gas being one. Sheesh. Suck it up, compensate economics, and stop whining! grin

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Tagged as: Random Stuff

  • jody
    greenup shell station in greenup,ky has full service
  • adamkells
    There are still many full-service stations in the United States. I am employed at Mobil station in Minnesota. We use to utilize pumps that offered full & self service, but due to our distributor we had to update our pumps. We offer a variety of services, window washing, checking tires/oil, along with getting customers anything from inside the store (candy, pop, coffee, etc.) Full service is starting to make a comeback due to business trying to differentiate themselves from competitors due to rising gas prices.
  • Anonymous

    I simply love reading cool stuff like this! Thanks for posting this informative article with us.

    Thanks for sharing this with us.

  • Anonymous

    I am planning a trip from St. Louis, Missouri to Omaha, Nebraska and am wondering if there is a listing for FULL service gas stations.  You can email me at barbwilliams627sbcglobal.net.  I will appreciate any help you can give me.

  • Anonymous

    Must admit that you are one of the best bloggers I ever saw.I simply love reading cool stuff like this! Thanks for posting this informative article with us.

  • Anonymous

    Could you send me a list of all the full service stations in Missouri

  • Anonymous

    is it against the law to have a full service gas station in california even though its a independent gas station?

  • Anonymous

    I am 70 years old and have Rheumatoid Arthritis which makes it difficult to pump my own gas.  I am planning a trip from St. Louis, Missouri to Omaha, Nebraska and am wondering if there is a listing for FULL service gas stations.  You can email me at barbwilliams627sbcglobal.net.  I will appreciate any help you can give me.

  • Anonymous

    Michael,

    I am writing a bill for a YMCA youth and government program. My bill is trying to mandate full-service stations in Washington State. But I need some more information regarding the cost of full-service for the government and what effect it would have on the employment. Do you possibly have some answers for me?


    Anna

  • Anonymous

    Hello, this website has given me great ideas for a school civics paper. I completely understand both of your ideas and Michael, your idea with one lane or something full-service is just awesome. California could totally use some extra jobs!!

    Chelsea

    ——-

  • Anonymous

    My Dad owns a gas station and it is full service. We live in Greenwich, Ohio and we like to take care of our custumers. Our stations name is “GREENWICH GAS AND SERVICE CENTER” come check us out!

  • Anonymous

    Dan,


    My original comments were about having a pump or a few pumps that could be turned to “full-service” prices during a) peak hours or b) special promotional hours. Are there enough people to support a full-time, all-pump business like this? I dunno. Depends largely on the area.


    As for the owner of the gas station, just because he provides a higher-end service doesn’t mean he is marketing the service well. Just being different and catering to the affluent isn’t enough. They have to know about it. Does he advertise this point? Is it clearly ennunciated and present on all of his signage? Etc, etc, etc.? Just because he is failing with this, doesn’t mean it couldn’t work. At the very least as a part-time, part-station model.


    Last, relative value is entirely a function of perception. Ask any “Joe American” who buys a high-end Bose audio system whether they think they are getting a high-end audio system and they’ll say yes. This perception has been carefully crafted by fantastic marketing. Ask an audiophile that question and they’ll laugh in your face! <img src="http://www.entrepreneurslife.com/images/smileys/grin.gif" width="19" height="19" alt="grin" style="border:0;"> Value and perception of value is all in the marketing.</img>


    Michael

  • Anonymous

    I understand what you’re saying, Michael. There’s definitely a demand for it. No doubt. But is it significant enough to stay in business? Case in point… I live in a relatively affluent area in Oregon. (Actually, it’s the most affluent, but that’s not saying much for Oregon.) We have a Costco that’s selling gas for like $1.95 and the full service gas station I alluded to in my previous comment is selling it for $2.25. I know the owner of that gas station (not close but I know him) and he tells me that Costco is KILLING them and he doesn’t know how long he’s going to last.


    Mind you, this guy’s station has two people come up to your car and pretty much does everything except vacuum the car out for you AND they are in a better, higher traffic area only about 200 feet off of I-5.


    So, when the relative value doesn’t meet the pocket book’s ability… the high end service suffers of commodity types of products.


    Best,

    Dan

  • Anonymous

    Dan,


    Thanks for your comments.


    Gas may be a commodity, but the service (the GAS BUSINESS, different than gas) that accompanies it is not. Informal observation in my area tells me a station that offered it, even at a significant premium, would receive significant traffic. My wife, for one, wouldn’t even think of going someplace else.


    Michael

  • Anonymous

    I live in Oregon and it’s against the law for the public to pump their own gas here. So, essentially, every gas station is full service.


    However, there are a few that differentiate themselves from others by actually doing your windshield and all the little things that make you feel good about coming to them instead of someone else.


    Unfortunately, however, this is taking a back seat to price right now. There’s not much room for

    differentiation when prices are so high. Especially in a commodity business.

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