Dollar limit at gas station

[MushCreek]

A while back we discussed what might make a good vehicle for my needs, and I finally settled on a 3/4 ton van for the secure enclosure, plus they are much cheaper than a pick-up for the same year/miles/condition, at least around here. Anyhow- I proudly went in to my local gas station and began filling. Lo and behold, the pump shut off at $75, well short of filling a 35 gallon tank. I tried swiping the card again; no luck. I was told that that was the daily limit, and I would have to wait 24 hours; something about a security measure due to so many stolen cards. Okay...... How does one go on a long trip? I'll be driving to SC and back soon, a distance of 640 miles each way. Is there some way to find out in advance what gas stations will actually let you fill up? Are stations along the Interstate more likely to sell you what you need? Otherwise, I'll be stopping for gas a LOT, especially when loaded down and towing a trailer.

I understand that we are supposed to be using less energy, and driving little $*(&-boxes, and I will, when they come out with a Prius that will tow 8,000 lbs. Until then...

[peternap]

Well Mushcreek.........one of my pet peeves is the new improved cashless society.
If you want more than $75.00, go in and give them more than $75.00 in CASH. Not plastic OBAMA BUCKS.

[Redoverfarm]

We have one of those card pumps here as well.  Seeing that I have deisel the dollar amount is short of a fill up.  So I have to reinsert the card and begin again.  I would be satisfied if $75 would fill it up but it never even comes close.

[fishing_guy]

Walk inside and pay.  Then it is treated as any other purchase. 
It it my pet peeve also.  $75 just doesn't cut it anymore.

[peternap]

Walk inside and pay.  Then it is treated as any other purchase. 
It it my pet peeve also.  $75 just doesn't cut it anymore.

You know....that's scary!
My very first summer job was pumping gas at a Sinclair Station. On my first day a customer drove up and when I asked how much he said "About five".

I started the pump, checked the oil, battery, water and air and when I looked at the pump it was a little over $3.00. The fellow came out screaming that he only wanted five with the owner hot on his heels.

I told him he only had three and he said "Five gallons stupid, it won't even hold five dollars worth".

Back to the present and we're talking about not getting a full tank for $75.00.
There was a time that I supported a wife, two kids, a dog and a mortgage on less than $75.00 a week.

[Bob S.]

I have bought cars for less than it cost me to fill one up now.

[MushCreek]

So I have to carry at least $400 in cash when I make the round trip to SC? It's been years since the wife let me carry that kind of dough! I find the credit card to be easy- Pull up, swipe your card, pump your gas, and be on your way. Is there any way to find out what stations allow a fill-up? I guess I could plan my route, them call gas stations on the Interstate near to where I plan to stop, and find out what their policy is. They really need to up the limit- $75 just doesn't go far these days. I can't believe I'm saying this; I remember when a small car wouldn't hold $3.00 worth.

[considerations]

Here, the limit's been upped to $100....and don't feel bad about remembering gas prices.  My first car was a '63 Pontiac Catalina named Fred (What?  his name was already engraved on the dash when I bought him) with a 389 and a 20 gal tank, which usually topped off for about $5.

Also, i used to be able to pump EXACTLY as much as I wanted, but NOW the gallon meter spins so fast its almost impossible to hit dead on.

My second car cost me $50...I drove it until the wheels fell off and the Demolition Derby towed it off and paid me $50 for it.  Times have changed.   You could buy a nice house for what a care costs these days.

[MikeC]

Try an unattended commercial fueling location, like CFN  or Pacific Pride.  You'll need their card, but no waiting in line or fueling limit AFAIK.  And, if you use diesel the pumps are MUCH faster - use the lowest nozzle setting.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Are you sure the limit isn't just $75 at that particular station?  Around here, the pumps sometimes shut off at $75, but then you can either swipe another card or drive down the road and finish filling up at another station.  I filled up the other day and it cost $88.  My monthly budget for gas for my truck is $100... and that hasn't changed in years, but I just don't go much of anywhere anymore.      Like you, I'd gladly drive a Prius if it could tow what my truck does and if it could haul a family of six.... DH has decided he needs to get a Chevy Cruze Eco in a few years when his old car croaks, just to drive back and forth to work.  My thoughts are that we're saving a lot of money by just refusing to drive and coming up with what we need right here.   

[rwanders]

   Ah yes----I remember fondly the days I and my buddies could cruise around all night on a dollars worth of regular----25 cents a gallon then and during the occasional "gas war" the price could drop as low as 15 cents a gallon. Good days in the 50's.

[bayview]

  Ah yes----I remember fondly the days I and my buddies could cruise around all night on a dollars worth of regular----25 cents a gallon then and during the occasional "gas war" the price could drop as low as 15 cents a gallon. Good days in the 50's.

   In 1970 gas was about 35 cents a gallon and the average wage was about $4.20 per hour.   Or, an hours work purchased about 12 gallons.   

   Now gas is about $3.60 a gallon.   So, you have to make about $43.00 an hour to purchase the same amount of fuel.

   Average house price was about $25,000 in 1970. . .    Or, about 3 times the yearly income.   

   Now, the average income is about $46,000 per year (Or, two wage earners making about $11.00 per hour).   A new home will cost about $220,000.   Or, almost 5 times yearly income.

   Obviously, income has not kept up with inflation. . .

   I use about 30 gallons of fuel each week.   An increase of just a dollar a gallon means that it will cost me an additional $1500.00 per year. . .    Which I will just have to absorb.   Work is down about 20 percent.   Rent has gone up . . .    Food prices continue to climb . . .    Taxes!

   Retirement?   Probably never . . .

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