enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

score one for the man.

So I had big plans to beat the system today.


Everyday that I drive into work, I see a gas station on Wisconsin Avenue that has gas for cheap. Like $4.12 cheap. A steal. And everyday that I drive into work, I do not stop. Either I am late, or I am in the wrong lane or I already got gas at another place because I thought the cheap place had dissapeared.


But today, I was bound and determined to pull over and get gas. And I was actually planning on going so far as to FILL UP THE TANK ALL THE WAY. Something I have never done since Mom and Dad stopped paying for my gas.


So I pull over. And am amazed to find that there is not a line. Or at least a crush of people and a news team filming the scene of what must be the lowest gas prices on the east coast.


I get out and notice that there is no machine to stick your credit card in. Slightly confused, I read the sign “NO CASH. CREDIT CARD ONLY. Please pay after you fill up.”


Excellent.


I select the gas grade, insert the pump and wait. The dollars get up to about $15 and I read the sign again. This time it says “ONLY CASH. NO CREDIT CARD. Please pay after you fill up.”


WHAT?!?!


I turn off the pump and approach the man in the glass box.


“Hi.” I say. “I am an idiot. I didn’t read the sign before starting to fill up and unfortunately I do not have cash.” (I figured admitting to not reading a sign was much better than admitting to incorrectly reading a quite obvious sign.)


“Oh, it’s no problem” he says. “There is a Chase Bank right across the street.”


I figured now was not the time to tell him that I am a Bank of America girl and I abhore using other ATMs and getting charged fees. Instead, marched across the street and got charged $3 to take out $40. Then I marched back across the street to finish filling up my car. Unfortunately I could no longer completely fill it because I had not taken out enough cash.


As I got back into my car and pulled on to the street, I pondered the two morals that my adventure had revealed. The first being that I hate high gas prices. The second being that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

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10 responses to “score one for the man.”

  1. Molly Avatar
    Molly

    gosh is 4.12 cheap in Bethesda? it’s probably totally out of your way, but Costco on Rt. 1 (just north of the beltway) was 3.93 this week. of course, there’s always that $50 annual fee, but who doesn’t need voluminous quantities of toilet paper?

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  2. Mandi Avatar
    Mandi

    haha great story! Although I’m sure you would’ve rather gone without the whole experience!
    One of my best friends used to live in the apartments right across the street from the Metro station in Bethesda. I totally didn’t know you live there. I love that place! Although I do not love their gas prices. 🙂

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  3. Nadia Avatar
    Nadia

    hey elise,
    gas prices are my enemy too! I hate the option that says $100.00? which used to say fill? I am so scared that if I choose $100.00 it will continue to spit out gas all over. as far as gas goes here is my rule. I fill up with $50.00 and when it is gone I am on my own. which simply means I am on foot or bike or I don’t really need to go where I thought I needed to go and stay home. granted I work from home and am pretty much a mole so I don’t really NEED to go out often. except to the gym, to run and get my starbucks! hee hee! oh and to interact with other humans! LOL!

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  4. april Avatar
    april

    I feel your pain. There was a news story here the other night saying that gas stations are advertising one price, but charging you another if you dont use cash. For instance, if you go to a station with $4.25 gas and tell the pump you’ll pay with credit card, the price instantly changes to 5 or 6 cents higher a gallon. Who carries around enough cash for that much gas? Certainly not me (because if cash is in my hands, it gets spent!) Craziness! 🙂

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  5. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    I have heard of gas stations not accepting credit cards so that they can offer gas cheaper… feeling sorry for you though cause gas in Oklahoma is wayyy cheaper than that (even at the expensive stations!)

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  6. Julia Avatar
    Julia

    This is the funniest story 🙂 I’ve found myself in exactly this situation last winter, except I was late to pick up my husband at university, I was trying to beat a snow storm, and their cash machine in the gas station was out of money so I had to wait 5 minutes for the guy to fill up the machine. Was it worth the 2 cents off the gallon. I don’t think so!

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  7. Kal Barteski Avatar
    Kal Barteski

    Gas is over $5.50/gallon here… so do not complain. Oh, Canada.

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  8. Elaine Avatar
    Elaine

    So. another question. (by the way the story was histerical and i loved it although it was sad due to the prices.) BUT ANYWAY so where in the world is this mini that you made in Hawaii that you made out of all STUFF? Is it the purple book with the fish on it?
    Also, what digital camera do you use? A point and shoot or an SLR? just wondering.
    Thanks and have a fantastic fabulous day!

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  9. melanie Avatar
    melanie

    don’t let the man get you down 🙂 it’s outrageous.

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  10. leah Avatar
    leah

    4.12? eesh. it’s 3.89 here in texas. good old oil country. but seriously, who doesn’t accept credit cards these days?

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