The Age of “Get-it-Yourself” seems to be fully installed in our culture. The service component of selling gasoline, we must only assume, became too expensive, so the “Self Serve” sign was introduced. Let me explain that, because of physical limitations, we are unable to neither remove / replace the gas cap, nor operate the gasoline pump.
At first, there was some lip service given to the old system, with one set of gasoline pumps showing “Full Serve” signs. Even those have disappeared.
In theory, you were able to request assistance in dispensing gasoline, by alerting the dealer 24 hours in advance.
It was sometimes difficult --and even sometimes impossible -- to get service. In our experience, some dealers, including a Shell station in Ottawa, and an Irving truck strop in New Brunswick, actually refused to provide it. And, try getting served gasoline after 6 p.m. and on weekends.
That system is totally useless to the tourist or other long-distance motorist.
So, what do we have today? In spite of lengthy public campaigns by AAA, thousands of individual motorists, and even the Canadian Legion, there are large gasoline dealerships with long displays of gasoline pumps, all labeled: “Self Serve.”
Imagine our consternation when we saw supermarkets introduce “Self-Serve” grocery checkouts!
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