Pay Before You Pump

Papi Chulo said:
Not in the last 30+ years

yep,one of the first ones was at Lawrence and Dufferin,around 1975-76,failed miserably,and fast.
 
The other part of the "prepay law" that came into effect Feb 1 (in BC) forces any retail / food business that is open between 10:00PM & 6:00AM must have 2 people working... or have a barricade between the one staff member & the public.

I think that most corner stores & pizza shops will close at 10:00 now instead of staying open 24 hours
 
Papi Chulo said:
Not in the last 30+ years

they've been quite common in the Ottawa area in recent years, I'm in a small town and they've had the pay inside after 11pm up for quite a while ...... I always pay by debit/credit so no biggie to me
 
canucklehead said:
In the states a lof of places will not take your cards at the pump because we have postal codes rather then zip codes


yeah had that...pain the ass...then I remember "90210"...stupid show...but useful zip code....although apparently 12345 exists in New Jersey...so just remember one or the other
 
Peter123 said:
canucklehead said:
In the states a lof of places will not take your cards at the pump because we have postal codes rather then zip codes


yeah had that...pain the ass...then I remember "90210"...stupid show...but useful zip code....although apparently 12345 exists in New Jersey...so just remember one or the other

The old good US of A!!!
Always ahead in technology, but way behind in application or commercialization.

I use my Canadian credit cards at gas stations all over Western Europe. Just like home, put the card in at the pump, fill up, get a receipt and I am on my way. Ne need to step inside. Works 24 hrs a day.

If the European can deal with our postal codes, why can't the Americans update their computers systems to do the same?
 
raydeon said:
Peter123 said:
The old good US of A!!!
Always ahead in technology, but way behind in application or commercialization.

I use my Canadian credit cards at gas stations all over Western Europe. Just like home, put the card in at the pump, fill up, get a receipt and I am on my way. Ne need to step inside. Works 24 hrs a day.

If the European can deal with our postal codes, why can't the Americans update their computers systems to do the same?
'Cause European postal codes use letters and numbers like ours.
 
oldjones said:
raydeon said:
'Cause European postal codes use letters and numbers like ours.


Totally WRONG oldjones.
Check your info before making such statement.

The countries I am familiar with ( France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Romania, Belgium, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc...) are all using the digits system, ie 4, 6, up to 10 numbers. Usually the first 2 numbers indicates a department or province within the country.

As a matter of facts, most of the world is using numbers only.
The only countries that are using letters and numbers combination are Canada, Great Britain, and some ex dominion countries such as Malta, Jamaica.
 
raydeon said:
oldjones said:
Totally WRONG oldjones.
Check your info before making such statement.

The countries I am familiar with ( France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Romania, Belgium, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc...) are all using the digits system, ie 4, 6, up to 10 numbers. Usually the first 2 numbers indicates a department or province within the country.

As a matter of facts, most of the world is using numbers only.
The only countries that are using letters and numbers combination are Canada, Great Britain, and some ex dominion countries such as Malta, Jamaica.

You're probably both right. Yes only a few European countries use alphanumeric zip codes, but there is a lot of travel by them into other countries so it behooves the numbers-only countries to make their systems work with the ones that use alphanumerics.

And yes I know my argument should mean that the Yanks should be accomodating us Canadian tourists. :) But how often do they do stuff just to make other people happy. <grin>
 
raydeon said:
Totally WRONG oldjones.
Check your info before making such statement.

The countries I am familiar with ( France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Romania, Belgium, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc...) are all using the digits system, ie 4, 6, up to 10 numbers. Usually the first 2 numbers indicates a department or province within the country.

As a matter of facts, most of the world is using numbers only.
The only countries that are using letters and numbers combination are Canada, Great Britain, and some ex dominion countries such as Malta, Jamaica.
raydeon, I don't know what you did in your post [#30 above] to put my words into your mouth, but just look what that misplaced {quote=} did to poor Moraff in #31. Anyway, I hope you don't mind me correcting it in this post. Perhaps you could take time to Edit yours.

I made a statement about European countries using alphanumeric, and you named two who do: Britain and Malta. So I don't think I can be "totally wrong" saying that could account for our style postal codes being more accepted across the Atlantic than across the St. Clair River. Thanks for reminding me how dangerous absolute pronouncements can be.
 
I protest pay before you pump by not buying there. Used to be a convenience store in the area that insisted on that, and also rented videos. Let's see, go in, wait for asshole arguing about late charges on video to finish, pay, go pump, go back in and get change or sign bill, wait again while someone counts out pennies for their purchase. no thanks, my time is worth more to me than that. Pay at the pump is the best.

And yes, Americans have such a big market, they in general don't understand anything outside their four walls.
 
oldjones said:
raydeon, I don't know what you did in your post [#30 above] to put my words into your mouth, but just look what that misplaced {quote=} did to poor Moraff. Anyway, I hope you don't mind me correcting it in this post. Perhaps you could take time to Edit yours.

I made a statement about European countries using alphanumeric, and you named two who do: Britain and Malta. So I don't think I can be "totally wrong" saying that could account for our style postal codes being more accepted across the Atlantic than across the St. Clair River. Thanks for reminding me how dangerous absolute pronouncements can be.

You are right about how dangerous absolute pronouncement can be.

However you did state without ambiguity "'Cause European postal codes use letters and numbers like ours.". The implication was Europe as a whole.

Maybe I was a little harsh in my opening statement. My apology. But Europe comprises 27 EU countries, plus a few more non EU. Two countries out of some thirty hardly makes a majority.

I still think that the reason for this situation is the denial from the USA to aknowledge the existence of Canada and the rest of the World, and to persist in their apparent supremacy. This particular problem with C.Cs is only one out of many, and could be easily corrected. Since it does not affect them, it is of no concern to them.
Was nice talking to you.
 
oldjones said:
raydeon, I don't know what you did in your post [#30 above] to put my words into your mouth, but just look what that misplaced {quote=} did to poor Moraff in #31.


Sorry bout that oldjones, I should have looked a little closer I guess.
 
raydeon said:
You are right about how dangerous absolute pronouncement can be.

However you did state without ambiguity "'Cause European postal codes use letters and numbers like ours.". The implication was Europe as a whole.

Maybe I was a little harsh in my opening statement. My apology. But Europe comprises 27 EU countries, plus a few more non EU. Two countries out of some thirty hardly makes a majority.

I still think that the reason for this situation is the denial from the USA to aknowledge the existence of Canada and the rest of the World, and to persist in their apparent supremacy. This particular problem with C.Cs is only one out of many, and could be easily corrected. Since it does not affect them, it is of no concern to them.
Was nice talking to you.
Spoken like a gentleman. However I'd say my failing was speaking with ambiguity: You read "all" into it, where "some" is also a possible reading and enough to make the pertinent point. I certainly was not clear enough.

I quite agree with you about American isolationism. Oddly, I've only encountered the pay-at-the pump issue in border towns where one might imagine they'd be as adaptive as Europeans, while even some of the pokiest backwater American websites take our alphnumerics with nary a qualm—although they do have quirky ideas of how they must be typed. Perhaps there's hope for them yet.
 
canucklehead said:
In the states a lof of places will not take your cards at the pump because we have postal codes rather then zip codes and the authorization delivery system never sends the request and authorization attempt fails and u must go inside.
Not a biggy but if u use Amex ...... after 3 fills at the pump in 3 states they fail your next authorization with a please call declined. now the catch is most gas attendants ( i have come across) tell you to call yourself they don't have time and go back to picking zits.... sorry about the rant.... i had to throw that in
Esso on Hwy 7 near Valleymede Richmondhill with signs - Pumps will not accept U.S. credit cards - Must pay first!:D