I arrived home tonight after driving 3 days from Denver, where I have been for the past 4 weeks. Despite the economy the roads (mostly I80) seemed as crowded as ever. I did notice gas stations are now requiring prepayment. This is costing them revenue as some people buy less than a full tank to avoid returning for change. So they must have been seeing a real theft problem. Perhaps because of the economy. Or maybe only lowlifes pay with cash these days.
The photo of Denver was taken from Green Mountain a suburb to the west.
Welcome back home.
ReplyDeleteI thought gas stations everywhere have been doing that (prepayment) for a long time, before "the economy." In Westchester I see signs "Cash customers please pay at the cashier first."
I have rarely had to prepay before, including on a cross country drive in 2007. So something seems to have changed recently, maybe because of last year's gas price spike.
ReplyDeleteLocally stations may have posted signs but they don't always insist. I have not had to prepay. Perhaps they recognize me or I don't look like a thief.
I didn't actually try ignoring the signs on my trip.
I think you don't look like one - but now I don't feel comfortable for this may be inappropriate profiling.
ReplyDeleteI myself never pay cash, but whenever inside getting my coffee I hear people in front of me saying things like "20 on #4" prepaying in cash, and that has been going on for a while. Pumps won't even work without prepayment or card. Probably not consistent everywhere but frequent enough for my absent mind to notice. An example is Hess on 202.