Delta (Oakland/Valley)

I use the Delta gas station at Oakland/Valley all the time. It's nearby and convenient.

However, yesterday I think I might've been scammed out of a few bucks. My car (Honda Civic sedan) had 1/4 tank left. Normally, that uses around 8-9 gallons to fill. However the pump said it used 11.6 gallons. I have NEVER gone over 11 gallons, even when the tank was virtually empty. When I questioned the guy about it, he just shrugged his shoulders and gave a nervous smile. There was a line and I didn't want to make waves.

There's no leak or any car troubles. The tank size is 13.2 gallons. But again, I've never gone over 11 gallons filling the tank.

Has this happened to anyone else? I'd like to think it was a mistake and let it go.

I think there is an old thread about this station, somewhere here on MOL. It was a very enlightening thread.


Edited for typo.

been avoiding this place for years, too many "mistakes" for me. (3 cars and a van) lots of gas, no time to argue!!

It's an old trick that was more popular in the days when people would only pull in for a few dollars worth of gas, (like kids, or for a gas can) and the attendant wouldn't turn off the pump. So if you pull in and don't check first, they will beat you for a few dollars. During the course of 8 hour shift, it adds up...

Hmmm, that's very disappointing. How can I report this? Who do you call or email?

emmie said:

I think there is an old thread about this station, somewhaer here on MOL. It was a very enlightening thread.

Ugg, just found this thread: hhttp://forum.maplewoodonline.com/discussion/42614/got-cheated-by-the-delta-station-last-night-aug-23rd/p1

I'm pretty sure you would contact this office in the Department of Consumer Affairs:

NJ office of weights and measures
http://www.state.nj.us/oag/ca/weights/

Thanks mjh!

I'm just disappointed.... I live on Dunnell and the location is very handy! Boo!!!

I use that station as well, and what bothers me is how difficult it is to read the display on the pumps, so that if you want to verify how many gallons were pumped and the price per gallon charged, you practically need to get out of your car and look straight at it from a foot away to see it clearly.

I,ve been avoiding that place for a very long time. Some time ago, as I recall, said they had been fined for various practices. I,ve bad experiences with lotsa other places as well. Seems like the industry has made shady practices a business model.

jasper said:

I use that station as well, and what bothers me is how difficult it is to read the display on the pumps, so that if you want to verify how many gallons were pumped and the price per gallon charged, you practically need to get out of your car and look straight at it from a foot away to see it clearly.

And IIRC, the old thread said, they make you pull up so that it makes reading the pump almost impossible.

"I'm just disappointed.... I live on Dunnell and the location is very handy! Boo!!!"

No problem, just check the pump before you gas up; and problem solved. I'm willing to bet IF anyone is cheating, it's not the owners...

But why would the workers cheat? I'm paying with a credit card, so they're not making any extra money. They're risking their jobs for a few bucks.

jasper said:

... what bothers me is how difficult it is to read the display on the pumps,

At one time they used sandpaper to scratch up the inside of the plastic viewing panels so we couldn't read the pumps even standing right on top of them.
I had problems at Denco; one guy pumped more gas than the total capacity of my system This when I went in with about a quarter tank! Other times just a short pump when I asked for x$'s worth.
Same snit- different flies.

when I must go there (but really any station), I make a point of letting them know I want to see the pump and am watching. If they tell me to move forward, I say I will move a bit, but want to watch the pump. Who knows if it helps...and if it seems extra sketchy, I pay in cash

I just told a friend of mine about this thread. He said to me, you know, I always get gas in my truck when it's at 1/4 tank, and the last two times there was a difference of about $35 in the amount of the fill-up. Gas didn't go THAT far down in price. He's going to check the pumps from now on.

It's happened to me there too and I usually avoid the place. When I DO go there, you can bet that I read the display carefully and, as mentioned above, it often requires getting out of the car to do so.

Ugh we go there some times I am going to make sure to check from now on.

I always make it a point to read the meter afterward.

Never, never thought about reading it before. Thanx all, now I have a new rut in my routine.

Later,
Da, The UPS Store
George

Geez, is this something I should be worrying about when I go to fill up the car?? I had no idea. Crap.

We stopped going after the second time we caught them charging us the credit price when we were paying cash.

i just got gas there today. i never think to look. i was so happy i was getting change back from my $50 for a fill up, that I would not have thought to be concerned.
I like pumping my own gas. that would cut down on some of these shenanigans!

crazy_quilter said:

I like pumping my own gas. that would cut down on some of these shenanigans!

CQ, Interesting point

It would, but you'd not know if the pump was fast (i.e. flow of gas lower than the rate of charge) nor whether you were getting lower-grade gas, both of which have been common issues at Deltas, particularly the one in SO.

crazy_quilter said:

I like pumping my own gas. that would cut down on some of these shenanigans!

Come to Australia! It's standard practice here for everyone to fuel their own vehicles.

it's only NJ and one other state which don't allow you to pump your own. everywhere else you either have to , or it is cheaper to use the self-serve.

Wow - never had anything like that and I always pump there. I really like the two guys who mind them

crazy_quilter said:

it's only NJ and one other state which don't allow you to pump your own. everywhere else you either have to , or it is cheaper to use the self-serve.

Oregon

When I'm visiting family in Minnesota, and it's winter, I kinda miss having someone else pump the gas for me.

orzabelle said:

Wow - never had anything like that and I always pump there. I really like the two guys who mind them

I really liked those guys too... But not if they're ripping me off!

LOVE this Daily Show clip (with Ed Helms) about pumping gas in NJ. Hilarious!

LINK: http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/fz0xoa/pump-my-ride