<p>We’ve been enjoying out newly opened neighborhood Costco store and I’m trying very hard to buy all my gas there as I believe I can recoup my entire membership expense that way! </p>
<p>However, I’m very put off by the gas station “employee” who come over to personally greet you, shake hands and then stays and chats while you are filling up your car. I have an SUV and filling it up can take several minutes while I am stuck making conversation with this man. I don’t want to get him in any kind of trouble, but is this a standard Costco thing?</p>
<p>While admittedly I am an introvert, I mentioned him to 2 friends who seemed to agree that it is odd and slightly annoying. I’m tempted to email Costco, but I don’t want to get him in any kind of trouble, so if it’s a “policy” I will email and complain, but if it’s just this one lonely guy I’ll just try to get over it.</p>
<p>OUr Costco has 8-10 aisles of pumps, each of which serves 4 cars at a time. They are always full and there is a line. There is 1 attendant who is only there to help with any problems. There is no way he/she would have time to talk to anyone. That is definitely weird. I wouldn’t like it either.</p>
<p>If you’re in Oregon, the attendant most definitely will come up to you, to run your payment card through the reader. It’s the law (not just for Costco, for all gas stations in Oregon).</p>
<p>I rarely notice our Costco fuel station attendant and, when I have, I’ve certainly not seen any interaction between him and the customers. I, too, find it odd and it would be a turnoff for me.</p>
<p>I can totally relate to your “chatty” Costco story. Ours will even chat when the gas isn’t being pumped. One day I was so fed up that I said, “These lines would move a lot quicker if people didn’t talk so much.”</p>
<p>Deborah- we felt like we were royalty when we were in Oregon recently and they pumped our gas for us. I could be 120 years old and crawling here and no one would pump my gas. Such a nice luxury!!!</p>
<p>We sometimes go to Sam’s Club for gas if we’re lower than a trip to Costco would support, and all of their attendants seem to stop by and say hello, ask if we need anything, etc. They don’t stay there at our pump, but circulate around. I thought maybe it was required of them since they all seem to do it.</p>
<p>In my years of pumping gas at Costco, have never had the chatty experience you mention, in HI, CA or elsewhere. That sounds pretty unusual and I’d try to notice if its just you that is chatted up, if its just one employee or what’s going on. I have varying vehicles we’ve filled but have never seen or heard of what you mention.</p>
<p>Add me to the “never had a chatty attendant” at Costco. In fact, the opposite. There was a time I had to ask or tell the attendants something (memory fails me-- but I needed the attendant for something) and not only was it hard to get his attention from whatever he was lost in thought about, but he didn’t stick around for any idle chit-chat.</p>
<p>I always figured it was part of their job description, as I’ve seen them go row by row, greeting people. They rarely hang out in their little shack, even when it’s cold.</p>
<p>Never had a chatty person at the local Costco gas station, but I’ve stopped going there for the most part. Found I usually got lower MPG on their gas than from the slightly higher priced Chevron down the street. Generally a shorter wait there, too.</p>
<p>here in NJ we don’t pump our own gas, either, so I guess I’ve never run into this because it’s easy enough to close the window or be busy. Not to mention, since they’re filling all the cars, they’re too busy to stop and chat.</p>
<p>I found this Q&A page for Costco gas. Sounds like the attendants are specifically stationed out on the fuel islands. </p>
<p>Also, AllThis, you mentioned your car takes a while to fill. The Q&A says something about attendants checking nozzle flow rate regularly to assure the filter is fresh.</p>
<p>Maybe it depends by state or gas station. I can generally get help if needed at Costco gas, but they definitely do NOT greet most customers and NEVER stick around to chat.</p>
<p>The Attendants at my Costco do not chat, but do help those who need assistance with a wave of the hand. I would be quite annoyed if the attendant started up a lengthy conversation while I’m pumping gas. I probably would hop back into my vehicle and plug in my headphones.</p>
<p>Count me as another one who regularly gasses up at Costco and has never had this experience! There always is an attendant stationed there, but he’s just there for any problems or for those needing assistance. I wouldn’t be comfortable with a chatty attendant either.</p>