<p>We would have liked help at Costco gas station. It took a while to figure out that it rejects Visa cards but our AmEx (Jetblue, not Costco) works.</p>
<p>Ours are usually of the chatty nature. I figured it was a job requirement. Plus it must be a really boring job. Our Costco is small and the bays are rarely all filled.<br>
When I visit my sister and her insanely busy Costco, the attendants are so busy directing traffic at the multiple bays that they never even look our way.</p>
<p>Jersey Girls don’t pump gas!</p>
<p>As was mentioned above, the attendant at our Costco is servicing 8 cars, so he/she is running around, so there’s no time to chat. My favorite part is they don’t top your tank. When the pump clicks, that’s it. We keep a log book of gas purchases, so it’s easy to fill out as soon as the pump clicks. </p>
<p>Get a Costco AmEx and get 3% back on your gas purchases.</p>
<p>I felt silly mentioning this, but thanks for the feedback that I’m not the only one. It’s definitely NOT just me. He makes the rounds, but the other day I was the only one at the pump, so he stood with me the entire time. When I mentioned it to DH he said “he came and talked to me too!..that WAS strange”.</p>
<p>I have a Honda Pilot, so it’s not like it take 15 minutes to fill, but it does take a little while if it’s close to empty. And no, he’s not checking the equipment…just lonely or friendly or both I guess.</p>
<p>thanks again!!!</p>
<p>I would definitely find it creepy and bothersome. Perhaps since it’s a new Costgo Gas station, they have specifically told him his main job is to make conversation and make people feel welcome, so they’ll come back. The reality is, people just want to pump their freaking gas! I feel that is irritating and invasive. Say hello, then leave me alone.</p>
<p>I suggest that when you get gas, do it with a mission. Get out of the car quickly, start pumping quickly, wait in the car while you’re pumping. If he comes over, be brief and short. Don’t look at him. If he says, “How are you?” Say, “Fine, thanks,” and look away, go back to your business. There’s a way to be brusque but not rude.</p>
<p>The Costco I go to doesn’t have gas pumps so I can’t comment on the real question, but I do find your situation weird AllThisIsNewToMe. I wouldn’t like it either.</p>
<p>I’m writing though because so many people suggested popping back in your car while it was fueling and checking e-mail to avoid the situation. You should NEVER go in and out of a car while it’s refueling, and better not to get in the habit of using your cell phone.</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.migrelief.com/cell-phone-safety-alert-do-not-use-cell-phones-while-pumping-gas[/url]”>https://www.migrelief.com/cell-phone-safety-alert-do-not-use-cell-phones-while-pumping-gas</a>
</p>
<p>Our Costco does have “friendly” people who seems to wander from aisle to aisle, but honestly every time I go, there is such a line up that they are more directing traffic, shifting lines, etc. - I do still even then see them stopping for a few words with random cars. </p>
<p>If they talk to me I just make a quick pleasant comment and then focus on pumping my gas.</p>
<p>I find it sad that anybody would think this is intrusive or invasive, especially if it doesn’t seemed aimed at anybody in particular, and doesn’t involve inappropriate comments. Certainly, in a lot of small towns this would be seen as very normal behavior.</p>
<p>I wish my costco gas attendant will help me when I was stranded at the pump when my battery died. I had to ask around so another customer can help me to push the car to the side. Even after the car was sitting on the driveway at the gas station for a long time, the attendant did not come over to help, I have to seek him out and ask if he could help and he said NO. So I had to run into the store to buy a jumper battery to restart the car. Prior to that, I had two more customers to use their car to jump my car and did not work.</p>
<p>Maybe the OP is having the experience with the gas guy because this is a newly opened Costco. I would wait a month or so. My guess is it will end.</p>
<p>I have to admit I also was kind of taken back with the idea that this “greeting” by the Costco employee was a negative. As long as it’s not intrusive conversation, I thought it was just a nice Costco touch - similar to the attitude and face of the Costco workers inside who always greet you at the door, in the store and when you’re going out the door! </p>
<p>I don’t think you’re obligated to chat, but would be nice to be pleasant and then say, “well, have a good day!” and he/she will probably move on.</p>
<p>Am at Costco gas pump. Attendant is talking to someone but that someone initiated the chat.</p>
<p>Now she’s standing in the middle of the parking lot yawning and pacing</p>
<p>^^Love it! On the scene reporter!!! :)</p>
<p>Who needs reality TV when we have CC?</p>
<p>“I have to admit I also was kind of taken back with the idea that this “greeting” by the Costco employee was a negative. As long as it’s not intrusive conversation, I thought it was just a nice Costco touch - similar to the attitude and face of the Costco workers inside who always greet you at the door, in the store and when you’re going out the door!”</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone who thinks they would be bothered by the OP’s situation is objecting to a pleasant greeting and a very brief conversation. The OP is uncomfortable with being in a situation where she can’t leave, and the man is staying for several minutes, forcing conversation. There are many people who are introverted, and don’t want to feel forced to make small talk for a long time with a stranger. </p>
<p>Particularly when the stranger is a man, and you are a woman, it is bothersome. Some people just don’t understand when it’s okay to have a long conversation, and when it’s time to stop. I’m stuck in taxis all the time. I can’t leave, I am trapped there. Sometimes I feel like making conversation, and I might ask questions and be interested in that person’s life. But often there are men who are just bores, and it is irrelevant whether you are interested or not. You are trapped, and they are going to talk endlessly, even if you have your eyes closed, or are not responding. </p>
<p>The OP shouldn’t have to feel like she doesn’t want to go to Costco, to avoid that uncomfortable conversation. That is crummy customer service. I want to avoid parking in a certain parking lot, but often I’m stuck doing it…because of the attendant. Overly friendly, really creepy. Both me and my husband are sure he must have some bodies buried in his back yard, you just get that feeling.</p>
<p>How long can such a conversation possibly last? This is not like a five-hour plane ride with a garrulous neighbor, after all.</p>
<p>^^Good God, don’t even remind me of five hour plane rides with obnoxious people. There are those, that even though you put in your ear plugs and close your eyes, or put the head set in your ears, just won’t shut up. I have a couple of techniques that help. If I get up and go to the bathroom, it breaks up the conversation. Loudly announcing, “Well, I’m going to sleep now”, usually does the trick.</p>
<p>The OP said several minutes, and I can see that. Costco gas stations always seem to pump slow gas, and she has an SUV. For an introvert, that can seem like forever. People shouldn’t force conversation when it obviously is unwanted.</p>
<p>I guess I don’t see this as “forcing” conversation. The guy is briefly chatting with customers. I guess the problem is that if you really don’t want to talk to somebody in that situation, there isn’t really a nice way of telling him. I guess you could say you need to make a phone call.</p>
<p>It’s a new Costco - he’s a new employee, probably trying to do a really good job.</p>