Gas Station Work

[VanTrekker]

<img class="bbc_img" src="http://icanhasdiary.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/navin-r-johnson.jpg" rel="lightbox"><br><br>It's not always easy to find a low end job that won't work you to death or multitask your brain to mush.&nbsp; I think being a gas station cashier&nbsp;has a lot of benefits for those of us who want to enjoy a simple existence and still have a few bucks coming in.<br><br>I'm working in a small convenience store (8 gas pumps, pre-pay) close to home. &nbsp;There are some excellent&nbsp;advantages to this kind of work...<br><br>1)&nbsp; Little contact with the bosses - I am on second shift<br>2)&nbsp; Self directed - you just get a few simple tasks done, keep the books balanced, life is good<br>3)&nbsp; Fairly low mental stress - virtually no&nbsp;multitasking<br>4)&nbsp; Fun - never a dull moment.&nbsp; Most customers joke around a little<br>5)&nbsp; Highly portable job skills (making change, operating lottery, ID'ing people, fixing pop machines, etc.)<br>6)&nbsp; Can take a mini break whenever time allows<br>7)&nbsp; Low pay keeps me qualified&nbsp;for free Medicaid insurance through state&nbsp;of Iowa<br>8)&nbsp; You build relationships with the regulars<br>9)&nbsp; Anonymity... It's easier to keep your vandwelling lifestyle "under the radar"<br><br><br>Disadvantages<br>&nbsp;<br>1)&nbsp; Low pay<br>2)&nbsp; Wierd, varied hours<br>3)&nbsp; No scheduled breaks - impossible to take a half hour lunch when working alone<br>4)&nbsp; Can be a little hard on the feet<br>5)&nbsp; Some customers are drunk, mean, or both...<br>6)&nbsp; Robberies (6 years combined experience - never happened to me on 2nd shift)<br><br><br>I've tried a lot of other things in the last couple of years and this is one of the easiest gigs in that pay range.&nbsp; Perhaps the biggest advantage is the lack of multitasking... I can't say enough there!&nbsp; Just one piece of advice... I've worked in high volume and lower volume stations.&nbsp; Low volume is a lot less stressful.<br><br>Has anyone done any gas station work (or currently does) ?

 

[Xterra Guy]

I have done the convenience store thing this past fall/winter as well. It was a cool gig for abit. Then the store mgr ..well she literally became the b**ch from hell. No offense to the female readers, but it's the truth. I always put out 100% of my work, but I refused to cover someone else's duties from the 1st shift.&nbsp;I did 2nds and some nights it was so busy that I never ever left the register. It was a high volume store that was suppose to have two people on Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun. But we had 2 fired and 1 quit. So I am suppose to do triple the work?? Sorry but when solo on those busy days it was a rush just to keep the customer line moving. <br><br>I finally just walked away from the job after weeks of not hiring more help into those empty slots. The stress was just too much for little pay. Not even sure if the stress would be worth more pay really. It was just hell.<br><br>Sorry to rant. Just my experience with this type of job last year. =/

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Work at motel nights, but we serve exxon gas too (no convenience items, thank the Lord).&nbsp; I like it, I have just about all the advantages mentioned plus internet and a tv and max out at like 30 customers, but usually I can count them on one hand.&nbsp; <br><br><br>I used to work at a BP station in baltimore and while i did work mostly alone (save for about an hour in the morning), it was not something I'd like to do again.&nbsp; I worked the graveyard there too, but even then I had way more customers than I do now.&nbsp; I was also right next to a bar, and a crackhouse was thru a little stand of trees where some subsidized houses were. &nbsp; So they migrated from one to the other all night.&nbsp; I was the cigarettes and lotto addiction in between.&nbsp; People shot in the chest stumbling in. &nbsp;&nbsp; It was a struggle not to be bitter and cynical working at that place. &nbsp; <br><br>This really friendly and naive guy that worked the shift ahead of me got robbed once at knife point (to be fair this is the only robbery we had the entire time i worked).&nbsp; It totally changed him, he hated the world after it happened, became paranoid and thought the world was trash and just waiting to end him.&nbsp; He carried mace just to take out the trash, and started to only talk about guns (he used to talk about playing his drums).&nbsp; He eventually quit and worked at a warehouse, and he started to seem a little happier.. but even then he said he liked it most cause he never has to see or talk to anyone again but his direct coworkers.&nbsp; It really made me sad to see the change in that guy. &nbsp; <br><br>I knew I had to quit soon when I beat the crap out of my crackhead neighbor over a parking spot (well he did grab me). &nbsp; I recognize now i hated him like he represented all the crackheads from work. &nbsp; Even after I left and moved to the country I had to take a hold of myself and adjust my dismal view on humanity.<br><br><br>PS:&nbsp; Let me say I did like my co workers, they were like family.&nbsp; The station was owned by guy (american, the only one left in baltimore I think) and he treated us good, thru birthday parties and gave us generous holiday bonus and gas cards.&nbsp; He would also personally pick us up for work in a snowstorm, and once told me to just go to sleep on the floor once when the power went out (doors autolock).&nbsp;

 

[VanTrekker]

<p>Hi Xterra,<br><br>I think we must be talking about the same store and manager...&nbsp; Seriously though, it seems like a lot of them are run by either foreigners or angry middle aged caucasion women.&nbsp; My boss is about my age, divorced, pi**ed off at men (there are no good ones), yet she proclaims she is a cougar (woman on the prowl for studly young guys).&nbsp; I'm the only man working in the store.&nbsp; Not sure if that is good or bad but when the females there get to fighting, look out!<br><br>I get told almost every day that I am not getting my work done.&nbsp; That's because we used to have two people every night.&nbsp; Corporate cut us to one but expects the same amount of productivity.&nbsp; I just laugh and don't fill out the clipboard of duties.&nbsp; Also, the "Theft Tracker" computer report shows I'm consistently the slowest at closing the register drawer.&nbsp;&nbsp;(I tried to close the drawer by the time the computer said to and slammed a&nbsp;finger in the till)&nbsp;&nbsp;Even though I get&nbsp;zinged, I'm also within 25 cents a night on the balance.&nbsp; The others (who try to go faster) are often $5, $28 off, even the assistant manager was off $50+ the other night&nbsp;etc...&nbsp; LOL.&nbsp; To me, accuracy is everything and they can shove their "Theft Tracker" report where the sun doesn't shine!<br><br>I have told everyone that the store can yell at me, write me up, fire me, etc. and it will have no effect on me etc...&nbsp; I have 6 years combined experience and do the best I can - if it's not good enough they can dump me and pay unemployment... I often joke about&nbsp; it saying, please fire me so I can go fishing tomorrow.&nbsp; It's funny because with paycheck-to-paycheck folks, firing is the ultimate threat.&nbsp; It's 100% ineffective with me.&nbsp; That makes the job fun.<br><br>Word got out that I live in a van... I don't try to hide it but call it my compact "R.V."&nbsp; The coworkers think it's cool...&nbsp; (RV stands for Raggedy Van but they don't know that)&nbsp; LOL.&nbsp; I just make sure to stay clean and presentable, help the co-workers get things done, and stay out of the catfights.<br><br>Security?&nbsp; No problem in our area right now...&nbsp; Today I have to work at a store in a rough neighbor hood (7:30 AM after having worked till 10:00 PM at the home base store last night.. ugg)&nbsp; Still, it's fun work.... mainly cause I don't care too much... <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>Brad aka V.T.&nbsp;&nbsp; "Will that be credit or debit tonight, Sir?"</p>

 

[Guest]

loveable huggy bear Brad