I’m from a US state where we don’t pump our own gas. Since I don’t pump my own gas regularly - only when I’m out of state - I’m not exactly sure when this happened, but all gas pumps seem to play ads now while the pump runs. At least the states adjacent to mine. Like can I not even pump gas in peace? Stop trying to manipulate my purchasing decisions 24/7.
Edit: ok I get it, there’s a mute button. I appreciate the tip, but people are already reporting that it only sometimes works. Knowing there’s a mute button that sometimes functions doesn’t make me less infuriated
You must log in or register to comment.
Ads are like a gas (the physics kind). They expand to take up all available space.
And that’s why vandalism to destroy them is ethical.
Please don’t do this
It won’t end well for you. A better option is a boycott
If you can’t boycott, maybe some noise canceling headphones to wear while you pump, and Instead of looking at the screen, wash your windows, and dump all your car trash into their bins.
An even better option is to use a credit card and only get 10¢ of gas.
I think the credit card frees are now a percentage
I like the way you think though
I default to having a meltdown, smashing the screen, yelling “where is the goddamn mute button”.
Is this unhinged, yes. But if we all did it, they would eventually get the message.
Really though, I mostly get gas at Costco cuz it’s cheaper and they don’t do that shit.
You said ads, but I think you meant “late stage capitalism”
True. That is the generalization of this rule.
But you do have Mt Hood and the Columbia River and the coastline to console you. 😍
Every single gas station in my state has gas pumps with screens and ads. Honestly one of the most annoying things today.
I have one gas station that I frequently use and found one of the pumps has a blown out speaker. Even though the ads still play, I hear nothing! The infuriating part comes when that pump is already in use when I arrive. I’ll have to try some of the other comments suggestions here about pressing a side button to mute it
You could also fix the speakers on other pumps you use.
It started happening a few years ago in my area. Maybe like right before the pandemic?
For a while some of the stations had a hidden option where you could hit one of the unmarked selection buttons and it would at least mute the ads. But starting around the end of last year they took that option away.
The only stations I know of that don’t show ads are Costco (and I assume Sam’s Club too, but idk). Plus they have slight discounts on gas because they are member only. But my local Costco station is such a headache to get through these days - even at around 9pm after the main store closes - that I not just go to a local Shell or Valero and resentfully try to ignore the fucking ads that always play.
It’s crazy how there are just more and more reasons popping up to go to Costco (e.g. supporting DEI, infinite return policy). I’m gonna get a membership.
You’re going to get membership at a bigbox store? I’m not sure Dwight would approve…
Small knife/chopstick etc through the plastic grate in front of the speaker does the job too
Am I the odd one out, because I find it incredibly easy to ignore ads.
Yes, you are the odd one. Ads are literally designed to be difficult to ignore.
So, most pump POS used to have a labeled or unlabeled mute button. That has become rare.
So far, I’ve been able to kick all of them into a diagnostic/trouble menu by pressing pairs of keys on each side of the monitor in sequence from the top.
Some of them have a timeout on this screen, but the counter resets when you hit a key.
Passwords can be entered from the keypad, with ok/enter also working. I bet the passwords are the manufacturer default, probably a 5-7 digit number. I was able to find partial training manuals and setup docs from one of the POS vendors but I didn’t find a default password or deeper technical docs for the one brand I looked into.
Fucking ads in my face fucking piss me off.
I just have a rubber handle icepick in my glove box that works wonders on gas station speakers.
Can’t play an ad if there isn’t a speaker.
Very true, and more efficient.
For now, I can mute all that I’ve found, it also looks like the pump has crashed, which is fun.
It quits working, I may adopt your method.
12345 works as a default a surprisingly large amount.
2580 is another one I’ve used with success.
12345 works as a default a surprisingly large amount.
That’s amazing! I have the same combination on my luggage!
Had an Android tablet that sat in a lost and found for like three years with no claims. Finally decided to mess around with it. After charging it up there was a password screen. Tried 1234. No dice. 2580 and it opened right up.
Why would 2580 be common?
Straight down the centre.
In my neck of the woods, gas station owners have sharpies which of the 10 buttons is the mute button.
So as soon as the ad plays you just press mute.
It is God awful though.
Most have four buttons on the left and four on the right. The second or third button on the right side has been the mute button on every system I’ve tried.
The screens on the pumps (around me at least) have a mute button on the screen.
You sound tired. You should try Lipton ‘pick me up’ teabags. A refreshing way to soothe the soul. Available now at most retailers. /s
Sounds like you need Ketchup, packed with natural mellowing agents.
…where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above-average…
You sound like one of them Lake Wobegone types. We don’t cotton to that around here, too uplifting.
Second button from the top on the right will mute the ad.
So will sticking a needle into the speaker.
Pretty sure that would just make the speaker slightly buzzy.
This works on most I’ve encountered, but not all. New gas station near me built less than 2 years ago has no mute button, and the ads play 24/7 whether someone is there or not. If you are pumping gas late at night with nobody else around you get to hear 10 pumps all blaring ads to nobody and each milliseconds out of sync. It’s totally fucked.
Yo fuck that shit… Playing 24/7? Is the speaker visible at all or hidden in the machine?
I’m glad I sold my car.
Do me a favor, when you’ve got a minute, go by a Wawa and grab an Italian hoagie and enjoy it for me? I miss them every day, man. Gas pump ads, shitty gas station hoagies, it’s rough movin across the Sheetz/Wawa line
Oh man, do I miss Sheetz and Wawa, especially the fried Mac n cheese, pretzel bun sandwiches, and Hoagie Fest.
I will buy 2 and pour one out for you
<3 u a real one
That sounds frustrating, you should buy a pair or Ray Ban sunglasses to reduce the glare from the ad screens. Never hide - Ray Ban.
It’s still very rare for me to see a pump with ads. Mostly happens at stores with attached gas stations: Kroger, Walmart, etc. I don’t go to those places. Not because of ads though. That’s just a bonus.
I got gas from Sheetz today and it put up a silent and stilla ad on the display while the pump was running.
Well, think of it as positive engagement to stop buying gasoline vehicles.
Last I checked electric still required a significant amount of emissions for power generation. Only the car itself is “clean” energy. There is also a significant amount of emissions in manufacturing the electric car. I believe we should start phasing out gas cars asap and build a more green power grid. Personally, I bought a used gas car which I believe is more economic and better for the environment than a new gas car. And I live in a more walkable area now, so I do much more walking than I used to. I know I’m still contributing to the problem, but I’m trying to be better.
EVs powered by fossil fuels still result in less emissions than ICE vehicles, since the big turbines in power plants are more efficient than the tiny engine in a car. But walking or taking public transportation is of course a lot better than both.
This popped up today, if you’re still interested
https://lemmyverse.link/lemmy.ca/post/47682873
https://theicct.org/publication/electric-cars-life-cycle-analysis-emissions-europe-jul25/
I agree - I’m not expert but I know that the mining of rare earth metals and the disposal of some EV components are problematic. It’s not a perfect solution.
That said, better solutions such as fuel cells or hydrogen are still 10-15 years away, and “better” shouldn’t be the enemy of perfect. I’m not particularly car proud and cars tend to last me twelve-fifteen years so I went for an EV hoping that an even better tech will be available by the time I need a car next time round.
If you charge overnight, the base load is less likely to be fossil fuel. If it is fossil fuel, emission controls on a power plant are far more effective than anything with wheels.
The average car emits 400g CO2 per mile
https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/greenhouse-gas-emissions-typical-passenger-vehicle#drivingMy power company emits 364g per kWh, which will take an EV about 3 miles. So that’s ~120g CO2 per mile, one third of a gasoline car.
https://www.climatiq.io/data/emission-factor/65ad9f91-28a1-45b2-bbab-3dcdd5de6a46That’s the total mix- natural gas is the primary peak fuel so charging at night is likely less than 100g/mile
