Why Can't I Pump My Gas??

If you want to pump gas at our store, you will have to pay us first. We don't automatically turn the pumps on anymore because as gas prices went up, so did the number of drive-offs.

So we have signs everywhere saying that if you are paying cash, you have to prepay. How hard is that?

Apparently it's pretty difficult. We regularly get people coming in all pissed off because we won't turn the pump on for them.

The thing that gets me is that some people will wait a looooong time for the pump to be turned on. I usually just wait until they give up and come inside, but if they are standing out there for over 10 minutes waiting for the pump to be turned on, then I feel bad and go outside and tell them they have to pay first. Seriously though, who waits over 10 minutes for a gas pump to start working? Wouldn't you go inside before then and ask what's going on?

And then we get these people:

Customer *storming in*: Could you turn on the pump? I've been waiting there for 5 minutes.

Me: You have to pay first before you can pump.

Customer *storming up to the register*: Well, I don't know how much it's going to take!!!

And then they stand there and stare at me. Well, I don't know how much it's going to fucking take either, it's not my car.

So I tell them that they can leave their credit card or drivers license with me while they pump the gas. This usually pisses them off more and I get the irritating sigh from them. The irritating sigh is made even worse when their breath stinks.

Just once I'd love to tell them to go fucking get their gas somewhere else. I wouldn't get fired, would I?