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
I HATE this if I am PAYING for a product then I shouldn’t get a god damn ad.
Look at this pedon thinking that he is entitled to dignity
Cute
Paying customers/additional ad revenue
Because you’re not PAYING enough, now go INSIDE and buy some FUCKING BANANAS.
Use ads negatively, it makes ads fun.
See an ad? Pledge to never buy that product. My black book is full of spite.
Unfortunately gas stations don’t actually make much money from selling you fuel. Most of the money is made from the attached convenience stores.
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.
Ads are like a gas (the physics kind). They expand to take up all available space.
You said ads, but I think you meant “late stage capitalism”
True. That is the generalization of this rule.
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
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.
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.
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.
Why would 2580 be common?
Straight down the centre.
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.
12345 works as a default a surprisingly large amount.
That’s amazing! I have the same combination on my luggage!
I never see ads when pumping gas because all the gas stations that have ads that play on their pumps have been
vandalizedimproved so the screens don’t work lolThe entire US is a lesson on the consequences of barely-regulated rampant capitalism.
Weirdly enough the PNW just has normal gas pumps that don’t have screens or sound
Circle K here in Burien just outside of Seattle,WA has them.
I’ve def seen them in Seattle
I’m from a US state where we don’t pump our own gas.
You can just say New Jersey. After Oregon lifted its ban in 2023, it’s the only one left!
Yes, just say “I’m from the best US state” next time instead, OP, people will know what you mean.
We’ll just have to observe him carefully and see if he’s able to complete a left turn without assistance. That’ll tell us for sure.
WTF is a left turn?
Do petrol station attendants who have to pump fuel get paid better than those who don’t? I’m assuming that they need some kind of license?
Bro they are lucky if they get paid at all.
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??? I was just in NJ for the first time earlier this week and I pumped my own gas.
Then they weren’t paying attention or didn’t care.
That’s funny. Maybe they just didn’t notice? When I was there and started to pump my own gas (being from out-of-state), they stopped me and took over, but it wasn’t like the pumps were locked or anything. I did see that stations turned off the pumps after-hours, when they didn’t have anyone to pump fuel…
One of the side buttons mutes it. It varies though as far as I know.
A lot of them have been updated so that no longer works.
I bet a piece of duct tape over the speaker would work. Also, whatever money they are paying the gas stations, they would probably still get that money even if you manually muted the speaker. Really feels like a win win 😀
Hmm, maybe someone could make some stickers with anti-advertising/anti-capitalist slogans on them for the next person to see specifically for this purpose
Or even better, “Join Lemmy, it’s like Reddit with no ads”.
“Your screens should be nicer to you than this one. Join Lemmy!”
“Have you installed Arch yet?”
Unfortunately I’ve found that Lemmy has a more defined “hive mind” so you better make sure you like the same things as the group.
Well fuck. That’s terrible news.
Yep. Most of the time someone has marked it somehow because it’s immensely annoying. That being said, there are a few stations that aren’t able to be muted, so I intentionally make a point to note whatever is being advertised and never buy it.
I try to only get gas at one specific local gas station that doesn’t do ads.
The speakers are often easy to bust by jamming a key through the slots ☺
Or, you’re holding a nozzle that sprays liquid. Just douse the speaker in gasoline.
Gas pumps live outside. Do you really expect a little liquid to hurt them?
A match afterwards might help… better obscure your face, license plate, and use cash.
Ever came across something you really really wanted to buy, but it was “noted”?
If you absolutely need it, then get it used or other method to where the original manufacturer who paid for the ad doesn’t profit, duh.
I don’t think I want to buy used hotdogs
Aye, get your used hotdogs for free straight from the source!
That’s no longer a universal thing.
The gas station I prefer has a mute button labeled on the pumps. Their ads are also less annoying because it’s mostly just promos for stuff in store.
Or… hear me out here … we could weaponize them. Most of them are operated by a company called GSTV who sell the ad slots. They could be purchased by activist groups to un-brainwash people who can’t mute them. They could read banned books out loud. Teach science. Explain what’s wrong with the electoral college.
GSTV also offers very precise targeting at specific zip codes or stations. So you could play an ad at your local station about whatever stupid thing your HOA is trying to do.
“We are sorry. We cannot show your video as it against the terms and conditions. Please note we will keep your money though”
What do you do for a living?
I’m not sure I have that kind of cash
Have them play cgp Grey and kurgzkazat videos and the world will become a better place.
Good god… Worst I’ve seen so far here in Canada (granted I’m on an island stuck 20 years behind everyone else) was the pump screen flashing to show a loyalty program like AirMiles or PC Optimum or something and none of them have audio.
No audio is horrible accessibility! What about the blind drivers who need to hear the ads?
/s, in case it’s not obvious
Lol, imagine thinking you’re allowed a momentary reprieve from advertising in this hellscape of a world we’ve built.
I could almost stomach the ads if they weren’t blasted at max volume; it’s like being assaulted at the pump. I feel sorry for anyone who lives in proximity of those stations and have to hear this crap at all hours.
Most have a mute option it’s hidden but every one I have seen has a mute button… You might have to press some random button… Pro tip have a sharpie so you can label said mute button
They used to, not so much anymore. Most of them I’ve been to (I travel A LOT for work) no longer mute at all no matter which button you press.
The new ones I’ve seen still do… Maybe it’s the area but even the newer touch screen ones allow you to turn the volume all the way down
I wonder if that could be considered an ADA violation since some autistic folks may be overwhelmed by the super sudden and loud noise?
The US never stop to amaze me
They’ve stopped using exposed speaker grilles so you can’t shove a screw driver into the speakers anymore :(
Ad blaring pumps are in Canada too. Shell is the most obnoxious.
Is gas less expensive compared to pumps where they don’t do that?
Bahahahahahahaha!
No.
Nope!
Typically the button on the right, second from the top mutes. It depends on the model, but it works on some.
I have like a 70% success rate with this trick
When the 2nd from the top on the right doesn’t work I proceed to hit all of them. Normally that works
Grab a screwdriver and stab the shit out of the speaker, that shuts them up fairly reliably.
But in all seriousness I refuse to go to a gas station with ads on the pumps because fuck that shit. Old gas stations are the way to go (for now).
