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

  • RodgeGrabTheCat@sh.itjust.works
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    29 days ago

    I never go to Shell, they have a speaker right above the pumps blasting out music and ads. Fuck Shell. Too many other places to get gas.

  • digger@lemmy.ca
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    30 days ago

    Well, sure, but not on our gas pumps. Only on TV and radio. And in magazines and movies and at ball games, on buses and milk cartons and T-shirts and bananas and written on the sky. But not on gas pumps. No, sir-ee!

  • PhilipTheBucket@ponder.cat
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    30 days ago

    There’s usually one of the buttons you can hold down to mute the ads, near the bottom right in the little phalanx of buttons all around the screen.

    If you find it, label it “MUTE” in marker or something, spread the word.

  • Kaboom@reddthat.comBanned
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    30 days ago

    I’m boycotting Valero because of it. None of the gas stations around me seem to do it, it’s just them. So fuck them.

        • 🍄🌵Psychonaut1969🌵🍄 @lemmy.world
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          28 days ago

          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.

        • xtr0n@sh.itjust.works
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          28 days ago

          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.

  • POTOOOOOOOO@reddthat.com
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    30 days ago

    The local one doesn’t play ads. They get my business for it. I live in a not so good place. I’ve had weapons pulled on me several times. The ads make me jumpy.

    • ALoafOfBread@lemmy.ml
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      30 days ago

      Yep doesn’t work anymore. There’s probably some series of buttons you can push to put it into settings mode, but I imagine it’s different by model.

      If you can’t mute it with software, then the only remaining way is via hardware. Carry some packing tape in your car and slap it over the speaker - wipe fingerprints off just in case.

      • POTOOOOOOOO@reddthat.com
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        30 days ago

        I vote with my money. If they have ads I go somewhere else. I tell the employees why. I also pay with cash. Ads don’t work on me. I’m too poor for their products anyway.

  • Baaron87@lemmy.world
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    30 days ago

    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

  • BMW_stick@lemmy.world
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    30 days ago

    You sound tired. You should try Lipton ‘pick me up’ teabags. A refreshing way to soothe the soul. Available now at most retailers. /s

    • Mose13@lemmy.worldOP
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      30 days ago

      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.

      • lemming741@lemmy.world
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        30 days ago

        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#driving

        My 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-3dcdd5de6a46

      • PhobosAnomaly@feddit.uk
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        30 days ago

        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.

      • LostXOR@fedia.io
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        30 days ago

        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.

  • SwizzleStick@lemmy.zip
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    30 days ago

    Never understood this. Sincerely hope that any place trying out here is shunned.

    EVs will hopefully put the tactic out of business forever. ‘Plug in and fuck off somewhere else for half an hour’ is not a position you can really advertise in.

    Unless it becomes ‘watch ad to enable charger’ 😬

    • CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      29 days ago

      I could see a “NetZero” approach to electric charging where you choose to watch ads for free or discounted electricity. Which will then turn into you having to watch ads to enable the charger.

    • cdipierr@lemmy.world
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      30 days ago

      Had an electric car for the last 7 years so I got jump-scared when I went to fill up a borrowed truck and an ad started blasting.

      The first time I see a video screen on a charger I’m going to start worrying.

  • Stamets@lemmy.world
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    30 days ago

    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.

    • lemmyng@lemmy.ca
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      30 days ago

      No audio is horrible accessibility! What about the blind drivers who need to hear the ads?

      /s, in case it’s not obvious

  • snooggums@lemmy.world
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    30 days ago

    Around here they played audio very loudly for about a year and then they all stopped with the audio. Most still play a video, although they seem to mostly be for the convenience or grocery store that the pumps are at.

    Drove out of state recently and there were pumps that still played the noise, so I pushed the one button that was well worn and it muted the sound.