who said gas will never be under 2 dollars again....

[Troy]

Haha, I love it when people try to tell me things were handed to me. They have no clue. I grew up poor. I can't remember wearing anything other than hand-me-down clothes until I was in high school. I didn't have video games or the latest toys - we often struggled to have enough food but mom is a dedicated coupon clipper and sale finder. I started working when I was 15 - every day after school and most weekends. I busted my rear end for over 13 years before I realized that I was never going to get anywhere like that (except maybe a worn out body by the time I was 40). I rarely had fewer than two jobs as sometimes as many as five. Most of my family works in factories or other types of manual labor so I know how things end up down that path. I decided to go back to school and paid for it with loans (couldn't get grants) but by also working 40-60 hours per week. It IS hard work but if you can see the rewards at the end it makes it worthwhile. I am never satisfied with the amount of money I make and as long as I'm providing value to my employer and our customers then they don't argue either. If you're willing to settle then you get exactly what you deserve.

I find it funny when guys out in the machine shop complain about the lazy office employees when it's the engineers inside who design and improve the products they make, the salesmen are on the road away from their families about 60% of the time, the accountants make sure the bills are paid, the lawyers protect the company's property, and the managers ensure a steady stream of work in the pipeline. Of course, the machinists are the ones with the skill to make the product so everyone plays a part. It's silly to pretend that one could be successful without the others.

As for oil companies, they make lower profits (percentage) than most banks and insurance companies. I don't believe the amount of profit they make isn't out of line for a cyclical business either. We've covered this plenty of times already, and, much like justin1987 said, no one is likely to change their opinion.

Troy

[mally69]

All true, but still just becuase people have only a high school diploma, doesn't mean they are lazy.. its just somtimes people  can't afford college. thats all i am ranting about, i just wanted to point that out to him, that he was fortunate enough to have enough money to go through college. So, when he stated 90% of americans are lazy, I took that as if he was downing me and some of us that didnt go to college.  Its just how I understood his statement.

I have alot of respect for you Troy, I know what its like. My town is basically a small town, also there isn't any really good jobs in my local area. And i know what is is like to have to work and wait  for the smallest thing's in life, it really can be difficult..

[justin1987]

hard work huh sitting in a class room and paper work,, hard,,  LAZY    ..    Ok not busting your balls or anyone else's that went to school , but I have to stand up for the real workers that are out there carrying a lunch bucket trying to make a decent living like my self and most of america's people. Not everyone's family can AFFORD to send their kids to school like you,,, its NOT LAZY  , id have to say you have had everything handed to you pretty much.  Try this, its 105 degrees in the air and your putting in heavy guiderail along a highway right behind a paver with 300 degree asphalt tearing your feet off,  blood and sweat all day and there is NO break not even a lunch break, and its  for $20/hr , you would never make it from the way your talking..  Those are are jobs where you can say you are busting your  ass.. Beilieve me, my job is one of millions other jobs that are nothing but hard manual labor...  Have you ever sat down and thought of who physically built your school?   And, people are to damn lazy to get off their couch and better their lives becuase they are afraid of a little hard work....  Boy you have no clue what it is like to have NOTHING...  You have no idea what real hard work is , Bottom line....................................................

Okay, don't judge me. You know NOTHING about me. If it weren't for people that went to school to design the highway you are building, you wouldn't have a job and would be living on the streets. I don't come from a rich family. I've worked my ass off for years so I can pay for school. I've had the manual labor jobs, the shit jobs, the jobs nobody else wanted. I had an average of two to three jobs at any one time. I'm getting through school on my hard work, loans, and scholarships. I grew up with hardly anything. Don't just assume that because a person goes to college they are rich.

[justin1987]

Haha, I love it when people try to tell me things were handed to me. They have no clue. I grew up poor. I can't remember wearing anything other than hand-me-down clothes until I was in high school. I didn't have video games or the latest toys - we often struggled to have enough food but mom is a dedicated coupon clipper and sale finder. I started working when I was 15 - every day after school and most weekends. I busted my rear end for over 13 years before I realized that I was never going to get anywhere like that (except maybe a worn out body by the time I was 40). I rarely had fewer than two jobs as sometimes as many as five. Most of my family works in factories or other types of manual labor so I know how things end up down that path. I decided to go back to school and paid for it with loans (couldn't get grants) but by also working 40-60 hours per week. It IS hard work but if you can see the rewards at the end it makes it worthwhile. I am never satisfied with the amount of money I make and as long as I'm providing value to my employer and our customers then they don't argue either. If you're willing to settle then you get exactly what you deserve.

I find it funny when guys out in the machine shop complain about the lazy office employees when it's the engineers inside who design and improve the products they make, the salesmen are on the road away from their families about 60% of the time, the accountants make sure the bills are paid, the lawyers protect the company's property, and the managers ensure a steady stream of work in the pipeline. Of course, the machinists are the ones with the skill to make the product so everyone plays a part. It's silly to pretend that one could be successful without the others.

As for oil companies, they make lower profits (percentage) than most banks and insurance companies. I don't believe the amount of profit they make isn't out of line for a cyclical business either. We've covered this plenty of times already, and, much like justin1987 said, no one is likely to change their opinion.

Troy

Thanks Troy. I'm glad someone sees it from my point of view.

[justin1987]

So, when he stated 90% of americans are lazy, I took that as if he was downing me and some of us that didnt go to college.  Its just how I understood his statement.

By hard work I meant going to college and working hard at school to get a good job, not hard manual labor.

[mally69]

Okay, don't judge me. You know NOTHING about me. If it weren't for people that went to school to design the highway you are building, you wouldn't have a job and would be living on the streets. I don't come from a rich family. I've worked my ass off for years so I can pay for school. I've had the manual labor jobs, the shit jobs, the jobs nobody else wanted. I had an average of two to three jobs at any one time. I'm getting through school on my hard work, loans, and scholarships. I grew up with hardly anything. Don't just assume that because a person goes to college they are rich.

Then don't judge everyone else by saying that they are lazy. By saying 90% thats over the majority..   
But even being said with these arguments, I hope everything does go well for you in school so, don't take any of it personally  i was just stating my    on things .. and the people who design the highway and everything else in the construction feild, are not always the brightest people. Alot of the time us workers have to fix their screw ups..

Now lets get back to the topic ...

[dukeboy_318]

wow didnt think this was going to happen when i posted the story. im staying out of this one and keeping opinions to myself  .  I just hope they dont fire the clerk for his mistake. It seems to me like its easy to do.  wow 

[Forza]

Screw that. This is my last post in this topic.

Have you knuckleheads ever thought that just possibly, not everyone needs a college education to succeed. Just because you didn't go to college doesn't mean you are some stupid low life who sits at home and does nothing. My sister went into the Air Force right after high school, did her 4 years there and went to work at Sears. Started out as a manager and has worked her ass off and is in charge of almost every portrait studio in the south east part of the country. Not too bad for someone who didn't go to college considering she banks almost 75-85k a year.

College is a personal choice. If the career field you want to go into would be better if you had a degree, then go for it. For me the only thing I want to do is Law Enforcement or Corrections. To me that's the best job for me and I really don't care to go higher then Sgt, when the time comes. If you went to College, good for you, I'm happy for you. Don't come in here and say just because someone didn't go is because they are lazy. That my friend makes you 1 ignorant prick.

And thanks again Justin for dragging this topic way off course.

[Troy]

I think Justin's original question was "how many of you work in the industry" (ie. anyone who might actually have an idea what they are talking about). No one responded to that. Only two sentences in his entire first post talked about college but that and the salary are what he got blasted for. So who really derailed the thread?

I'd agree that most Americans ARE lazy (although 90% may be high) but that has nothing to do with college. I guess a better description would be "lacking motivation" and an even better one might be "lacking willpower". Most Americans are too lazy, stubborn, and self centered to change their own fuel usage in order to make a dent in fuel prices. It's much easier to complain about how others aren't doing enough. And that I think is the point. It's easy to complain about how everyone else makes too much money without understanding their job. It's easy to complain about attitudes of others without looking within. It's hard to make a change - so most people are content with the status quo.

Many Americans ARE too lazy to make even a few small changes to have a better life. That even includes being proactive about getting a raise or promotion at their current employer - or not buying that triple latte at Starbucks every morning. I realized that the life I wanted to live required me to make a change so I went to school. Not everyone can (or should) but, if there's an opportunity to learn something new and they shouldn't waste it. My brother in law is a steel worker and he goes to training every week to improve his skills. Office workers take computer classes to be more efficient. Mechanics need to keep updated on the latest technology. I'd assume that even police officers need refresher courses once in a while. Sometimes learning a new skill or even a hobby can lead to a second source of income. It takes more effort than sitting on the couch watching TV though - unless you're watching DIY or the Home Improvement Channel I guess. Education (in any form) can only help in whatever career you choose.

So back to the original post, what that tells me is that people are more than motivated to rip someone else off - but not motivated enough to report that it may be happening. No one can possibly argue that the customers didn't know it was a mistake yet they took advantage of it any way. The manager "knew many of the drivers and told them they were being dishonest". But did any offer to pay the correct price? The few who thought they were getting away with it are now going to cost everyone else just a little more. The gas station lost over $1,700 and they'll have to recoup in some manner.

Troy