I see a young customer pull up to the pumps in a Prius. They step out and stare at the pumps for an extended period of time. I assume it’s because we’re running short on all fuel except diesel, so they’ll obviously need to go somewhere else.
Nope.
They swipe their card and then grab the diesel pump.
I run outside as quickly as possible.
Me: “Ma’am! Ma’am! That’s the diesel pump!”
Customer: “I know! It’s the only one you have!”
Me: “Your car doesn’t take diesel!”
Customer: “It’s a hybrid, not electric. It takes gas.”
Me: “Yes, but not that gas!”
Customer: “I’m running late, and I—”
She aims the diesel nozzle into her tank, and I start flailing.
Me: “Ma’am! If you pump that into your car, you will ruin it and we will not be held liable.”
Customer: “I don’t have time for your stupid upselling!”
And with that, she does it. Yup. Gallons of diesel pouring into an unleaded gasoline-electric hybrid engine. She makes it a little way down the road before coming back.
Customer: “You have bad fuel!”
Me: “The fuel is fine, but your car isn’t designed for it.”
Customer: “But my car takes gas!”
Me: “It takes unleaded gas. Diesel is another type of gas.”
Customer: “There’s more than one type?”
Me: “What did you think all the different types of fuel at the pumps were?”
Customer: “I don’t know, like different brands or something?”
Me: “No, they’re the types of gasoline that your engine either works with or doesn’t.”
Customer: “So, does the diesel not work with my Prius?”
Me: “No, and I am wondering what you thought would actually happen.”
Customer: “I thought it would just, like, make the engine louder or something?”
She asked us to drain her tank and get a refund. I just laughed at her and told her to call AAA.