Question of the Day - 28 February 2013

Until the 1970s, full service was the norm, with self-serve gas stations being a rarity. These days, it's the other way around, and full service is very unusual but most common in wealthier neighborhoods, where the privilege of having someone pump your gas for you will cost you a per-gallon premium on the gas, plus a tip to the attendant. True full service not only includes filling up your tank for you with the appropriate grade of gas, but often the pump jockey will also wipe your windshield and check your oil and tire pressure.

The Americans With Disabilities Act requires self-serve gas stations to provide equal access to their customers with disabilities, which if necessary means providing refueling assistance upon the request of an individual with a disability (unless the station's operating on a remote-control basis, with a single employee), but for able-bodied drivers, these days it's pretty much a DIY affair.

Until you posed this question, we weren't aware of any full-service gas stations anywhere in Las Vegas, but some googling did pop up the Boulder Basic Sinclair station (432 S Boulder Hwy, Henderson), which basically offers what's known as "minimum," as opposed to "full" service -- they told us that if you go inside, or make yourself known to a member of staff outside, they'll pump your gas for you at no extra charge. They're not going about to go to the length of your oil or tires, however, nor bring you out any snacks from the convenience store.

This is nowhere near the Strip or the airport, either, and while the photo below, taken in 1968, reveals that the heart of Las Vegas Boulevard was home to more than one gas station back in the day, today it's a very different story. However, we placed a call to the Circle K station located at 2308 South Las Vegas Boulevard (i.e., the Strip, at Sahara), and the very helpful member of staff we spoke with said they don't offer full service as the norm, but if you asked them to pump your gas for you, they'd be more than happy to oblige.

Whether we just happened to luck out and get the friendliest member of staff is another matter, however, and we can't vouch for everyone there being so accommodating, but it's worth a shot if you don't want to take the edge off your relaxing vacation by having to pump your own gas (heaven forfend!) on the way out of town. The Chevron at 3201 W. Tropicana (just off the Strip) was equally obliging, whereas the Smart Mart at 4207 South Las Vegas Boulevard was pretty adamant that the customer pumps their own gas, as was the Terrible Herbst at the Strip and Sunset.

This question is generating all kinds of unexpected feedback, which we'll continue to post as Updates, so keep it coming if you have anything more to add: "Looking for a gas station to pump his gas: It is not just lazy; I work with a man who was stopped from boarding his flight because they detected gas on his shoes!" [Ed: Yikes!] Many thanks to the reader who just wrote in with the following excellent inside tip (and this writer can vouch for the fact that this company does a great job, even on disgustingly filthy vehicles like mine!)

• "I work for Fabulous Freddy's Car Wash. We have 5 valley locations and we pump your gas at self-serve prices. We may not be near the Strip, but if your readers are going to Red Rock, or other points of interest, they are not far away from us. I would appreciate it if you could amend your answer to include this information." [Ed: Consider it done!]

And here's a rap on the knuckles for us (well, me) from another reader. It's a totally fair point -- I take it for granted now, but as a Brit. I do recall being hella confused by American gas pumps and the myriad systems they employ (especially that whole having to lift up the metal lever thingy at 7 Elevens - what's up with that?!) Consider me duly reprimanded. Plus, this feedback inspired us to dig into this whole subject even deeper -- you really do learn something new every day:

• "So, you come across as way too snarky with this comment: 'but it's worth a shot if you don't want to take the edge off your relaxing vacation by having to pump your own gas (heaven forfend!) on the way out of town'. "I used to think like you do, but wanted to point out that there really are people out there who specifically don't know how to pump gas. In fact, BY LAW in New Jersey (I forget the other state but at least one other one has this same law) you CAN'T PUMP YOUR OWN GAS -- IT'S AGAINST THE LAW [Ed: We checked -- the other state is Oregon. These laws came into effect in 1949 and 1951, respectively.] Then a lot of people on the east coast don't own cars, too. I read this email as coming from someone who really has a legit. problem and doesn't know how to pump gas - either because they live in NJ or don't own a car."