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
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It’s like that at every gas station where I live; every single one. All of the small gas stations have been bought and sold within the last couple of years and upgraded to this stupid video ad model.
Go ad lite for 5.99 a month or full ad free for 12.99. terms and conditions apply* Meaning they will be changed to be worse when we want more money.
One of the side buttons mutes it. It varies though as far as I know.
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.
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
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.
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”.
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.
“Your screens should be nicer to you than this one. Join Lemmy!”
“Have you installed Arch yet?”
Well fuck. That’s terrible news.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The button second from the top on the right hand side of the screen is the mute button(usually).
Most of them in my area have disabled that. There is no non-destructive way to mute them.
Yes, the chopstick-to-the-grille is plan B.
Not anymore, it stopped working a while ago
If not, try all of them, one usually mutes it. If not, hold the top two for ten seconds to force the pump into maintenance mode, gas pumps as normal, then times out eventually to the main screen.
It’s still very rare for me to see a pump with ads. Mostly happens at stores with attached gas stations: Kroger, Walmart, etc. I don’t go to those places. Not because of ads though. That’s just a bonus.
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.
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.
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.
The screens on the pumps (around me at least) have a mute button on the screen.
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.
What do you do for a living?
I’m not sure I have that kind of cash
“We are sorry. We cannot show your video as it against the terms and conditions. Please note we will keep your money though”
Have them play cgp Grey and kurgzkazat videos and the world will become a better place.
Holy crap if they started doing that in my area I’d switch to an EV within a month.
If I can’t mute them (usually one of the unlabeled buttons on the right), I’ll go to another station. I really hate those. God damn Cheddar TV or whatever. Fucking Maria Menounos, ugh.
Hold up… they have ad stations? That feels worse.
Lol he means another gas station
Idk if that was me being completely stupid and misreading that, or if ad stations is something in our near future that we should be worried about
“Hello, I’m officer Sackless. This traffic stop is brought to you by your excessive speed and the good people of the Wiownyu Corporation. If you would like to know more, scan this code and receive a 20% discount on your traffic fines.”
Well I’m pretty sure they also have ad stations but that’s besides the point
One of the benefits of living in shit hole rural America is most of our gas stations use old pumps with either basic digital displays or ones with mechanical meters like it’s the 1970s still haha.
But you do have Mt Hood and the Columbia River and the coastline to console you. 😍
You can just say you’re from NJ lol, it’s not like any other state has an employment scam where you’re legally required to hire people to perform the simple, relatively safe act of pumping gas. At least not since WA finally trusted people to pump their own gas a few years back.
Oregon. And at least half the pumps must still be staffed. Washington has had self-serve for at least 30 years (when I moved here).
Ahhhh gotcha, didn’t realize that, my mistake!
Looks like Oregon allows self service in rural areas now, so it’s only New Jersey that has a statewide ban.
“You’re legally required to hire people…”
When you’re writing from the business’s perspective as “us”
Have you thought about another maps profit margin, asshole?
Yeah my annoyance at having to pay more is totally from the business’s perspective you dumb piece of shit
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No audio is horrible accessibility! What about the blind drivers who need to hear the ads?
/s, in case it’s not obvious
