Yesterday I left the I-64 to get some gas for the car, at exit 214 just east of Richmond. It was Exxon's in what seemed as an expensive neighborhood. The gas was expensive - regular at 2.15 (the prices elsewhere were between 2.00 and 2.07 that day). As soon as I finished pressing the buttons to get my card validated and started pouring, the machine started shouting at me, blabbering the same old about what they have inside, in the usual "at only nnn ninety nine" drone. It was quite loud, and I poured only four gallons. I would have poured it full, but I was so annoyed (I wish someone could have measured my blood pressure at the moment) that my primary urge at the moment was to get away. I started looking at the machine for a mute button, but with all the extra buttons there (you can probably order other things, like car wash and whatnot, right there) I couldn't locate it fast enough. It probably doesn't exist, anyway.

I consider this sales technique very dirty. The voices don't start until you start pouring - so you're already engaged in something, and they have you tied to the place for a minute or two.

I have cancelled most of the TV channels, declined the digital cable and the regular 50 channels simply because the advertisement/content ratio was too low. For the remaining few channels, we have bought a large remote where the mute button is in the middle. That's the most used button - I can't stand them shouting at me in my room. Ads are muted, period.

When I drive, I listen exclusively to the mp3 disks that I've burned myself, because they are guaranteed to contain no advertisements or propaganda - which are dangerous to listen to while driving. Would you sit with me in a car while I drive with my blood pressure rising? I know I wouldn't.

So, my promise to Exxon (tried to contact them, but the only link on their contact page that doesn't work is the one about "retail experience"), for just attempting to pull something like this, is: you won't get a cent from me for a year. Same goes for any other retailer who tries a similar gimmick.

Thanks for reading my rant. I feel somewhat better.