New
#211
I started working at a gas station just after the first embargo hit. (In hose days most gas stations were full service 2 repair bay stations with hydraulic lifts. Not convenience stores with gas pumps.) People were angry at the price. But they were panicked they might not get gas to get to work.
They were lining up before work, during lunch, and after work, topping off their tanks. I was filling tanks and the total coming to 56 cents or less. This created longer lines and more panic. People would not believe us when we said we had plenty of gas. I suggested to my boss we put out a sign $5.00 minimum purchase for gasoline. One or two people still faked us out with "fill her up" that came to less than $2. But when we posted that sign it convinced people the gas was in the ground. Within a couple of days the panic lines were gone. At least for that round of gas crisis at our station.
That was a big turning point in my experience. The job I came from had a 4 day work week. It was becoming more common for people to work 4, 10 hour days and have a 3 day weekend every week. Many high volume gas stations were open 24 hours. Then Opec and Poof! The dream of a middle class life of leisure went up in fumes. :)
