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Gas pump UX is some of the worst of any computer system I have to deal with on a regular basis (ATMs are about as bad). From awful keypads that miss numbers and obscure non-secret things like your ZIP code, to tap card readers that only work with debit cards (but the magstrip works with CCs?!?), to slow ass multi-step questions, misplaced buttons, "decline car wash", "no I don't want to play the lotto today", pumps that shut down at certain times of the day, and general slowness of every single step of the process...

And the cherry on top: loud video ads that you must stand there and watch while enduring all of this. THOSE have good screens and seem capable of playing back video well enough. If only they could dedicate a fraction of that compute power to making the purchase process less awful.

100% not surprised that these were programmed probably by a junior right out of college back in the 80s then never updated.




Why does the gas pump ask for your ZIP code? As a security measure? How do foreigners use their cards to pay for gas?


ZIP code is a security measure. I’m sure many would argue it’s not a good one, but it is better than nothing.

Foreigner can pay inside directly to the attendant, or sometimes pumps accept 99999 as the ZIP code in those cases.




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