You still can’t get coffee and a donut at PIGS in Patagonia, but now you can get gas at any hour of the day or night since owner Charlie Montoy automated his gas pump operation for credit and debit customers.
The installation was complicated and took longer than expected, but PIGS customers have been able to get gas and diesel at their convenience since mid-May.
Montoy has found that quite a few customers swipe their credit card in the wrong position or select the wrong pump, so he advises first time users to come by the station during his normal business hours for a lesson on how to use the new device.
If you try the automated system for the first time when the station is closed, keep these pointers in mind: 1) ignore the “Present Tag” step which appears on the screen before you insert your card: 2) swipe your card with the magnetic stripe facing the diesel pump and 3) select pump #1 for gas and #2 for diesel.
For the convenience and safety of customers who want to refuel at night, Montoy has equipped the station with lighting that will illuminate the bay area from dusk to dawn. He has posted his phone number on the building in case customers need to reach him after normal business hours, which are about to change as he plans to eliminate the Saturday hours he has been open for gas and services.