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by toast0 920 days ago
Depends on where you were. Growing up in orange county, CA, I only remember pay before you pump, even before card readers. Nobody used a credit card for gas back then, but if they did, it would be recorded on a carbon sales slip with an imprint machine and mailed into the processor.

When I went on long driving trips, gas station attendants would be confused when I went in to get $20 on pump three but hadn't pumped. I haven't been out on the road and paying cash for gas in a long time though, I think there's probably some stations where you can pay inside after you pump.