• bi_tux@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Why is this petrol station so big? I could park 2 tanks between the petrol pumps.

    Why would you eat pizza for breakfast?

    Why would you drink so much cola (this looks like 1l-1.5l to me)?

    How is this so cheap? They charge 4€ at my local petrol station for 0.5l of pepsi alone.

    What kind of pizza is this?

    Is midwest some kind of common marketing?

    • tenacious_mucus@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Okay, i’ll bite and try to answer these. Without knowing any details of which chain and where exactly this station is located (in a city/town or right off a motorway/interstate?)

      A lot of “truck stop” type stations are this big to accommodate large vehicles and potential larger trailers they might be towing. Like a 3/4ton pickup with a huge 5th wheel trailer. Or even Class A/C motorhomes and RVs. These pumps likely have diesel and petrol so even large box trucks will pull in the fuel up. There are usually different areas for full tractor-trailer (lorries) but those pumps are for those trucks only. Further, the gap is three vehicles wide so a vehicle can be on a pump on either side and someone arriving or leaving can fit between them- especially if there is a case of 3 pumps in a row.

      Pizza for breakfast? Judging by the picture and the title, this looks like actual Breakfast Pizza. Eggs, sausage, etc are the toppings. Had this a lot growing up just at home. And pizza style is common “grab and go” type food from gas stations since it’s easy to eat, even while driving.

      Now, a cola with/for breakfast…naah. I’m with you there. That’s a bit off. But otherwise, the size is normal for a truck stop. Fountain drinks are a lot cheaper than canned or bottled of the same drink. For example 24oz bottle for $2-3 or a 48-64oz fountain for the same price or less. People are traveling when they come through here, or stopping by to grab stuff on their way to work for the whole day. So the idea is the drink is to have on hand for hours if not most of the day. The styrofoam cups are junk but a lot of people transfer to a more practical container, or some stations chains would sell their own fancy insulated cups and allow discounted refills in their cup.

      How is this so cheap? Gas station food, man! Doesn’t mean it’s any good! I just covered the soda portion for pricing and a slice of pizza (breakfast or normal pepperoni) is usually only like $2. So the pricing advertised here makes sense.

      Midwest is a kind of marketing thing with many layers or points. The midwest region of the States is the massive, wide-open middle section where there’s usually cattle ranching, farming and a lot of nothing. So this can be spun in a lot of ways- farmers/ranchers allegedly eat big (unhealthy) food and drinks, the midwest is big, things are cheap because nothing and no one is out there, etc. Also this gas station is likely located in the midwest and targeted towards people that are traveling through, so it’s got that “tourist” hook to it.

      I think that about covers it?

    • DreBeast@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It’s what the people want. Mega slices of pizza and giant medium sized sodas for breakfast for 4 bucks.

    • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Ill answer all of your questions by order.

      Its so big for trucks trailers, and even RVs and Semis(Lories?) this is probably a gas station by a freeway. A lot of local stations are smaller, atleast where I am.

      Because its cheap as shit.

      You’ll usually get one and drink it over the day, especially if my freeway gas station hypothesis is correct, there are a long stretches of american highway with fuck all.

      Their probably banking on you grabbing one or two more items to help even out the loss and turn it into a profit. Also government subsidies may be a factor.

      I cant Identify what type of pizza that is, maybe cheese if not IDFK.

      This station is probably is in the midwest and their taking the piss a bit. Ive personally come across “middle of nowhere lunch” advertisements while driving through eastern Nevada so I assume this is a similar situation.

      • risottinopazzesco@feddit.it
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        1 year ago

        Man those long stretches of nothing sound amazing. Where I live towns bleed into one another pretty much. You gotta really move a lot to find somewhere relatively untouched.

        • SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml
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          1 year ago

          Loads of north America is just fuckin empty. Canada’s population density is around 4 people per km², and 99% of us are crammed up against the 49th parallel(the border) as most of the rest of the country is a frozen wasteland.
          When I was living in London, my wife and I decided to rent a car and drive up to Edinburgh for our yearly visit to her friends. Told my coworkers that we were driving and they couldn’t believe it.
          ISN’T THAT LIKE A 7 HOUR DRIVE?!
          Motherfucker, back home you do a 7hr drive to go camping on a regular weekend…

        • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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          1 year ago

          It can be pretty neat during the day, but man does it fuck with your senses at night. If youre lucky youll have the full moon and/or the milky way. Also it can be anxiety inducing if you didnt realize how big itd be and youre gas starts getting uncomfortably low.

          • H1jAcK@lemm.ee
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            1 year ago

            Driving through Wyoming on a mostly moonless night along an empty highway was one of the best driving experiences I’ve ever had.