Expat shares astonishment over common Aussie trait in public: 'I am blown away'
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Aussie values are one of the many things that make the country unique.
However, the country's norms can be seen as strange by others.
It's not every day that a simple trip to the servo makes international headlines, but that's precisely what happened recently.
American expat Russell Richardson took to social media to share his jaw-dropping experience at an Aussie petrol station.
His story left millions of people around the world scratching their heads and even feeling a little envious of Australia's laid-back ways.
Russell, a marketing expert and car salesman, was left absolutely gobsmacked when he discovered how Aussies pay for petrol.
In a video he shared on social media, Russell explained his confusion.
'One of the most wild things about being in Australia is their gas,' he said.
'I go in and ask the bloke, "How do I pay?" Because in America, you just pay, and it starts pumping.'
Imagine his surprise when the servo attendant told him to go outside, fuel up, and come back in to pay.
'You are trusting people to fill up their car and then come in and pay, like an honour system,' Russell marvelled.
'I am blown away that people of Australia do not steal gas.'
Russell even asked the attendant if anyone had ever tried to do a runner.
The staff member's response? 'Not that I reckon.'
Russell was so taken aback by Aussie servo staff's level of trust.
'People in America would steal petrol left, right and centre if we had an honour system,' he said.
'What's gone wrong with us in America that we can't adopt a concept like this?'
For many Aussies, this has always been the way things go.
However, for those new to The Land Down Under, it's an entirely foreign concept.
In the United States, it's standard practice to pay before pump petrol.
This system was introduced to combat fuel theft, which became a costly problem for service station owners.
Australia's 'fill first, pay later' approach is still the norm for most services.
However, it's not a perfect system due to a few rotten eggs.
Within a one-year time frame leading to June 2023, New South Wales recorded 11,673 incidents of fuel theft.
The penalties for stealing petrol in Australia are nothing to sneeze at.
Hefty fines are imposed depending on the state or territory.
Here's a quick rundown of fines and charges for petrol theft:
Watch Russell's full story here:
Source: @russflipswhips/TikTok
It's easy to see why Russell and other expats find Aussie systems surprising.
In a world that often feels like it's getting less trusting by the day, the humble Aussie servo has been a beacon of faith towards one another.
While technology changes and more servos introduce pay-at-the-pump options, this tradition might not last forever.
For now, it's a reminder that sometimes, a little trust can go a long way.
Have you ever had a funny or surprising experience at the servo, either at home or overseas? Is the 'honour system' worth hanging on to, or is it time for a change? Share your stories and thoughts about Russell's experience in the comments below!
However, the country's norms can be seen as strange by others.
It's not every day that a simple trip to the servo makes international headlines, but that's precisely what happened recently.
American expat Russell Richardson took to social media to share his jaw-dropping experience at an Aussie petrol station.
His story left millions of people around the world scratching their heads and even feeling a little envious of Australia's laid-back ways.
Russell, a marketing expert and car salesman, was left absolutely gobsmacked when he discovered how Aussies pay for petrol.
In a video he shared on social media, Russell explained his confusion.
Russell called the petrol station rules of Australia 'wild'. Image Credit: TikTok/Russell Richardson
'One of the most wild things about being in Australia is their gas,' he said.
'I go in and ask the bloke, "How do I pay?" Because in America, you just pay, and it starts pumping.'
Imagine his surprise when the servo attendant told him to go outside, fuel up, and come back in to pay.
'You are trusting people to fill up their car and then come in and pay, like an honour system,' Russell marvelled.
'I am blown away that people of Australia do not steal gas.'
Russell even asked the attendant if anyone had ever tried to do a runner.
The staff member's response? 'Not that I reckon.'
Russell was so taken aback by Aussie servo staff's level of trust.
'People in America would steal petrol left, right and centre if we had an honour system,' he said.
'What's gone wrong with us in America that we can't adopt a concept like this?'
For many Aussies, this has always been the way things go.
However, for those new to The Land Down Under, it's an entirely foreign concept.
In the United States, it's standard practice to pay before pump petrol.
This system was introduced to combat fuel theft, which became a costly problem for service station owners.
Australia's 'fill first, pay later' approach is still the norm for most services.
However, it's not a perfect system due to a few rotten eggs.
Within a one-year time frame leading to June 2023, New South Wales recorded 11,673 incidents of fuel theft.
The penalties for stealing petrol in Australia are nothing to sneeze at.
Hefty fines are imposed depending on the state or territory.
Here's a quick rundown of fines and charges for petrol theft:
- NSW, Victoria, NT: Up to 10 years in prison for fuel theft.
- Queensland: Minimum of five years in prison.
- South Australia: Up to five years for basic theft or 15 years for aggravated offences.
- Western Australia: Up to seven years in prison.
- Tasmania: Fines up to $20,200 or up to one year in prison.
- ACT: Fines up to $160,000 and/or 10 years in prison.
Watch Russell's full story here:
Source: @russflipswhips/TikTok
It's easy to see why Russell and other expats find Aussie systems surprising.
In a world that often feels like it's getting less trusting by the day, the humble Aussie servo has been a beacon of faith towards one another.
While technology changes and more servos introduce pay-at-the-pump options, this tradition might not last forever.
For now, it's a reminder that sometimes, a little trust can go a long way.
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