Kingvale Shell

Dumb idiots work at this station. We were passing through and needed chains. The douchebag behind the counter wasn’t helpful at all and first yelled out that it’ll cost us a thousand dollars. WTF… I hate arrogant bastards who try to take advantage of people who need help.

Just wanted to fill up, but No, that seems to be impossible at this place, unless of course you know exactly how many gallons or the exact dollar amount your car needs.
We pulled in to this Shell on July 31, 2014, at about 5:00 PM, the card reader at the pump instructed me to «see the cashier», so I walked in. I waited for about 5 minutes while the cashier negotiated a sale for some Copenhagen tobacco to another customer. Ok, I am a patient person…
Finally, the cashier acknowledged me and I explained that the pump told me to «see the cashier». (By the way, there is nothing wrong with my credit card) I asked what I had to do to fill up. He told me that unless I could tell him how much gas it would take, he could not complete the transaction. After a few more attempts at trying to reason with this guy, I left.
We arrived at the next gas station down the road, ran the card through the pump ‘s card reader, filled the tank and proceeded home.
Normally something like that wouldn’t bother me much, but the station clearly has no clue on the basics of selling fuel.

Friend: «I’ll bring the chains just in case. We won’t need them, but I’m bringing them.»
Me: «Oh, how wonderful, it’s snowing and raining and it’s dark. Where are the chains?»
Friend: «Dammit! I forgot them.»
And just like that, Caltrans issued a chain requirement and just like that we forked over $ 69 for chains and $ 20 for installation. I have to admit there’s nothing wrong with the fine folks at Kingvale Shell. The cashier was a friendly, older gal, who quickly looked up the size we needed, rang us up and lined us up with an installer.
The installer was a pro and had them on in less than 10 minutes and we were on our way. The most frustrating thing was paying $ 90 when we already got through the worst part. The few miles where chains required was nothing. A little rain with a bit of snow flakes here and there. And once we got into Reno, we stopped at a 7 – 11 and did a price comparison and the chains were $ 35. Lesson learned.

Gosh I’m still pissed up about this place…
My only experience with it almost two years ago when I was going with my wife to Tahoe for our honeymoon. We ended up there in one of those snowstorms that highway patrol won’t let you drive unless you have tire chains. Since we did not have them, we were obligated go to the nearest gas station to get them, and that’s how we ended up at the Kingvale Shell station.
When we got to the station, we got told the waiting time to get the chains install was around AN HOUR. We decided to buy the chains and wait because it kind of made sense because of the storm and everything. We paid $ 70 for the chains and $ 20 for the labor.
Just right before our turn, the highway patrol lifted the tire chain law (yes!) so we thought it would make sense to return them now (keep in mind they were still unopened). So I went to the cashier, and he said: «NO… NO REFUNDS, NO RETURNS, NO EXCEPTIONS… READ YOUR RECEIPT!» I went to him politely and explained that the chains were unused and that we no longer needed them since we were on a RENTED car, so even if we bought them, they would not be an investment for us. He insisted that the place wasn’t a Walmart and that if I wanted to, he could give me a refund for the labour. We ended up paying $ 60 for something that is still hanging out in my closet, unused… And pretty much useless, since we live in far from the snow and bought a different car latter on anyway.
A word of advice: unless you really and absolutely must stop at this place to buy some chains for your own car, remember the story you just read and DON’T.