Ordinary Saturday @ Buc-ees

[Isaac-1]

We get our motorhome work done in Alabama, and we have seen some of these along the way. I have no need to go into a crowded store just to get a BBQ sandwich. And that’s if I am in the toad since RVs aren’t provided parking. If they allowed big rig RVs they might have to allow trucks? Oh the horrors! I just drive past the crowds and look for a nice little rural BBQ place. Everyone knows that’s where the real stuff is.

Every Buc-ees I have seen allows RV's, they just don't allow semis, though having said that all of the ones I have been to are in Texas. I know a few that even have designated RV curb side parking near the dog walking area.

 

[UTTransplant]

Every Buc-ees I have seen allows RV's, they just don't allow semis, though having said that all of the ones I have been to are in Texas. I know a few that even have designated RV curb side parking near the dog walking area.

I admit I have only driven by 3 or 4 Buccees, but I never say parking big enough for a 40’ MH with an F-150 in tow. Maybe Class Cs.

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

The only Buc-ees that we have been to is the one in Alabama in between Pensacola and Mobile.
There are dozens of pumps, easy in and out routes and plenty of parking if you need to shop after the fill-up.
I had no problem maneuvering my old 30 ft fifth wheel or my 34 ft Class A with a 20 ft box trailer behind it.
Spring of 2024 we head to West Texas, so I imagine that I will see a few more along I-10…

 

[jymbee]

Can you imagine folks sitting around a board room trying to think up names for their gas station chains and they pick these names: Kum&Go and PumpNMunch. That's the best they could come up with?

Or, perhaps they knew exactly what they were doing. You have to admit those names get your attention which is pretty much marketing 101.

 

[Isaac-1]

I admit I have only driven by 3 or 4 Buccees, but I never say parking big enough for a 40’ MH with an F-150 in tow. Maybe Class Cs.

We are about 47 feet with TOAD attached and have never had a problem parking at any of 3 or 4 large Buc-ee's in Texas, and have seen plenty of big 5th wheels parked there.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Took the truck and drove down to the Buc-ees in Auburn Alabama today (120 mi roundtrip). Got me a pulled pork and chopped brisket sandwiches, errrppp! both were good. Also got some home made potato chips, but they didn't make it home. Didn't get any fuel since the truck had less than 200 miles since the last fill up. $3.99 for diesel.

Generally the stores have between 100 and 120 gas pumps. The one at Warner Robins GA has one long island/canopy and a short one 90° to it on the far end of the building. It is perfect for RV's to pull thru and being on the very far end, everyone wants to be closer to the building.

Charles

 

[Professor David]

Or, perhaps they knew exactly what they were doing. You have to admit those names get your attention which is pretty much marketing 101.

yes, good point. Those would be great names for peep shows in Times Square back in the 70's.

 

[RedForeman]

I consider myself a pretty courteous driver, but I have to admit I don't even notice that because I don't drive a diesel so it's not like I look around to see if there are other diesel pumps available.

I've had diesel cars and pickups long enough to realize that's the case. The few diesel hoses are always on the end islands, which are usually the best choice to avoid traffic up near the store entrance. Especially if you're just getting gas and want a quick escape.

 

[Isaac-1]

This may be true at most places, but if we are talking about Buc-ees then nearly every island has diesel at most locations.

 

[Onyrlef]

Or, perhaps they knew exactly what they were doing. You have to admit those names get your attention which is pretty much marketing 101.

If annoyingly stupid advertising didn't work there would be no furniture store/car dealer adds on TV.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Can you imagine folks sitting around a board room trying to think up names for their gas station chains and they pick these names: Kum&Go and PumpNMunch. That's the best they could come up with? They certainly didn't hold any focus groups to run those names by people in my neighborhood.

A few years ago Escapees decided to create an in-house travel agency to coordinate non-RV group tours for their membership - cruise ship bookings, fly and stay vacations, etc.. They called these tours HOPs. The original full name was Headquarters Outing Program. The alternate meaning of "Outing" didn't dawn on anyone at Escapees HQ until well into the initial publicity campaign and they scrambled to come up with another name that preserved the "HOP" acronym - Head Out Program.

 

[Western Slope]

I guess the congested Buc-ees makes me appreciate our local fuel stations with no convenience store, no attendant, and no restrooms. Not even a vending machine. Just large pull throughs for your RV or 18 wheeler. Fill up with gasoline or diesel and then easily get back on the highway.

If you need a restroom it's much easier to find a bush than to locate a business which has one available for even paying customer usage.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Terrible's is a Chevron gas station and convenience store chain in the Las Vegas area. Recently they opened a Buc-ees sized gas stop across the freeway from their defunct Gold Strike Hotel-Casino at Jean, NV on I-15, the route between Las Vegas and southern California that carries an estimated 50,000 motorists daily. They claim it's the world's largest Chevron station with 96 gas pumps, 60 restroom stalls and a huge convenience store that unfortunately lacks Buc-ees' charm.

This Terrible's in Jean, touted as world's largest Chevron, aims to be tourist draw

Billed as the largest Chevron in the United States, Terrible’s Road House travel center, located across I-15 from the Gold Strike hotel, boasts 96 gas pumps, 60 restroom ...

lasvegassun.com

 

[Tulecreeper]

If annoyingly stupid advertising didn't work there would be no furniture store/car dealer adds on TV.

There is a car commercial that has been playing in this area for 10 years. It has animated cars - singing animated cars. The first time I saw it when we moved here, I thought it was meant as a joke. Nope, that's their commercial. I told my wife, I haven't seen a commercial that shoddy and cheap since the 1970's. And they're still playing the exact same commercial.

 

[RRR]

Made a round trip Dallas to Houston yesterday, pulled into the Buc-ees on I-45 north of Huntsville. There were easily a hundred gas pumps and everyone of them had someone either pumping gas or had already pumped their gas and being ordinary jackasses left there vehicle parked at the pump while they went inside to shop. I'd say half the pumps were being used as parking spots. An RV would have had no chance, I was in a car and it was a zoo.

Those who need the exercise the most have to park closest to the door.

 

[RRR]

We all are. I think the definition of Kum-N-Go is when you die in the middle of an orgasm.

Heart stopping sex.

 

[Onyrlef]

Those who need the exercise the most have to park closest to the door.

Funnily enough there's a string of mega size health and fitness clubs here ( the kind with lots of mirrors), where you can pay extra for a platinum membership which entitles you to park close to the entrance, that way you won't burn any extra calories walking across the parking lot.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Forgot to mention, in my visit to the Buc-ees in Auburn Alabama, which opened early this year, the restroom entrance I was complaining about is about 6 ft 6 inches wide based on the 24 inch square floor tiles on the floor. I could stand in the middle and almost touch the walls on both sides of the entrance corridor. This is their biggest mistake in the building design, to force every single person thru a short corridor six foot wide to get to the restrooms.

Oh, and they have long soda fountains you can fill cups from, in addition to coolers with bottled and can drinks. But the fountains have Buc-ees branded sodas, and yes, its kinda like buying a diet cola from Kroger, it just isn't the same as a Coke or a Pepsi. If you bring in a Yeti cup or similar and fill it, they charge you the refill price (which is a fairly common convenience store practice)

Charles

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

All these people complaining about a retail establishment that has used a tried and true sales and marketing practice (school of Walmart) and is incredibly successful.
If you don’t like Buc-ees, don’t spend any money there.
As for me, I will gladly stop to fill up, then park and used the restroom and possibly get a snack.
I’ve never eaten anything from Buc-ees, so I have no idea if their food is any good. Maybe I’ll buy enough stuff for the two of us to relax in the ample parking lot and eat lunch.

 

[Isaac-1]

I don't drink fountain drinks anymore, but I am fairly sure I have seen both the brand name drinks as well as the house brand stuff at the soda fountains at Bucee's in the past