Arco / AMPM

I would give half a star if possible. I went in to buy some snacks and toiletries. My experience started out amazingly. They had everything I wanted and even hot food too! But when I went to purchase my items my experience turned worse than sour… My grand total should have been around 6 dollars but when I went to pay it was OVER 12! I asked the clerk about this error but it was no error; at least on his part. He had put up a cheaper price but the item was still over 7 dollars. The classic bait and switch. That thieving bastard had planned for this! I reluctantly bought my things because I was in a rush for time. I will never give this horrible establishment another dime and I suggest you don’t either.

I feel like AMPM fills out the basic gas station stereotype: cheaper costing gas, bare bones/​nonexistent customer service, overpriced gas station beer, and the typical candy bars and gummies to send you on your way to type 2 Diabetes. This particular AMPM does have some of the cheapest gas in the Magnolia/​Interbay/​lower Queen Anne neighborhood, and certainly beats out the magnolia Village 76 station by about 75 cents to a dollar per gallon. The layout is a little funky, but manageable.
I haven’t had to use the restroom, but I try and avoid using gas station ones in general.

The gas is cheap, which means this station is always busy. But cheap gas!
The gas islands are laid out in an L shape so pulling in or around can be a challenge. No problems using the machines.

This place is OK. They often have the lowest cash price for gas, it’s up to you to decide if you want to deal with the headaches you’ll find there.
There are usually long lines at peak hours, the patrons act uppity and road rage getting in or out is pretty common.
They recently installed a keyed entrance to the desolate restroom — and somewhat revamped it. It’s not the most inviting location for a restroom — tucked around the back corner of the store in a small alley way. Would not recommend using it after dark. Just a hunch. Sanitation is typical for a gas station.
The staff has nearly always been on a call on their personal cell phone during transactions, so very limited interactions beyond a basic transaction has taken place. Communication can be strained as often English is not a strong suit.
Insist on a receipt if you prepay and fork over a bunch of cash to avoid any confusion. Of course, that’s what the automated island vending feature is for.

Be WARNED! I do not recommend paying with cash at this establishment. I gave the woman $ 45 for my gas pump and the lady working pocketed $ 20 and only put $ 25 on the gas tank. The management said they would need to check the register at the end of the day. They never contacted me again. Basically they ripped off $ 20 from me and refused to respond. The phone # they have listed is a fax machine. I am pretty sure this place will scam you if given the chance. I definitely do not plan to return.

My review has nothing to do with the gas part of this station. It is what it is and it has no bearing on how I feel about this business. Every time I enter this establishment I swear it will be the last because I do not want to give my hard earned money to people who are rude and argumentative. I won’t get in to the details of this particular visit, but from now on I will be going as far out of my way as needed to stop at another convenience store. I would rather have my car run out of gas and walk a few miles to go somewhere else because that is how strongly I feel about the horrible experiences I have had here.

So. I’m giving this 3 stars because, when you’re a starving grad student like me, you need a cheap gas station in your life. Yeah, it’s BP and it’s probably watered down, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
Pros:
Cheap gas
Cons:
Cheap gas

Parking is pretty bad. They are also part of BP, which alone makes me want to give it 1 star. When I was there last the gas was slow coming out the pump. Seemed like ½ speed.

I wish I could give this place less stars. Tried to buy a cigar, wouldn’t sell it to me and told me to return with my i.d. I return and he refuses to sell my cigar and says he doesn’t want to put up with my BS. I return within 3 minutes with my boyfriend, he requests to buy a cigar and I’m standing right there, and the clerk says nothing.
I know this guy knows how old I am. I’ve had my wallet open on the counter and opposite my i. d there was a picture of my 11 year old sister in my wallet, he began to make inappropriate remarks.
In short, these guys are jerks, perverts and overall awful.
Oh ya their gas has water in it and they’re owned by B.P. DO NOT SUPPORT BP!!!

I just can’t stand or support this stupid gas station. I do like the guy that works here even though I can’t understand a word he is saying. Thanks Habeesh!
They charge your credit card $ 0.45 for using it. The freaking beer selection sucks. I have nothing nice to Unilocal about it. Overpriced. I couldn’t even check in here to Unilocal about it so I had to wait to get home. LAME!
I’ll be back…
Don’t get GAS here! CRAP!

Arco AMPM is sort of a depressing place. I’d stopped by here to pick up a quick late night hot dog (don’t judge me; I was hungry and the bright lights beckoned) and wandered through the doors.
The place is set up like your typical gas station/​convenience store with a fridge filled with drinks on the far wall, simple finger foods in the middle and a slushy/​hot dog/​hamburger self serve at the other end. The hot dogs had an unhealthy glow sitting under a heat lamp next to some hamburgers. I was reassured when they had an «eat by» time stamp. (Jumping ahead, after I took the first bite I looked again at the time stamp to see what *day* it expired.)
The cheese and chili dispenser was empty and flies circled the onions and relish. I waved the flies away and dumped some on the hot dog. After staring in horror at what I’d done, I covered the evidence with a dollop of mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup. I’m not sure if this is the worst hot dog I’ve ever tasted but it’s probably a contender.
So you might ask, Doug, if this was so awful, why not one star? Why two? Well, it’s hard to beat cheap. The gas here is usually the cheapest in the area and hot dogs are less than a dollar (99 cents). And it’s also about expectations. If you’re expecting fine dining at the Arco AMPM, then you’re either deluded or live a sad, sad existence.
So two stars for affordability.

ARCO gas is garbage. It will clog your injectors if used long term. My car would barely idle after using it for years. Then I wised up and starting putting CHEVRON with TECHRON in it. Runs and idles much better now.

Simple review. Cheap gas. Both in price and quality. Service is awful, you’re lucky if you get them on one of their English speaking days. 3 out of the 4 times I’ve been inside and asked to buy a soda with my gas, they just nodded and smiled, as the cashier didn’t understand what I was asking for.
The often seem to have mechanical issues at the pumps, but the prices are cheap. I feel guilty every time I fill there, though, as the gas is garbage. The truck does not appreciate it.
Cash & Debit only. No credit cards.

Who the hell do you think you are Arco? I pull up next to one of the pump stations located on the south end of your facility, get out, walk up to the cash/​debit machine with bills in my hand, and YOU have the nerve to tell ME that this machine doesn’t accept bills? The effing machine was taking them last week! It’s not like I can simply back out of my spot and head to the other machine — of which you curtly suggest — because some old broad in a 70’s Cadillac (yes, the kind with purple cloth interior) is staring me down like I’m the provider of her precious tapioca pudding.
Ugh. Your prices are good, but damn are you inconvenient for being a convenience store /​gas station.