Honesty to the extreme.
 

My father and myself were driving our 1930 Model 'A Fordor Sedan in the countryside a long way from any real civilization. This was about 1968. We were running low on fuel and to our amazement there was a lonely fuel station in the middle of nowhere.
We pulled in to a pump and there was not a soul to be seen. The lights were on and the doors open. A large sign on the door said' help yourself. Pay and take your change'. There on a table by the door was a large tray full of notes and change. We duly filled the tank, paid and took some change. We watched as the two cars behind us did the same.
You wouldn’t see that these days.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Actually, you would still see that in parts of the world. Most people here in rural North Carolina are very honest. Like anywhere in the world, there are a few bad apples, but most apples here are good.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I bought something on Marketplace last week. The seller had an issue and couldn't make the appointment we made. She said just leave the $$ and take the item. I did and got a nice apology she couldn't make it and let me know she found the $$ where I put it.

Lot of great folks out there. They just don't make the news.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I remember when I was young in the 80's my dad would always 'trade' as he called it (buy gas) at a small station in town. He'd fill up his car then tell the guy he was going to go home and get my mom's car, fill it up and pay for both! Probably worked because he never got gas anywhere else that I can recall.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I am amazed with those stories and glad to hear that some people are still decent.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Growing up in Minnesota in the 60's, 70's and 80's we'd go out of our way to help someone. Pick up a hitch hiker? Sure. Help someone change a flat tire? You bet. Give someone a jump start? Absolutely. But now days you're likely to get car jacked and your phone stolen. You don't dare even let your car warm up for 5 minutes on a cold winter morning or it'll be stolen. Pretty sad.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

At this year's Hershey swap meet, I saw several tables with all sorts of parts and stuff in bins, with a sign that said $1 each. There was a box at the end of the middle table that said to pay here. Nobody standing guard or anything. I found 3 things I wanted, and dropped $3 in the box, just like everyone else was doing. Nobody thought twice.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Last few years I’ve spent some time camping with the grandkids in northern Wisconsin and Michigan. That way of doing things is not uncommon for selling firewood, eggs, corn and other things from roadside stands - nobody around, just leave some money. Frankly I enjoy it, kind of refreshing from the urban environment I normally live in.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

When I moved to central Utah 19 years ago, you'd fill your tank then go in and pay. I guess now with the widespread use of cards it has all changed.
Wayno

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I live on a small rural farm place in Southern Illinois. I can't leave anything outside overnight or the meth heads will steal it.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I flew into a lonely Montana back country airport. An elderly man with an old but serviceable pumper filled me up. He told me when you get home just mail me a check and gave a business card. It’s not unusual for small unattended airports with self service fuel to have snacks and cold drinks and a basket to put your money in.
Some back country airports have courtesy cars, old police vehicles, with keys on the counter so you can drive in to town to eat. The expectation is you will put gas in it.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

We still have a number of folks who put their home grown veggies on a small stand out for sale by the road. There's always a money box with change which everyone seems to respect and use with honesty.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Hello, years ago at the Gulf gas station I hung out at , the owner would let people run up a “tab” that is charging gas to be paid for later .Also in rural areas of northwestern Pa. Many vegetable stands are unattended pay , just past a pumpkins for sale today that was like that.But don’t think it would work too well in Erie .

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Many years ago we bought a side of beef, and had it packaged 'to order'. When my wife went to get it, she had forgotten her wallet, the owner told her to take the beef and the next time she was out, just drop off a check! This was in Baldwin Park, CA, in the late 60's. The owner was one of the in-n-out burger family. There are a lot of good people around. I am handicapped, and rarely have to open doors for myself. I go to the post office regularly, and people often offer to carry my packages inside!

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

We go to a U-pick corn field in the summer and pay in a mailbox by the house. Our rural airport has a courtesy car also.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Many years ago someone conducted an experiment. They placed unlocked cars in different locations with the hoods open. In some locations the car was picked clean in a matter of hours. In other locations the car was left unmolested for days and even had people shut the hood.

Regarding Seth's comment in Post #10 about not being able to leave anything out or the meth heads will steal it, I suggest leaving out a dead skunk wrapped in plastic inside a cardboard box.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

When I was buying a lot of parts a few years ago I was surprised by the number of sellers that would ship parts to me before they had received my payment. As a seller I have done this myself and was never burned. I wonder if it is still like that in our hobby?

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

That's the way God intended for us to treat our neighbors. Thou shalt not steal.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of low lifes out there who don't know or care about the Ten 'Rules' of clean. proper living.....
They think they are slick now, but we ALL have to stand trial one day in front of the Man.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I had to have a new water heater installed earlier this week - probably all of $1500 or more. When the guys finished up I asked them if they needed payment now. There comment was "naw, the office will bill you" and they left. Don't see that way too much anymore, usually I'm asked for a credit card before a vendor will even schedule a visit, much less do a replacement.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

At this year's Hershey swap meet, I saw several tables with all sorts of parts and stuff in bins, with a sign that said $1 each. There was a box at the end of the middle table that said to pay here. Nobody standing guard or anything. I found 3 things I wanted, and dropped $3 in the box, just like everyone else was doing. Nobody thought twic
e.
__________________ the reason for this..............


The sellers didnt care about the few dollar parts- you must do this to NOT lose your yearly rental space at Hershey. Many just use this system to park on the fields...........