Same, there's a group of Co-ops in Canada here. They do everything from gas to groceries, financial to hardware and other services. The profits are put back into the community and members of its programs receive payouts when they turn a profit.

The only reason I'm a Co-op member? Customer service. They pump my gas, are helpful in store, the workers are paid fairly and members of my community, managers understanding even do grocery delivery at a loss. Hell my buddy can manage a store and provide for his family as opposed to scraping by.

Kind of tangential to OPs post, but I'm getting disillusioned and sick of watching community funds get transferred away to accounts somewhere else. Fuck that, I'll pay the slight premium.

Huh? The pumping is automated, all you need to do is place the nooze and push a button? It seems crazy (like 5-star hotel level of service crazy) to have people in full time employment to do just that.

If you live in an area where it gets cold, hot, or it rains or snows, the service is invaluable. If you haven't grown accustom to the convenience of not having to leave your car and saving time, you might not understand.

Having become used to having gas pumped for me and cheap gas, it's a pain travelling where I have to pay a premium and pump it myself.