Flame Liquors

I showed up one day after the expiration date (which I didn’t know had an expiration date) for my paid for carwash, besides which I thought an expiration date on a gift certificate in the State of California was illegal, and spoke directly to the manager who said he had absolutely no control over anything that Chevron Corporation did in regards to expiration dates or expiration posting policies (of which there are absolutely none and I did ask the manager where those expiration dates were posted) at a Chevron Station and suggested that I contact Chevron Corporate directly and I asked for the contact telephone number which he then gave me. This independent Chevron retailer did not try to «work with me» in any way because I was pulled up with my car at the control panel for the carwash when this whole discussion took place and the manager could have let me have a carwash at that very moment by punching in a five digit code. I had to back out of the carwash with the manager walking off without another word. I then contacted Chevron Corporate who stated:
«We would like to explain that an independent Chevron retailer doing business as
MSS-​PETRO, INC. owns this station. As the property owner, the independent
Retailer is responsible for resolving any issue occurring on the station’s
premises. We have forwarded your comments to the station retailer. We know that
as a business owner who values you as a customer, they will counsel their
station management to ensure that your concern will be addressed accordingly.»
I was subsequently never contacted by the independent Chevron retailer doing business as MSS-​Petro, Inc. who took my money and provided me nothing for that money. I have been patronizing this particular business for over 22 years and I am appalled by the treatment they have given me. Since I have only spoken to the manager once, and that was the date I came to get my carwash, when he dismissed me to contact Chevron Corporate there has never been a time when I was rude or anything other than perplexed by a business being able to take my money one day and stealing it on the eighth day. Chevron Corporate refuses to do anything about my complaint and MSS-​Petro, Inc. refuses to address my complaint and then tries to turn around and some how blame me for being «rude». By the way, I have purchased carwashes at this specific business over the years without incident and I have never seen any posting about expiration dates anywhere near or around the gas pumps where I pay for the carwashes. They stole money from me!

GAS PRICES ARE ALWAYS HIGHER THAN OTHER STATIONS! This old place has been going downhill for awhile now and I have finally had enough. I tried to stick it out, but I can’t do it anymore… not even for nostalgic reasons.
Their gas prices are higher than almost everywhere else in town, so that surely isn’t a reason to stop here. The employees here used to be happy and smiling, but for quite awhile now they’ve been lacking in the pleasant customer service department. I’m just not going to give them my money anymore.
It used to be a convenient and friendly stop to make to gas up and pick up a couple of things, but I just don’t care for the service anymore. I work hard for my money and don’t need to be treated with abrupt attitudes trying to rush me out of the way. Say «Thank you» for goodness sake! Make eye contact and smile! Perhaps this attitude just reflects on the owner and how it’s ran.
There is still one, maybe two, employees that are nice to see when going to Flame Liquors, but that’s it! And she is just not enough to keep me going to Flame anymore (she’s not always there anyway).
Oh well, it’s the end of a tradition for me, as I’ve been stopping in at Flame Liquors for over 50 years. What a shame. Goodbye, Flame Liquors. I miss the old days… and the original owner.

Horrible place! Dishonest practices and trashy service. Shop here if you like snarky service without a smile and not receiving all of your change back.

A Lodi favorite place to grab a snack, fountain drink, sometimes gas etc. The customer service is great and it still has that same «Flame Liquors» smell that I have known since I was a child walking home from middle school.

I would’ve given this joint a 4 stars but for nostalgic reasons, I had to give them an extra star.
So years and years ago, I actually went to the middle school and high school down the road. When I was in middle school, I would walk down to Flame Liquors during lunch and after school to pick up my «lunch» here. Back then, I had the best diet; Now and Laters (10 for $ 1.00), bag of Doritos and a coke. Somehow that would last me through the entire day – and even through softball practice. Crazy!
Anyway, I stopped in here to grab a water when we were in the area this past weekend and it was just how I remembered it. I don’t think they’ve done much updating since the 90’s but it was clean. I was tempted to pick up a pack of Now and Laters but my Dentists voice was nagging at me in the back of my head, so I resisted.
Glad I got to visit here and indulge in some great childhood memories.