Arco AM/PM Mini Mart

I had an interesting time trying to get my card to work so I had to pay cash, thankfully my husband had cash on him.
They said no public restrooms, but when I asked he made an exception, which was great since I hadn’t gone in hours.
It’s a gas station, it says it has top tier gas. So that’s good for me.

I wouldn’t bother reviewing this gas station at all, except that I have learned that Unilocal disrespects, disregards and sometimes removes good reviews written by real and honest people unless they write some bad reviews. So I thought to myself, «who has given me bad enough service to warrant a bad review?» and the first place I remembered was this Arco station because on two separate occasions (a few years apart) the person who took my money insisted that I had given him less than I had given him for the gas. At Arco stations they charge you for using a card, so if you don’t want to pay extra, you have to go pay cash and then return to fill your tank and then go back for your change. After the first time the guy tried to cheat me out of my change I didn’t go back for a few years. But they are often the cheapest gas around, so I eventually began going again thinking it might be new people. I asked for a receipt when I paid (given my prior experience) but the guy refused to give me one. And after a few visits, it happened again! Telling me I’d given him a 10, when I had given him a 20. I stood my ground and he eventually gave me my change, but it was infuriating that they were either trying to cheat people intentionally or were not bothering to see how much they were paid and then having the nerve to argue with the person who DID know what I’d paid.
I gave 2 stars instead of one because some of the people that work there are very nice and don’t try to cheat me, and they usually have the cheapest gas around. But it is outrageous that some of the people there try to cheat people of their change.
Satisfied Unilocal? (I think it is also outrageous that Unilocal removes or un-​recommends reviews written by customers who rarely write reviews but who were so happy with a particular service that they wrote a great review. I stopped inviting customers to review me on Unilocal after Unilocal un-​recommended a stellar review from a very happily satisfied client (who went into great detail in ways no one is likely to make up) just because she is not a regular Unilocal reviewer. Seems dishonest and unfair.)
PS written 10−15−15 I see now that Unilocal has finally stopped un-​recommending the honest review of my business. I guess someone at Unilocal actually read the above and reconsidered my review. I appreciate that; thank you Unilocal

The younger black manager – sorry to use race, unsure of his name, resorting to description – who usually works nights/​early mornings is extremely rude. I was in uniform and he was rude, can’t imagine how he treats his other customers. If you don’t like interacting with people or can’t interact with people without using manners. Maybe go work in a warehouse or somewhere «behind the scenes» so to speak rather than with people. Or learn some manners. Completely disrespectful. The fee to buy anything here isn’t worth it no matter how convenient the location is for me if I have to deal with someone so completely disrespectful. I have people who cuss me out and try to fight me daily at work and I’m still not rude. You have no excuse.
Continue on to the chevron near the freeway. Bypass this dump.

Don’t go to pump #2 unless you want to be doused with gasoline! Last night, my husband and I were on our way home and our motorcycle needed gas. I was standing about five feet from him and he pushed the premium button while holding the nozzle. His hand wasn’t on the trigger nor was the rubber boot compressed. All of a sudden 1.3 gallons of gas shot out and sprayed me in the face and ran down the front of my body. My eyes were burning and I had to run inside and rinse my eyes out with saline eye wash that luckily they had on hand. Gas even got in my mouth. My helmet, scarf and jacket were ruined. The 25 minute ride home was the longest ride ever because I stunk like gas, the fumes were awful and my eyes were so irritated. I have called the supervisor and she has not even called back to see if I am ok. My ophthalmologist has advised me to continue using lubricant eye drops for a couple of weeks. I have to say though that the two young clerks working there were so nice, helpful and worried (unlike their supervisor). Someone either tampered with the hose or it’s broken. I don’t care if their gas is slightly cheaper. After what I went through, I will never go there again!

Arco /​AMPM: Come for the gas and snacks, stay for the crackheads.
This place doubles as the local hangout for Parchester Village and the Manor’s drug clients. Why do they all flock here instead of the multitude of surrounding businesses? Because the other businesses have the sense to shoo them away.
If Arco /​AMPM’s corporate office gave a rats behind about their storefront becoming a dump they would install NO LOITERING signs around their business and call the police when drug addicts camp out here, bothering anyone and everyone who crosses the parking lot.
Do I want to buy bootleg DVDs that were filmed in a dark theater using a gen1 cell phone? No thanks. Even the deaf and blind would turn down that unwatchable garbage.
Can you borrow some cash? You were planning on paying me back?
Your car is out of gas and you need money? Where is your car?
You’re hungry and need $ for food? Why did you refuse the sandwich I offered you?
You need a few dollars to get by? Something about that malt liquor can in your hand has me feeling skeptical.
The wake up call to never return here was the night I used the ATM inside and had an addict ask for some $ as soon as the door outside opened. When I told him I didn’t have have any $ he shot back, «I saw you just pull a bunch of $ 20s out of that ATM!». Oh no. This place is a robbery waiting to happen.
On another note this places charges you a fee if you use your debit card to buy gas, but won’t let you use credit cards at the pump because of all the stolen cards used here. Hmmm, it doesn’t take a genius to put together the type of people who hangout here with the criminal activity that lead to this rule.
CLEAN UP YOUR BUSINESS ARCO /​AMPM THIS PLACE IS A DISGRACE! Maybe if we start posting photos of all the assorted crackheads stationed around here on Unilocal they’ll do something about it (other than try to have our posts removed of course, or post a FAKE 5 STAR REVIEW then continuously come back to edit it so it appears at the top. and you know who I’m talking about).

The prices are cheaper than most gas stations, I’ve noticed other Valero’s are a bit higher. It’s crowded most of the time, best time to go is early in the morning or afternoon. You can also get up to $ 20 cash back with no charge if your buying something. At 10pm they lock the doors you have to walk up to the window and pay.

You can’t pay with a credit card at the machines (only debit). Lame. Best gas prices, horrible set up (everyone overcrowded this place, and doesn’t feel all that safe at night.

I’m not one of those guys that subscribes to «this gas makes your car fart rainbows and flowers while it gets 300 mpg, that gas makes the boogie man appear in your backseat and strangle you.» To me, generally gas is gas. I can say this though, because the gas stations within 5 min of Arco are all decent or better. I’ll get the right octane for my vehicles, not just the fancy names thank you.
With that said, two things are positive about this gas station and one of those things has a negative side to it. I like the recent freshening they’ve done. It makes the station look better, and it is much brighter now at night than before. The other thing is it is generally a couple or three cents cheaper than the other local stations. BUT… that’s if you are paying cash. Using debit? Some ridiculous fifty cent fee or something. So much for the lower price.
What I don’t like is the debit card fee. Valero and World and Chevron and even the lil independent neighborhood gas station (all within 8 blocks distance) don’t ding people for debit and credit. And the layout of the station. It is very cramped. That plus being located on a very busy street intersection means there’s usually plenty of impolite drivers all jostling for the next open pump. Bring your touch-​up paint cause it’s gonna get rough.
So, there ya go.

This location is tight, so bring your driving skills to make some of the turns required to position your car/​truck correctly. Traditionally, gas is priced modestly lower than the surrounding locations.
Usually 5 – 10 cents cheaper than what is paid in Oakland.

Ahhhhh… good ol’ AMPM. Classic indeed.
Living near this joint is such a convenience. I love stocking up on my perk for Warriors games to watch at the Dungeon after a hard days work of spinning around my chair on the computer.
Anytime i need gas to fill-​up for the borrowed roommates escalade on 22 inch rims, a pack of smokes, blacknmilds, swishers, papers, a quick snack, or just a 40oz to freedom i come here!
and why not! It’s less than 2 mins away!
Where else can you get good quality quickie mart/​gas station service from middle eastern clerks/​owners who just so happen to speak a little bit better spanish than yourself and are down with the homies???
That’s right. exactly. But i got mad love for this place. Always there in the morning. always there in the evening as well.
The only downside that i will say about this AMPM here in Richmond is the recent new city law passed that liquor cannot be purchased in most Richmond Stations/​Quicky Marts past 11:00pm. Some Local Ordinance. pppshhh that just going to cause more disgruntle people and more shootings here in Rich-​Town LOL
anyways 3 out of 5 ain’t too bad.
Come stop by and check out the middle eastern clerks with their fubu gear and their ice around their neck yo!