Carmel Mountain Shell

Avoid this place. I am sick and tired of franchise owners who are too cheap to maintain their businesses properly.
The drive-​thru car wash not functioning properly — it washes but drying equipment is not functioning after you have paid — is a good example.
And at the register they have the audacity to say, «yeah sometimes it breaks down.» And give you a ticket for a free wash?
Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t work apparently. And it’s a mystery but it eventually works again on its own
I was informing them that the car wash was broken. But they are not going to take any action to correct that. «It happens sometimes.»
This owner doesn’t want the business with Costco gas across the street selling for
$.30 and less? They just lost a customer. It’s not as much about the faulty equipment as it is the attitude: «Yeah, it happens sometimes.» So they don’t need to inform anyone that their equipment is malfunctioning because??? It’s going to fix itself?
They’re just going to wait until it starts working again and in the meantime let all of the cars drive through with half a wash?

Cheapest, if not tied for cheapest, gas station around where I live. Never a line when I go (11 am — 1 pm). Pumps work great almost all of the time (I HATE those pumps that you have to pull the trigger to fill and they ‘click’ and stop after 5 seconds for some reason and then you have to HOLD the dang trigger for the entire 3 – 4 minutes and it starts hurting your hand. I swear this happens at over 50% of gas stations I visit and it is annoying as ALL heck!). Today the pump stopped again a couple times for the first time but at least with this pump you don’t have to pull hard to maintain the trigger. It has something like power steering built into the trigger so even when it stopped I just re-​clasped it fairly easily.
Sold on this Shell and will be giving it all my business unless they mess with the pump triggers or the price.

There are two Shell stations 1 block apart and to be honest the Shell closer to the freeway is always a few cents cheaper but this station though generally much more busy has way better service. I especially like the guy that works here in the evening James he always packs my cashews and wishes me luck on my lottery selection.

Don’t be fooled! The price posted on the sign by the street is the price with 10 cent discount if you also buy a car wash. The real price is 10 cents higher.

I try to avoid this gas station because there are always lots of trucks obstructing the entrance and the traffic. As is located in the Carmel Mountain mall, the closest one to Costco, it has a lot of transit and if you go during peak hours, you will be waiting more than usual. It is just nearby a Valvoline station, so it is very convenient if you need some service done + add gas next to it.

I don’t write a lot of five star reviews so you know that when I do for a gas station, it must be pretty darn good. I’ve been going here for almost a year since I moved closer to my job. All of the cashiers have been there since I began going. Eddie, who I believe is the store manager, is always accommodating; he’ll make coffee immediately if it’s out, give you a free car wash if something doesn’t go right, etc.
Speaking of car wash, I find that this location in particular washes cars the best. The other one down the street is much older and doesn’t work as well. Also, speaking of the other Shell down the street, next to B of A, its store is a fraction of the size of this Shell. This Shell, which is located directly next to Panera Bread is large and loaded with lots of snacks, drinks, and car accessories to purchase. It also has a vacuum and air feature; I’ve done a thorough cleaning of my car several times here.
Downfalls (which gas station doesn’t have one?):
–There can be lines at this particular station during the day, usually at lunch hour or after work.
–Sometimes the entire station will be cut off from usage due to being serviced.
–Twice the car wash didn’t work. However, this was rectified-​see above.
All in all, there are three gas stations in the neighborhood and I consider this one to be the best. In fact, it’s one of the best in San Diego because the service is always fantastic and the prices are reasonable. As reasonable as they can be living in SD.