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ARCO am/pm
Categories: Automotive Gas & Service Stations Food Convenience Stores Gas & Service Stations, Convenience Stores [Edit]
1175 Fell St(between Divisadero St & Scott St)
San Francisco, CA 94117
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA
(415) 431-3515
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
44 reviews for ARCO am/pm
Review Highlights
44 reviews in English
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Review from Loli L.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012
It's a functional super cheap gas station. The cheap part works best if you're paying in cash as there is a fee for using your card.
There's usually quite a wait to get to the pumps so if you're in a rush, it's practically a breeze early in the morning or late at night.
Beware of the vehicle and bicycle traffic as you enter/depart. -
Review from M C.
San Francisco, CA
2/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
This was my gas station back when I worked the Western Addition area. This was the cheapest gas station around, making themselves $0.10 cheaper than the rest and $0.25 cheaper than across the street.
Their pumps were the worst. I had people take my gas while I was walking back from the cashier, after paying $20. -
Review from Anthony N.
San Francisco, CA
5/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here at around 2pm for a smog test. I was in and out of there in about 30 minutes. Very quick and efficient. The test only costed $35 plus $8 for the certificate.
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Review from Jennifer L.
San Francisco, CA
3/6/2012 16 Check-ins Here
Cheapest gas in town. good gas station, clean, bad lines.
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Review from Arcee X.
6/25/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Cheapest gas in the city, but go in the evenings to avoid lines, because they can back up for a long ass time.
It's cheap and it's arco, but it's easier on my wallet. -
Review from Alysha M.
6/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
First off, ARCO charges a fee if you use a credit card.
Secondly, what gas station does not have the wiper things to clean your windshields??! I've been to other ARCO's before and they've had it, why not this one???
The gas is cheap, though... -
Review from Sharon J.
1/8/2011
I've been getting gas here forever,and most of the time the place runs pretty smoothly, with many regulars who know how the place works. Always pull up to the front pump! I've saved a lot of money over the years.
Cash is king, bear that in mind.
The two things I don't care for, it's very smoggy so I always set that hook on the pump and sit in my car while the tank is filling up. And it can be daunting getting off that lot onto Fell St. Just once I'd like to see a gaggle of cyclists yield to an auto. Just once.
But economically, I can afford that take out dinner from Tsing Tao just a little better because I always buy my gas here. Try to hit it before 3 or after 7 if you can, or you will wait longer than you'd like.
A little bottle of windex and water will make up for that lack of a squeegie. You save that much in one fill up.
I don't get the bad vibes, but I grew up in NYC.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Jordan S.
San Francisco, CA
5/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
3 stars gets Cheap gas, easy outdoor paying kiosks and great location.
Minus two stars as they the pumps often leak gas easily, service guys are over worked and hence, stressed out and they don't have any windshield washing scrubbers for customer use. -
Review from ruggy j.
12/10/2009
What kind of gas station doesn't have squeegees for cleaning off dirty windows? I mean, isn't that something that EVERY gas station across the entire world has on hand? C'mon!
I suppose the gas is consistently $0.05 cheaper than across the street... so it earns an extra star there.
But seriously, gimme a squeegee! -
Review from Lauren F.
Oakland, CA
11/29/2007
Getting gas might be a pain in the ass here...but its cheap....so who cares.
However...this review is for the exemplary service i received moments before leaving to drive down 8 hours to LA.
I needed an oil change and i needed it bad. This place was close, and i was hoping it would be quick. Pulled right in...its a first come first served thing...and luckily i was first.
15 minutes i was quoted. Dropped it off...bought some pet shit up the street, and 7 minutes later i returned, to have my car parked, oiled up and ready for the taking. at about $25....what a deal!
Now that's service. Everyone needs a good lube job.Listed in: In my hood
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Review from Arthur C.
San Francisco, CA
4/26/2011
Gas here is cheap for SF, but there's a long wait to get in and it can be a pain to get out. It's not worth the time, not to mention the extra emissions and engine damage while idling. Also, like other ARCOs, they don't take credit cards, so no 3% cash back for those Costco AMEX cards. There are no squeegees, either, as other reviewers have stated.
Oh, for those of you who like to get back in your cars while pumping gas, please STOP doing that. You're increasing the risk of static discharge.
http://www.pei.org/Pub... -
Review from Berna T.
3/11/2008
Yes, ARCO has the cheapest gas within the city. But listen - gas may be outrageously fucking expensive right now, but so is my time. This station is always a complete clusterfuck, no matter what time of day you go...plus the fact that you can enter from both sides makes it even more hellacious. I am not idling my car for fifteen minutes just to save $3 on a full tank - which also puts tons of toxic and harmful emissions in the air (and yes, my car passes smog check with flying colors, so it's not just ME).
I may be thrifty, but my mama didn't raise no fool. -
Review from Gabriel R.
San Francisco, CA
6/7/2008
Without question, the least expensive place to get gas in town. And yeah, it's a little hectic sometimes getting gas there but look at where it is people! If you have to wait then turn off your engine and listen to some tunes, make a call, fix your hair, do some of the things you shouldn't be doing while driving.
There are a couple of staff members at this place that I now know by name and they are always going out of their way to say hello and make sure I'm taken care of. I once overheated and had to pull into this station. Guys from the garage helped bring water and cool my engine down for me and were happy to do it.
I'm a loyal customer here. -
Review from Murphy O.
San Francisco, CA
12/7/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I love cheap gas, but I get enough of stand still traffic during my commute. While I'll definitely swing in when there is no line (there's always a line) I normally avoid this place.
And as a side note to that plump middle-aged, pant-suit wearing womyn who cut in front of me as I entered the pumps: I will probably say something about it next time when we're awkwardly pumping gas next to one another. Maybe. -
Review from S R.
San Francisco, CA
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
its tiny. no room to maneuver. if somebody is on the pump ahead of you, you just have to wait because you sure as hell aint getting around them. entering and exiting is terrible with access only from major streets on both sides, about 100 feet from a busy intersection. and they dont accept credit cards.
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Review from Carol Y.
12/18/2007
5 stars: CHEAPEST GAS IN THE CITY
-1 star: Long lines
-1 star: Cars always blocking the slow left lane on Fell St.
-1 star: Cars blocking the Bike Lane which causes the Bicyclist to go on the road with the incoming cars.
= 2 stars: I really dislike Arco gas station on Fell because of the long lines which impacts the traffic on Fell St. Its so annoying especially during commute time (5pm-6pm). ARGHHHHH. But i have to admit, that's some cheap gas (right now its $3.25 a gallon). -
Review from Stuart M.
San Francisco, CA
7/9/2010
This gas station is owned by BP. You know, that company that is destroying the Gulf of Mexico?
This gas station has also blocked any efforts to clean up their long queues which endanger cyclists on a daily basis on Fell St.
Seriously, go somewhere else. -
Review from Timothy O.
Fresno, CA
6/13/2008
I used to live in this neighborhood, so this was my neighborhood gas station. With gas as expensive as ever, I was shocked to learn that this ARCO in the City had cheaper unleaded than the "cheap" ARCO in the Central Valley that was on my list of useful places to stop between the Bay Area and LA. Never thought that would happen. I only wished that I had immediately filled up on Friday night. The price went up four cents the next day.
Yes, there is almost always a wait here, but that's because it's cheap and with a commodity like gas, there's always some people hit disproportionately. If you have the cash and don't want to wait, go to the Chevron down the street. Just be prepared to pay fifty cents more per gallon. -
Review from Aaron T.
San Francisco, CA
2/24/2009
It is not worth spending an extra ten minutes plus to save a nickel a gallon on gas. They don't take credit cards which I find incredibly annoying. Cash is a scarce commodity! Then they have the nerve to charge $0.45 on top of the price of gas for the privilege of using a debit card. The lines are bonkers, the whole place is stressful.
Damnnabbit I wish the Spirit Station across the street still sold gas.
If you value low prices above all, I recommend you check out http://www.sanfrangasp... -
Review from Cara C.
San Francisco, CA
9/24/2008
CHEAPEST gasoline in the city..
I repeat, CHEAPEST gasoline in the city. That alone, deserves 5 stars. -
Review from Mark A.
2/26/2009
As much as I want to give them 5 stars for having the cheapest gas in the city, the extra charges for your debit card and the absolute traffic nightmare you encounter when you go there prevents me from doing so.
But if you're willing to take 10-15 minutes out of your day to save on gas, it's worth it. You have to make that decision.
Got my smog certificate there, no complaints. -
Review from Nicholas P.
San Francisco, CA
7/27/2009
CHEAP!!! CHEAP!!! CHEAP!!!!!! I always see the cabs here, and I think that they know the place to go. The gas is the same quality in case you are interested. I also don't think that you should pay for where the gas station is located, it isn't a resort in Maui, it is an ARCO in San Francisco.
Sorry for the complainers here, but you aren't going to get a leather sofa to lay on while someone pumps your gas for you, and gives you a refreshing smoothie on your way out. Why, uh, because they don't rip you off.
WHY THEY DON'T ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS:
1. Credit card companies would charge a fee to ARCO, you are basically paying that fee, AND MORE at other gas stations.
That is it!!!
Don't use a debit card here, you are just giving the fee to them, and I think that every one despises being nickel and dimed.
USE CASH!!!!!!!!! It exists!!! YOU CAN GET MORE AT YOUR OWN ATM!!!!!! It isn't 24 karat gold.
If you don't have the time to wait an extra minute in line, pay in cash, and get your own change, then be a snooty pacific heightzer and go to a Chevron where you will feel comfortable and be able to use your own credit card instead of cash, which does indeed exist.
Thanks. 5 Stars. -
Review from Peace B.
San Francisco, CA
8/9/2011
Mike at Arco- I recommend Mike soooooooo highly. He is honest and repaired my car in no time. He is wonderful, and I am soooooo going back to him. Thank you again Mike.
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Review from Darrin G.
San Francisco, CA
12/20/2008
Cheapest gas in SF, then and now.
True, Arco is shittier because they buy up all the remaining unsold gas from other corporations, so it's worse for your car and the car runs out of gas a little faster...
...but still the cheapest. So it gets 5 stars. Thank you Arco! -
Review from Michele M.
San Rafael, CA
9/26/2007
Ever wake up knowing you are going to have one of "those" days? Yep, mine yesterday, for fuck's sake everything just went VERY WRONG.
Started off with the normal commute down Oak, then the gas light came on. I have to go to Arco because work pays for that cheap gas. I TRY not to go to Divis. &Fell location, because it is dangerous. Not like, you are gonna get stabbed dangerous, but for the shear madness, bad mood, bad energy engulfing that corner.
Every time I go there, people are yelling at each other. Somebody poaches the wrong tank or drives in the out door, the card readers are always broken. This station should be wiped off the face of NOPA forever!
Do you ever notice the backup it causes on FELL during rush hour? Hi city planning department, can you please do something about this??? There are 2 other stations on the block, do we really need 3?
So bad day gets a swift kick to the balls while I am waiting for my turn to pump gas. My car was about 1 foot into the sidewalk, when a homeless man walked towards me while pushing his shopping cart. As he approached the back of my car, he backed his cart up, then rammed it into the back bumper of my BRAND NEW CAR!!! I couldn't even react, I didn't know whether to jump out and yell or laugh. My only thought was, "really", did that just happen?
In any case I was screwed because bums typically don't carry insurance on shopping carts. Now I have my very first scratch right next to the dealer plates. Thanks angry man. I guess I would be pissed if I got kicked out of my home in Golden Gate Park too. I knew it was only a matter of time before they retaliated.
Then I got to work and my boss had a piss Popsicle for breakfast. He must have stopped at Arco on the way to work too. -
Review from N S.
Washington, DC
3/11/2009
Take it deep ARCO. Take it nice and deep.
These credit card contraptions are all the rage now. Are you familiar with these things? You should consider accepting them. I am so happy I waited amidst the clusterfuck on Fell st only to find out that you don't take credit cards. I also ran into the curb on the way out...which I am also blaming on you. Eat a dick ARCO.
XOXO
{-----this guy -
Review from Mike W.
Washington, DC
12/29/2009
So, today I leave my house and head to the city. I soon realize that I need gas. I drive by my favorite gas station (cuz its cheaper) get out to pump gas, and realize that I left my wallet at home. OMG...I have $1,78 in my pocket, and not enough gas to get home and get my wallet. I take my dollar seventy eight to the cashier and tell him "I forgot my wallet at home. I hope this will give me enough gas to get home.
I start pumping gas. The pump spins past $1.78, I stop and go see the gas dude. He said "I'm gonna let you pump $5. Come back when you can."
Wow, gas guy let me have some free gas so my dumb ass could get home and get my wallet. Impressive! -
Review from George A.
9/28/2009 16 Check-ins Here
So before writing a review for this gas station I glanced over what other people had to say about it, and it sounds like everyone feels the same way I do. YEAH for the cheapest gas in the city BOO for everything else...
Now with absurd gas prices (yes I know that's just a way of life these days, but it still sucks) you would think any gas station that is cheap would just automatically get five stars, but everything else about coming to this gas station is such a chore so there lucky to get this three star review I'm giving them.
DO NOT come here on the weekend unless you have a lot of time to kill. Seriously, you can wait up to 30 minutes for gas. I usually try and come here weekday mornings before heading off to work in the
East Bay and I've still had to wait for a few cars in front of me.
It's obvious the reason this gas station is so crowded is because of the cheap gas (I actually live in the neighborhood so it happens to be the most convenient for me) but it doesn't help that the pumps are set up horribly. So the gas station has 8 pumps....4 off of Fell and 4 off Divisadero. I ALWAYS come in off of Divis because you can get to 6 of the 8 pumps this way, while you can only get to 2 off of Fell. The other problem is since the gas station is so tiny cars have to enter two at a time so if the car in back is done pumping gas they can't pull around the car in front of them because there's no room, which means they have to wait for the car in front to leave.
As long as the gas is cheap I'll continue to come here. Even though every time I pull out of the parking lot (which is also a pain) I look across the street at the Spirit station which is usually only 2 or 3 cents more a gallon and has no lines I wonder to myself "Is this really worth it!!!" -
Review from Claudine C.
San Francisco, CA
11/25/2007
Not only is this station about 3 blocks away from our home, it always has one of the lowest prices (2nd only to the station on castro and 17th) for gas in the city. For folks who don't drive or fill up that often, it may not be such a big deal, but I live in SF and work in Mountain View, so I'm always gas-price conscious.
Getting a Prius has helped and now I only need to fill up about once a week, but I always try to fill up here and save up to 30 cents per gallon compared to the 76 across the street (today, 11/25 - regular unleaded was $3.43 at Arco and 3.77 at 76). Avoiding the traffic block is a little easy since you crest a hill at Fell and Pierce and can look down to the corner of Fell and Divis to see how backed up the station is... Entering via Divis rather than Fell is also slightly easier.
I try to fill up during off-hours -- either really early in the morning or around 10 or 11 at night to avoid the madness. -
Review from Danielle S.
San Francisco, CA
2/16/2009
Cheapest gas if you pay with CASH. If you pay with DEBIT they tack on $0.45. So if you get 5 gallons of gas (like I do because I don't believe in filling up my tank...seems wasteful and like I'm hoarding the gas or something) then you're paying the listed rate plus and additional $0.09. It pretty much evens out, but that is regardless of which ARCO you go to because ALL of them do that.
This place is ALWAYS packed! This is a very poorly designed gas station. There is really just no space to go around anyone if a pump opens up. It creates traffic coming up Fell because there is usually a line of cars waiting to get in. It also backs up traffic on Divisadero...the fact that Divis is 2 lanes in either direction makes for pretty unpleasant traffic jam.
Unless you go to this station at 3 AM or 7 AM, expect a wait. On the weekends, its always a cluster f*ck. I try not to go here, regardless of the prices just because it usually puts me in a bad mood just waiting to pump my gas. -
Review from Tim G.
San Francisco, CA
2/9/2009
Consistently among the top 5 cheapest gas stations in SF according to GasBuddy... this place creates chaos on Fell.
People are drawn to it like flies to shit -- disrupting bike and car lanes alike.
People who make over $10/hour are willing to wait 1/2 an hour to save $2. It makes no sense to me. -
Review from Hale B.
San Francisco, CA
12/2/2008
Some stupid bitch threw a heavy plastic cup at my car there today, because she entered THE WRONG WAY and then got out of her car to scream at me that I wouldn't get out of her way. I couldn't turn around, and go out the wrong way just to make her life easier. The guy in the booth is an idiot, I called to ask about surveillance and he doesn't speak english.
There is gas just as cheap elsewhere in the city. I've had several problems here where some people don't think the rules apply to them and fuck all of the other patrons over by either entering the wrong way or just completely cutting the line.
Don't go. -
Review from Joseph F.
San Francisco, CA
12/17/2007
Usually the cheapest prices in town.
I don't like it here because of the long lines.
I also don't like it that they charge extra if you use your credit card. You should bring cash. -
Review from tom i.
San Francisco, CA
12/31/2008
Cheap prices for gas.... BUT!!
One of the most confusing, irritating, and road-rage inducing entranceways to a gas station that I've experienced. YES, people have screamed at me, but I DIDN'T SEE THE OTHER CARS W/ DRIVERS AS THEY'RE IDLYING IN PARKING METER ZONES!
Arco needs to assign people to monitor traffic, like Trader Joe's parking attendants. I've stopped using this Arco, as road rage is not a pretty picture. -
Review from Rommel N.
Daly City, CA
5/29/2008
Cheapest place to get gas in the city BAR NONE! Best place to get a headache while waiting for the cheapest gas in the city BAR NONE! You got to have more patience than a doctor to get gas here.
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Review from Colleen B.
San Francisco, CA
4/30/2009
This is supposed to be the BEST place in town to get your smog checked. If it's not got a line around the block this is the cheapest gas around.
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Review from KD K.
Burbank, CA
3/15/2010
Love this place for gas- cheapest in the city. The bathrooms are NASTY- up the stairs on the side of the building. Guys were peeing outside near the air pump.
CA law says if you buy gas you get free air pump use. But it's tough trying to get to the air pump if the station is busy. The line is often backed up on both Divis and Fell, so try to come at an off time. -
Review from Ann T.
Oakland, CA
3/7/2008
This place USED to be the cheapest gas in the city! WTF happened?!?!? It USED to be worth waiting in a 6 car line for gas. So can somebody explain why the last 2 times I've been there that the pumps have been down?! This place has definitely gone down hill. Oh well, there's a rival gas station across the street that has exact same prices. Guess I'm going there from now on.
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Review from Monette P.
Daly City, CA
6/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
gas under $4 in the city? can we say *YAY*?
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Review from Howard W.
San Francisco, CA
3/24/2008
Don't understand why people are complaining about gas prices. It is what it is.
Anyhow... The four stars are for the honest repair work they do. They have good prices on the oil changes and are pretty quick about it. They always give fair estimates and don't try to fix shit that ain't broke. They recently replaced my brake pads. I've had three different cars serviced here over the years. Always consistent and honest with the repairs and the cost.
One time I went to another place (Chevron on Fell and Masonic) they tried to replace my brake pads and brake rotors. Needless to say, there was nothing wrong with my brake rotors. I hate fucken cheaters!!! Don't ever go there!
