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Arco
Category: Automotive Gas & Service Stations Gas & Service Stations [Edit]
1950 S Delaware StSan Mateo, CA 94403
(650) 572-8863
28 reviews for Arco
28 reviews in English
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Review from Winnie C.
San Mateo, CA
5/16/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Pretty convenient location. Open all the time. Clean. Well lit at night. Prices probably one of the least expensive I can find.
Takes cash only. There is often a long line of people waiting for the pumps during the day. -
Review from Todd G.
CA
3/8/2012
Beware: Faulty nozzles will spring out and spray gasoline. This is downright dangerous. If you'd like to know what gasoline in the eyes feels like and the joys of being drenched in petrol, go here. BTW: Did you know that Arco was owned by BP Global?
Last night, I started pumping fuel by locking the nozzle and placing it in the fuel well, as usual (I've owned this car since new and for 11 years - I know any quirks it has). Immediately, the nozzle popped out and began spraying gasoline on the pavement. I picked it up, disengaged it, and attempted the same procedure again. The second time, it popped out and sprayed gasoline upward, going all over the top and side of my car. I bent down to pick it up and it flipped over to spray straight into my eyes, soaking my hair and face and spraying down the entire front of me. What sucks even more is that it doused down on me a pair of fine Italian loafers, a brand new pair of jeans worn for the first time, and a $200 handmade shirt, which is signed #51 in 150 like a piece of fine art.
I never thought I'd ever get gasoline in the eyes and let me tell you it f**king burns. It was quite a spectacle but yet no attendants ever even came to check on what was happening. So, after the three minutes it took before I could finally open my eyes enough to go to the cashier booth to get help (which is BARELY), the two East Indian women at the register were unhelpful and played stupid. So stupid, useless, and pathetic that they only babbled nonsense instead of helping me. In fact, it seemed okay to them to allow an 80-something year old war veteran with an oxygen tank to volunteer to lead me the way to the nearest sink where I could flush my eyes and wash the gasoline off my face which, by now, was also burning. (Look folks - SEE the DIFFERENCE between a REAL American and those who come to our country, demand entitlements, offset employment and drive down pay, press to change OUR society and its laws to suit THEM, using our fair system against itself, and yet contribute NOTHING in return except to stand around and play DUMB when it's THEIR turn to be responsible?)
So after I was able to fully open my eyes again, there was a Chinese man that worked there who was nice enough but only barely more helpful. All he was willing to do was pay me back for the gallon of wasted gas that my card was charged for and a car wash (this one has brushes - if this was not an extreme situation, I'd never use one of these). As far as me, any physical harm done, or even damage to the car or my clothes? Nothing. He says "come back tomorrow and talk to my manager". He had no response when I mentioned the risk this was to my eyesight and my health. I guess that where he comes from, that is worth the $5 he reimbursed me.
I'm still looking for information on whatever authority inspects the pumps and puts the County of San Mateo seal on each one. I'm sure many people would sue but I want to do the right thing - report these guys to the appropriate authorities.
No amount of supposed fuel cost savings are worth my ever going to this or ANY other Arco station ever again. I'll take my business elsewhere and gladly pay extra to support the wages of people who deserve their jobs and who offer properly functioning equipment.
UPDATE: Stopped by today to talk to the manager. When I told him what I was there for he says "oh, that". No apology, nothing. Just "oh, that". He then waves in a customer that just walked up and I said "that's it, you're not concerned". He says "I'm helping customers" - as if I AM NOT A CUSTOMER MYSELF. Now Arco c-level management and every regulator this may concern are gonna hear from me. Oh yeah, almost forgot to mention the faulty pump was IN USE.
Use this gas station at YOUR OWN RISK. -
Review from John P.
San Mateo, CA
12/7/2011
On a certain Friday morning @ 4.30am I inserted $45 into their cash kiosk that is located by the gas pumps. I have visited this gas station before during this time period. When I selected the pump I was surprised to see that the pump was locked. I then went back to the kiosk and selected print receipt. The kiosk said to collect receipt inside. This was impossible since there was no attendant on duty.
I drove back to the station after work and spoke with Arthur, the manager. He took my phone and told me he would check the #s at the end of the day and get back to me. I never heard from him. When I went back to the station the next week Arthur told me there was no overage on the day in question. I told him that he should check the cameras or the kiosk entry. He wouldn't hear of it. I told him that if the station isn't operating, his kiosk shouldn't take money. (Remember, I've bought gas at 4.30am before from this station). At this point Arthur wouldn't budge so I left short $45.00.
Out of principal I will not patronize this station again. -
Review from angelina m.
South San Francisco, CA
6/29/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
While I enjoy the cheap gas. I do not enjoy the death match that is trying to get in line and find a free pump. People are vicious! -
Review from Karla V.
San Mateo, CA
3/8/2012
This review is for the carwash only: AVOID!!!! It was like I pulled up and was part of some new car wash reality show. My son LOVES going thru car washes because of the rainbow soap. We never had gone to this one even though I always have gotten my gas here for the past 5 years. I wing it and we drive up. I am pulling out my money and a man suddenly pops out from behind the machine out of a fricken bush! I just sat there in shock that anyone would be so damned stupid to do such a thing. Zero thought process of "Hmm....maybe my popping out of a bush to strangers in cars holding money would be a bad idea!". His purpose in life was to take your money and feed it into the machine and push the button. All very technical stuff that clearly no commoner could perform. I have yet to find out is Arco is aware there's a creep bush hermit "assisting" customers with their archaic car wash. So, then this weirdo tells me I have to align my left tire to go in the track. I was like WHAT IS THIS??? 1990??? I have not been to a car wash that old fashioned in a very long time. I then had to put my car in neutral. I have been driving for almost 19 years and have never had to do any of this with any car wash. I just laughed at how ridiculous this all was and my son was just sitting there baffled. We finally coast into the car "wash" and those rubbery tentacle type things kinda lazily drag over my car and BAM! The car wash was done. Didn't even clean the bug splats from my Napa trip the day before off my dang window. $7 for a wash that could had been done by me with a bottle of Windex. INSANITY!So annoyed by it that I emailed them. Just amazing that this Arco would do all their revamping over the years and never once think that maybe they should update their car wash to this decade and not have a creepy hermit man pop out of bushes.
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Review from Ray Ray J.
San Francisco, CA
11/5/2011
Wow this is a busy gas station all righttt but hey the prices are good and they have a nice pumps. so anyway i live in a van conversion, its really nice i just got it and it has a bed in the bad that folds into a seat. so anyway my girlfriend decided to spend the night at my place and we had chinese food and doughnuts for dinner and im ok but now shes having diareah all night and i dont have a bathroom so we parked at arco tonight and thye have really nice bathrooms she can use everytime she needs to go which is 4 times so far. anyway they also have juices machines and soda and a car wash. i dont know san mateo too well but its a nice town so far and theylet us park my van here overnight while charmane goes poop. yeah go to arco! easy acess to the freeway too so thats nice.
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Review from John C.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2011 6 Check-ins Here
1. Cheapest gas in the area!
2. I'm a regular.
3. Why am I reviewing a fu(*& gas station? -
Review from Ken K.
12/4/2009
So some mofo decided to leave a piece of small metal on the ground somewhere one day, and my vehicle had the unfortunate pleasure of running over it.
And the thing was sharper and hit deeper than Ron Jeremy or Peter North ever will in their repertoire.
When a tire is punctured, you keep your fingers crossed it's not so deep that it can be patched.
With that gamble of the dice in mind, I schlepped the vehicle over to this Arco (also known as cheapest gas in Foster City), to their auto repair and servicing station to see what can be done.
The mechanics here all speak Cantonese and the guy I dealt with was fluent in English as well. One quick look after taking the tire out, and he said the metallic Ron Jeremy poked so hard that my tire could not be saved.
The cost of replacing the flat with the spare, and junking the tire was an el quicko $10 job.
For a moment during the wait, I felt like I was transported to some part of non touristy Hong Kong, like in an auto body shop or hole in the wall restaurant. The mechanics were working and conversing with each other (in Cantonese of course). These guys swore more than the average sailor, similarly to how often the typical NorCal girl uses the word "like" when they need to do a break in the sentence to gather their thoughts.
NorCal girl example: "you know, like, blah blah blah blah, like, blah blah blah blah blahditty blah blah blah, like this is like totally hella blahh ditty doo"
but in Cantonese it's similar along the line of
"waaa, F your mom, blah blah blah, this smelly c*nt drop dead MF hope his entire family dies, is really something else (in reference to either a person, state of mind, an object inanimate or not, just to make a point, pointless or not), MF suck my balls/eat my banana, I need that wrench over there into next Tuesday, bitch betta have my money I need to take a shit etc"
rough translation of the above "dang dood, this is unbelieveable and unreasonable, may I please have the wrench?"
3 stars for the quick tire diagnosis turnaround, and for the entertainment during the wait (and for the cheap gas next door). -
Review from Brooke R.
Bay Area, CA
11/12/2008
The other day: 3.25 near my house, 2.69 at this Arco. Keep in mind that I'm comparing Palo Alto to San Mateo.
They charge $0.45 for the privilege of using a credit card.
If the sun is out, this station will be crowded. -
Review from Alice C.
6/27/2010
This ARCO for the win!
Yes, you do have to deal with paying $0.45 if you use a debit card and they don't accept credit cards (true of all ARCOs), but I'll tell you what you DON'T have to deal with: hookers, hypodermic needles, homeless hecklers, a-holes that won't let you use the bathroom during normal hours.
Other Yelpers talked about this place being crowded, but I've actually never had to wait for a pump here. Maybe I'm lucky.
I'm giving this 4 stars because it is the cheapest gas around for miles. And believe me, I've looked. -
Review from Marc A.
4/7/2009 2 photos
Yuck! I mean its 2009 and ok you have pay at the pump BUT when only one side of the actual pump can be used at a time.... come on!
Well at least its on a corner and has easy in and out access.
Enjoy! -
Review from Phil K.
San Mateo, CA
3/31/2007
I hate this ARCO for the following (very important and valid) reasons:
1. They charge $.40 cents for debit card payment, and they don't accept credit cards. I usually get about 12 gallons when I fill up my tank, so that's about an extra $.03-.04 cents per gallon in basically hidden charges.
2. The Shell and 76 stations across the street accept all forms of payment, and is never more than $.05 or $.06 more per gallon, not including ARCO's stupid payment surcharge.
3. ARCO is always incredibly busy, despite the lack of real savings, which causes a lot of traffic at this intersection. Worse, people are always pulling out right in front of me as I exit hwy 92 East onto Delware. ARCO drivers are stupid.
4. The window washer buckets at this ARCO never, and I mean never, have anything other than the nastiest dirty water. And the squeegees are usually in tatters. Other gas stations, like the ones across the street, actually put window washer fluid in their buckets, and maintain their equipment.
5. I bought gas there at ARCO a few months ago and the pump continued to increase my bill after I stopped pumping gas! The cents on the meter slowly ticked up after I had stopped pumping until I put the nozzle back in its holster. No gas coming out, but I was being charged. I complained and the guy couldn't understand what I was saying. Bastards.
In short, get gas at one of the two less crowded, better maintained, not significantly more expensive stations across the street. They have better gas, too. -
Review from Farrah N.
San Francisco, CA
2/1/2009
Gas is cheap. The station is bright and clean and next to a police station.
If you don't want to pay the surcharge you have two options:
1) PAY CASH.
2) Pay extra at another station.
Don't complain.
Car wash is nifty.
Also, gasoline is all the same. Arco shares refineries with many other big stations in the area. Yes, there are different octane levels but you have to pay for higher ones. -
Review from Robert L.
San Francisco, CA
8/5/2007
In the recent months, this has been the cheapest gas station from SF to San Mateo. Fortunately I make my way out here weekly so I pump $20 worth of gas each time. I don't drive much so that generally keeps my tank between half full and nearly all full.
It's usually fairly busy, but I haven't had to wait for a pump. I go in the evenings on weekdays. Most pumps are usually taken, but there's one or two free.
I like cheap. So I like this place. But only as long as it stays cheap. -
Review from Amy D.
10/29/2005 2 photos
Arco charges for credit card transactions. They recently increased the surcharge fee by 10 cents! At the pump, you can only pay with a credit card- they don't accept debit cards. There are lots of cash only machines too, if you prefer to pay with cash. Only hassle is, if you overpay, you have to go into the little store to get your change.
Earlier tonight, this fucker in a blue Nissan 350Z cut me off and took my pump. Watch your back, mister. -
Review from Diane S.
5/14/2011
cheapest gas in san mateo, but cash only, if you want the cheap price.
bonus has a car wash. -
Review from Jim C.
Redwood City, CA
10/4/2007
My fave place for the cheapest gas in the San Mateo/Redwood City area. Yes, they are a pain in that they charge a fee for ATM and credit cards but if you always go there armed with cash, you'll be golden.
Bottom line: Cash is king and if you go there with cash, best gas price in the area. -
Review from Irene Y.
San Mateo, CA
5/14/2011 81 Check-ins Here
Cheapest gas in San Mateo that I know! Arco is cheap but between this Arco and the Arco in downtown San Mateo this one is cheaper by a couple cents plus they have a car wash. Car washes range from 5.00 for the cheapest up to 7.00. For all Arco stations, you have to pay in cash or debit card because they don't accept any type of credit card. If you want to save 45 cents, pay in cash to avoid the surcharge on your debit card.
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Review from Jerome W.
San Francisco, CA
7/18/2009
I have just got to give 5 stars to balance out the corny low ratings people are giving. Do I need to refute their arguments? Can anyone prove that this gas is poor quality? Is it poorer than more expensive ARCO stations? If not, then why pay more? I find I get the same power and mileage from this gas as any other. What about "hidden charges"? NO such thing here. It's public knowledge they charge more for using a credit card or ATM. It's been like that at all ARCO stations for over 20 years. So bring cash, big deal.
In summary, come here if you want cheap gas, maybe the cheapest in San Mateo County, if you want easy access from Rt92 east, if you want to pay cash. -
Review from Neej P.
Palo Alto, CA
4/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Has a Carwash!
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Review from Alex M.
San Mateo, CA
5/6/2008
Cheapest gas in the Peninsula, Always. Best time to pump is after 7pm on any night. With the prices the way they are these days, You'd be a fool to shop elsewhere... Techron? WHATEVER. Its all oil. You can use your credit card at the pump or my favorite, Deposit the cash in the cash box and select you pump. Beats waiting in line with everyone else. Cool car wash as well. GIT IT!
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Review from Kevin W.
San Mateo, CA
1/29/2009
The only reason I give this station one star is the cheap gas. Other than that, this place sucks. I don't mind the atm fee, but the atms never work. It's asks if you want to be charged (or something like that) and I press the yes, button. Then, it decides to cancel my transaction. WTF? I pressed yes. So I try again. This time it accepts my yes push and asks me to enter my pin. I do this, press enter then the screen goes blank and comes back on and asks me to enter my pin again. This happens almost every time I go there. Well, I've had it with this station. They can't keep the equipment working right and when you tell the attendant about the faulty equipment they look at you with the "I don't care" attitude. See ya Arco, hope your nice new station goes under soon.
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Review from Kevin S.
San Francisco, CA
5/11/2005
Cheapest gas on the Peninsula, usually, which results in total bedlam most of the day and night. Cars are jammed in here in a crazy quilt pattern of angling for a turn at the pumps. You have to go to a single ATM like machine to prepay your gas, the card swiper is not built into the pumps themselves, which is a pain. They have a carwash too but if you want to buy a carwash coupon you have to go to the little store to buy it, you can't use the stupid machine for that.
Listed in: Auto Erotica
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Review from Pancho P.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/29/2009
Ok i dont go to this place but I am posting to make it clear to all the people saying cheap gas is good. Cheap gas burns off faster than good gas, therefor costing you more money. They do you no favor by selling horrible quality gas. If you think otherwise you deserve to have your car break down on you because the way you treat it. Arco is quite possibly the worst gas station in the entire bay area but yet it stays open because people dont take 2 minutes to understand what they are doing to their cars. Go ahead, blow your motor on the freeway and crash. Who cares right?! Go ahead and ruin a car that you will be stuck in debt on for the next 3-5 years. No big deal eh? Being cheap and going here does not make sense, you are in the end going to pay WAY more for the damage/usage of gas. Use your head and go get decent gas for a decent price.
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Review from Critic A.
San Mateo, CA
7/19/2010
Always the cheapest gas around. Always a line. Go here every week and won't switch.
The long lines may deter you but it'll save you $$$$. -
Review from Stormy T.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2008
It's fun to play dodge cars here! It's a 24-pump and very busy so it's inevitable.
The trick is not settling for the spots right in front of the entrances. You've gotta whip around, and I mean whip, to the back and center pumps. If you use the "whip" technique you will surely get a spot in less than a minute or two.
Cheapest gas in San Mateo and quite possibly through out the county. It's a beautiful thing.
NO CREDIT CARDS! Cash and ATM (fee) only. Eeek, they lose a star because of the credit card situation. That wouldn't be very comforting for the person who's stuck with no gas, no cash, and no funds in the bank. However, there is a 76 across the street. -
Review from Harry Y.
Half Moon Bay, CA
2/16/2009
After a lot of research; there are only a few major refineries in the country. The same gas is distributed to brand names and independent contractors alike, with names you've never heard of before. The small stations have to be very competitive, since they contract to sizeable lots far in advance to offer gas at lower prices. The "sludge" BS used by commonly advertised names is simply scare tactic marketing to get gullible people to buy the same overpriced gas. These same people pay for the very advertising that scares them into buying overpriced gas. Oil companies are grateful for these induhviduals. That's why we often see more educated people with nice cars buying gas at no-name gas stations, and less educated people buying gas at brand name stations. Think about it.
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Review from Trinity F.
Belmont, CA
3/6/2010
Yes, this place will charge you a fee of $0.45 or so to use your debit car; some ARCO stations make it so difficult for you to use a card that you have to pay in cash; sometimes the stations are broken; and it's usually crowded...BUT my car seems to get twice the mileage out of ARCO gas, than from other big name gas stations. On a full tank of gas, say from Chevron, I pay an arm and a leg for a weeks worth of driving to work. On a full tank of ARCO gas, I can drive to work for a week, do some weekend traveling, still have gas to take me through a few days the following week, and pay significantly less. I'm sold!
