Don't Mess With the Beaver...

 

Talking about this beaver...

 

Some media outlets have been using the sensational headline "Buc-ee's gets an 'F' from the Better Business Bureau!"

My response: don't mess with Buc-ee's.

Checking into it, there have been 88 complaints to the BBB in the last three years regarding Buc-ee's, almost all that say that Buc-ee's hasn't responded to customer complaints.  Some were in regards to "being overcharged for fuel."  You pull up to a pump, you scan your credit card, you pump the fuel, you get a receipt... how can you get "overcharged"??  Someone else had a complaint that they "got sick" after eating food from the Beav.  I have seen no report of an outbreak of food poisoning from any Buc-ee's.

The Better Business Bureau issued that "F" rating because Buc-ee's did not respond to their inquiry.  The BBB is a "for profit" organization.  I say: "F 'em."  From my perspective, the BBB is irrelevant these days.  They exist because some businesses pay to belong to the BBB.  Before Google, Yelp, and other review sites, they may have held some sway in some peoples' eyes.  But, no business is required to respond to a BBB inquiry.  As a former business owner, we never received a single complaint from the BBB... if a customer had a problem, we took care of it.

The potential issue with Buc-ee's is they don't publish a phone number for any of their locations.  You contact them at the email address: consumerrequest@buc-ees.com or use the contact form on their website.  From what I read, they rarely respond.  You buy gas, you go inside and spend $50 or more on food and snacks, maybe pee in their immaculate restrooms, look at some t-shirts or other touristy stuff, then leave... what is there to complain about?

The only complaint I have is stupid people who leave their vehicle at a pump while they go inside to shop or pee - get your gas, move your car to a parking spot, then go inside and do your business. 

Some of the complaints were from RVers.  More stupid stuff like: Buc-ee's doesn't allow you to stay overnight in their parking lot... or: there is no RV dump site... or: they don't have a spigot where you can get free water.  Stoopid.  It isn't an RV park.  Go to a truck stop like Loves, where they will charge you $10 to dump your RV holding tanks, and hold your drivers license while you do that, meaning two trips to the fuel desk where you have to wait in line.  Twice.  Or go to a Walmart where they don't allow overnight parking and complain that you will "take your business elsewhere."  Your business?  As in: staying in their parking lot overnight for free?  We have been RVers for decades, but some of these people who try to do everything on the cheap are just whiners and tend to take advantage of a business until that business decides to not allow RV parking.  Sorry - I got off on a tangent.

One particular YouTube video interviewed RVers and asked if they prefer Buc-ee's or a truck stop.  They didn't interview me - I would take Buc-ee's over a grubby truck stop every time.  Buc-ee's business model is: sell 'em gas, sell 'em brisket and jerky, and move 'em on.   They don't allow 18 wheelers at Buc-ee's.  Whereas a truck stop caters to 18 wheelers - hey it's right there in the name: truck stop.  Some "travel centers" (the new description to make it sound less truck-oriented) have RV lanes, dump stations, and a spigot to get fresh water (think: Loves, Flying J, Pilot).  But, you aren't going to get "Fresh brisket on the board!" or Beaver Nuggets there, either.  You may get to stay overnight in their lot for free, as long as you aren't in the way of the big trucks.  Although Loves is expanding their RV Stop, where they have sites and hookup for RVs for overnight accommodations.  We have stayed in a couple of these - they can be convenient, but are not inexpensive.

The truck stops will generally have a restaurant or a fast food outlet connected.  Buc-ee's does not; they sell food (brisket sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, fresh-made potato chips, Beaver Nuggets) and have a bakery where you can get a good variety of pastries and cookies.  Just take all those and eat 'em in the car, because they don't have any seating or picnic tables.  Loves often has a dog park; Buc-ee's does not.  There are differences.  For the record, we have had no problem getting any of our RVs at a gas pump at Buc-ee's.

Have I ever had a complaint with Buc-ee's?  Well, I've had some mediocre breakfast sandwiches or a fatty pulled-pork sandwich, but never felt the need to complain to the BBB or even leave a Yelp review, good or bad.  Yep, there are more and more whiners these days.