If I could give them a zero I would right now. My card just got hacked for $175 there after I paid $57 in gas and $25 for a car wash. Proceed with caution at that place. It's the third gas station in three years. I've been hit with. read more

Extremely disappointed with my experience this morning. At this location It is advertised absolutely everywhere, the sign, on the pump, online. That the diesel offered at this station is advertised as Diesel #2. When I arrived I went it to pay for my tank and in very fine print it says the diesel contains at least 20% biomass making it Biodiesel NOT Diesel #2. Many cars such as mine cannot take Biodiesel as it damages the engine within even a few uses. Extremely misleading and even dangerous advertising. And it's ultimately a cash grab. When I thought this up with management, it was explained away as a "California thing". After research this was just straight up false. It's just a cash grab. Biodiesel costs much less to the station than Diesel #2. This is a frankly disgusting business practice and needs to be exposed. If they lie about this I wonder what else they lie about... read more

They were extremely busy but their customer service was still good. I just wish the attendant had more help because I felt for them.

**Reviewed During Covid** I came to this location as I do every once in awhile to grab my morning coffee. When I came in, the manger, Julie, who had her mask down behind the counter was counting money. Upon grabbing my coffee and heading to the counter, Julie, said she could help me at the register. I asked her if she could put her mask back on. Being super rude she helped me and once I paid, she threw my change back at me. I had my stamp card present on the counter which is completely ignored and went to help the next guest. When I asked her "excuse me?" She went and shouted at me "THANK YOU! BYE!" I looked at her again and said "excuse me?" And held up my card asking her to stamp my card and she came over and with a very rude attitude slammed her hand on the counter without even making eye contact to me. Super rude employee and managers you have working for your company and representing your brand. read more

Do NOT go inside store if you can avoid it!!! Hey ARCO, #1, train your staff. Nothing more frustrating than having a cashier staring at the register obviously lost as to what he/she needs to do and there is no one around to help them. #2, provide MORE staff. Photo taken today - 25 ppl in line (many behind me in line when I took the photo), 3 registers, 1 cashier who was new and VERY slow. 12noon when ARCO was busy with folks grabbing sandwiches, etc., never occured to you to have more than 1 person at the registers? #3, so not ask a customer to pay for your mistake. I used a debit card, and ARCO charges you an additional $0.35 to use it. Clerk made a mistake and wanted me to pay for 2 transactions (thus 2X the $0.35 fee). See #1 above. read more

ARCO Station - About 25ppl in line, 1 cashier, 3 registers, no one else to be found to help out. (many behind me when I took this photo). - Gas Stations Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Ummmm..... it's a nice sunny day today. Out for a nice drive. Then I thought, hey my car is dirty. I know, there's a Arco right down the road and it has a car wash. That's what everybody thought because I was about the 4th car online. But I made it through. Probably about 20 minutes later I stopped, got out of the car, noticed it wasn't clean. WTF! I could have done a better job with the bottle of window cleaner and an old pair of underwear. Don't waste your money and time with his car wash. There are far too many other places the do a much better job. read more

ARCO Station - Hey Arco! How is this an acceptable car wash? - Gas Stations Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Don't go it's a complete nightmare. The tanks are screaming stupid ads at you you can't read the screen because they're putting video games up it is the stupidest system I've ever seen and it's going to drive all the customers away. Blaring commercials from the tank while you're trying to figure out how to push the right buttons. read more

FAIL FAIL FAIL!!!!!!!!!!! I was completely on empty and cruised in here to get gas... I decided that the dirt trap I refer to as my vehicle could really use a wash. I figured that now would be the time to use their brand spanking new car wash. BAD IDEA. I was waiting for my turn... enjoying my recently burned CD and a Diet Dr. Pepper... The car in front of me finished and I pulled in... the wash started... soap all over my car... AND THEN... it stopped! I sat there for a minute wondering if maybe it was on a soak cycle or something. I pulled around and went in... already irritated that I could see the soap drying on my black car. The girl said no problem pull it back around and I'll meet you over there. Well she couldn't get it fixed... she gave me another code and said to come back 'later' after it gets reset... Thanks lady... FAIL... I ended up driving down the street to get it washed... I WILL RETURN... but only to get the wash that I paid for... this place SUCKS!!!!!!!! read more

I use this station when I want to pay cash for my gas but don't want to have to actually go inside and pay. Paying at the pump is my friend. But damn this place is OHHHH SOOOO DIRTY! No, I don't generally think "clean" when I'm thinking gas station but I also shouldn't think of getting checked out for bugs after pumping my gas either. EVERYTHING is dirty here. The ground is gross. The kiosk to pay for your gas is gross. The keys you have to press to pick your station or print a receipt are gross. The handle to pump your gas is gross. And when you're done you feel gross. read more

ARCO Station - Covered in soap. So pretty. - Gas Stations Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I'm going to have to concur with the prior reviews. Avoid this place if you can. It gets too busy, unless you go in the middle of the night. Location of this Arco is strange. Out in the middle of a business park area in Carlsbad. I guess that is why they tend to be busy. I cringe every time I have to go inside to retrieve change as there is ALWAYS a line inside. read more

Can we say INCONVENIENT?! I usually get gas at Costco, so I'm used to lines and paying with a credit card. I needed to get some gas for my car and it's on my way, so it seemed like this would be a quick stop. I was under the impression that the station accepted credit cards but applies a conveneince fee. I learned this is NOT TRUE. So option B was for me to pay with a debit card-- (keep in mind that I only needed a couple gallons to do my regular fill up at Costco) And they charge a $.50 convenience fee to use a debit card!! I think not. Option C- I had a few dollars on hand and the outside pay machines were clearly marked that they accept cash. UNTRUE! By this time, I am pissed off-- I have a sleeping kid in the car and just want to get out of there. I end up running inside to do the "$4 on pump 7" routine after waiting in line for people to buy lotto tickets. ugh. All the while looking out the window to make sure that no one is either oogling my sleeping kid or calling child protective services. So, needless to say, I will never go to this ARCO if I can help it. read more

I really like this station. It's really close to my work so I'm here pretty often. The lines can get long but the employees have a good system going to help quickly and efficiently. I hate that any AMPMs only accept debit which forces you to pay that extra .35 cents or so. I won't come here late at night when I'm off work after midnight, it's gets pretty sketchy and there's only one entrance/exit so it's not my late night choice for getting gas. The manager is always there and seems to always be making sure everything's stocked up. There's a guy who works there and his makeup and nails are always looking better than mine! Maybe don't come here during the lunch rush, but all in all its a good station that I'll keep coming back to. read more

ARCO Station - Gas Stations Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Yes, this station has low gas prices, but every time I've gone, the ATM machine isn't working. Is it just me? I'll pay a few cents more just to NOT have to walk in and stand in line just to pay. I'd rather stay in my warm car in the Costco mile-long lines than this fiasco. Seriously, does the ATM ever work? read more

Good car wash and nice place to buy gas..

I needed gas int tire but didn't know how to do it. Those ppl there were very helpful. They gave me a code for the air machine n put air in my tire for me. They were super quick n super nice. read more

Lived here for 20 years and must've pumped $8,000+ worth of business into this place and the one time I ask for them to turn the air hose on, they said I have to pay or fill up. Every gas station I've ever been to has turned their pumps on. I thought by law you have to turn the air on if someone's tires are low, for safety reasons but she didn't want to hear it. Had no interest in being helpful. read more

This is such a great am pm station, funny enough I actually go here for their amazing coffee and not even gas! I know right, coffee from a gas station? I started drinking am pm's coffee almost 3 years ago now and this location is on the way to work after I make the long commute from Downtown San Diego. There's so many flavors, lots of mixers, creamers and powdered creamer and plenty of different sugars and sweeteners. They always have someone there stocking fresh pastries, sandwiches and snacks also. One of the great things about getting coffee here is that they have a punch card so after 4, your 5th one is free, how great is that! Julie the Manager is extremely friendly and greets me every morning and seems to remember all the regulars. The facility is very clean and the other employee's that work there are also very friendly! The only reason I don't get gas here is because they only take debit and my credit card gives me cash back on gas, keep in mind all am pm locations charge 35 cents for using a debit card so if you're going to get coffee a lot here it's wise to purchase a $25 gift card and use that every morning :) read more

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:-| "too sore from being butt raped." Usually the cheapest gas around (except for Costco) So I go here in a pinch. I get my lottery tickets here as well. The Minimart inside is clean, large-ish... and well stocked with processed foods. 3 woofs Just A ok.. I won't go elsewhere (xcept for Costco) cause the gas prices are usually higher, and I'm getting too sore from being butt raped while I fill my tank.. SO not worth it. read more

This station is really one of the better ones in terms of size and available help when the checkout line gets long. It is not uncommon for someone to stop what they're doing in the back to help checkout patrons, and it is also not uncommon for one clerk to run two registers getting people out of there quicker in the mornings. Gas is typically cheaper here than all other stations because of the ARCO brand and there are several islands with lots of room which is great for rental trucks, motorcycles and RV's. At times there are salespeople out in the parking lot trying to sell foam cleaning products. Sometimes they can be a bit invasive and I know for a fact people have complained to the management about them. Not sure if they will continue to be there in the future. There is also a guy who goes here with his pet Parrot and people and kids get a kick out of taking pictures with the guy and talking with him. There is also a large carwash at the entrance of the gas station. I haven't used it myself but I imagine it is convenient for a lot of people. I guess you could say this Arco has a lot of character! read more

I somehow seem to end up needing gas when I am going by this station, and so end up pulling in. The entry and exit is ridiculously laid out. The thing that REALLY irritates me with this station is that about 3 out of 5 times my Arco Credit Card won't work here, even when I KNOW there is no problem with it! It will be declined, I go inside, wait for the attendant, and get told it's declined. I can go right up the street and it works just fine at the next Arco I go in to! WTF? Get it together Arco! I hate to even give them the next chance, but invariably, there I am, needing gas again, go in, and have to make another stop! read more

I'm so tired of gas stations with 1980s tech. I'm getting gas and I'm in a hurry. I don't want to have to use your special ATM machine that's even further away from my car than the pump. I want to use a gas pump that takes credit cards - not cash - and not debit cards only. I also don't want to interact with your store employees or even enter your store unless I need something other than gas. Is that too much to ask? One star for the nice touchless carwash - which takes credit cards - at the car wash - WTF? Apply same process to all the pumps in the front. read more

This is for the food store part of it because I don't get gas here, especially since Costco is cheaper and not far away. Anyway, this place is just in a state of decline. Where once the employees were friendly, motivated to process customers thru, and quickly kept the food oven filled with good cheap eats, it's like the complete opposite now. These days there might be two clerks running the store, but usually one guy is just gazing at customers while presumably counting the store's money and doesn't seem interested at all in helping out when the customer line starts to get long. Meanwhile, the food oven is rarely stocked with more than a handful of items at best, most of which look old and dried out, making this once nearly daily stop a place I will go to maybe a couple times a month if that. read more

I used to think really highly of this gas station and loved their cheap gas prices but not after this morning. I go to the pump and try to use my debit card but it said card error, use another card. So then I go inside the station thinking there must be something wrong with my card. The lady in front of me says the same thing, her card got declined and we are told that the debit card machines are down and have been for 3 days! She says to use the ATM machine. Except when we use the ATM machine the other employee says it is on the same system and it doesn't work! WTF? It is a cash only gas station at this point? There was no posted sign outside saying the debit machine was down, no sign on the ATM machine and the employees just sat there smugly like they don't care at all. This place is worthless!! read more

How do you stay in business closing at 9:55 to 10:15 pm for shift change! You have lost $1,000,00s from me personally on diesel sales, great management you have!!!! Worst gas station ever read more

The crew in the store today are really fast. Pere really got the front counter humming.

They put themselves in the category of touchless carwash but it is a brush car wash. So I just wasted a drive over here. It's important in yelp not to put yourself in any category you do not belong. Yelp also needs to stop showing things that are not in the category being searched. kind of makes the whole search with yelp a dumb concept if you don't follow your own rules. read more

The only plus this gas station has is its prices considering it being in Carlsbad. Since, the prices are decent and it is conveniently located on the busiest street in Carlsbad (Palomar Airport Rd.) this Arco is BUSY; both at the pumps and inside the mini-mart. read more

Don't spend the extra couple of dollars to get the "best" car wash. The water left spots all over my brand new black car :(

First off getting to the pumps is an obstacle course. They are building a car wash at the back of the property and for whatever reason they had a back hoe parked towards the middle of the property so you only have one driveway for people to exit and enter- a mess. Now to why I gave them a one- Every time I go here I always leave with higher blood pressure, be it from the guy in the window truck trying to steal my pump, seriously as I am pulling up, he flys in with his huge truck nose to nose yelling and waving his arms. Or the first time I went here on a monday morning and didn't know that protocol is to get in a line on the east side of the property and wait your turn. If you drive in around the west side and enter a pump you don't see the line, but OH will you get TOLD!! I was all sorry, this is the first time I have ever seen this- Note to self skip Monday and Friday mornings. Yesterday I go and the screen says go to cashier, as I enter the lady behind the counter is arguing with a man. He says I am on pump 9, you didn't put any money on 9. She says back to him You are on pump 1, he says no I am not. She says where's your truck? He says I am on 9...no you're on 1. No I am not...this continues for about 3 minutes. Another worker lady goes outside and then comes in and says no one is on 1. Then she kind of argues with the other lady. Then she asks me what pump I say 5- just $20, she hands me reciept. I go to the pump and guess what?? it doesn't work! Then I get to go argue with her, she raised her voice and ripped the reciept out of my hands. I said give me back my reciept and she said it's not yours ITS MINE!! this lady is crazy!! There was a line of about 7 people watching all of this- finally another worker lady came over and fixed everything and apologized for the crazy lady. If you are bored go here, otherwise avoid like the plague. read more

This happened today (23 July 2017) at approximately 0705. I just visited this establishment and was highly disappointed in the customer service. I only used the car vacuum so I cannot speak about any other product. After spending paying for the three motor vacuum, I was shocked to feel that there was little to no suction power. I happened to see the worker outside so I waved him over. He proceeded to feel for himself. He acknowledged that is was very low and simply said sorry before walking away. I can appreciate his level of empathy but I do not resolve my issue of now having to go somewhere else and pay again for a service that was poorly provided by this establishment. Even worse was there was no offer of a refund. I will never patronize this place again. I would give it zero stars if I could. read more

This place was a surprise, just not a delightful one. After a decent line of waiting for gas (not their problem...business is good!) the credit card machine on the pump didn't work. Again, forgiveable. After waiting in the line three times and three broken pumps later, I went inside and waited in line for five minutes for the clerk. Not only did they inform me that they DO NOT TAKE CREDIT CARD, but also that they charge you $.35 to use your debit card. I'm not even sure if it's legal? All of this after paying about 30 cents more per gallon than we would have elsewhere. Lesson learned. read more

This gas station used to have comparable gas prices to the Costco down the street. Not sure if ownership changed or what, but gas prices average 40 cents a gallon more now. No longer stop here. read more

.35 charge for using a debit card. Oh, & debit is the only option at the pump. Not stopping here again unless it's an absolute emergency.

This one gets five stars for 1 being near my home, 2 for being the best priced around (unless you are counting Costco in there) and 3 for stocking a specific product that I request and is extreamly hard to find! So I have no complaints....ROCK ON MIGHTY ARCO! (oh...and it does get busy at rush hour times....cause duh, it's cheap and the only station around for a couple miles) read more

It's a gas station. Don't expect superior customer service and you will be fine. Cheap prices, great location, huge beverage and snack selection. Pay stations have worked every time. I usually prefer a touchless car wash but this one is cheap and does a great job. It's clean and the buckets and squeegees are usually fresh. It's the little things! read more

Cheap gas and decent service. The cashier was texting while taking my cash and completing my transaction.

Don't go here if you're in any kind of hurry. NO CREDIT CARDS. The ATM machine at the pump wouldn't read my debit card. I had to go inside and wait in line to pay and then come back in the store and wait in line again for my receipt. It's 2014 and I think it's time to get the pay at the pump thing figured out. 1 bonus star for professional staff and a clean, well-stocked store. Otherwise this would be a 1 star review. read more

Always the cheapest gas around. Sometimes my debt card doesn't work in the machines but that can always be fixed with a trip the cashier.

Very bad they close the door when they closing the shift for 30-45 minutes and the people should waiting outside

I use this location on a regular basis & rarely a problem (Christi must attract drama). Usually busy as it's the cheapest gas around for about 4-5 miles. If you like to wait for pumps, go when everyone else does...in the morning while everyones in a rush & worried about being late or lunch when people only have a limited time to get things done. If you're in a rush, look for someplace else. read more