Frequently Asked Questions

Q.	How many Rotten Robbie stations are there ?
A.	34...We have stations located throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.  All of our stations carry diesel as well as many other services such as kerosene, lotto, and snack-shops.  You can find our locations listed here.
Q.	How did you come up with the "Rotten Robbie" name ?
A.	We wanted a "catchy" name and one of the original partners is named Robinson who some people called "Robbie", so we came up with Rotten Robbie. We are only 'rotten' to our competitors...our customers love us !
Q.	Where does Rotten Robbie get their gas/diesel/oil ?
A.	The vast majority of the products we buy are refined in one of the 5 Bay Area refineries (Chevron, Tesoro, Valero, Shell and Conoco-Phillips). We buy directly from these companies and from other sources who buy from or exchange product with these companies. Most of the crude oil refined in the SF Bay Area refineries comes from Alaska and California.
Q.	Since some of your stations sell B20 Biodiesel, and since some auto manufacturers limit their warranty coverage of biodiesel-fueled cars to those which have been run on approved fuels, it's very useful to know: what ASTM standards does your B20 meet?
A.	Our biodiesel blends meet the ASTM D6571 standard, issued in 2001. In June 2008, Steve Howell, Chairman of the ASTM Biodiesel Task Force, stated: “The new ASTM specifications for B6-B20 blends will aid engine manufacturers in their engine design and testing processes to optimize the performance of vehicles running on biodiesel. The new specifications will also help ensure that only the highest quality biodiesel blends are made available to consumers at the retail pump.”
Q.	How do I check the balance of my Rotten Robbie gift card?
A.	Call 1-866-650-6049 and follow the prompts.  The card number is the 19 numbers starting with 6032 on the left on the back of the card.  The pin number is the 4 numbers on right on the back of the card.
Q.	When I use my debit or credit card at the pump, why does it sometimes shut off before my tank is full ?
A.	Each card issuer has a rule that limits the dollar amount our customers can pump during a pay at the pump transaction. The limits are as follows - debit $50, Visa & MasterCard $75, Discover & American Express $100. If you want more fuel than your card type allows in one transaction, you can either take your card to the cashier and they'll turn on the pump for you (you'll need to go back to the cashier once you are done pumping fuel to complete the transaction), or you can insert your card a second time to begin another transaction.
Q.	Why is there sometimes a hold on my debit or credit card after using pay at the pump ?
A.	When using pay at the pump, we send a pre-authorization request to your bank to make sure there are funds available to cover your fuel purchase. Once the sale completes, we send a file to your bank with the final charge and a request that they remove the pre-authorization. Some banks choose to ignore our request to remove the pre-authorization and may leave the hold on your account for up to 10 business days. Occasionally, banks will erroneously tell customers that the merchant is holding your funds, but we are not. Rotten Robbie only collects funds for the actual transaction amount and does not hold your funds.
Q.	Is Rotten Robbie gas the same as the major brands ?
A.	Basically, yes.  The only difference is the additive that is used.  The major refiners each have their own proprietary additive that they use.  We use a generic additive that meets all the requirements of The California Air Resources Board (CARB), which are the same standards the majors refiners must also meet.  All refiners exchange gasoline with each other and supply gasoline directly or indirectly to independent suppliers like Rotten Robbie.  The additive is the last thing that is added to the fuel, which occurs at the time the fuel is loaded into the delivery truck.
Q.	What is the difference between the different grades of gasoline and do I need to put in a higher grade every so often ?
A.	The only difference is the Octane Rating (87, 89 or 91).  The only need for higher octane is to slow down the burning of the fuel, which reduces/eliminates “ping” or “engine knock”.  There is no benefit to using a higher octane than you need nor is there a benefit to putting in a higher octane intermittently.
Q.	How long have you been in business ? Is Rotten Robbie franchised or company operated ?
A.	All Rotten Robbie Stations are company owned and operated. We have been operating under the "Rotten Robbie" name since about 1971, but Robinson Oil Corporation, which owns and operates all of the stations, started business in Watsonville as Mathson Petroleum in the mid 1930’s
Q.	Why are your prices cheaper than other stations ?
A.	We operate on high volumes and low margins.  As an independent marketer, we can buy from several different refiners and always try to buy at the most advantageous price.
Q.	Do you offer a Rotten Robbie credit card ?
A.	No.  However, we do offer a card for commercial customers.  You can get additional information by checking out our “Commercial Fueling” page.
Q.	I want to sell my product in your stores, whom do I call ?
A.	Please contact Kris Kingsbury at (408) 257-2222 or (866) 258-5882 x4311 for any marketing questions.

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