This drives me nuts too. Who the hell decided to do this? I avoid the stations with ads.

If the mute button doesn't work I just go to other stations next time. Some of the gas stations around here have gotten rid of the ads.

I would probably bring a really thick permanent marker with me and some chewing gum for the speakers. I'm lucky enough to live in an area that has pretty good cycling infrastructure so I don't have to deal with that shit. I'm sorry you do though.

Why do companies even buy ads in this space? There's so many spots in our society where ads are just being injected to play for nobody. At what point do they figure out that it's not worth the return on investment to put ads in those spots?

The majority of pumps in my area play ads. Some of the pumps can't be muted. For those, press the top left and right buttons, then next two down, then the next two and it throws it into maintenance mode. That shuts off the speaker.

Bro, what is going on in the USA 😅 You guys better hope Neuralink fails otherwise there'll be ads right in your craniums.

Is this a thing in Canada yet? Thankfully have never seen it here.

I want to brainstorm this. I know about the mute button, but it doesn't work on all pumps. So, how are the pumps getting the ads (getting updated ads)? Are they connected to the internet? Bluetooth? Flash Drive firmware updates?

When we figure this out, the next step is to hack that source.

For the pumps that the mute button doesn't work: carry a small screwdriver, 1/8", flat blade, insert into center of speaker then pull sideways to severe the coil wire.

I have never experienced this. Where do you have ads at gas stations?

I never saw these before I visited the US. While tanking somewhere in eastern Texas, on my way from Houston to a tiny town south of New Orleans.

My "fix" was waiting in the car with bluetooth buds in, while the pump did its thing. Holy hell those were annoying.

I sit in my car.

Thankfully only one near me does this and I've never gone back once I saw they had these installed. This is really the only way we're ever going to see these practices phased out. Corporations don't take anything seriously until it affects the bottom line. Just look at climate change.