Florida is many things, but subtle is not one of them. So when a St. Augustine man showed up to Buc-ee’s on a mission, only to get turned away at the pump, the internet got exactly what it deserved: a full-on breakup with a gas station.
TikTok user Griffin McCarty posted the now-viral clip on March 17, documenting the moment he drove roughly 30 miles to use a Buc-ee’s gift card for fuel, only to be told by a store employee that gift cards are no longer accepted at the pump.
McCarty, who said he had $4 in his bank account and about 10 miles of range left in his tank, responded like someone having a very bad day and an even worse plan: by ripping approximately $200 worth of Buc-ee’s merchandise off his vehicle and sending the brand’s famous stuffed beaver mascot sailing into oblivion.
What Changed at Buc-ee’s?
@griffin.mccarty drove 30 miles to bucees to use one of their giftcards for gas just to be told i can’t use it for gas??? got $4 in my account and 10 miles in my tank and literally can’t even get back home without getting gas money from my parents…. #bucees #staugustine #boycott @aryia ♬ original sound – CodeDeb
Effective March 1, 2026, Buc-ee’s rolled out a new payment policy requiring credit and debit card users to pay directly at the pump. Cash customers can still head inside to prepay, which honestly feels like a twist ending nobody asked for. The company has not publicly commented on McCarty’s video, but signage has reportedly appeared at select locations alerting drivers to the change.
The shift likely has logistical reasoning behind it. Buc-ee’s locations famously have between 80 and 120 gas pumps, and managing indoor payment lines for that kind of volume is its own kind of chaos. Still, a cleaner rollout communication could have saved at least one beaver.
Tight Budgets Are Making Every Pump Stop Personal
This story hits differently when you factor in the broader context. Gas prices continue to fluctuate nationwide, and for drivers already running close to empty financially, a surprise policy change at the pump is not just an inconvenience. It is a genuine crisis. McCarty’s frustration resonated with thousands online, likely because many viewers have had their own version of that moment.
Buc-ee’s has expanded aggressively across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and beyond in recent years, building an almost cultlike fanbase around its clean restrooms and absurdly wide merchandise selection. But loyalty has limits, apparently measured in stuffed animals thrown across a parking lot.