Gas Station/Convenience Store Might Have a Trick

There's a location not far from me, that I've shopped maybe 20 times in the past couple of years...it's an easy
grab since it's on my usual route for my personal errands.
There's the usual requirement for a restroom photo.
Every single time I've gone there and I mean every time, there is one of those yellow - watch out for water on the floor - cones. There's one that sits in the middle of the restroom floor and one that sits outside in the hallway.

I've been speculating as to why they always have the cones there, never remove them.
Maybe they once had a slip and fall accident and this is to protect them from future claims?
They know their location is shopped very frequently (more than just me obviously) and they want it to appear
they are always on top of cleanliness?
I don't know, but I am curious lol.
Interestingly, the company that owns the location, owns another one, a few miles away - never seen a cone there ever. (this is an independent local company, no franchising as far as I know).

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/2025 11:06AM by BarefootBliss.

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My guesses:

Everyone's too lazy or unmotivated to move the cones.

Storage space is limited and they have nowhere else to keep the cones.

Some power-drunk owner/manager said, "These stay here!" Because they can.

Like you said, there may have been a previous lawsuit or safety issue.

It's become a historical attraction.

Side note - Ironically, these are the things I'm most prone to trip over. And have, many times. Maybe you should ask, I'd love to know why!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/2025 11:40AM by sestrahelena.

My money is on A. But I suppose it might also be an item of equipment that is prone to leaking, such as an overflowing urinal or leaky ice bin, and they put out the signs just in case instead of fixing the problem.

Side note - One of my most emabarassing moments on the job was when I tripped over one of those during a reveal at a busy station, when everyone in the front of the store had their attention fully focused on me. I said, "Who put that there!" and acted like I was marking them off. They laughed.

I would guess think its either to give the illusion of cleanliness, or employees who just don't think to move it. If it is anything like the dairy queen in my town, the teenagers working there would simply not think to move it. I don't mind the one in the DQ, it is shaped like a banana.

Have you walked past the ones that have a (very quiet) fan?? Woohoo! That was a surprise. I thought an animal was rubbing my leg.

Are you visiting at the same time of day? Picturing someone slipping on a banana peel now.

More or less, since I only tend to pass by there during daylight hours.
The other irony (IMO) is the two cones are in the EXACT same spot each time lol. Never a few inches moved left or right, forward or back.
Hey maybe there are holes in the floor in those spots lol....
I don't think so because the place is newer and nicer than most.

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Gas Station/Convenience Store Might Have a Trick

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