OCEANSIDE, Calif. – U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) rolled up his sleeves and checked out customers at G&M Oil in Oceanside, Calif., the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. NACS invited the incumbent congressman to see what a day is like at a local convenience store.

For his part, Issa found the work a bit of a challenge. “I’ve already fouled it up. Cancel, cancel,” he said early in his shift as he wrestled with the computer system. “I’d better keep my day job.”

“This small space is subject to a lot of regulatory attention,” said Paige Anderson, NACS government relations director. Kevin Reed, G&M’s director of business development, pointed out that more than a dozen government organizations have oversight of some aspect of the independent gas station and convenience store.

Issa walked through the store, saw the inside of a gas pump, checked out the new walk-in beer cooler and handled some register transactions during his time at the convenience store. He also discussed ways to prevent credit card fraud, such as having customers enter PIN numbers when making a purchase. “With a credit card, I don’t have that option,” Issa said. “The fact that if I use my ATM, I have an individual PIN that I can change, that’s good, and most people are used to it.”

Credit cards and the associated transaction fees are of huge concern for retailers, Reed said. “It’s an ultra-competitive business. Razor-thin margins,” he said, adding that he hopes Congress would help to bring those fees down for businesses.

While Issa was at the Oceanside G&M, U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) visited a G&M in San Diego for his own NACS-hosted In Store event, including a tour and conversation about the issues facing the convenience store industry.