I have enjoyed many a gas-station hot dog, and as a child of the South, I’m willing and ready to down some fried chicken at the fuel pump.

But I draw the line at gas-station sushi.

There’s no telling what havoc it could cause, and as much as I love a spicy tuna roll, I’m not willing to chance it.

And it seems some folks feel the same way about buying a used car, according to a survey from CarMax.

The used-car retailer conducted a survey of more than 1,000 adults throughout the U.S. between March 30 and April 4. The company emphasized the survey was “not a poll of CarMax customers, specifically.”

One of the findings was this, as listed by CarMax in a news release:

  • More than one-quarter (27%) of those surveyed said buying a used car feels riskier than trying gas station sushi.

And given my fear of heights, this one also stood out …

  • Nearly one-quarter (23%) of respondents said buying a used car feels riskier than skydiving.

So, say a consumer gets the same anxiety that this author might have from a questionable California roll or leaping from an airplane.

What’s the antidote? Aside from Tums, a return policy might do the trick.

CarMax found that 88% of consumers said a 30-day money-back return policy is  “unique” among retailers of used cars. And an even higher share said they would be swayed by a retailer offered one.

“One in four surveyed said they wish they could get their money back on the used car they purchased. A similar percentage said they wanted to return their purchased vehicles but felt the process was too difficult or complicated,” CarMax said in the release. “At the same time, 93% said that a 30-day money back guarantee would have an extremely high level of influence in their choice of where to buy a used car.”

And to be fair, a substantial portion (40%, CarMax said) of the respondents said they planned to buy a used car with their next purchase (compared to 50% for new), so that money-back guaranteed could have some influence.

Including for consumers who aren’t quite sure on what car they should buy. CarMax said 34% of those surveyed were either somewhat, not very or not all confident that they bought the right vehicle the last time around.

CarMax, and likely their peers in the industry offering similar programs, as well, are aiming to alleviate this uncertainty with its money-back guarantee.

“In today’s environment, it’s more important than ever that people feel confident with their purchasing decisions,” CarMax executive vice president and chief marketing officer Jim Lyski said in a news release.

“Our customers have responded really well to our unrivaled 30-Day Money Back Guarantee and this survey further validates that to provide the best customer experience in the industry, you must give customers the time and flexibility to know they made the right choice.”

The right choice of gas-station cuisine, meanwhile, is certain.

Hot dog with a kiss of mustard; skip the sushi.

Joe Overby is senior editor with Cherokee Media Group and can be reached at joverby@cherokeemediagroup.com.