Stupid Petrol Station Rules

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 23-12-2012 05:02PM #1

Bit of a rant here.......

Pulled in at the start of a long trip on Saturday morning to a petrol station along the N7. My wife was driving as I was "tired" from a party the night before. So I got out of the car to fill it up. The pump would not start. After several attempts I saw the guy in the shop wave at me. I though it was prepay (which itself is stupid) so I went in.

"Policy is no fuel if somebody is in the driver seat" says the chap behind the counter. So after some quizzing and a stunned look on my face I ask. "So my wife has to get out of the car, or change seats for you to start the pump. He had no suggestions what I was to do with my Dog and Child in the car. I gave him a earful and left. Went to the next station 2 minutes down the road and spent 150 euro on coffee, fuel, food etc.....

So basically are other stations doing this. I assume I am not the only one who would find this ridiculous. How does it help with drive offs? Why would a petrol station go out of their way to infuriate customers? When I was looking at the next station there was 2 other people pumping fuel into a car while the drive sat in the car....

Stheno · 23-12-2012 05:03PM

Came up on another thread recently, some stations are doing it to stop drive offs.

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 23-12-2012 05:05PM

Stheno wrote: »

Came up on another thread recently, some stations are doing it to stop drive offs.

How does it help with drive offs? The mechanics of a drive off are the same whether somebody is sitting in the drivers seat or not.

Stheno · 23-12-2012 05:07PM

Ira Silly Sandblaster wrote: »

How does it help with drive offs? The mechanics of a drive off are the same whether somebody is sitting in the drivers seat or not.

No idea, maybe it's quicker to get the engine running by the time you (the filler upper) gets into the car?

Pawwed Rig · 23-12-2012 05:08PM

How does it stop drive offs? If anything it would take more time for the passenger to get back into the car than the driver?

I don't think too much thought goes into these rules.

edit: need to type faster next time

Tails142 · 23-12-2012 05:13PM

The only way you would have taught them a lesson is by complying with their rules, getting your wife to stand out of the car and then drive off without paying

MagicSean · 23-12-2012 05:15PM

Stheno wrote: »

No idea, maybe it's quicker to get the engine running by the time you (the filler upper) gets into the car?

It's not like the attendant comes out to chase people. Only way to stop drive offs is proper prepay system.

Stheno · 23-12-2012 05:16PM

MagicSean wrote: »

It's not like the attendant comes out to chase people. Only way to stop drive offs is proper prepay system.

I know, that's what was said on the other thread a few weeks ago iirc

Op doesn't like pre-pay either

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 23-12-2012 05:17PM

Well they need to think more about the rules, if they are going to sell me overpriced petrol, and offer me a coke and mars bar every time I go in. They should think twice about pissing off people.

Getting out of your car in the wet and cold to stand there freezing holding onto a pump with the vulcan death grip (cause they trigger locks on the pumps are disabled so you cant even put your hand in your pockets) is a pain in the arse. Making it harder must be bad for business, and make a expensive and frustrating experience worse.

Bring back attendants if they care so much. Prepay doesnt suit those of use that want to fill the car up or who's tanks hold more than 100 euro of fuel.

readytosnap · 23-12-2012 05:18PM

Stheno wrote: »

Came up on another thread recently, some stations are doing it to stop drive offs.

so what's to stop the driver filling up then jumping back into the car and driving off?

anmhi02 · 23-12-2012 05:21PM

Highly Agree it is a stupid policy but to be fair I doubt very much the lad behind the counter came up with it....he's only doing his job and getting an earful for it. Contact the bosses and give them the earful and I'd also name and shame the place,

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 23-12-2012 05:27PM

anmhi02 wrote: »

Highly Agree it is a stupid policy but to be fair I doubt very much the lad behind the counter came up with it....he's only doing his job and getting an earful for it. Contact the bosses and give them the earful and I'd also name and shame the place,

Not up to the customer to school the business on how to do business. The guy there should tell his boss that they are loosing customers because of this and that's its slowing down the customers.

Want to stop driveoffs without pissing off the customers....put in a manned barrier at the entrance/exit.

Mr Simpson · 23-12-2012 05:43PM

I'd say its so the Drivers face on CCTV. If there is a drive off, the driver would be the one commiting the offence.

jackofalltrades · 23-12-2012 06:16PM

Worked in a petrol station in my youth. Got a few "customers" who's passengers would get out to pump the fuel, while the driver would be sitting in the drivers seat with the engine running. A quick wave for them to prepay usually saw them give up and speed out of the place.

The policy is more of a warning to people thinking about doing a drive off that your not an easy target.

Blazer · 23-12-2012 07:07PM

Ira Silly Sandblaster wrote: »

Getting out of your car in the wet and cold to stand there freezing holding onto a pump with the vulcan death grip (cause they trigger locks on the pumps are disabled so you cant even put your hand in your pockets) is a pain in the arse. Making it harder must be bad for business, and make a expensive and frustrating experience worse.

use your fuel cap..I normally fill mine up every 10 days or so and it can take a while to fill so I just wedge the fuel cap in it..gives me both hands and I can keep them nice and warm in my pockets and still scratch my nutsack if required.

Eric Cartman · 23-12-2012 07:08PM

Its gone mad, I get receipts for diesel to get the VAT back, so prepay stations mean 2 trips to the shop, I just drive away as they're too annoying, Especially if there's a few people in the queue

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 23-12-2012 07:12PM

Blazer wrote: »

use your fuel cap..I normally fill mine up every 10 days or so and it can take a while to fill so I just wedge the fuel cap in it..gives me both hands and I can keep them nice and warm in my pockets and still scratch my nutsack if required.

I do that, but have actually had the pump shut off on me by the girl in the shop cause its "dangerous"

Funnily in the same brand of station.

bobin fudge · 23-12-2012 07:42PM

dont really understand the issue to be honest. Fair enough you were unable to fill the car up, but not such a big deal for the driver to then do it? Also with children and the dog in the car , what difference does that make as to who in your car fills the car up or why the shop assistant would be bothered?

Pawwed Rig · 23-12-2012 07:53PM

jackofalltrades wrote: »

Worked in a petrol station in my youth. Got a few "customers" who's passengers would get out to pump the fuel, while the driver would be sitting in the drivers seat with the engine running. A quick wave for them to prepay usually saw them give up and speed out of the place.

The policy is more of a warning to people thinking about doing a drive off that your not an easy target.

Gotcha. So it's Fitzgeme that just looks dodgey then

Sulla Felix · 23-12-2012 07:59PM

I just wish they'd bring in decent cc and receipt enabled pumps. I've been in knackered out stations in the states ythat haven't had a coat of paint since the eighties that have them but even new builds here don't.

nct tester · 23-12-2012 08:13PM

Went into my local petrol station recently (topaz) to fill a gallon with diesel and they wouldn't turn on the pump. Could maybe understand them not wanting to let people fill a gallon with petrol but dont understand the diesel refusal so much.

Big Nasty · 23-12-2012 08:35PM

I don't see the issue - if that's their policy then that's their policy. If you don't like it shop with your feet, as you did. If I ran a diesel station myself I would do the same TBH.

Eric Cartman · 23-12-2012 08:43PM

Sulla Felix wrote: »

I just wish they'd bring in decent cc and receipt enabled pumps. I've been in knackered out stations in the states ythat haven't had a coat of paint since the eighties that have them but even new builds here don't.

Even the ones that do have it , either the person in the shop has to authorize the pump, and in most of them at night the attendant tends to park their car infront of the 1 - 2 prepay pumps so you have to go to the window anyway (trying to make themselves look useful)

inforfun · 23-12-2012 08:45PM

Ira Silly Sandblaster wrote: »

(cause they trigger locks on the pumps are disabled so you cant even put your hand in your pockets)

Jam thee cap in between the handle and the grip and put your hands in your pockets.

23-12-2012 08:53PM

nct tester wrote: »

Went into my local petrol station recently (topaz) to fill a gallon with diesel and they wouldn't turn on the pump. Could maybe understand them not wanting to let people fill a gallon with petrol but dont understand the diesel refusal so much.

Thats just pure nonsense, no reason not to give someone a gallon of diesel or petrol. How are supposed to get petrol for a lawnmower or a chainsaw if you can't get fill small amounts.

Fresh Pots · 23-12-2012 09:03PM

Ayan Massive Moth-eaten wrote: »

Thats just pure nonsense, no reason not to give someone a gallon of diesel or petrol. How are supposed to get petrol for a lawnmower or a chainsaw if you can't get fill small amounts.

Was it a proper jerry can or just some country spring bottle you found around the house because they're actually braking the law if they allow you fill up an non approved container.

JustAThought · 23-12-2012 09:09PM

The prepay is infuriating when they can't lock the pump attje amount you paid ; you prepay e50;accidentally run up e50.47 & have to go back in and Q again to pay a few cent ; double the Qing ... Infuriating !

I understand having the outer lane as a prepay late/when dark but not all lanes all day . Now I shop for petrol elsewhere. Less mess, less stress, half the time.

nct tester · 23-12-2012 09:37PM

TheTechGuy wrote: »

Was it a proper jerry can or just some country spring bottle you found around the house because they're actually braking the law if they allow you fill up an non approved container.

proper jerry can, just wanted diesel at home to fill fuel filters after replacing them.

flazio · 23-12-2012 09:58PM

inforfun wrote: »

Jam thee cap in between the handle and the grip and put your hands in your pockets.

Bad idea, the spit back cut off doesn't always work and you could end up with a nice big splash of fuel all over yourself or the forecourt.

TestTransmission · 23-12-2012 10:18PM

Sulla Felix wrote: »

I just wish they'd bring in decent cc and receipt enabled pumps. I've been in knackered out stations in the states ythat haven't had a coat of paint since the eighties that have them but even new builds here don't.

There's a few down here in limerick that have them,very handy

Solair · 23-12-2012 10:29PM

Best one I've had was a garage where they misheard me and assigned my prepayment to the wrong pump where someone else filled it into their car!

Stupid Petrol Station Rules

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