Petrol stations

[jonty14]

Following on from the supermarket thread, how many of you hate waiting at a petrol station behind a car only to find out they are doing their weekly shopping. This really anoys me

 

[Minilad]

What annoys me is the numpties who wait so they can have the pump on the right side of the car. Don't they realise the hose will stretch to the other side

 

[me123]

^To be fair, some people physically cannot stretch a hose to the other side of their car. Whilst I'm OK doing it on a Toyota Aygo, a small woman stretching a hose around a Jeep might be a bit more of a challenge. (For example).

 

[Minilad]

^To be fair, some people physically cannot stretch a hose to the other side of their car. Whilst I'm OK doing it on a Toyota Aygo, a small woman stretching a hose around a Jeep might be a bit more of a challenge. (For example).

Sexist much ? !

 

[strange6]

What annoys me is the numpties who wait so they can have the pump on the right side of the car. Don't they realise the hose will stretch to the other side

Yeah but in all fairness, some of these pumps can be a real handfull when you have to pull them out a long way from their housing and over your car. I can understand the elderly and most women waiting for a suitable pump for this very reason.
On a separate note, I see prices have gone up again. It's getting absolutely out-of-hand now and it will push us back into a recession if not depression.

 

[me123]

Sexist much ? !

Wasn't intended to be sexist! Just an observation that smaller people will struggle to get the hose around a bigger car. This was based on a genuine case I saw last week where a small woman tried to stretch the hose around a 4x4 and had to give up!

 

[rail-britain]

hate waiting at a petrol station behind a car only to find out they are doing their weekly shopping. This really anoys me

Don't wait then, go elsewhere

This is one of the major complaints at dual-market forecourts
Previously the main petrol companies concentrated on fuel sales, but this alone no longer pays the operating costs

I am involved with BP Simply Food Connect, and one of the major complaints there is from people are simply filling their vehicle up and get delayed by shoppers who leave their car at the pump for some time

That is nothing though, at least they come into the shop to pay or attempt to pay...

 

[strange6]

Don't wait then, go elsewhere

This is one of the major complaints at dual-market forecourts
Previously the main petrol companies concentrated on fuel sales, but this alone no longer pays the operating costs

I am involved with BP Simply Food Connect, and one of the major complaints there is from people are simply filling their vehicle up and get delayed by shoppers who leave their car at the pump for some time

That is nothing though, at least they come into the shop to pay or attempt to pay...

The only problem with these forecourt shops is that they price themselves out of the market with obscene prices.

 

[Mojo]

Don't wait then, go elsewhere

How is one supposed to know whether the car in front has gone to do their shopping or is only going to pay for fuel?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I was under the understanding that petrol stations were there to sell petrol/diesel and other vehicle maintainence items, as well as essentials and basic food/drink and newspapers. So why do so many sell pointless things like croissants and bananas and shampoo and other stuff you just don't need in that situation?

 

[Mojo]

I was under the understanding that petrol stations were there to sell petrol/diesel and other vehicle maintainence items, as well as essentials and basic food/drink and newspapers. So why do so many sell pointless things like croissants and bananas and shampoo and other stuff you just don't need in that situation?

Who's to say you don't need it? I've visited the shop at petrol stations before, even when not buying fuel, to get some bits and bobs. In addition one might be on their way home or going somewhere else and requires food, kitchen roll or other essentials.

 

[SS4]

I was under the understanding that petrol stations were there to sell petrol/diesel and other vehicle maintainence items, as well as essentials and basic food/drink and newspapers. So why do so many sell pointless things like croissants and bananas and shampoo and other stuff you just don't need in that situation?

I've also noticed they're open later, especially on a Sunday so when all the other stores are closed you can (and I have) gone there. I try to be quick since I know I'm contributing to the delay

 

[rail-britain]

The only problem with these forecourt shops is that they price themselves out of the market with obscene prices.

Not sure about that, so it must vary by operator, but with a BP Simply Food Connect the prices (of M&S items) are dictated by Marks & Spencer
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

How is one supposed to know whether the car in front has gone to do their shopping or is only going to pay for fuel?

Waiting for a long time, as per the OP
They may not even have filled their vehicle up with petrol, but just parked it next to a pump
Also, they may not even have gone in the shop but just parked it there
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I was under the understanding that petrol stations were there to sell petrol/diesel and other vehicle maintainence items, as well as essentials and basic food/drink and newspapers. So why do so many sell pointless things like croissants and bananas and shampoo and other stuff you just don't need in that situation?

As above, the primary role is the provision of petrol, however selling these alone no longer pays the operating costs
It's all about convenience and so the range of products has grown and continues to change
You may not need them this visit, but what about next visit?
Most convenience retailers close overnight, but the petrol station remains open and so is a licence to print money...
Think of it like the shops at the airport, they are there, but we all know they are mega-expensive, yet we still use them!

I am involved in a small group of petrol stations, and we have to have shop sales of £14000 per week per store (ex-fuel), just to break even

 

[90019]

What annoys me is the numpties who wait so they can have the pump on the right side of the car. Don't they realise the hose will stretch to the other side

I won't goto a pump on the wrong side for a few reasons. The main one being that the nozzle is an awkward fit on my car (it's been damaged at some point in it's life), and because I don't want to drag a dirty, unwieldy hose across my car, which makes it more awkward. Also, not all petrol stations have hoses long enough to go round the car.
It's just not worth the extra hassle, and tbh, I've never had to wait more than a couple of minutes to get a pump on the right side of the car.

 

[N Levers]

If you are going to a Petrol station to buy food (i.e weekly shop) and Petrol you should do it in 2 transactions so you don't block the pumps. Otherwise you are just being selfish.

 

[me123]

I doubt anyone could survive for a week on what they sell in a petrol station!

The two pumps argument is null and void unless you actually go and move your car elsewhere. And even then, there's not always somewhere else to move it to!

 

[The Barlow Boy]

I was under the understanding that petrol stations were there to sell petrol/diesel and other vehicle maintainence items, as well as essentials and basic food/drink and newspapers. So why do so many sell pointless things like croissants and bananas and shampoo and other stuff you just don't need in that situation?

Because there's no money in selling fuel. Haven't you noticed how many fuel stations are closed these days? Diversify or die.

 

[strange6]

Because there's no money in selling fuel. Haven't you noticed how many fuel stations are closed these days? Diversify or die.

And who's to blame for that? The greedy government's of the day with their extortionate amounts of tax. It's nothing less than a national scandal.

 

[Daimler]

The real annoyance with petrol stations is not merely when you're waiting in your car behind someone who's in the shop, but rather when you're still waiting, and they've come out of the shop, got into the car, and have decided that now is the ideal time to have a conversation with their passengers/tidy up the interior/start eating.

Surely just pulling forward to allow the car behind to fill up wouldn't be so awful for them?

 

[Blindtraveler]

As a non driver my usage of these institutions is limited however the convenience element does win me over regularly. The fact that I can get a late night taxi home to stop, often on the drivers recommendation and usually to there delight for a cash machine, a clean bog and bottle of milk and perhaps even an easily microwaved snack for the midnight munchies is great! On pricing, some things ar a bit steap but others amazingly not so. When with mates we often look for petrol stations near bus or rail stops as sarnies, drinks etc are often cheeper for the sake of a 5 minute walk and anything that means not using WHSmith is good to me!

Tip, for anyone who may need it, theres a cracking one near the continental ferry terminal in Portsmouth which does some good food, offers cashback and my mate reasures me is v reasonable for fags.

 

[devon_metro]

And who's to blame for that? The greedy government's of the day with their extortionate amounts of tax. It's nothing less than a national scandal.

The main reason fuel is currently so expensive has nothing to do with tax, which has always been high. Instead it is influenced by the high price of oil at present!


It's all very well moaning at the government however I think you will find that fuel is xheaper than if the duty rises proposed by Labour hadn't been postponed/stopped. Similarly the retailers. Texaco costing 9ppl more than Sainsburys in a close proximity is a scandal...

 

[theblackwatch]

What annoys me is the numpties who wait so they can have the pump on the right side of the car. Don't they realise the hose will stretch to the other side

They don't annoy me, they amuse me - whilst they are waiting for their pump, I just drive round them assuming they aren't blocking access and use whatever pump is free. On a couple of occasions, I've noticed they are still waiting when I have finished filling up!

 

[jon0844]

I can't recall a petrol station I've used here, or abroad, that has had a hose to small to go around even our fairly large estate car. If the hose is coming from the top, it's usually easy to pull it over the roof and in - job done.

The only downer might be getting dirtier by holding the hose to move it, but it's a price worth paying to be out quickly!

Tesco do have signs to say you can fill on both sides of your car, but people still don't seem to realise. Maybe it's a good thing and we shouldn't try and educate - any more than I want people to realise walking down to the last couple of carriages means getting a seat, or that many services might have first class declassified.

Ignorance is bliss!

 

[Ivo]

I will own up to being one of the "gits" who visits perol station for non-petrol purchases. There is a small Sainsbury's petrol station on the A36 just south-west of Bath city centre which comes in handy for milk, Pepsi and its ATM - and little else! I suspect that some of the drivers who turn up don't like me very much...

I managed to drop a 1p coin into their cooling unit before now :roll:

It is also probably worth mentioning that there is a large Sainsbury's less than half a mile away. The one that took over Green Park

^To be fair, some people physically cannot stretch a hose to the other side of their car. Whilst I'm OK doing it on a Toyota Aygo, a small woman stretching a hose around a Jeep might be a bit more of a challenge. (For example).

I'm being truthful here; what is the point in buying a 4x4 if you're only 5' tall? I know it's become little more than a Top Gear gag, but Clarkson does have a point. You see all these Land Rovers and Jeeps and more with people inside whose heads are barely visible!

Please don't take offence to the above. This refers to some people more than others...

 

[Crossover]

This reminds me of a quote from James May on Top Gear (and to very nicely link it back to the forums, it was in the A1 vs A1 race too whilst he was waiting to fill up with fuel)
May: This is what happens when you make petrol stations into supermarkets as well. People spend hours in there buying bloody bananas and croissants and other things that you don't need. Yes, yes, in the car. Don't worry about the handbag.

 

[me123]

I'm being truthful here; what is the point in buying a 4x4 if you're only 5' tall? I know it's become little more than a Top Gear gag, but Clarkson does have a point. You see all these Land Rovers and Jeeps and more with people inside whose heads are barely visible!

Please don't take offence to the above. This refers to some people more than others...

I think it makes some people feel big and important!

 

[The Barlow Boy]

The size of the 4X4 is in direct relationship to the size of the ego if a male and the sunglasses if a female.

 

[Geezertronic]

I will own up to being one of the "gits" who visits perol station for non-petrol purchases. There is a small Sainsbury's petrol station on the A36 just south-west of Bath city centre which comes in handy for milk, Pepsi and its ATM - and little else! I suspect that some of the drivers who turn up don't like me very much...

Surely you don't park at a petrol pump to carry out your non petrol purchases? I can't think of a petrol station that doesn't have some form of parking away from the pumps?

 

[table38]

I've found myself going out of my way to find a petrol station with "pay at pump" as the queue tends to move a bit faster when people don't go into the shop.

Plus I'm a miserable git so it avoids any unneccesary social interaction

Also there are some Asda stations near me which have a draw-forward-and-pay-at-a-kiosk sort of arrangement, which is faster.

The worst wait I had was behind a farmer with a Land-Rover, who having filled up, paid, returned to his car, and then filled up two gerry cans with petrol, and went back in and paid.

On his return, he then filled up another two gerry cans with Diesel and went and paid again...

Fortunately I wasn't in a hurry that time.

 

[Ivo]

Surely you don't park at a petrol pump to carry out your non petrol purchases? I can't think of a petrol station that doesn't have some form of parking away from the pumps?

I don't even have a car! It just forms a convenient convenience store