Member - Roachie (SA) posted:

Damn!! Surely that would be unproductive for the servo????!!!!

So, you pull forward by 6 meters to let the next vehicle in.....then you walk into the servo; only to be "attached" by the servo owner/operator with words like "You're in deep chit mate, I'm gunna take you to court for a drive off.....the Police have been called....wait here for them to arrive....by the way, your total is $157.15, how do you want to pay?........would you like one of our special offers, 2 choc bars for the price of 1?

Sorry, it just don't sound legit to me!!! By the time Mr Plod got there only to find out that the criminal driver was still waiting there at the servo, I think it would be the servo operator who would be in the P00!!

In my case I have diesel and LPG. Yesterday at Port Wakefield, I filled up with LPG first, then had to back up and around the corner to get to the diesel. I just did so and then went in and paid. No questions asked; no police called.

Steve from Top End Explorer Tours posted:

I did ask and the answer was if they wanted to, but I agree with you 100%.

I often fill up 4 cars in the morning and send them on there way, or fill the car and then move to fill the boat, the mob at Mobil Jairu couldn't care less.

Cheers Steve.

Member - Mark P (VIC) posted:

You should not move till you have paid and besides if the servo is controlled by a Computer 'point of sale' system it is a waste of time moving on because the operator needs (suppose) to process the sale before allowing the pump to start again. Unless you do what Roachie does......

And what is the big deal about waiting a few more minutes. Life is to short to get into arguments. Saying that, I'm sure your question will open a can of worms. LOL

I would say pay before you go.....If they are that impatient, let them go to another servo :-)

Regards
Mark

Member - Doug T (FNQ) posted:

Mark
Part 1 of your reply is wrong, the computer can store the transaction and then continue with another.

.

Member - Andrew (WA) posted:

They can say that but they are not the ones to prosecute, the cops are.

You can move your car all you want..and as long as you pay for the petrol there will never be an issue.

If you have no INTENT to steal...there is no stealing. FULL STOP.

The management may ask you to never to fill up there again but that's another issue.

Steve from Top End Explorer Tours posted:

I can't remember where, but years ago I had to pay before I put fuel in.

Eromanga in SW QLD fuel was 1.46 per lt as they refine on site, you had to walk 200+ metres to pay, I asked how many did a runner, he said heap, but they are on camera.

Cheers Steve.

Dunco (NSW) posted:

You WILL NOTT and CANNOT be charged if you move your car away from the bowser to let someone else in. Proofs for stealing include "Taking and carrying away"...and you are not doing that. Cops would laugh at the console operator.

Besides, let the other person wait...everyone is in too much of a hurry today.

Member - Doug T (FNQ) posted:

Steve
200 m ....exercise mate...willl do ya good, as good as changing tyres....lol


.

Squizzy posted:

You are not stealing until you leave the property, so if you wish to move your vehicle as a courteous action, it be an issue.
Let them call the cops and stand back and laugh as the console operator tries to explain to the cops the reason for the call as you stand there waiting to pay.

Geoff.

Squizzy posted:

insert "shouldn't" in the first sentencebetween 'it' and 'be'.

Member - Andrew (WA) posted:

Even if you left the property without paying you still are not necessarily stealing...it may have been an honest mistake and for what ever reason you forget to pay. It happens all the time. INTENT still has to be proved, at least here in WA anyway.

Member - Patrol Geoff (QLD) posted:

Steve from Top End Explorer Tours, I've come across the paying before you fill, but not in Oz. Work sent me to Canada some years back. First time I went to fill up I pulled in at the servo, put the nozzle in the tank and waited. And waited. And waited.

I went into the shop and asked the guy if the pumps were working. He looked at me strangely and said I had to pay first. I said I wanted it filled had no idea how much it would cost as I hadn't actually filled it. And since the price was related to gallons I had no idea even approximately what it would cost.

Either he thought I looked honest, or he picked the crazy aussie accent because he let me fill it up and then I went in and paid.

-geoff

Member - Doug T (FNQ) posted:

geoff
I also done the waiting game like you in Nebraska , and like you went in to find out what's going on,
Some people hate the idea of Australia following every thing the Yanks do, Rather follow the Yanks than the Arabs anyday, Australian .....Gas Stations ....lol should have started that practice years ago, would solve the runner problem,

.

Member - Axle posted:

Gawd your a hard Bugger!!!, but you!! had to walk for it, that was the system at that location so be it!

Cheers Axle.

Nick R (VIC) posted:

wasn't that mechanic again was it???

Willem posted:

Nick


Two bricks

Nick R (VIC) posted:

ya lost me old boy, Judith, you better get him assessed, he is talking gibberish again, maybe the wrong pills today
nick

Willem posted:

Listen here young fella.................

I was being nice :-)

As thick as two bricks.

Incident I referred to was in Queenlsand. Mechanic episode was in SA. Please consult your GPS



Hahahahahaha

Nick R (VIC) posted:

now I'm with ya, thick as 2 short planks

pathfinder posted:

great attitude...

karma's a b*tch...

Member - Axle posted:

An astute switched on, alert observant operater, can put your transaction on hold whilst they activate the pump for the next customer!! ( If only they were all like it!!!.)

Cheers Axle.

Waynepd (NSW) posted:

NOW don't get me started on the one car blocking the diesel pump while there are 57 vacant unleaded ones AND then leaving it there while they pay!! GRRRRRRRRRR


Hehehehehehe yes this is a pet peeve of mine too Stefan.
Tho now both the garages i use at Heathcote have more than one Diesel pump and in different lanes after they finally twigged that there are more diesel users these days.

Mogul posted:

And they also check the oil, water, washer fluid, tyre pressure and then finally decide that all the windows need a clean.

I nearly pushed him out of the way!!!!!!!

Member - andrew B (Kununurra) posted:

Last time I was in Katherine, I did the LPG thing. Then as I went to go to the diesel a BMW (not a real flash one though) pulled into the diesel bay to check oil, wash windscreen etc.....he very nearly got a bit of a push, but I went past him, reversed up to within inches of the front of his car, a bit wider so he couldn't get past me, leant on his car while filling, bought stuff from the shop and had a leak.....I wonder if he got the message, he wasn't too happy sitting in the car waiting for me!

Waynepd (NSW) posted:

I had one fool that went around me to get to the LPG while i was filling my diesel which i had just about finished. He backed up nice and close to my front bumper which wasn't a real problem til there came another diesel user who stopped right behind me not noticing the idiot in front of me.
I just shook my head and went in and paid, then i came out and got the guy behind me to reverse a bit so i could escape and he could fill up.
If the idiot on the LPG had had the patience to wait 5 minutes he would have had a straight shot at the lpg and the guy behind me would have been able to fill straight away too.
I mentioned to him that it must be wonderful to be sooooo important that you don't have to consider whether your actions are causing inconvenience to others.......i finished with a "You're a selfish **** aren't you" . Looking at his face i still don't reckon he got it but the big fella in the diesel behind me was pee'd off too so he may have enlightened him, i hope so...

Waynepd (NSW) posted:

Didn't answer the original question ....yes i move forward if i can and if its not too busy i get the operator's attention and point to a spare parking spot before i move to it, but only if i am a regular user. i just use commonsense in a strange garage watching what the locals do.

Member - Axle posted:

HAHAHAHAHA!!, You have just lit a fuse!

Cheers Axle.

Member - Axle posted:

HAHAHAHAHA!, Very true mate!!, But just laugh and the world will laugh with you

Cheers Axle.

Member - Matt M (ACT) posted:

Obee,

Just take a heap of Viagra before you attempt any of this. Shouldn't be a problem, at least people in front of you in the queue will want to get out of the way in a hurry.

Mike Harding posted:

Nice one Obee - and more truth in it than many would wish to see.

Member - Axle posted:

Thirsty things those prados!!!?....lol.

A bit of courtesy goes a long way eh Steve!.


Cheers Axle.

Stephen M (NSW) posted:

Not to bad, around 15/17L per 100 round town, average 12/13L on freeway sitting on 110k, 20/22 on stockton, 12.8L towing camper sitting on the speed limits but that is straight freeway driving no off road Penrith to Harrington (near Taree). Any where between 15/20 off road low range. But I only do just under 16k a day to and from work 3 days a week the other 2 I take the wifes car so not too worried about economy.

stefan P (Penrith NSW) posted:

Great to get the other side to the story....now I can't remember the pump number, I'm the green car at the back and a pack of smokes 'luv...no no no not those ones the white pack next to them...Hurry up I'm late for work...HE HE HE HE

Cheers Stefan

Kiwi & "Mahindra" posted:

"....and sir I spose you'd like your oil dropped and car checked over while your here! Why dont I just lay under your car and do a full going over while Im there!"

said this to a bloke who was wasting my time asking me to do everything for him...even had the guts to ask for a discount! hahahaha!!!

have a good'n'.

ps....I actually move our car.....but thats cos I need to go in and get Naths pay while Im there and do a little paperwork too!

jeepthing posted:

What's the point of moving? The cashier operator can't clear the pump until the previous fill has been paid for anyway!!!
I haven't seen any agro yet, the only frustration for me is that servos do not have enough diesel pumps and this needs to be addresed considering the increase in the number of diesel vehicles on the road now.

Willem posted:

Cofufal???? Hmmmmm...I suppose you mean kerfuffle...hahahaha

Kiwi & "Mahindra" posted:

yeah thats it Willem.....!!!

Crackles posted:

At $1.50 a litre for fuel and $2.50 for a bottle of water I think I've paid for the right to make the console opperator work for their money if it makes it easier for us the customers ;-)
Cheers Craig............

Mike Harding posted:

Damn customers!

They get in the way of the smooth running of a business!

Member - Matt M (ACT) posted:

I think it is called customer service. Could be wrong though, maybe these businesses are run out of the goodness of the owner's heart for our benefit.

Kiwi & "Mahindra" posted:

Craig,
At 150cpl the boss is still getting 2cpl and the water, when he made himself 33c.....so say you got yourself 100l of ya diesel and ya water, he has made himself $2.33.....really worth his effort hey to want a customer back who thinks he's king %^&*. Sorry...but thats how its thought of, plus that aint making the csa work for their money...LOL....thats funny thinking mate!!

Treat others the way you want to be treated....simple....

jeepthing posted:

I know all this can be frustrating but if people considered the pressure employees are under at a busy service station and just accepted there will be a wait everyone would be better off I think. What's the point of getting the blood pressure up the real looser is the person who is getting agro about it no one else.

There needs to be some procedure at a busy servo and where are you going to park anyway normally there aren't many spots close.

I observed an instance recently where a vehicle moved at a Woolies caltex to go and pay and a fellow who had fueled his vehicle with unleaded at a pump in another cue walked down with a 20l jerry can and filled it with 20l of diesel and went back to his vehicle. The vehicle who had been waiting then moved in to fill with diesel. Someone from the checkout came out wanting to know why the guy had filled with 20l then wanted to fill again as it causing a problem at the checkout in terms of clearing the 20l before they would start the pump for the next fill. It was lucky that I had seen the guy come down with the 20l can otherwise the fellow who had moved in to fill his vehicle could have been charged for the 20l!!!
Anyway I found out when I went to pay that the guy who had come down with the can had not paid for it and had stolen the 20l.
So this is an example of why you shouldn't move your vehicle. I think there's far too much agro in this world and we wil be far better off if everyone gave each other a fair go!!!

Crackles posted:

I'm sorry if my filling up with fuel & buying a bottle of water has inconvenienced their day. In future I will try to find only empty servos so as not to overload the console operator with too many decisions. I don't know what I was thinking expecting service for my custom ;-))
If I was the owner I would appreciate people moving forward. This would ensure I made more $2.33 sales each day.
As for your example Jeepy it was the console operators own fault for initiating the diesel bowser without 1st looking where the fuel was going & really the same thing could & does happen if people don't move forward with some filling jerrys beside the car after it's hung up. If one is filling a different fuel to the car then there is often no other way to do it.
Either way it doesn't matter. I will continue to thank those that make space for me and show courtesy by shifting for others. For those that don't shift there's no point losing sleep and to the operators sorry but the "Customer is alway right" :-)
Cheers Craig.............

JimDi posted:

Thanks for that Kiwi. I never move until I pay and I was beginning to think that I was the one in the wrong. I cannot see how moving aside would work in a large roadside servo. Maybe in a quieter servo with only a few customers.
Jim

Willem posted:

Very wise words, sir :-)

Bware (Tweed Valley) posted:

Yep, well said. If you get stressed by people holding you up on your way to work or wherever, there is a simple remedy; LEAVE A FEW MINUTES EARLIER.

Kiwi & "Mahindra" posted:

Its not misleading at all....its telling you something just like the turn your car off signs and the no smoking signs. You need to work in a servo for a while just to see how painfull it is when someone moves away...

They should not be forced to remove it at all. In fact I believe there should be tyre spikes in the ground to stop cars from moving!

Now if I sign says that you will be prosecuted if you move, thats different....it will cost them to take you to court and its not worth it...that kind of sign is a threat. Even when people are caught for a drive off, there is no point taking them to court, (ie for large amounts, which is quite common these days, a small one is $50,) because you have to pay and as long as you get the money out of them , which the cops organise, then its all good and you keep signs up remembering their rego!

Obviously Turist, you dont give a bleep about the people who work there.....

Member - Phil G (SA) posted:

I remember when all the servos in Adelaide were closed after 6pm weekdays and after 12 on Saturdays. Wasn't that long ago.

BMKal posted:

We're fortunate enough to still have one garage that provides old fashioned driveway service in Kalgoorlie. I always get my fuel from Shell Boulder for this reason. It may cost a little extra, but I still prefer to support the local business that offers a good service, and will not, out of principle, ever purchase fuel from any outlet which has association with a supermarket chain.

Mike Harding posted:

I think it was the late 80s, maybe early 90s and I'd been in California for a couple of weeks, been happily filling my RV at various petrol stations (not really taking note of the price) when one day a very pleasant chap of about 70 years was filling my vehicle and a couple of youngsters in a pick-up drove in and asked if this was a "self fill", or something similar, he replied "No but I often wish it was". Chatting with him I discovered there were two types of petrol station - self service or served and you paid a small premium for the served ones which also checked the oil etc etc - always seemed a good system to me.

Mike Harding

Member - Duke (TAS) posted:

Gramps,
Couldn,t agree more.What is it with a lot of people on this Forum.I had the impression you were all fairly laid back good ole boys but this post has certainly shown your true colours.Slow down a bit and smell the roses as they say.
Two years ago i was met at the door by the console operator at Barkly Homestead when i told my wife to park the 4wd and Van while i went in and paid.
They claimed that two Vanners had done a runner a couple of hours before and the price of fuel had gone up a couple of cents a litre till the loss was recouped.
Dammed if you do and dammed if you dont.
Duke

Gramps (NSW) posted:

Duke,

LOL it must be something in their water. I have serious doubts some of them will live long enough to sniff the roses. There's far more important things to worry about than this stuff.