Panic buying of fuel. Why?

[scumdog]

I see people in Ch-ch have been lining-up for ever to buy fuel, I bet a fair percentage don't actually NEED the fuel.
(i.e. their car has half a tank of gas already etc).

The roads aren't exactly the best for driving around

So why are they so desperate for fuel?
Are they planning on travelling 100's of km from the city centre?:blink:


(Or is it the female thing where they normally keep driving until the low-fuel warning light comes on and now they realise it may not be the best thing to do?):dodge:

In any event it clutteres up the roads for essential services as people line up for gas or drive aimlessly looking for a gas station that is open/still has some fuel left.

[Crasherfromwayback]

but maybe they're wanting to fill up so they can get the fuck out of the place.

[scumdog]

but maybe they're wanting to fill up so they can get the fuck out of the place.

I kinda mentioned that...but ALL of them filling up??

[oneofsix]

according to those interviewed on telly last night its cause their phones aren't working so they are driving all around the city to see their rellies. Sorry but once you know they are ok stay the fuck home!
Or like the woman in the SUV queued for petrol, her SUV tank was fill she wanted petrol for the generator, hope it wasn't one of the stolen Telstra ones :shutup: Probably burnt more fuel in the SUV queuing than the generator required.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I hear ya.

[avgas]

Because the power/radio/water etc is out - people are going all over town to rubberneck and see what is going on.

Also with power out - Car is the closest thing to a genni

However when was the last time any of us said - It's ok, I can do another 50km before the empty light comes on.....
we assume that we could get gas when that light comes on.
For a while Chch couldn't

[steve_t]

I think someone said they were afraid the fuel supply might run out completely. Not only were people filling up their cars but they were filling up multiple fuel containers as well. Reassurance from the petrol stations that the supply won't run out hasn't helped as all the people getting fuel at once has caused stations to run dry

[avgas]

Yep, you have to remember that people are both scared, and unprepared.

Should be a wake up call for the rest of us, but we keep forgetting that you don't know when the shit hits the fan.
And to think that chch had this only 6 months ago.......and still aren't prepared.

big fucking wake up call

[hotgsxr750]

I see people in Ch-ch have been lining-up for ever to buy fuel, I bet a fair percentage don't actually NEED the fuel.
(i.e. their car has half a tank of gas already etc).

The roads aren't exactly the best for driving around

So why are they so desperate for fuel?
Are they planning on travelling 100's of km from the city centre?:blink:


(Or is it the female thing where they normally keep driving until the low-fuel warning light comes on and now they realise it may not be the best thing to do?):dodge:

In any event it clutteres up the roads for essential services as people line up for gas or drive aimlessly looking for a gas station that is open/still has some fuel left.

maybe they are just bored

[Kickaha]

Because they are fucking muppets, same as the panic buying of bread, milk, water etc, they make the situation worse than it needs to be by taking more than they need

It wasn't just Christchurch, once they'd sucked the city dry they moved out further, Rangiora had run out, so had Oxford, Cust, Ohoka, Woodend and One of the Amberly stations

Supposedly there was no fuel between Christchurch and Blenheim

Yesterday they had police directing Traffic at the Shell station here

Although some of these will have been refilled by now as they diverted a ship that was due at Lyttelton to Timaru and were filling tankers out of there to supply Christchurch

[Grasshopperus]

Fuel means options. Have fuel can travel.

[Shadowjack]

Don't know. really - possibly a case of "just in case we have to REALLY get out and far, far away". Understandable from that perspective, I guess, and it does give a warm, comfortable feeling to be able control as least one aspect of life here at the moment, to know it's there and can get out if you need to.
I saw the queues yesterday as I was out and about checking on a colleague no-one had heard from since Tuesday.
Roads are shit the further east and south you go (I'm in the northwest); it might be little, but I like my 4WD. The traffic is polite and courteous. Not many traffic lights, but no panic, no tempers, so better than usual:innocent:. It does take a shit-load of time longer to get anywhere, so the expected petrol usage for a given trip is likely to be highly underestimated for the time being, etc,etc.
As for me - the wee truck was bouncing around on the "E" mark on Monday night, so Tuesday morning, I debated whether or not to put in $40, or to top it right up. I brimmed the tank....

[scumdog]

Never understood people driving around knowing they had less than 1/4 tank of gas.

Me? - as soon as it gets to 1/4 I start looking for a gas-station - and fill up, none of this "ah $15 thanks" shit.

[Shadowjack]

Never understood people driving around knowing they had less than 1/4 tank of gas. Me? - as soon as it gets to 1/4 I start looking for a gas-station - and fill up, none of this "ah $15 thanks" shit.

Until recently, I hadn't had to worry about the truck - I was using the bike 100%. First time in a long, long time I had let it get past half-empty (and a fuel tank is half-empty - none of this half-full rubbish where gas is concerned...)

[Swoop]

(and a fuel tank is half-empty - none of this half-full rubbish where gas is concerned...)
Yup. The most useless thing in a petrol tank is air. Ask any pilot.

[superman]

Never understood people driving around knowing they had less than 1/4 tank of gas.

Me? - as soon as it gets to 1/4 I start looking for a gas-station - and fill up, none of this "ah $15 thanks" shit.

Carrying less weight... ie less fuel = better fuel consumption. Maybe on bike the 18 kg doesn't affect it much, but having a full tank in my car I might as well have a passenger constantly. Only ever fill to the brim if I have one of those special vouchers, and then I bring my fuel cans along and use it for all 100 litres you can. But I try to keep as much weight out of my car as possible so the fuel gives me more kms.

Student budgets make you do crazy things :innocent:

[scumdog]

Carrying less weight... ie less fuel = better fuel consumption. Maybe on bike the 18 kg doesn't affect it much, but having a full tank in my car I might as well have a passenger constantly. Only ever fill to the brim if I have one of those special vouchers, and then I bring my fuel cans along and use it for all 100 litres you can. But I try to keep as much weight out of my car as possible so the fuel gives me more kms.

Student budgets make you do crazy things :innocent:


Then I hope you never make a special trip just to get $20 worth of petrol:shutup:

[superman]

Then I hope you never make a special trip just to get $20 worth of petrol:shutup:

I do $6 fill ups, every day when I was driving it every day to the train station. So I was just paying for the fuel I used each day. Also pay with cash and make sure that the fuel reads $6.05 and then only have to pay $6 due to some sweet rounding. :blink:

[neels]

There were some people that really needed petrol, I saw a few pushing their cars into the servo.

But otherwise I don't get it, the guy at my local servo said he had people coming in to fill their cars, which was only taking $25-30. So they'd been queueing for an hour to top up their tank that was already half to three quarters full :facepalm:

[Wannabiker]

My boss's daughter drove 10km home on the afternoon of the quake....it took 6 hours and the car ran out of gas! It would have taken 2 hours to walk that distance.

[Kickaha]

Just went down the shops out here, all the Gas stations have fuel, all of them still have queues leading into them and have made it one way across the forecourt

Got me fucked how I've survived with just over a 1/4 tank since Tuesday

[White trash]

Just went down the shops out here, all the Gas stations have fuel, all of them still have queues leading into them and have made it one way across the forecourt

Got me fucked how I've survived with just over a 1/4 tank since Tuesday

Why don't you go do some fucking work and stop wasting time watching people fill up?

[AllanB]

I topped up both cars on Tuesday night!

MrsB and I both work(ed) in the central city and count ourselves lucky to be unhurt - both kids are fine. Filling up gave us the option of getting 6 -700 kms the fuck away from Christchurch if a decent aftershock came in that rendered our house unlivable (it's bad enough after September, Boxing Day, Jan 20th .....). OK probably only 500 kms as I would be travelling at about 170 per!

Hell for all the 'experts' know, this shit we have been having for 6 months may be a prequel to the Southern Alps fault line going off :facepalm:

It is all about having the option available to leave. Fast. We are using the Mitzi to travel to help family as the XR6 is a bit thirsty around town and it is sitting full ready to run if needed.

Mind you the South Island is practically booked out now with Christchurch residents fleeing. I don't understand the ones running to Wellington ......:shutup:

If the Shit hits the fan really big time (can it get worse?) Scumdog I'll be hitching up my trailer full of camping gear to the back of the XR6 and heading your way mate! Mind you I hear rumors of you wandering around campfires in your underwear - I'm not sure if my 12 year old daughter would handle that :gob:

[Zuki lover]

WTF!!! they're charging $3 per litre now in chch:angry::angry::angry:

[avgas]

WTF!!! they're charging $3 per litre now in chch:angry::angry::angry:
tell the govt as they are running name and shame for those whom rank up prices.

[blackdog]

WTF!!! they're charging $3 per litre now in chch:angry::angry::angry:

not to mention the price of a blowjob. bloody danger money

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4702410/Prostitutes-ply-trade-near-dangerous-buildings

[AllanB]

Have not heard about $3 but they are restricting purchases to $30 per car in Halswell now.

I was commenting to MrsB earlier today that it would be nice if the fuel companies LOWERED the cost in Christchurch as a good will gesture. Yeah Right - silly me! There is always some fucker making money out of someones misery.

The army is in town big time now - hooning around in tanks! Hopefully they have orders to shoot looters.

[Wannabiker]

I see they got those 2 pricks that stole the Telstra generators... bail denied and remended in custody till March 28. Owen Anthony Jackson, 23, and Jed Wilson-Calver, 22, were arrested last night. :angry:

[98tls]

Theres plenty i guess that genuinely need to fill up,my old lady received word today that the 111 call center she works in is being relocated to Rangiora from the center of town,$30 isnt going to last that long really.

[XF650]

Add drinking water, LPG, bread & milk to the fuel 'panic buy' list too.
I'v been delivering these from Ashburton to friends in ChCh. . There is real misery up there, especially north eastern suburbs with many still without power. Some petrol stations are still closed & others rationing.
From what I'v seen, when the "big one" hits, fuel could be the new currency.......

[Motig]

Stuff this morning says margins have fallen from 17c litre to 5c litre. AA predicting a 10c litre increase very soon. So even tho theres no shortage I'd start filling up anyway.

[KiWiP]

not to mention the price of a blowjob. bloody danger money

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4702410/Prostitutes-ply-trade-near-dangerous-buildings


Have not heard about $3 but they are restricting purchases to $30 per car in Halswell now.

Oh sorry we're back on track with petrol aye:scratch:

[Woodman]

I sold out of 20 and 10 litre fuel containers by Wedneday because of the earthquake.

My shop is in Motueka.

[shrub]

. I was queuing at a gas station, and people were letting each other in, smiling and being patient. The two young women in the car in front of me filled one plastic container, had a conference, then filled another. Another conference and they put oil in the car. Yet another debate and then they filled the car before stopping to discuss payment, but it didn’t worry me. I looked in my mirror and a young woman was sitting in her car talking on her phone.

When the two young ladies finally left after yet another discussion I pulled up to the pump. While I was filling the car I heard a strident stream of abuse coming from the car on the other side of the pump. I looked across and saw a woman abusing the woman on the phone because you’re not supposed to use phones at petrol stations. The phone user started to cry which was met with “go on cry you fat ugly slag”. I’d had enough, and my years of working as a bouncer kicked in and I stepped between them, bent down and politely said “do you mind stopping, can’t you see she’s upset?”.

“Fuck of you fat cunt, it’s none of your business. That fat bitch shouldn’t be using her phone”. I turned back to the girl in the car behind me and suggested she wind her window up and ignore her. That angered the other woman and she stepped out of her car “I’m going to smack you, you fat ugly cunt”. That really stung. I know I’m ugly, and that’s the main reason I don’t shave as often as good grooming demands, but fat? I’m big boned for god’s sake!

I smiled at her: “yeah, go for it” and leaned down and looked in at her partner “control her mate, she’s a liability and is way out of line”.

He threatened to smack my head in too, but because he was still in his car I wasn’t particularly worried and the woman was still standing about 2 metres away so I shook my head, muttered “idiots” and moved my car forward before filling the girl’s car for her so she didn’t need to leave her car. I escorted her into the gas station to pay, and when she was safe in her car I drove off. All the time enjoying a constant tirade of threats and abuse – from a safe distance. The petrol station staff were quite traumatised and other people in the other cars just looked stunned, but the driver of a car with a group of young people in it would down his window and said “good on ya mate”.

[steve_t]

Good on ya, Shrub. While the woman probably could have got off the phone, the tirade of abuse to both her and you was unnecessary. Some people are idiots :facepalm: I was actually hoping she would be stupid enough to try and assault you :corn:

[AllanB]

Good on ya Shrub. Well handled.

I'd have been inclined to consider popping the fuel pump nozzle into her car window and pull the lever ...............

Shit like this brings out the best and worst in people.

[shrub]

I'd have been inclined to consider popping the fuel pump nozzle into her car window and pull the lever ...............

Shit like this brings out the best and worst in people.

I wish I'd thought of that. I hate bullies and the girl in the car was an absolute mess, the bitch abusing her was toxic and cowardly. I was saddened that out of all the people I was the only one who dared stand up. OK, I'm 6 ft 4 and 120 kg, so I can get away with more because most people don't realise I'm a whimp who hates pain.

[FJRider]

Good on ya Shrub. Well handled.

Shit like this brings out the best and worst in people.

No ... I dont think so ... but you just notice it more ... :shit:

Assholes will always be assholes ... :facepalm:

[Shadows]

As soon as the petrol stations are resupplied out here, they descend from out of the blue like a swarm of locusts and before long the storage tanks are sucked dry again.

Because I assist with the provision of an essential supply I need access to fuel in order to travel in and out of CHCH each day, as do many others in varied lines of work, and these guys are making it damn near impossible just so that they can Tiki Tour around the place.

Then, these fuckwits stick their stupid oar in and make it even worse... http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/4704403/Petrol-price-rise-warning
What the fuck were they thinking? Glad I cancelled my membership, all it was good for was 10% off at BK anyway.

[Kickaha]

As soon as the petrol stations are resupplied out here, they descend from out of the blue like a swarm of locusts and before long the storage tanks are sucked dry again.[

Noticed that out here, two out three gas stations ran out were resupplied then ran out again

Got me fucked how I've managed to survive on 1/4 of a tank since Tuesday

[SMOKEU]

Have not heard about $3 but they are restricting purchases to $30 per car in Halswell now.


I'm so glad I bought a diesel. More fuel for the money!

A lot of other servos also have limits on fuel now.

[cc rider]

not to mention the price of a blowjob. bloody danger moneyDanger for the customers, judging by the looks of them 2 quake-rats :sick:

[FJRider]

Danger for the customers, judging by the looks of them 2 quake-rats :sick:

Have you seen the "sales team" involved ... ??? :msn-wink: