Petrol Company Rip Offs

[Squeak the Rat]

Yep, lift the nozzle. Funnily enough the attendants never see me waving to turn the pump on, but ALWAYS see the nozzle going into the rubbish bin when the it doesn't come on within 20 seconds......

My little protest against pre-pay.

[MikeyG]

That doesn't work. They want to punch in $x ($20, $30, whatever). And if you say $30 or something that's certain to be enough, and they punch that in, then it doesn't all fit in the tank, they won't refund the extra money. Claim that once it's punched in they can't refund it. Even if you paid in cash, let alone the near impossibility of doing a credit card reversal for the difference.

Absolute bullshit. I worked for Shell for aout 7 years and there is nothing inside where you punch an amount in and the pumps will only dispense that amount. If they tell you there is then pre-pay $5 go out and fill the bike up. The pumps won't stop at $5 and since they told you that the pump would stop then you can argue that you don't have to pay for the rest of the gas.

[Str8 Jacket]

Or they could make you syphon it back out?...

[WRT]

I tend to go to Mobils - eftpos at pump, baby - yeah!

Even if the pumps arent on prepay, why go into the store so that you can line up with the other plebs and then get asked the petrol station equivilent of "would you like fries with that?" No, dickhead, thats why I said "JUST the gas on pump X, thanks". If I wanted to get robbed twice in one visit by also purchasing some of your over priced candy I would have asked. Eftpos at pump is the best way to go, I'm surprised that more stations dont put it in place.

Not to mention that you used to be able to set the amount on the pump (say $20), start the fill and then wander in to pay. That way the pump would be finished by the time you went back so you could just hang up the pump handle and drive off. Dunno if they stopped this due to people driving off with the handle still in their car or if its somehow related to the increase in drive offs, but you cant do it anymore.

[Ixion]

Absolute bullshit. I worked for Shell for aout 7 years and there is nothing inside where you punch an amount in and the pumps will only dispense that amount. If they tell you there is then pre-pay $5 go out and fill the bike up. The pumps won't stop at $5 and since they told you that the pump would stop then you can argue that you don't have to pay for the rest of the gas.

Didn't say it wasn't possible - just that they don't want to do it.

[marty]

true true. i tend to do it in the car only - i always use the bp leamington or challenge cambridge (just at the top of the hill off sh1) for the bike - small privately owned stations that always have a forecourt attendant.

[MikeyG]

Or they could make you syphon it back out?...

Then what do they do with it. They can't sell it again because it could have become contaminated in your tank. Most garages don't have siphons anymore either.

[Cibby]

Beware BP doesn't post its high octane prices and unless you check the pump you won't know you are paying another 5-6cents ontop of the 85 octane price. I understand Mobil charges a similar price for its 88 octane. It's OK if they tell us openly but I'm damned if i am going to ride in to a station to read the price on the pump.
I suggest to the bikers out there if you can don't buy from stations that don't post their high octane prices for all to see as they ride by. We are paying a hell of a lot extra without realizing it.
I like the way Shell puts both prices on view and Caltex stations are often good at it too.
If they don't show it don't buy it.

i asume you mean 95 and 98..

shell is shit,

that is all.

[MWVT]

Each pre-pay station I visit gets left a raised finger followed by a deposit of bridgestone's finest on it's forecourt.

Sure you can go inside and ask to fill it, then go back outside to fill it, then go back inside to pay for it.

Didn't these things used to be called Service Stations?

Yes yes yes, SERVICE STATIONS. dammit.

I drive off if i can be bothered, (sometimes it's easier to stay)

[MSTRS:Me]

If there is a price for 91 and 95, you know it doesnt have 98 (duh!)
If there is only a price for 91, then you can be 99% certain, they stock 98.

Usually roadside price is for diesel and regular (91). Everyone knows that super (95/6) is 5 or 6c/litre more than 91. Not displaying the 95 price has nothing to do with the servo having 98. In Hawkes Bay there are 9 BP stations and 2 BP Connect. BP C has 98, but not the others.

[Lou Girardin]

Eftpos at the pump is fine, IF you know how much the bike'll take.

[aiki]

Caltex does sometimes advertise 95 & 91 but it seems they are constant with their 95 price and don't have 98. I don't want 98 I just want to know that I can get 95 at the standard price without having to drive onto the forecourt to find out. They are trying it on and taking advantage of bad consummer practise but the answer is still simple, stop worring about prepay crap, get an ftpos card, take your helmut off so you don't look like a robber, fill your tank only at a station that clearly states its prices then go inside and pay.
I've been riding since 75 and have never had a problem picking up the nozzle and pumping my tank full then paying. You people must look pretty rough if they don't trust you to fill first{if thats what you mean by prepay}

[Titanium]

That doesn't work. They want to punch in $x ($20, $30, whatever). And if you say $30 or something that's certain to be enough, and they punch that in, then it doesn't all fit in the tank, they won't refund the extra money. Claim that once it's punched in they can't refund it. Even if you paid in cash, let alone the near impossibility of doing a credit card reversal for the difference.

We hatez prepay we does. hatez hatez hatez.

Ummm sure..... you need to shop at a more reputable gas station......

Which gas station is it.....

[Titanium]

Eftpos at the pump is fine, IF you know how much the bike'll take.

Ummm you guys go to get out more.........

they pre authorise your card for a certain value........ thats all.

I have used pre pay, eft pos, credit card .... never not been given change or ripped off, NZ, USA, Australia.........

[Hitcher]

GOD DAMN!! I HATE PRE PAY!!!

I hate pre-pay too. But then there are those goddamned thieving varmints who are quite happy to fill up and drive away without paying, sometimes after having switched rego plates to fool the forecourt surveillance cameras. I hate them more than pre-pay! In fact I hate all thieving varmints!