BP pump policy

**Mrs Busa Pete** · 29th July 2007, 10:40

i worked for shell heratige park on elersly pamure high way for 9months as a forcourt atendent yes that means helping people at the pump i only had one drive off on my shift and that was clearly there intention. then i went to shell glen innes on the late shift there we had a customer use dodgy checks $330 au wurth his loyer said the station sold gas on a post pay acount but as there was no time frame to pay advertized he could pay them when ever he wanted

**babyblade250rr** · 29th July 2007, 11:25

speaking of gas stations i went to the gull in new north road auckland, at around 8.30pm the other day, Pumps were on prepay so i went to the checkout and said "i would like to fill up my bike" checkout responded how much do you want, i said "i'm not sure it's completly empty and i would like to fill it". The guy said we can't do that you have tell us how much you want. It was absolutely ridiculous. How was i suppose to know how much it was going to take that day......Anyhow ended up getting peeved and going to a different gassie

**sunhuntin** · 29th July 2007, 15:24

Originally Posted by Grumpy

I find it interesting that most of the comments in this thread have been about asshole gas stations making our life difficult so fuck 'em. Not alot of mention of the c..ts that are the real cause of the problem. We are more fucked off at the result rather than the cause of the problem. As annoying as pre pay is and yes, it fucks me off as well, how would we react if some dirt bags ripped off our business on a daily basis. Prepay is a reaction to a serious problem not a deliberate attempt to ruin our day.

thanks, grumpy! the voice of reason [bling coming]

i still havent heard of anything like whats being discussed implemented at my station, or any of the bps here in wangas. as i said, it wont be the small stations that will have this, itll be the big connects like in auckland etc. i think if my site was told we had to have this, id leave, and id boycott any bp that had it. [actually, i might find out which ones are doing this and boycott them now. the connects can afford to lose a $12 sale!]

i can usually guess quite close how much the bike will take... never over $15, and thats when run right to reserve or close to it.

**Usarka** · 29th July 2007, 15:37

Originally Posted by Grumpy

I find it interesting that most of the comments in this thread have been about asshole gas stations making our life difficult so fuck 'em. Not alot of mention of the c..ts that are the real cause of the problem. We are more fucked off at the result rather than the cause of the problem. As annoying as pre pay is and yes, it fucks me off as well, how would we react if some dirt bags ripped off our business on a daily basis. Prepay is a reaction to a serious problem not a deliberate attempt to ruin our day.

Like most businesses ours does suffer from theft. but there'd be no way we'd make customers pay up front before selecting their goods. the customers would tell us to sort out the problem so they aren't inconvenienced just as they walk out the door to go to the competition.

**The Lone Rider** · 29th July 2007, 15:44

They always seem more uptight to me about having your helmet on after you've stopped to fill then wether you pay. I've stopped for gas several times in what was labeled "Pre-Paid Pump Only" and they always just nod to me and the pump starts going. Only once have I had to pre-pay, and that I think was while I was in a car. With a helmet still on though, they seemed a bit more antsy.

**Kendog** · 29th July 2007, 16:01

Originally Posted by dyers

Only once have I had to pre-pay, and that I think was while I was in a car. With a helmet still on though, they seemed a bit more antsy.

Cause it probably looked a bit sus with you wearing your helmet in the car

**Grumpy** · 29th July 2007, 17:52

Originally Posted by Usarka

Like most businesses ours does suffer from theft. but there'd be no way we'd make customers pay up front before selecting their goods. the customers would tell us to sort out the problem so they aren't inconvenienced just as they walk out the door to go to the competition.

I'm not sure what business you are in but if it involves your customers being allowed to do their shopping and then loading the goods into their car then wandering back into the shop to pay, then I would say you have a very valid point.

**Virago** · 29th July 2007, 23:07

Originally Posted by Grumpy

I'm not sure what business you are in but if it involves your customers being allowed to do their shopping and then loading the goods into their car then wandering back into the shop to pay, then I would say you have a very valid point.

A valid point.

But that does raise another issue, one which often makes my blood boil.

Having pumped your own petrol, you're then a prisoner of sometimes appalling service, as you attempt to pay. You can't leave, you can only seethe...

A few months ago, I stood in a line of seething petrol buyers in Cromwell, while the one staff member on duty made several very involved coffees for another customer. If I had cash on me, I would have slapped it on the counter and walked out...

I did that once at a small rural station. The sole staff member was on the phone in the office, out of sight but not ear-shot. He knew I was there, but carried on what was obviously a personal phone call. I couldn't leave, as I had the petrol and had to pay.

After about 5 minutes, I checked my wallet, pulled out the cash and left it on the counter. Amazing how quickly that bugger got off the phone when he heard my car start...

**slopster** · 30th July 2007, 01:01

Petrol stations these days are just glorified corner shops. They make no money on petrol (The big petrol companies do that) but they just sell it to get you in the door. And since you fill a bike up more often then a car you are probably a better customer.

When I come across a station on prepay I just go elsewhere. Or if I've got nothing better to to I go in prepay $2 pump it in, prepay another $2 etc etc til its full.

All the south auckland stations used to be prepay but I think they must have lost too much custom and now they just turn them on if you don't look too dodgey.

**sunhuntin** · 30th July 2007, 13:43

Originally Posted by Virago

A valid point.

But that does raise another issue, one which often makes my blood boil.

Having pumped your own petrol, you're then a prisoner of sometimes appalling service, as you attempt to pay. You can't leave, you can only seethe...

A few months ago, I stood in a line of seething petrol buyers in Cromwell, while the one staff member on duty made several very involved coffees for another customer. If I had cash on me, I would have slapped it on the counter and walked out...

I did that once at a small rural station. The sole staff member was on the phone in the office, out of sight but not ear-shot. He knew I was there, but carried on what was obviously a personal phone call. I couldn't leave, as I had the petrol and had to pay.

After about 5 minutes, I checked my wallet, pulled out the cash and left it on the counter. Amazing how quickly that bugger got off the phone when he heard my car start...

virago, the work phone is another sore point with me. i hate it. my co worker [whos leaving this week!!!!] is often on it for personal calls.... and more often than not, those calls turn nasty. TOP OF HIS LUNGS SCREAMING, AND ANY SWEAR WORD YOU CAN THINK OF! not good considering we have a lot of elderly customers.

i hate being on the phone for any reason, even if it is a customer on the other end, as i always worry about the customers in the shop getting shirty, as its near impossible to put a transaction through without talking. [ie, fuelcards, asking for milage, rego etc]

id like to see the work phone altered so it will only dial out to our other stations, but will allow calls from any number to come in, but only for a few minutes, to prevent long as personal calls. ive used the work phone about 3 times for my own purposes, twice to call my parents if the bike was broke, or i was going to be late, and once to call dog control.

another hate is people coming in talking on cell ph. very rude and ignorant. same with people coming in eating. apples and the like can safely stay in the car. ice creams, finish them before you come in.

**TRAINING WHEELS** · 10th August 2007, 01:45

Originally Posted by dennisr

Reported on news that from today BP will only turn on the petrol pump after the attendant has viewed the car has a registration plate fitted. This is all to do with those who arrive without plates fitted and drive away without paying.

How will this affect us filling up bikes; if the cameras can only see the front of the bike? I am interested to hear of what happens over the next few days as bikes line up for filling at BP.

I know it’s a bit old now but I am a Manager of one of the biggest BP stations in NZ. The Authorisation on pumps is just that AUTHORISING we do not expect you to come in and pay for your fuel before filling your tanks. What we look at is plates if it’s a bike we should just be opening them (as plates are on the back).
I am lucky at my site as I have over 20 pumps and both front and rear cameras however during the busy times we can have a few lines of customers and every one is busy so can take a few seconds to open (apologies if you come into my site).
When we lose over 5k a month (site specific) in people driving off we need to keep an eye out on repeat offenders we do not open the pumps for them this brings the 5k loss to a 2k loss.
I can not say every single bp in nz is efficient (nor can I say mine) in this process but as much as it frustrates you the customers try being the ones on the other side. Every time you (anyone) picks up a pump an annoying beep is going off and does not stop until the pump is opened (listen next time your in). Having over 20 pumps a full forecourt all beeping, demanding customers (not all), coffees to make, each line (usually 4 maybe 5) with at least 10 customers in can be very stressing on the team add LPG bottle filling, pumps not working, customers putting diesel into fuel cars, lots of other things that come up every day and it may just be a little longer than a few seconds.
Like I said I can not guarantee every site in NZ has this nailed but hope it has not turned you all off bp its good to see some bp still get you in...

Since the initial announcement how have you all actually found it??

**skidMark** · 10th August 2007, 03:13

Originally Posted by Devil

Meh, who needs help to use a bowser.

I've never had to pre-pay at a so called pre-pay station, usually eye contact with the person behind the register is enough.

But primarily I aim for Mobil anyway, with eftpos at pump.

same here bloodey great innit

**Nasty** · 10th August 2007, 08:33

Originally Posted by TRAINING WHEELS

Since the initial announcement how have you all actually found it??

I go to one of the smaller stations and I find it frustrating having to stand and wait for the pump to start as they are often making coffees etc ... but I cope as when it annoys me to much I go to another station like Mobil

**sunhuntin** · 10th August 2007, 09:31

wheels... our system has just been altered so that it beeps when on prepay. only had it going like that last night, by the time i left at 7 [prepay starts at 6] my new co worker had it echoing in his head. and he had to put up with it till 10. it also beeps whenever you pick up a sale... nearly drove me nuts! sure its good if you are away from the counter, but damn annoying any other time. i take it you run provenco? how do you find it?

with the new changes that have been installed, the pc crashed the first morning and was down for at least an hour, the fuel discounts only work for one login, and now we have to type in the amount for cash, instead of just hitting the cash button like before. we did have task until last xmas, and i miss it. was so much better!! i actually grabbed our old terminal from the skip and have it sitting in my room, lol.

what bp are you at?