PrePay SUCKS! Name and shame the gas stations.

[idleidolidyll]

I've just sent an email to Gull as below. Twice now Gull, Gt Sth Rd Manurewa/Takanini have demanded that we prepay fixed amounts of $10 or $20 when we wanted to fill up. Prepay is bullshit!

Prepay SUCKS big time!

As a motorist in New Zealand and particularly as a motorcyclist, I despise prepay. This odious system is NOT primarily designed for security: it is designed to maximise profits by reducing staff numbers and by forcing motorists to enter gas stations more often and sometimes several times on each fill. While there they are expected to purchase products on impulse; and they do (this is not opinion, it is fact confirmed by an industry insider).

By forcing motorists to decide on how much they want to put in their gas tanks on a dollar basis, fuel retailers (mainly the oil companies), ensure that cars are rarely filled up and must therefore return more often to gas stations. In addition, if you do want to fill up, you are usually required to swipe your card at the station, fill up and then return to approve the final amount bought; a double entry into the station and another opportunity for the station to tempt you into buying some junk on impulse that you don’t need and probably wouldn’t have bought otherwise.

Some gas stations have eftpos at pump available but often these are not switched on (Mobil Wiri Station Rd). The idea of eftpos at pump is perfect: we can fill up and pay at the pump with the least fuss. However, for the reasons above, gas stations then don’t get to maximise profits and they often don’t enable this system.

For a motorcyclist prepay is even more of an imposition. Many motorcycles have quite small tanks and even a large tank on a bike is just 25 litres. However, for many bikes, 8-15 litres is more often the capacity. With prepay, it is virtually impossible to guess how much fuel you will need and given that motorbikes often get just 100-200 kilometres per fill; we often want to fill up and maximise the distance traveled. My wife’s bike for example, takes just 11 litres. It gets pretty good mileage but we are never able to guess just how much fuel it will take and we always want to fill up before a trip. A Ducati Hailwood replica (newish model) takes just 8 litres and with it’s 1000cc motor, might only get 100km from that fill. To guess whether the tank needs 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 litres is virtually impossible and the rider is left having to enter gas stations twice to fill up under prepay at it’s worst. The worst offending gas station in my area is Gull Gt South Rd Takanini (near the top of Mahia Rd, Manurewa). This gas station has refused to allow us to fill up our bikes on a number of occasions demanding that we specify exactly how much we intend to use and prepay exactly that amount: their ‘suggestions’ were $10 or $20. My wife’s bike took about half a tank the first time (5.5 litres) and less the next time (about 4 litres). You can see that demanding a $10 or $20 prepay is ridiculous.

Now some gas stations recognise that motorcyclists are an issue and they release pumps when they see a bike arrive. It is not unreasonable for them to require us to take off our helmet for security reasons however. I applaud these gas stations and their awareness.

My suggestion is that we, as motorcyclists AND often car drivers too, name and shame the worst offenders and boycott them completely both for motorbike and for car purchases. I also suggest we name and praise those stations that DO recognise that prepay is an imposition and release pumps for motorcycles. Those gas stations should be promoted and pat5ronage should be encouraged. Likewise gas stations that have pay at pump AND turn it on.

As a start I offer the following:

DON’T use Gull Gt Sth Rd near Mahia Rd Manurewa. These people are ignorant and arrogant and don’t deserve our business.

DON’T use Mobil Wiri Station Rd as this station uses prepay even though it has pay at pump which is usually turned off.

DO use Mobil Hill Rd Manurewa. These people are wonderful and even when pumps are switched to prepay, they release pumps every time they see a motorbike pull up.

IMPORTANT! Make sure you make a fuss whenever possible if you encounter prepay ignorance and tell them you will boycott their gas station on your bike AND in your car because of their ignorance and arrogance. Send emails to the oil companies and tell them to get their act together and stop the callous disregard they have for customers.

[davereid]

Yeah, prepay is a buggar when I am on the scooter ! It only needs $3-4 to top up. I can't use those stations and go to the next one, so I guess its a kind of natural boycott !

As fuel gets more expensive, petrol stations will be having more and more motorists who can't afford their fuel and have cards declined. Hard on the gas station then, easily $100-150 worth of gas in a larger car.

Not to mention the "nick a number plate, wear a hoody, get free gas" brigade.

[MisterD]

I'm going for a lie down, I seem to be finding agreement with stuff the III is saying...

BP Heading south on the MWay SH1...I've got a freaking BP fuel card and I want to fill up, just turn the pump on monkey.

[YOUTUBE]http://youtube.com/watch?v=eLQr3GKxC3w[/YOUTUBE]

[Mully]

Gull Henderson Valley Road, can suck my hairy balls. I now refuse to go there at all.

Apart from the prepay issue, which makes my blood boil for the reasons III mentioned, the station is dirty, the staff sullen and unhelpful (I saw one refuse to help a little old lady pump gas, so I did it).

Gull Swanson Rd is nearly as bad. I think they are owned by the same people. They certainly have the same hiring policy.

They used to only have prepay after 6pm, now it is permanant.

I hate most gas stations now. They have become conveniance stores, and it's become impossible to buy emergency repair stuff (light bulbs in particular)

[Usarka]

my local bp seems to have a discrimination policy. white, shirt & tie, over 25? no problems we'll release the pumps. any combination on young, brown, ricer car, hoody, mates in the car then you need to go inside and prepay.

[rainman]

If I see the Pump on Prepay signs I just roll on to the next one... within the city there are generally lots of options. But if we're naming and shaming, Mobil at the corner of Krd and Ponsonby are a DON'T, but BP Jervois will turn the pump on for motorcyclists when it's on prepay.

[Gubb]

Some gas stations have eftpos at pump available but often these are not switched on (Mobil Wiri Station Rd). The idea of eftpos at pump is perfect: we can fill up and pay at the pump with the least fuss. However, for the reasons above, gas stations then don’t get to maximise profits and they often don’t enable this system.

Unfortunately, those Eftpos at Pumps are extraordinarily fickle, the slightest bit of moisture of dampness causes the whole unit to die (both sides of the pump). I seriously doubt that the unit has been switched off, as the said Mobil station will still be paying maintainence costs. If it is, i'll have a word to the manager next week when i'm back in Auckland.

[Finn]

DON’T use Gull Gt Sth Rd near Mahia Rd Manurewa.

DON’T use Mobil Wiri Station Rd as this station uses prepay even though it has pay at pump which is usually turned off.

DO use Mobil Hill Rd Manurewa. These people are wonderful and even when pumps are switched to prepay, they release pumps every time they see a motorbike pull up.

While I understand your frustration, there is a common theme here. All these stations are in lower socioeconomic areas full of thieving scum. Gas stations do not provide a community service. They are a business trying to make a buck in a very difficult market made even more difficult by a Government that not only hates business (much like yourself), but goes out of their way to make it difficult for them.

Don't like it? Go somewhere else.

[Fatjim]

But not Wellington.

[skelstar]

While its annoying, its not a conspiracy.

[deanohit]

If I see the Pump on Prepay signs I just roll on to the next one...

If I can, I will do this as my bike only takes 8 litres and often only takes $5 to fill it.

Caltex Whakamarama is half way between Tauranga and Katikati, pleasant helpful staff there who have prepay after I think 8pm, doesn't matter anyway as they will open the pumps for motorbikes.
They're much easier to deal with than the Shell 1.5km up the road, who have shit service, fuckers for prepay and it's a prick of a place to get into.

[Bass]

While I understand your frustration, there is a common theme here. All these stations are in lower socioeconomic areas full of thieving scum. Don't like it? Go somewhere else.

I do, and in the same general area. There are servo's out there that cope with this problem and still provide reasonable service.

Interestingly, the outstanding ones are obviously immigrant family businesses. (Caltex Elliot street, Mobil Grove Road)
What does that tell you?

[hellnback]

Why not just go into the station hand over $40, fill up both bikes, go back in and get your change??
True - you still have to have $40 (or whatever) on you in cash and you still have to go in twice...

[Finn]

Interestingly, the outstanding ones are obviously immigrant family businesses. (Caltex Elliot street, Mobil Grove Road)
What does that tell you?

Either

1. Owner Operated vs Detached Corporate or...
2. Kiwi's are lazy and only immigrants work hard.

[gijoe1313]

I've never had a problem yet, but I guess I haven't rocked up to those stations ... BP Takanini love bikers and when they see one of us pull up, they just release the pumps (conversely the only time I had a problem there was when I was in my cage and didn't recognise me without my riding gear/bike ) Most times I wander in to pay without doffing helmet and I've never been queried or challenged on it (so far).

Fuel stations probably see bikers as a hassle since we don't spend up "large" compared to cagers ($3-$15 at times I guess?)

But yeah, prepay is a hassle - punishes the law abiding due to the antics of a brain dead minority (and those other cynical reasons mentioned before).