Gassing up and paying with helmet on?

[Slyer]

I only take mine off it's late, single attendant etc..

[ckai]

maybe you need to go in with your hands in the air, wallet in one and money/card in the other. haha

But shit, if someone refuses to take your money once you're in there, do what Spooky says and thank them for the free gas.

I can see their point with getting robbed. A bit stupid if they know you though. I never take my lid off unless I'm staying a bit or whatever. No probs here and I've done it at shells and BP's in a few cities.

You could always throw the cash in the Nightpay window if they tell you to take you're lid off inside.

[idb]

Maybe if the companies are really worried about this they should go back to the good old days of actually having service at these so-called service stations.
You know, having someone on the forecourt so that no-one has to go inside.

[Fub@r]

No problems here.

I go to a Caltex Station on Triangle Road, Massey. The 3 petrol stations in my suburb are all on prepay 24/7. The Caltex has gotten to know me and my bike (hard to miss its bright yellow) .

I pull in and regardless who's on they unlock the pump for me, and when I go to pay I usually leave my helmet on and have never been asked to remove it. Any other station I go to its helmet off and then have to ask them to unlock the pump so I can fill up.

[The Lone Rider]

It's protocol for all petrol stations, regardless of if they inforce it or not. It is required to allow for your face to be seen when you pay in case of robbery or drive offs and with a helmet on cameras can't see you.

Just like how some petrol stations will tell you not to stand over your bike when you fill out, and some don't. Even though they all have the rule not to.

[BiK3RChiK]

Nah, he's a grumpy old cunt! I had a stand up row with him in my 4x4 once. I won't let him fill any of my vehicles now. He's rude and they should get rid of him.

[ManDownUnder]

My heart bleeds for you.

Shop somewhere else or get polite. Your call

[BiK3RChiK]

I hear you, but this guy knows me and the bike, its a small town. Its not as if the iridium visor is closed shut or something. Perhaps the old fella has the memory of a goldfish or has a thing against bikers??
Does Shell also have the same policy? I've never been asked to take off my helmet in there.

I don't think he has anything against bikes, because when I fill up in there, he can be chatty as, but get him on a bad day and all hell breaks loose! Even without a helmet on.. The guys a nutcase!

BTW, saltydog, we fill at our local Shell out in Edgecumbe most of the time, and I never take my helmet off! They all know us out here and I've never had an issue...

[Hitcher]

Is this happening to others out there?

At a guess, only to the inconsiderate Prize Pricks(TM) who are incapable of following instructions and remembering these from previous encounters.

At another guess, these are probably representative of the same group of dickheads who sit astride their motorcycles whilst pouring fuel into it.

[Maha]

Give someone a little bit of power and look what happens...Anarchy!!!!

[Oakie]

I have three stations that I use. Two of them are semi regular and one is an occassional stop. I don't take my helmet off for any and have never had any grief although I always make sure I have my wallet out before I go in to pay.

I guess if someone demanded you take your helmet off you could try the following:

Biker "Why do you want me to take my helmet off?"
Attendant "So I can identify you if you rob me"
Biker "If I was going to rob you, do you not think I would have done it by now?"
alternatively...
Biker "I'm holding my eftpos card ... not a knife".

Thinking about it though ... I guess you could go in and appear to be wanting to pay until the cash register is open and then rob the place. Perhaps that's why they get so uppity even if you do have cash in your hand.

I'm interested to know where the law sits on this though if you get the situation where an attendant demands the removal of helmet and the biker just stands there, lid on, holding out the cash or eftpos card and refuses to move. You may even find that The Contracts Act could be invoked where you have poured gas thus making a contract with them for the sale and then they are not honouring the contract by refusing your payment?

[Blackshear]

I get off my bike.. Open the cap, select fill, and grab the 95/98 nozzle, and pour whilst standing. I then proceed up to the cashier, helmet and all 'Here's for pump #, cheers' And usually get a thanks/have a good day/good seeing you again reply. Helps with the cashier being a female I used to work with elsewhere
But seriously, never had this problem. Once I have been asked to pay first, but I said 'Numpty, i'm filling up. How the ^*%@ can I guess exactly how much will go in?' He apologised, and so did I. Life carried on as susual.

[short-circuit]

I will abide by laws (for the most part) and common sense but not other people's stupid conventions. If people choose to be offended by the non-removal of hats/helmets then fuckem. They ain't paid to exchange niceties, all they need to do is take the money (that the said helmet wearing customer is handing to them over the counter) and issue the receipt.

[idb]

At a guess, only to the inconsiderate Prize Pricks(TM) who are incapable of following instructions and remembering these from previous encounters.

At another guess, these are probably representative of the same group of dickheads who sit astride their motorcycles whilst pouring fuel into it.

That's a lot of assumptions...I wouldn't serve you.

[idb]

If a service station is such a dangerous place to be, I'm going to walk in there with all the protection I can!

What if I had taken my helmet off and someone walks in behind me with a baseball bat intent on robbing the place and there I am, because of some barely employable drongo enforcing 'the rules' I'm standing there without any safety gear on...what would OSH say?

Why not reverse the rule and make it so that the staff have to wear helmets...then we're all on an even footing and the employer is seen to be taking all practicable steps to eliminate, minimise or isolate potential harm.