BP pump policy

[vifferman]

Anyways, whats the story with changing the octane you put into a bike with EFI? Doesn't the engine management software work better if you keep the octane rating consistent?

No, it makes little difference, as even a bike like the VFR with multitudinous sensors doesn't have a knock sensor. However, if I hadn't disabled the "closed loop" mode, it would use the O2 sensors to adjust the fueling at low revs / small throttle openings.

How it works for me is I alternate between 98 and 91; it runs better on 98, but 91 makes starting in the winter a little easier.

I use BP almost exclusively (for the 98 and for fuel vouchers from the supermarket next door), but thinking about the EFTPOS at pump I may switch. I used to use Caltex most of the time, as there's a servo at the end of our street, which is handier than any others near us. But I got pissed off by some retard that used to work there who several times in a row wouldn't give me any cash out on my EFTPOS card because he'd "just cashed up".
So?!? How is that my problem? :spudwhat: Whatever happened to service?
And then another time when I went there (after several years of boycotting them), they had stupid little notes taped to each pump saying "PrePay Only". I don't mind so much the pumps being turned off, but going in and out twice to pay is a pain.

BTW - in the last 8 years or so, I've never been asked to remove my helmet when paying. I guess it's because I have my wallet out when approaching the counter. But if they ever do ask me to, I will say, "Look, I understand your reasons for saying that, but it's a nuidsance and I run the risk of dropping something. If this is your policy now, then I'm afraid I'll have to go elsewhere from now on."
I find I usually drop my keys or a glove or my change or something as it is, so I make a point of leaving my lid on and trying to not look like I'm a robber.

[sunhuntin]

viffer... some days, i refuse to give out cash.
if ive just done a drop and have not enough left, or first thing in the morning or start of the afternoon shift.
i got given a $50 note for an .80c pack of gum once... first thing on a sunday morning. told the girl to take a hike... i dont get enough change to keep me going let alone making change for a huge note. it would leave the till stripped.

i will give cash where i can, of course, but i have to think of the following shifts, and think ahead to what their till may look like. i prefer to avoid the change bag unless im desperate.

its not about lack of service if we refuse to give out cash, its about us not having enough in the till to accomodate.

as already stated, leave your kit on. i prefer it. means you dont have to put the lid on the ground where itll get covered in spilled fuel and possibly run over, or on the pump where it may get knocked off. i will sometimes pick up a lid from the forecourt and put it up on the lpg bottle stand. same with dropped gloves... i put them up on the bike.

[bimotabob]

The gas stations have disabled Eftpos at pump because they lose all the sales of choccie bars etc from punters in the shop - that is where they make the money. All the stations that had it seem to have taken it out.
I don't do prepay. If you don't want my money, I am not forcing you to take it.
Geoff

The dirty scum bags!
And I hate prepay!
Oil companies are wankers of the highest order.
Every time the dropkicks ask me at the counter if I want Junk Food
I feel like giving them a confectionary enema!.
The comments you guys have left are great!
Show them your discust... drop the nozzle and leave I love that one ha ha!


All good
BB

[davereid]

as already stated, leave your kit on. i prefer it. means you dont have to put the lid on the ground where itll get covered in spilled fuel and possibly run over, or on the pump where it may get knocked off. i will sometimes pick up a lid from the forecourt and put it up on the lpg bottle stand. same with dropped gloves... i put them up on the bike.

Good on ya sunhuntin, I long ago stopped removing my helmet, even at those places with the big no helmet signs.

I used to take my helmet off and put it somewhere, but it never worked out. Put it on the ground it gets oily. Put it on the seat or handle bars it gets knocked to the ground by some tosser walking past.

So now I leave it where its designed to go. On me head.

[marty]

1.5c/litre PROFIT, that's NET profit.

ina big station, selling 5 million litres a year, that's not too bad a profit on fuel alone. especially if you pay minimum staff, minimum wage.

BP Cambridge is the worst. 24/7, always busy, coffee shop/cafe attached - more than often only 1 on the till.

i went in my car the other day, put the handle in, $50 please. wouldn't run. saw the 'pump on prepay' sign. went inside - waited for 6 people to be served, told him i needed $50 gas, but it might fill before that. didn't have to prepay, but had to go back out to hang it up. came back in, and had to wait for 7 people to be served in front of me.

challenge cambridge is the best by far - always 2 staff, always ask if you need a hand. it's just off sh1 up the hill. good chinese takeaways across the road too.

[xwhatsit]

Well I went and filled up at the BP near Coronation Rd offramp (back of Mangere Bridge). The guy was busy, so I had to walk into the store to get the pump switched on for me (he wasn't looking at the forecourt, too busy taking people's money), but he saw my gear then saw my bike and nodded. Not the first time that's happened. So the sky is not falling, it would appear.

Except it kind of did on the way home and the freshly-washed bike got soaked, along with me.

[canarlee]

ive not had any probs here in sunny hawkes bay with being told to take my helmet off!


saying that though i do normally take it off anyway, out of respect! i mean you dont walk into a house with a hat on do you?

[twinkle]

1.5c/litre PROFIT, that's NET profit.

No, that was the difference between the price the station bought it for and the price on the pumps (and it wasn't exactly 1.5c, but close).
It appeared that the refinery (owned by the oil companies) sold the petrol to Mobil, who sold it to the Mobil stations. And since it is unlikely that people will stop buying petrol, they are guaranteed their income from the refinery, and on selling petrol to the stations. All the stations have to do is sell the petrol, and at the least make a small profit.

[marty]

do you know that for sure?

i'm riding mates with the owner of a local servo, he assures me he makes 1.5c/l net profit. 4c/l price difference buy/sell

[twinkle]

This was more than 5 years ago, just when self service was starting to come in, and it wasn't an independent station. They could be charging bigger margins at the station I worked at now.
edit: I have no idea what the net profit would have been without going through quite a bit of stuff to find it. I did make a guesstimate once though, just taking off wages, driveoffs etc, and it wasn't much.

[discotex]

I try to buy Gull just to stick it to BP/Mobil as I don't need the 98. Gull usually have one or two non-prepay lanes where the person at the counter can clearly see the person in the car. I tend to stick to them in the cage.

On the bike I just make sure they can see me and pick up the hose. It keeps beeping at them until they let me have gas. Only once was told I had to obey the prepay sign.

(after holding the hose for like 2mins and going into the shop)
...
Me: But it's a bike.. I don't know how much it'll take and I don't want to underfill it.
Shop: But you have to prepay an amount, we'll just give you what you don't use in cash sir.
Me: Ok prepay $40 on my Visa then.
Shop: Ok sir.

So I fill with like $12 of gas and get $28 cash on the credit card (think of the points) for lunch the next day

Every BP I've been to all turn on the pump without going in as long as they see it's a biker that's picked up the pump.

As far as I can tell the general policy at Gull and BP is that bikers can't steal stuff all gas so why make them prepay.

Most Mobil's seem to be more staunch on the prepay but I guess it's because they have eftpos at pump. Nothing like filling and leaving without ever getting off the bike.

[Disco Dan]

Mobil eftpos at pump has only worked approx 1 out of 50 times. No matter what method I use to swipe my card it has never worked more than once or twice. Thats diferent stations, as well as getting a brand new card just to save the hassle of going inside to pay. Absolute pain in the arse those things. I never go to Gull anymore, they hardly ever unlock the pump for bikes even during the day. My local Shell however (westagate) is popular for motorbikes and they always unlock the pumps even at odd hours of the night. They even let me inside at 3am to get snacks without me having to take my helmet off.

[DEATH_INC.]

Interesting.....the best gassy around here (Manukau) is the BP on Cavendish drive, down by the testing station. Always has attendants ( NZers too) and I've never had to prepay or anything silly. If ya want a good old fashioned service orientated gassy this is it. The only problem is it's not 24 hour, but for the service they provide I'll sort my shit out and go when they're open. And they're always busy....
btw, yeh, I've driven/ridden outta plenty of prepay stations, it's a farkin pain when ya wanna fill up....though I do understand why they do it. And anyone that thinks bikes are a small sale oughtta pay my fuel bill.....my bike sucks more than most cars....

[Kendog]

Rode into BP Newlands yesterday, filled up just like always, no drama no prepay.

Maybe they have heard of the Newlands Elite.

[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.