Motorway services fuel pricing
Discussion
Had a trip up to Scotland yesterday and, on the way back, stopped for fuel just south of Carlisle. Couldn't be bothered to go hunting for a local station because it was a LONG drive with a trailer + old car bejind so was willing to pay a bit of a premium for convenience. But.....
The services had "regular diesel" posted at 139.9 per litre which is quite a good margin for them, even over the 136 it is locally here. Only, none of the pumps actually offered "regular diesel". They were all supplying "Ultimate" at a quite ridiculous £146.9. No mention of that anywhere until you pulled up at the pump and happened to notice the small LCD display price after pumping half a tank.
OK, the pumps had "Ultimate" branding on them but they also had normal and ultimate unleaded so it was hardly clear that the diesel was at a different price to that advertised. Incidentally, having put the "Ultimate" in there was absolutely no change in fuel consumption over the el-cheapo Tesco I'd filled with before leaving (at about 10% cheaper price).
Didn't really matter to me cos someone else was paying for the fuel (I was collecting a car for them as a favour) but there's got to be something wrong with a petrol station displaying the (legally required) price sign based on a product they don't actually sell????
The services had "regular diesel" posted at 139.9 per litre which is quite a good margin for them, even over the 136 it is locally here. Only, none of the pumps actually offered "regular diesel". They were all supplying "Ultimate" at a quite ridiculous £146.9. No mention of that anywhere until you pulled up at the pump and happened to notice the small LCD display price after pumping half a tank.
OK, the pumps had "Ultimate" branding on them but they also had normal and ultimate unleaded so it was hardly clear that the diesel was at a different price to that advertised. Incidentally, having put the "Ultimate" in there was absolutely no change in fuel consumption over the el-cheapo Tesco I'd filled with before leaving (at about 10% cheaper price).
Didn't really matter to me cos someone else was paying for the fuel (I was collecting a car for them as a favour) but there's got to be something wrong with a petrol station displaying the (legally required) price sign based on a product they don't actually sell????
I had this at the Shell in Chiswell Green, St Albans last week.
Pulled up to the pump to find only 'ultimate' (or whatever they call it) diesel for sale for about 7p a litre more than advertised.
I tried to complain to the attendant in the shop, but unfortunately English wasn't his strong point so I just left it promising never to use them again.
It's not right, how can they get away with it??
Pulled up to the pump to find only 'ultimate' (or whatever they call it) diesel for sale for about 7p a litre more than advertised.
I tried to complain to the attendant in the shop, but unfortunately English wasn't his strong point so I just left it promising never to use them again.
It's not right, how can they get away with it??
king over drivers since 1959!On old topgear they investigated this many many years ago
The reason given for the high prices by the motorway service stations will stay with me till i die
The reason that the motorway service stations gave for having hi fuel prices was
Transportation difficulties due to their distance from main roads
The reason given for the high prices by the motorway service stations will stay with me till i die
The reason that the motorway service stations gave for having hi fuel prices was
Transportation difficulties due to their distance from main roads
Top tip for anyone heading north to Scotland - stop at Todhills rest area and enjoy Shell diesel for £1.29.9 or maybe £1.30.9.
As you pass junction 44 for Carlisle North, it's perhaps 1 mile further up. It's just a petrol station at the side of the motorway. No real services.
BP run the site on the other side (southbound) and it's normally 4ppl more expensive.
As you pass junction 44 for Carlisle North, it's perhaps 1 mile further up. It's just a petrol station at the side of the motorway. No real services.
BP run the site on the other side (southbound) and it's normally 4ppl more expensive.
shirt said:
only truckers, people with fuel cards/expense accounts and the terminally stupid buy fuel from motorway services.
Last time I bought at a M/way services was in 2008 when prices went sky high, I had got off an overnight plane from New York and had to get back up north from Heathrow as quickly as possible, had less than 50 miles of fuel left so pulled into Watford Gap and paid £1.36.9 a litre for diesel, I had almost got to £20 when I noticed the price so replaced the pump and got home on fumes. MJK 24 said:
Top tip for anyone heading north to Scotland - stop at Todhills rest area and enjoy Shell diesel for £1.29.9 or maybe £1.30.9.
As you pass junction 44 for Carlisle North, it's perhaps 1 mile further up. It's just a petrol station at the side of the motorway. No real services.
BP run the site on the other side (southbound) and it's normally 4ppl more expensive.
Agreed.As you pass junction 44 for Carlisle North, it's perhaps 1 mile further up. It's just a petrol station at the side of the motorway. No real services.
BP run the site on the other side (southbound) and it's normally 4ppl more expensive.
I live just over the border in Scotland, and the fuel at that service station (Shell Todhills) is cheaper than it is on my town by 2-3p!!
MJK 24 said:
stop at Todhills rest area
BP run the site on the other side (southbound) and it's normally 4ppl more expensive.
This.BP run the site on the other side (southbound) and it's normally 4ppl more expensive.
The Shell garage there is very close to the local ASDA and until recently were price-matching them. The past couple of times I've been up that way they were 1-2p more but still a lot less than the 7-9p premium most services are charging these days.
The issue with pumps only supplying V-Power/Ultimate diesel seems to be spreading - mostly because a large number of forecourts are now selling 4 grades of fuel (95RON, 97-99RON, diesel, premium diesel) but each pump only has 3 nozzles. I always think that in this situation all pumps should dispense 95RON and regular diesel, and either 97-99RON or premium diesel - but they don't. Shell on Hardwick Circus in Carlisle is a prime example. 6 pumps, all of which supply 95RON and 99RON. 4 pumps supply regular diesel and 2 *only* V-Power diesel. This causes a lot of consternation as folk work out that only the premium option is available and either drive off or attempt to reverse and join the long queues at the other pumps.
shirt said:
only truckers, people with fuel cards/expense accounts and the terminally stupid buy fuel from motorway services.
I do get Expenses but even then I'd only top up enough to get me as far as where I knew one of my normal fill ups was. I've been doing a 500 mile commute up and down the country for about ten years now and for the sake of five extra minutes to pull off a junction and grab normal priced petrol I'd rather do that. There are certain places where you lose almost no time doing it compared to services. Fosse Park at Leicester or Shirley on the M42 are a couple I can think of.
Edit - iphone word mangling fixed.
Edited by stewjohnst on Sunday 30th January 09:55
shirt said:
only truckers, people with fuel cards/expense accounts and the terminally stupid buy fuel from motorway services.
And people with a 15 ft trailer attached to a 16 ft long estate who've been on the road for 7 hours with another 5 to go and don't fancy squeezing it round an unknown town centre in the hope of saving a whole £1.80 on what they'll be putting in 
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