Pet hate #47 - the fuel station/supermarket
Discussion
So its morning, I'm on a deadline for a meeting and I need to fill up with fuel, and my local garage in its wisdom has decided to become a supermarket/newsagent/coffee shop too.
Thoughtfully, they have also provided a number of parking spaces for shoppers/readers/drinkers.
Sadly, the muppets that go there for purposes other than fueldon't use them. No, they park at the pumps.
Result? a 20 minute wait for fuel as people browse the magazines, and sip their morning latte.
Some even buy tins of Fray Bentos chunky steak (presumbly for breakfast?)
When they do eventually reappear and get into their cars they don't just start up and drive off do they?
Oh no, . Instead we have another five minutes of adjusting seatbelts, mirrors, seats, radio, lighting fag, talking to passenger locating cup holder for the remnants of the latte, opening door again (why?) making mobile phone call, scratching arse, and for all I know having a quick chieftan.
Some even do the "mirror signal manouevre" thing before leaving the pumps. All this whilst being totally oblivious to the huge queue of cars just wanting to fill up with petrol.
I tell you, this is gonna end in tears one day soon!
Andy
>> Edited by andymadmak on Monday 7th November 10:16
Thoughtfully, they have also provided a number of parking spaces for shoppers/readers/drinkers.
Sadly, the muppets that go there for purposes other than fueldon't use them. No, they park at the pumps.
Result? a 20 minute wait for fuel as people browse the magazines, and sip their morning latte.
Some even buy tins of Fray Bentos chunky steak (presumbly for breakfast?)
When they do eventually reappear and get into their cars they don't just start up and drive off do they?
Oh no, . Instead we have another five minutes of adjusting seatbelts, mirrors, seats, radio, lighting fag, talking to passenger locating cup holder for the remnants of the latte, opening door again (why?) making mobile phone call, scratching arse, and for all I know having a quick chieftan.
Some even do the "mirror signal manouevre" thing before leaving the pumps. All this whilst being totally oblivious to the huge queue of cars just wanting to fill up with petrol.
I tell you, this is gonna end in tears one day soon!
Andy
>> Edited by andymadmak on Monday 7th November 10:16
nervous said:
worse yet are those folk who take the oppurtunity to reorganise their wallet once theyve been given their change.
urge to kill, rising.....
>> Edited by nervous on Monday 7th November 10:57
How about those people who get to the front of the queue and then have to delve into a handbag/pocket to find their wallet? Are they honestly saying they were suprised to be asked for money to complete their transaction?
Have your money ready you morons!You control freak you 
Oh the angst, I can really feel your pain. I suppose it depends on the layout of the station, but what a dilemma. Striking the right balance between not panicking the attendant, while still showing courtesy for your fellow motorist. I'm so glad I didn't have to make the decision.
Oh the angst, I can really feel your pain. I suppose it depends on the layout of the station, but what a dilemma. Striking the right balance between not panicking the attendant, while still showing courtesy for your fellow motorist. I'm so glad I didn't have to make the decision.
The only way out of that horrendous dilemma would have been to pull forward at a slow enough speed to synchronize with your wife coming out of the shop. The ape would have been controlled, but not really realsied it, and your wife would have had to admire your timing and chivalry at collecting her from the door.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
The petrol station attendent won't release the pump to a new customer until you have paid for your fuel. So moving forward wouldn't have mattered, cos he would have been stood there holding the pump with nothing coming out till your wife had paid.
Then he would have got irate with the attendant
grass widow said:
The petrol station attendent won't release the pump to a new customer until you have paid for your fuel. So moving forward wouldn't have mattered, cos he would have been stood there holding the pump with nothing coming out till your wife had paid.
Then he would have got irate with the attendant
Oh yes they will..
They systems can que payements up on the pump, I often do this at the local Sainsburys.It was interesting to see, during the recent 'fuel crisis' (i.e. everyone thinking there would be one and so stocking up on fuel) that pump etiquette was actually fantastic.
In my local Shell, which is only one 'row' of pumps but 3 islands with a pump on each side, people would put their fuel in, then move forward maybe 6ft so the car was in 'no man's land'.
In doing this, the person behind would move forward and fill their car, while you were paying, and then when you returned to your stranded car to exit, they moved theirs forwards to the same no man's land bit and it seemed to work quite well.
Not surprising though I guess, when you have that many people queueing for fuel you'd have been positively shot down if you didn't do it
Agree to everyone above anyway; pet hate is indeed people doing a week's worth of shopping while their car's still at the pump.
I think I've suggested this before, but a good idea would be for Shell, BP et al to put a sign up on each pump (you know the stuff you read while pumping) [no, not that]/i]], with appropriate etiqeutte!
In my local Shell, which is only one 'row' of pumps but 3 islands with a pump on each side, people would put their fuel in, then move forward maybe 6ft so the car was in 'no man's land'.
In doing this, the person behind would move forward and fill their car, while you were paying, and then when you returned to your stranded car to exit, they moved theirs forwards to the same no man's land bit and it seemed to work quite well.
Not surprising though I guess, when you have that many people queueing for fuel you'd have been positively shot down if you didn't do it
Agree to everyone above anyway; pet hate is indeed people doing a week's worth of shopping while their car's still at the pump.
I think I've suggested this before, but a good idea would be for Shell, BP et al to put a sign up on each pump (you know the stuff you read while pumping) [no, not that]/i]], with appropriate etiqeutte!
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