Petrol station “etiquette”

It's perfectly reasonable for a new poster to admit that they don't know a 'back story'.
That being so, it might also be reasonable to avoid criticism simply because you are not familiar with a poster's situation.
How about trying to 'err on the kind side'?
Have to agree that we've always seen occasional thoughtless backbiting but it's fast becoming a daily occurrence on GN.
How about holding back the bitchiness until you know if it is/isn't deserved?

I’d like to let this go now, but Gabriella I live in a village and this petrol station is in the depths of the country and unlike supermarket petrol stations never busy.
I had factored in plenty of times (unpunctuality is anathema to me) but as my friend is poorly I did not want her to worry waiting for me.
This petrol station as I said rarely has more than one other customer when I have used it, it is en route to my friend’s village and an obvious choice. They however had several pumps “out of action” yesterday , perhaps due a delivery?
So for once all the pumps were in use.
May I stress that it would normally be no big deal.

No the situation had nothing to do with Paw, MillyG I was replying to Mabon1 who seemed to think I have nothing worse to worry about. I suppose I don’t, the time for “worry” was over in the early hours of 10 November 2017.
However I try to keep as “chipper” as I can and am sorry that the use of a word like “choccy” did not flag up a degree of observational humour.
Personally I hate LOL and the like , but that is a personal preference. “Laughing out loud” seems unlikely, and Ha Ha likewise. It’s like secondrate comedians who start “Here’s a funny thing ...” or laugh maniacally at their own gags.

It was a comfort however to see that some others shared my sentiments.

In Canada it's etiquette to move your car to a parking space in a petrol station before you go to pay. Canadians are so polite though, that they would never castigate you for leaving your car at the pump. Any other Gransnetters besides me flummoxed by pay at the pump machines?

I guess, at the end of the day, we all move in our own time zones and catering for each other's problems is nigh on impossible and little to do with politeness. Happy days!

I was informed you are not to move your car away from the pump you have used until you have paid for fuel. Also it will not be cleared for you to use it until previous person has paid. I now use pay at pump much much quicker and the way forward.

The moral of this story is - always allow extra time for your journey if you need to get petrol on the way!

You actually shouldn't move . Your car is supposed to stay at your pump until you've paid. The reason is that the station assistant has to check on his computer, what is the last amount taken from your pump, and he charges you for that. If you've thoughtfully moved forward and someone else is using that pump, the assistant can't see how much you used.

Thank goodness I live in a part of the world where we get service! A man to put in the fuel and a man to clean the windscreen etc.

I usually find that around ten pm at my local 24x7 petrol station gives you the pick of the pumps as those who dither around in the day are either in the pub or at home .Ok who, you may ask, wants to venture out just to fill your tank.? I do have the Tesco Extra nearby and as its usually quiet in there at that time, no screaming kids, so much the better to do some shopping. DH would always fill up or do a top up at that time having been late for work on many occasions due to queues or the' take your timers' that we all come across.

MawBroon. In response to your 11.21 message I agree with you. I thought it was a bit much too. I think some of the people on here must be perfect. Not me. I’m slightly imperfect.

Laura Meredith.
Don't know what part of the world you are but please enlighten us to how you then pay for your fuel.? The guy who puts fuel in your tank? or you go to a cashiers desk, not usually are they next to the pumps, then wait in the queue while other folk are choosing their bars of choc or wanting change for the drinks machine?

Here in Malta, we also don’t have to pump our own fuel. An attendant comes out to do it for you, you pay him cash and off you go.

In the US, all pumps are pay at the pump. If you want to pay with cash instead of a credit card, you must go and pay before you can use the pump.

Personally, I don’t let my tank go below half full/empty before filling up.

Merlot, if there is only one person in the car it’s pretty obvious, I would think, that one couldn’t fill up whilst one pays!

Just read the threads after the one I responded to on page 1.so after my last post, Merlot, ???

MawBroon Firstly, it is easy for those who have petrol stations on their doorstep to criticise. When the petrol station is a several miles away and driving there and back uses petrol, petrol gets bought when one have enough errands to justify going out to do five or six other things as well.

The ebb and flow of cars at petrol stations has little to do with busy times or not. I have driven past a petrol station, heart sinking as I need to go there and it is chock full. I return five minutes later and it is completely empty. Perhaps whoever criticised you should study some maths, especially queuing and games theory.

Most of my local petrol stations have large shops attached and some people seem to do the weeks shop when they buy their petrol and be gone for nearly 30 minutes. Such petrol stations usually have parking places in front of the shop and if I am going to be buying more than a bottle of water I just drive forward a few yards into one of those parking spaces. They are rarely all full.

It's worse when they see someone they have not met in some time, it starts "fancy seeing you". Then they start a conversation. I am waiting to get to the pump with steam coming out of my ears. In the end I told her to move. Not polite I know but I was in a hurry.

My little local Tesco has a few parking places to one side. After I have filled up I move to a parking spot before going in to pay. I don't fill up there very often because many people leave their car at the pump and disappear into the store for ages. Probably doing some shopping. As a result there is frequently a queue of cars waiting their turn, and often backing up onto the main road, causing a traffic hazard.

Merlotgran and Pamela, I think you may be right. Don't the pumps work with the till, so they can't be used until the transaction is complete? Maybe someone who has worked in a petrol station could confirm.

Merlotgran and Pamela, I think you may be right. Don't the pumps work with the till, so they can't be used until the transaction is complete? Maybe someone who has worked in a petrol station could confirm.

Oops, didn't mean to post twice! Sorry.

I think it's a shame petrol stations are so often connected to shops that are getting bigger and bigger, encouraging people to food shop before paying. Also there should be a till that is strictly petrol only, surely that would help this tricky situation

My local petrol station is not even self service, you have to wait for them to come and serve you, then you go in with them to pay and anyone queueing just has to wait. It's really nice and chilled, friendly chat whilst they fill your tank and somehow they even mange to stop the pump on the full £, I always go at least a penny over!

Somebody who has worked in a petrol station has confirmed that you can't put fuel in your car if the previous driver hasn't paid, OurKid

The pumps are not unlocked until they've paid.

If you buy your petrol in a busy garage with a shop the chances are you might be held up if the person in front of you is taking their time but if I needed the loo and a tube of fruit gums I would expect them to wait.

Who knows, they might take even longer.

I filled up at tesco few weeks ago and was behind a vehicle. I got out and opened my cap to start filling up. As I was doing this the vehicle in front started up and moved off. I had nozzle in tank waiting for pump to be authorised. Chap behind me in large 4x4 started waving his hands about and gesturing for me to move to pump in front just vacated I ignored him and continued to fill my car up. Arms now live a windmill and lots of gesturing from man behind plus forehead slapping. As I walked to kiosk to pay he beeped his horn so I waved. Told the ladies when I was paying and they said well once we authorise pump you should not move until fuel is paid for and did I want to do any shopping while I was there . He was still gesturing as I strolled back to my car and I waved enthusiastically as I pulled away. I've had to wait for slow/elderly/huge cars that take forever to fill up/ dithering car owners who decide to clean their car whilst at pumps etc. It's life so I just have to suck it up or fill up very late at night when hardly anyone around

Life is too short........