Strange things you see at petrol stations
Discussion
The little trays of unwanted money that sit next to the tills ('penny pots'), but are not usually found in any other type of shop, why do people not want change when buying fuel?
They usually have a little sign that says 'help yourself', is it considered bad form to empty the whole tray into your pocket, say thanks and walk out?
They usually have a little sign that says 'help yourself', is it considered bad form to empty the whole tray into your pocket, say thanks and walk out?
The strangest thing I have seen at a petrol station are those strange 'scent pumps' you sometimes see next to the car wash. It looks like a mini petrol pump and has a green display of LED lights (in the font style from 'Ghost in the Machine' by The Police). It has a 'pump' that is a little metal 'gun' on a hose, and you put £1 in and choose your scent. It then vends your scent for a minute, spraying the liquid out of nozzles on the 'gun', which you're supposed to spray on your carpet.
I tried one at a station in Newcastle once, because I'd regularly seen taxi drivers using it. I had my Volvo S60 at the time. I sprayed a load of the Citrus Zest (or was it New Car Smell) into my car. It didn't smell of anything, and driving my car home from work the next morning after that nightshift you'd have been none the wiser I'd spent a minute spraying 'scent' onto the carpets!
I tried one at a station in Newcastle once, because I'd regularly seen taxi drivers using it. I had my Volvo S60 at the time. I sprayed a load of the Citrus Zest (or was it New Car Smell) into my car. It didn't smell of anything, and driving my car home from work the next morning after that nightshift you'd have been none the wiser I'd spent a minute spraying 'scent' onto the carpets!
Baryonyx said:
The strangest thing I have seen at a petrol station are those strange 'scent pumps' you sometimes see next to the car wash. It looks like a mini petrol pump and has a green display of LED lights (in the font style from 'Ghost in the Machine' by The Police). It has a 'pump' that is a little metal 'gun' on a hose, and you put £1 in and choose your scent. It then vends your scent for a minute, spraying the liquid out of nozzles on the 'gun', which you're supposed to spray on your carpet.
I tried one at a station in Newcastle once, because I'd regularly seen taxi drivers using it. I had my Volvo S60 at the time. I sprayed a load of the Citrus Zest (or was it New Car Smell) into my car. It didn't smell of anything, and driving my car home from work the next morning after that nightshift you'd have been none the wiser I'd spent a minute spraying 'scent' onto the carpets!
My cat did that, she nearly got kicked out the house for that.I tried one at a station in Newcastle once, because I'd regularly seen taxi drivers using it. I had my Volvo S60 at the time. I sprayed a load of the Citrus Zest (or was it New Car Smell) into my car. It didn't smell of anything, and driving my car home from work the next morning after that nightshift you'd have been none the wiser I'd spent a minute spraying 'scent' onto the carpets!
Baryonyx said:
The strangest thing I have seen at a petrol station are those strange 'scent pumps' you sometimes see next to the car wash. It looks like a mini petrol pump and has a green display of LED lights (in the font style from 'Ghost in the Machine' by The Police). It has a 'pump' that is a little metal 'gun' on a hose, and you put £1 in and choose your scent. It then vends your scent for a minute, spraying the liquid out of nozzles on the 'gun', which you're supposed to spray on your carpet.
I tried one at a station in Newcastle once, because I'd regularly seen taxi drivers using it. I had my Volvo S60 at the time. I sprayed a load of the Citrus Zest (or was it New Car Smell) into my car. It didn't smell of anything, and driving my car home from work the next morning after that nightshift you'd have been none the wiser I'd spent a minute spraying 'scent' onto the carpets!
How long before someone puts it in their tank, so their exhaust smells better?I tried one at a station in Newcastle once, because I'd regularly seen taxi drivers using it. I had my Volvo S60 at the time. I sprayed a load of the Citrus Zest (or was it New Car Smell) into my car. It didn't smell of anything, and driving my car home from work the next morning after that nightshift you'd have been none the wiser I'd spent a minute spraying 'scent' onto the carpets!
I once heard of someone who went to the same petrol station every day, and brimmed the car, putting a few pence in each time, usually under a pound. Didn't buy anything else so fuel was probably used driving there and back.
12gauge said:
We once saw a guy beating up his girlfriend and saying he would slit her throat (he even had the knife at her throat). It was lakeside shopping though, so to be expected. Eventually he bundled her in their car and drove off though.
So you just stood there and watched this happen? How nice of you!In a small town in Cumbria- one petrol station costing a penny less than another per litre.
The 'cheaper' station has a queue coming off it stretching onto the main road, the 'expensive' station some 50 yards away on the other side of the road is empty.
Given that most cars have 50 or 60 ltr tanks is saving the price of a packet of sweets worth 15 minutes of your life?
The 'cheaper' station has a queue coming off it stretching onto the main road, the 'expensive' station some 50 yards away on the other side of the road is empty.
Given that most cars have 50 or 60 ltr tanks is saving the price of a packet of sweets worth 15 minutes of your life?
Probably happens a million times a day, but pulled in to Tesco to get petrol this morning, woman in front sees 2 empty pumps and stops at the first. Why? Why not drive to the second and make life a lot easier? I drove around her half expecting to see a cone but no, no cone. Very odd.
I'm one of those anal people that has to round up to the last penny though. Has to stop at either £30.00 or £40.00. Don't ask me why, it just does!!!!
I'm one of those anal people that has to round up to the last penny though. Has to stop at either £30.00 or £40.00. Don't ask me why, it just does!!!!
pulliptears said:
Probably happens a million times a day, but pulled in to Tesco to get petrol this morning, woman in front sees 2 empty pumps and stops at the first. Why? Why not drive to the second and make life a lot easier? I drove around her half expecting to see a cone but no, no cone. Very odd.
I'm one of those anal people that has to round up to the last penny though. Has to stop at either £30.00 or £40.00. Don't ask me why, it just does!!!!
Its easier to work out your VAT return!I'm one of those anal people that has to round up to the last penny though. Has to stop at either £30.00 or £40.00. Don't ask me why, it just does!!!!
Nearest petrol station to me (a few hundred metres away) is a no name, non branded place, three pumps. Looks more like a breakers yard than a garage.
Normally avoid it, but was running on fumes after getting back from Le Mans.
Was unlocking the fuel cap on my MGB (can be a bit fiddely) when a knackered Ford Orion (Harlequin) screeched up on the other side of the pump.
As I reached for the pump handle, the guy grabbed it and stuck it in his car. 'Help yourself mate, no que' I said.
The guy went absolutely nuts, started screaming at me. 'I will not wait, I've been waiting for white men my whole life. No no no no. NO. I will not wait anymore!'
People on the street were staring. I just stood there stunned.
Didn't have to wait long as he only put £5 into his car.
Stuck £20 of unleaded in my MG (Would fill up somewhere proper later). Went inside to pay, the guy at the till said '£25' I questioned this, he said 'You have to pay his too'.
I laughed and said 'No way'. The guy said he would call the police and I had to pay. He absolutely insisted I should pay for the other guys fuel.
I put £20 on the counter and asked for a receipt for that £20. Walked out the shop completely stunned. I phoned the police on their local number, they said no one had called them from the petrol station.
Really odd 5 minutes!
Normally avoid it, but was running on fumes after getting back from Le Mans.
Was unlocking the fuel cap on my MGB (can be a bit fiddely) when a knackered Ford Orion (Harlequin) screeched up on the other side of the pump.
As I reached for the pump handle, the guy grabbed it and stuck it in his car. 'Help yourself mate, no que' I said.
The guy went absolutely nuts, started screaming at me. 'I will not wait, I've been waiting for white men my whole life. No no no no. NO. I will not wait anymore!'
People on the street were staring. I just stood there stunned.
Didn't have to wait long as he only put £5 into his car.
Stuck £20 of unleaded in my MG (Would fill up somewhere proper later). Went inside to pay, the guy at the till said '£25' I questioned this, he said 'You have to pay his too'.
I laughed and said 'No way'. The guy said he would call the police and I had to pay. He absolutely insisted I should pay for the other guys fuel.
I put £20 on the counter and asked for a receipt for that £20. Walked out the shop completely stunned. I phoned the police on their local number, they said no one had called them from the petrol station.
Really odd 5 minutes!
Baryonyx said:
Most stations now have a minimum vend on fuel to stop bores like that returning every day!
In most stations there used to be a sign saying minimum £5. In all the time I had a moped nobody said a word about it when spending under £4. This was a while ago, probably over that now.
Motorrad said:
In a small town in Cumbria- one petrol station costing a penny less than another per litre.
The 'cheaper' station has a queue coming off it stretching onto the main road, the 'expensive' station some 50 yards away on the other side of the road is empty.
Given that most cars have 50 or 60 ltr tanks is saving the price of a packet of sweets worth 15 minutes of your life?
Sixty pence. Depends how desperate I was. I've certainly been in situations where every litre counts, but I guess thats what happens when you have a 30 minute drive to work and your company has messed up the finances, so you still have no money in your pocket after five weeks of driving everyday.The 'cheaper' station has a queue coming off it stretching onto the main road, the 'expensive' station some 50 yards away on the other side of the road is empty.
Given that most cars have 50 or 60 ltr tanks is saving the price of a packet of sweets worth 15 minutes of your life?
On the flipside, you might end up spending more money whilst idling your car anyway.
If I was that desperate, I certainly wouldn't be filling up a full tank anyway!
Last year, some old fart was filling up his Rover in the local Morrisons petrol station.
Nothing odd about that, bar the lit cigar he was smoking at the same time. As i was parked the other side of the pump waiting for the staff to turn it on, i suggested (loudly) that he put it out. On hearing this, the other customers went apes
t abandoning their cars and running in all directions followed by one of the cashiers running out with a fire extinguisher ranting and raving at the old man etc.
I only managed to get a fivers worth in before they killed the pumps and closed the forecourt...Didn't have to pay for it though!
Quite funny really
Nothing odd about that, bar the lit cigar he was smoking at the same time. As i was parked the other side of the pump waiting for the staff to turn it on, i suggested (loudly) that he put it out. On hearing this, the other customers went apes
t abandoning their cars and running in all directions followed by one of the cashiers running out with a fire extinguisher ranting and raving at the old man etc.I only managed to get a fivers worth in before they killed the pumps and closed the forecourt...Didn't have to pay for it though!
Quite funny really
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