Fuel Stolen From Forecourts

[The Mad Monk]

BBC link

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8mrrlkjppo

Why don't they install pre-payment pumps, or don't turn the pump on until you have deposited money?

[monthou]

Presumably because there's a cost implication, motorists would vote with their feet (unless every garage did it) and £200,000 is a little less than 0.1% of total fuel sold.

[littleredrooster]

I can see it going the same way as France, where the majority of petrol stations are Pay-at-Pump.

[JQ]

The Mad Monk said:

BBC link

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8mrrlkjppo

Why don't they install pre-payment pumps, or don't turn the pump on until you have deposited money?

Because up to 80% of a petrol station's profit comes from the shop. They don't want people to have an excuse not to enter the shop.

As you say they could solve this issue overnight by installing pre-payment machines, they just chose not to. It is a problem of their own making.

[E-bmw]

As above, the actual profit for the forecourt from fuel isn't great, the price needs to be competetive to get people over the threshold & the cost to the independant of "pay at pump" technology is enormous and the punters would need to pay it.

[CSR Performance]

JQ said:

Because up to 80% of a petrol station's profit comes from the shop. They don't want people to have an excuse not to enter the shop.

As you say they could solve this issue overnight by installing pre-payment machines, they just chose not to. It is a problem of their own making.

That can't be true in all cases. Esso have an app now. Turn up at the pump, put the pump number into the app, pay via apple pay (or equivalent), pump starts, fill with fuel, drive off. Receipt sent via email. I think almost all Tesco stations have pay at pump. There must be an advantage to it somewhere otherwise they wouldn't have invested in the tech.

[The Mad Monk]

monthou said:

Presumably because there's a cost implication, motorists would vote with their feet (unless every garage did it) and £200,000 is a little less than 0.1% of total fuel sold.

I was going to argue the toss with you about your percentage figure, but a calculation on the back of a borrowed fag packet gave a figure not too far away from yours.

[monthou]

The Mad Monk said:

monthou said:

Presumably because there's a cost implication, motorists would vote with their feet (unless every garage did it) and £200,000 is a little less than 0.1% of total fuel sold.

I was going to argue the toss with you about your percentage figure, but a calculation on the back of a borrowed fag packet gave a figure not too far away from yours.

Same place I did mine.

[119]

I’m sure shell still do a pay at pump method via the app.

And realistically, it makes no difference to do that and go into the shop to buy stuff after you have filled and paid.l as you would normally.

[richhead]

I remember back in the late 90's being in America, and all the petrol stations were pre pay, when i queried this with a friend, he said so whats to stop you just filling up and not paying then.
The stations could stop it if they wanted to.

[jmn]

Our local Tesco now has 50% of its Pumps as 'Pay at Pump'.

[chris116]

Noticed a few weeks ago an Asda I go past regularly had closed the kiosks and was pay at pump only.

[aterribleusername]

All the Morrison's stations have been bought by MFG and the first thing they did was block of all but one of the Pay at Pump machines that force people into the shop. They were surprised when they suffered many more drive-offs at every site.

Pay at Pump is the easiest way to stop this but they won't do it so while I don't condone people doing it they don't have my sympathy if it has increased.

[Gareth79]

CSR Performance said:

That can't be true in all cases. Esso have an app now. Turn up at the pump, put the pump number into the app, pay via apple pay (or equivalent), pump starts, fill with fuel, drive off. Receipt sent via email. I think almost all Tesco stations have pay at pump. There must be an advantage to it somewhere otherwise they wouldn't have invested in the tech.

There's probably a link between people who choose to use pay at pump (when it's an option) and those who never would have spent anything in the shop.

[Grumbler]

Worth noting the survey was done by Forecourt Eye. The numbers mentioned may or may not be true.
Never trust a survey by a company heavily involved in the business. Hardly independent.

[Simpo Two]

Every forecourt is peppered with CCTV so they have the reg number of every miscreant, but can't use the data to get paid. That's the fail point; maybe they could have saved themselves the cost of all those cameras.

Gareth79 said:

There's probably a link between people who choose to use pay at pump (when it's an option) and those who never would have spent anything in the shop.

Agreed, about 100%!

[FilH]

Asdas in Dagenham, done away with the kiosk years ago and is only pay at pump.. guess they got fed up with fuel thedt and abuse the staff got...


Works well IMO. Pull up, pay, fill up and F off. No lotering about in the shop for several mins whilst everyone else waits for you to move off.

[Clad-Hach]

Pay at the pump would be answer...simple really.

[x type]

Petrol station near me recently sold and is now a Morrisons local had all second hand pumps put in , none are pay at pump. Bought fuel recently and lady behind counter was talking to another customer and he asked why haven't you got pay at pump?

The pay at pump ones were too expensive for new owners to buy was reply and they want you to come in and hopefully buy things in the shop as you are waiting to pay
No idea how much pumps are to buy

[Panamax]

Clad-Hach said:

Pay at the pump would be answer...simple really.

Now read the thread and find out that petrol stations are only viable businesses because the profit in the shop is much bigger than the profit from selling fuel.

Just because fuel feels "expensive" doesn't mean the petrol station is making a killing on it. That's got a lot more to do with the Middle East, Donald Trump and massive UK taxes on fuel. The government is making a whole lot more money from your fuel purchases than anybody else.