Petrol station etitquette?

[Mr Squarekins]

This may divide opinion, but the latest approach by some people at petrol stations is really p'ing me off.

It's always been a case of, if a petrol station is busy, quickly assess which pump you will queue behind, wait your turn and hope those at the pumps ahead of you are not 'faffers'. Hasn't it always been this way?

However, over the past few months i've pulled into a petrol station, only to find a car 'just' inside, treating it a bit like a queue in a bank. i.e. I will sit here right at the entrance and survey all pumps until someone leaves, then chose - totally oblivious to half a dozen cars behind trying to turn in off the road who are happy to do the normal 'pump lottery'.

I always try to squeeze by, (but sometimes there's just not the room) or blast the horn, only to find that the idiot in front really doesn't understand and thinks it's me that's daft.

I probably am daft (just generally really), but am I wrong here? It seems totally thick/idiotic to me!

Edited by Mr Squarekins on Sunday 10th July 20:45

[Glosphil]

Mr Squarekins said:

This may divide opinion, but the latest approach by some people at petrol stations is really p'ing me off.

It's always been a case of, if a petrol station is busy, quickly assess which pump you will queue behind, wait your turn and hope those at the pumps ahead of you are not 'faffers'. Hasn't it always been this way?

However, over the past few months i've pulled into a petrol station, only to find a car 'just' inside, treating it a bit like a queue in a bank. i.e. I will sit here right at the entrance and survey all pumps until someone leaves, then chosem - totally oblivious to half a dozen cars behind trying to turn in off the road who are happy to do the normal 'pump lottery'.

I always try to squeeze by, (but sometimes there's just not the room) or blast the horn, only to find that the idiot in front really doesn't understand and thinks it's me that's daft.

I probably am daft (just generally really), but am I wrong here? It seems totally thick/idiotic to me!

I'm with you.

[jonwm]

My local Sainsbury's one is a bit like that, there is a single road in of the retail part and peoplel dordle until a pump is free, this at busy times causes huge queues.

The shoppers who put £10 in then leave the car at the pump whilst they do a weekly shop I'm the Tesco extra (other small branded fuel shops are available) are the ones that wind me up the most though.

[furrywoolyhatuk]

Me too, the issue can be further compounded depending on the size of the forecourt; there is a small Shell garage near to me and the selfish actions of one or two drivers causes a queue of traffic back out onto the road. To further compound matters, it seems some people are like sheep, they see one person doing it and think, why not…!

[joropug]

My favourite was a fella who had a go at mate for using his pump side

I.E he used the extra long, as advertised hose, to use the fuel cap on the far side of the car. He was livid he had to queue behind him.

[NFT]

I thought this was going to be about politely letting bikes hop in front of you, or hopping on pump in front of you that just emptied when you paid so now your stuck waiting as a car's also up your arse if not people that do weekly shop or hop across to nando's or costa that's right next door or on same site.

Utter arse if they do that, bad enough now and again on a 4 lane one you get a tit sitting between 2 lanes to hop on one that empties first at rush hour.

I too am with you on this, get in the station, behind a pump or off.

Edited by NFT on Sunday 10th July 20:51

[CrgT16]

I am with you, the stupidity of blocking the entrance to the petrol pump and potentially causing traffic on the road is just wrong.

I pick one and for better or worse I stick with it.

[NFT]

joropug said:

My favourite was a fella who had a go at mate for using his pump side

I.E he used the extra long, as advertised hose, to use the fuel cap on the far side of the car. He was livid he had to queue behind him.

Hahaha, I have seen left hand fillers hop in right hand fill lane etc. and piss someone off before too,

Best I saw was a pump out of order, they pulled in, walked round and picked pump up from the other side meant for the other lane and gingerly filled up as someone waited having a hissy fit until they drove off in a mood and I am damn sure the screeching of tyres in a mood got attention of cashier that though he had bilked.

Edited by NFT on Sunday 10th July 20:52

[Mr Squarekins]

jonwm said:

My local Sainsbury's one is a bit like that, there is a single road in of the retail part and peoplel dordle until a pump is free, this at busy times causes huge queues.

The shoppers who put £10 in then leave the car at the pump whilst they do a weekly shop I'm the Tesco extra (other small branded fuel shops are available) are the ones that wind me up the most though.

Heh. Or, in my view slightly worse, you pull in behind a car at the pump as you see someone in the driving seat and they appear to have been there for quite a few moments, so it looks like a good bet.

Wait, wait, 2-3 minutes pass... then they get out of their car and start to fill up.

Oh the pain. Ffs.

[anonymous-user]

I knew a lady who parked at the pump to go shopping in the shop (and bought no fuel). She genuinely believed that was the correct thing to do.

[V88Dicky]

joropug said:

My favourite was a fella who had a go at mate for using his pump side

I.E he used the extra long, as advertised hose, to use the fuel cap on the far side of the car. He was livid he had to queue behind him.

My filler cap is on the correct side for a RHD car, ie on the nearside. Invariably the nearside pumps are almost always empty

[NFT]

V88Dicky said:

My filler cap is on the correct side for a RHD car, ie on the nearside. Invariably the nearside pumps are almost always empty

I noticed opposite in the TT, then in Hyundai on other side, somehow by magic when I took it the other lanes had a period of being absolutely dead as if god himself was taunting me.

[anonymous-user]

joropug said:

My favourite was a fella who had a go at mate for using his pump side

I.E he used the extra long, as advertised hose, to use the fuel cap on the far side of the car. He was livid he had to queue behind him.

LH pump hose has always comfortably reached the RH fuel cap on our cars.
While most RH cap idiots queue for a RH hose.
Don’t tell them

[jamesbilluk]

I'm also with you, certainly would never block the entrance, I'll choose a car, and just wait behind, even though it's a bit of a lottery, I usually end up behind the person who wants to contemplate the meaning of life before they set off!!

[NFT]

James6112 said:

LH pump hose has always comfortably reached the RH fuel cap on our cars.
While most RH cap idiots queue for a RH hose.
Don’t tell them

I did once, a fella actually drove in and did a U turn to get into a pump against flow of traffic, he was absolutely amazed. After he had told me to off, of course.

[NFT]

jamesbilluk said:

I'm also with you, certainly would never block the entrance, I'll choose a car, and just wait behind, even though it's a bit of a lottery, I usually end up behind the person who wants to contemplate the meaning of life before they set off!!

Yes, what are they doing, texting, popping the amount they put in to a database, having a little siesta, annoys me if it goes over a minute as I've started my engine if it's been a while, and now I am wasting my fuel, the second I turn engine off again, he will invariably decide to go.

[The Moose]

I once reversed into a space “jumping” the queue and facing the “wrong” way.

Ohhhhh there were a few pissy people!! I thought it was efficient.

Then the guy in the store cut me off after a few liters.

[MitchT]

James6112 said:

joropug said:

My favourite was a fella who had a go at mate for using his pump side

I.E he used the extra long, as advertised hose, to use the fuel cap on the far side of the car. He was livid he had to queue behind him.

LH pump hose has always comfortably reached the RH fuel cap on our cars.
While most RH cap idiots queue for a RH hose.
Don’t tell them

I've always fueled from the LH pump if a RH pump isn't free. Some of the looks I get are hilarious. It's like I just walked on water!

[Demhcs]

If this thread is indicative of behaviour at a petrol station arguing over a 2 minute fill, you can only imagine what will happen at a charging station once EVs start to get more prevalent…. Or maybe behaviour there is already getting worse….

[NFT]

The Moose said:

I once reversed into a space “jumping” the queue and facing the “wrong” way.

Ohhhhh there were a few pissy people!! I thought it was efficient.

Then the guy in the store cut me off after a few liters.

So,.. it, was, you!

Only joking, so he cut you off, and now if your scaping the bottom of tank, or family emergency causing this failure to conform, you are likely to get enraged, or wait for him to put it back on, blocking the pump, marvelous idea by him.