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.