Topic ID 5961
It's a shame to see that the esso petrol station has limited the pumps nearest the A414 to £40 maximum due to the number of drive offs from them.
Reply ID 81088
I noticed that today. £40 gets you about nine miles worth of petrol these days :-)
Reply ID 81089
quote:So they'll make it to Hatfield for their next refuel and drive off.
Originally posted by jim72
I noticed that today. £40 gets you about nine miles worth of petrol these days :-)
Reply ID 81090
really? thats insane. I wont be filling up there then. How stupid can these people be? Tesco on pay at pump used to have a £60 limit - so i stopped going there. Although i see they've increased it to 99 now.
Reply ID 81091
I wondered why there was a limit on them, hadn't thought of that................
Reply ID 81093
quote:Have you thought this through? The company have taken a stance against thieves by limiting the pumps nearest the road to £40 only to minimise losses. The rest of the pumps are as normal. This action was taken due to the number of drive offs from those pumps. Apparently they are preferred by the thieves as they are further from the till where the staff are. Obviously it is your choice but I can't see why it warrants a boycott.
Originally posted by codek2
really? thats insane. I wont be filling up there then. How stupid can these people be? Tesco on pay at pump used to have a £60 limit - so i stopped going there. Although i see they've increased it to 99 now.
Reply ID 81094
I have a question. Why would the proximity to the tills make much difference? If I was a cashier and someone drove off in a car from the pump nearest me, what exactly am I going to do? I cannot run after them as they are in a car and I would have to leap the counter first anyway. I guess it must just be a statistical decision that thieves normally use the outside pumps (thinking they need to further away from the attendant) as I don't see how the proximity can actually affect it. Maybe I am missing something (the attendant has a rocket launcher under the desk?)
Reply ID 81096
quote:I have no idea. Perhaps you best ask the thieves. My comment is based upon what I was told by the lady working there.
Originally posted by Kateg28
I have a question. Why would the proximity to the tills make much difference? If I was a cashier and someone drove off in a car from the pump nearest me, what exactly am I going to do? I cannot run after them as they are in a car and I would have to leap the counter first anyway. I guess it must just be a statistical decision that thieves normally use the outside pumps (thinking they need to further away from the attendant) as I don't see how the proximity can actually affect it. Maybe I am missing something (the attendant has a rocket launcher under the desk?)
Reply ID 81097
The Esso never liked high sided vehicles using the pumps nearest the cashier as the view of the far pumps was obscured, now the high sided vehicles ( that take in excess of £100 a time) are banned from the outside pumps.....Where do you go from there? Or is it just petrol and not diesel?
Reply ID 81098
Yup. I think the question is, have they thought this through? I doubt it'll make any difference at all. Either: 1. The thieves will nick 40 quid 2. They will nick 60 quid from the pumps near the window So what they've managed to do is piss off just about every genuine customer who hits the pumps on that side. Maybe you have time to fill up twice as often - but I do not. So I shall not go there in the short term (If the story is true of course)
Reply ID 81099
All major petrol stations have the same ANPR (?) equipment as certain police patrol cars, so said thieves will probably be apprehended fairly quickly.
Reply ID 81100
everyone knows that forecourts are sprawled with CCTV anyway, so unless the driver wears a balaclava, their face is going to be on camera. Surely if someone gets out of a car wearing a balaclava in this weather, they know they are either going to steal some petrol or come in the shop and steal a hell of a lot more
Reply ID 81103
I know someone who used to manage toddington services petrol station on the M1. i.e. a pretty busy station! :) they rarely reported driveoffs because despite having the cctv, the time it took to fill in the forms, get the right bit of cctv and report to the police took so long, and then the return back from that process, that it wasnt worth it. granted, that was a few years ago, when petrol was much cheaper! And perhaps back then the anpr wasnt in place either. So maybe these days it can be automated. (Almost sounds like there's an outsourcing opportunity here!)
Reply ID 81104
Errr....for those who seem to be questioning the validity of my post, "If the story is true of course", etc, just go and speak to the people who run the garage.........and why would I make it up. Good Lord! All I did was post some information given to me following a question I asked of the staff there. When I queried the stupidity of a drive off, given the fact that the cars have registration plates, I was told that a number of those that commit the crime are driving cars with stolen plates. The lady also said that it indeed was stupid as many were caught on the A414. I think the idea is to provide a deterrent and if you want further details don't bother questionning the messenger but ask them directly........ Esso Garage 133 Hertingfordbury Road Town Centre Hertford Hertfordshire SG14 1NL 01992 505003 And Codek........I don't understand your rhetoric.......you don't have to fill up twice. You fill up once and use the pumps not limited to £40. Incredibly simple really. And it shouldn't "piss off just about every genuine customer who hits the pumps on that side" if they already know about the restriction and choose to use them anyway.......but then that's exactly what I tried to do by posting my original comment. 1st person: "Excuse me mate, I see you're just about to walk round that corner. I've just come from there and there's a bloke with a massive knife thrashing about like a lunatic. I suggest you walk by and avoid the turn." 2nd person: "How dare you pass on this information. Knives are dangerous. I could get cut badly." 1st person: "That's why I was warning you." 2nd person: "I question whether this story is true." Strewth.
Reply ID 81111
err, how often do you get choice of lane at that station? not very often, even if you did it's inconvenient, even if you do know about it. Are you denying that it's inconvenient? And as a business in a market where there is lots of choice, is it a good idea to inconvenience your customers? Lets just agree to disagree, and we'll see how long it remains in place, that will tell everything.
Reply ID 81112
quote:There is not "lots of choic" in hertford, this one or the one at Rush Green. For those who don't drive to Hatfield, Welwyn or Cheshunt etc there isn't that much choice. Not that it would put me off, I will either manage with £40 worth or go to the other lanes as I did on Sunday.
Originally posted by codek2
err, how often do you get choice of lane at that station? not very often, even if you did it's inconvenient, even if you do know about it. Are you denying that it's inconvenient? And as a business in a market where there is lots of choice, is it a good idea to inconvenience your customers? Lets just agree to disagree, and we'll see how long it remains in place, that will tell everything.
Reply ID 81116
I reckon £40 worth of diesel would be just enough for me to get to the nearest station to top it up
Reply ID 81117
quote:If you never leave Hertford, I would question your need to own a car.
Originally posted by Marilyn There is not "lots of choic" in hertford, this one or the one at Rush Green. For those who don't drive to Hatfield, Welwyn or Cheshunt etc there isn't that much choice.
Reply ID 81118
quote:Moving goods and materials? Local deliveries?
Originally posted by jamesquote:If you never leave Hertford, I would question your need to own a car.
Originally posted by Marilyn There is not "lots of choic" in hertford, this one or the one at Rush Green. For those who don't drive to Hatfield, Welwyn or Cheshunt etc there isn't that much choice.
Reply ID 81119
quote:Every driver has a choice of lane. If I desparately wanted to use the pumps next to the shop I would queue and do so. The same if I had an overpowering desire to use the nozzles to the left hand side of the pumps nearest the road. And most drivers do choose every single time they go to a petrol station because they tend to choose nozzles on the same side as their petrol cap, deliberately avoiding nozzles on the opposite side even if such a pump is available earlier (not all drivers, but most). I went to the station a couple of days ago and only saw the notices regarding the £40 limit after I had pulled up next to the pump. So I had a choice. I could stay where I was and take on £40 of fuel or move to a different pump. Not complicated and not particularly inconvenient. What IS inconvenient is when you pull up at a pump to find a small plastic cover on the nozzle because the fuel had completely run out........then there's no option, you have to move. Now clearly Esso have caused some annoyance as you have stated you will not go there, despite the option to use their numerous pumps which have no purchase limit. However perhaps this is actually more of an inconvenience. As a business I think the fact that they have had to make such a decision is a shame but I respect their need to deliver a message to potential thieves and protect their product and revenue. It could be a lot worse. I got caught short for petrol on the way home from work and dropped into a petrol station near the Redbridge Flyover.....£50 maximum spend and, incredibly, you have to pay before you put the fuel in the car. I had to go to the kiosk, pay, and then put the fuel in! This would not stop mereturning there though as I know the situation and am not affronted by it. If the management of the Esso on Hertingfordbury Rd change their mind and revert to all pumps without a restriction then I hope it is because the situation has been resolved.
Originally posted by codek2
err, how often do you get choice of lane at that station? not very often, even if you did it's inconvenient, even if you do know about it. Are you denying that it's inconvenient? And as a business in a market where there is lots of choice, is it a good idea to inconvenience your customers? Lets just agree to disagree, and we'll see how long it remains in place, that will tell everything.
Reply ID 81124
Hi All We drive to Germany 2 or 3 times a year and a lot of filling stations on the motorways in France, Belgium and the Netherlands you have to prepay. I personally don't have a problem with the £40 limit or even to prepay for the fuel. Ultimately its the consumer that has to pay for the stolen fuel so really they are just trying to protect everyone's interests. CK
Reply ID 81126
quote:Spot on Steve, that's exactly what Marilyn does. This is all getting very heated, is it really necessary when this was just a thread to let people know as far as I can see. Personally I don't mind the limit, I was glad to find out about it as last time I went there I used one of the pumps and didn't notice the sign. When it went dead on me I thought I broken it! [:I]
Originally posted by Stevequote:Moving goods and materials? Local deliveries?
Originally posted by jamesquote:If you never leave Hertford, I would question your need to own a car.
Originally posted by Marilyn There is not "lots of choic" in hertford, this one or the one at Rush Green. For those who don't drive to Hatfield, Welwyn or Cheshunt etc there isn't that much choice.
Reply ID 81129
quote:I'm sure there's no need for an air freshener in her fragrant vehicle [;)]
Originally posted by gemipicornquote:Spot on Steve, that's exactly what Marilyn does.
Originally posted by Stevequote:Moving goods and materials? Local deliveries?
Originally posted by jamesquote:If you never leave Hertford, I would question your need to own a car.
Originally posted by Marilyn There is not "lots of choic" in hertford, this one or the one at Rush Green. For those who don't drive to Hatfield, Welwyn or Cheshunt etc there isn't that much choice.
Reply ID 81131
quote:Hear! Hear! And, thank you. I posted a bit of information and found myself being machine gunned at the ankles! [:D]
Originally posted by gemipicornquote:Spot on Steve, that's exactly what Marilyn does. This is all getting very heated, is it really necessary when this was just a thread to let people know as far as I can see. Personally I don't mind the limit, I was glad to find out about it as last time I went there I used one of the pumps and didn't notice the sign. When it went dead on me I thought I broken it! [:I]
Originally posted by Stevequote:Moving goods and materials? Local deliveries?
Originally posted by jamesquote:If you never leave Hertford, I would question your need to own a car.
Originally posted by Marilyn There is not "lots of choic" in hertford, this one or the one at Rush Green. For those who don't drive to Hatfield, Welwyn or Cheshunt etc there isn't that much choice.
Reply ID 81136
Ewoowar I am really sorry, I wasn't questioning your evidence at all. It was a genuine question. Problem with forums (fora?) is that you cannot get the voice intonation. If you reread my post imagining a real question tone rather than any other tone you would understand. I am just flummoxed over why, what could the attendant do? Someone who posted the high sided vehicles issue might have a point. In that case they could put up a height restrictor on the nearside pumps to allow clear view of the far side pumps. By the way I once reported a drive off and when the police caught them it turned in to much more than petrol theft. I was nearly called as a witness to some rather nasty criminal activities
Reply ID 81137
quote:Apologies are mine.......you must have caught me in a sensitive moment.
Originally posted by Kateg28
Ewoowar I am really sorry, I wasn't questioning your evidence at all. It was a genuine question. Problem with forums (fora?) is that you cannot get the voice intonation. If you reread my post imagining a real question tone rather than any other tone you would understand. I am just flummoxed over why, what could the attendant do? Someone who posted the high sided vehicles issue might have a point. In that case they could put up a height restrictor on the nearside pumps to allow clear view of the far side pumps. By the way I once reported a drive off and when the police caught them it turned in to much more than petrol theft. I was nearly called as a witness to some rather nasty criminal activities
Reply ID 81139
I don't see the problem - it never costs anything like £40 to fill mine up. (even at their prices)
Reply ID 81141
car or motorbike spear? My wifes clio has a tiny tank, and is a super economical car, yet is still over £50 to fill even when you still have 1/4 tank :(
Reply ID 81142
The other half's Fiat 500 doesnt cost £40 to fill up. However that's balanced out by my Chelsea tractor costing over £100 to fill.
Reply ID 81143
blimey, does look like the modern supermini's have indeed moved on then!
Reply ID 81144
quote:Fiat Panda - with the warning light on it takes about £30 worth
Originally posted by codek2
car or motorbike spear? My wifes clio has a tiny tank, and is a super economical car, yet is still over £50 to fill even when you still have 1/4 tank :(
Reply ID 81145
quote:You'd be surprised Steve [:D] I would seem that many of us who don't do a lot of milage or have smaller cars/tanks are happy to use the outside pumps. I will try to use the resticted pumps whenever I can so as not to hog the ones for heavier users. I would imagine many of us who dont mind the limit will try to do the same. Perhaps we could work together on this (she say's hopfully [:I]) and prevent some of the aggro. It's a shame they have had to impose this restriction, but I can understand why, after all the more that gets stolen, the more we will all have to pay (unfortunately).
Originally posted by Stevequote:I'm sure there's no need for an air freshener in her fragrant vehicle [;)]
Originally posted by gemipicornquote:Spot on Steve, that's exactly what Marilyn does.
Originally posted by Stevequote:Moving goods and materials? Local deliveries?
Originally posted by jamesquote:If you never leave Hertford, I would question your need to own a car.
Originally posted by Marilyn There is not "lots of choic" in hertford, this one or the one at Rush Green. For those who don't drive to Hatfield, Welwyn or Cheshunt etc there isn't that much choice.
Reply ID 81287
I listened recently to lbc and a garage owner phoned in and said 2 drive offs a week from a full fill up would leave next to no profit that week. I can understand why they would try things to try and stop this happening
Reply ID 81290
Let's be generous and call that £200 a week, his must be a very small petrol station.
Reply ID 81303
or a local station that is infrequently used. My local garage in Goffs Oak is currently charging 147p/litre for unleaded. So, as you can imagine, doesnt get used very often unless for emergencies. The place obviously makes it's money from servicing. However, if two people filled up and drove off, it would probably wipe out thair weekly sales on fuel
Reply ID 81312
the major petrol stations only make about 1p profit from 2-3 litres of petrol sold,and it the shop items or if they have a carwash where the money is made
Reply ID 81313
No one has address the question as to why the £40 limit pumps are furtherest from the kiosk...pretty obvious really....
Reply ID 81316
Hello people..... Lets get this into perspective. How many people in the world starved to death last week? How many people in London are involuntarily homeless? How many people we diagnosed laset week with an incurable illness? How many people in the world were killed by terrorist outrages last week? I could go on...... but how many people we inconvenienced by this Esso garage policy? Err helloooo... are the residents of Hertford really that shallow? Vote please
Reply ID 81317
If everything had to be put into perspective then there would be little active debate on forums such as these as you would class the majority of discussion as trival. You remind me of my mum telling me when I was little to eat all my greens as there are millions of starving Ethiopians who would be grateful for my dinner!
quote:
Originally posted by Robbo
Hello people..... Lets get this into perspective. How many people in the world starved to death last week? How many people in London are involuntarily homeless? How many people we diagnosed laset week with an incurable illness? How many people in the world were killed by terrorist outrages last week? I could go on...... but how many people we inconvenienced by this Esso garage policy? Err helloooo... are the residents of Hertford really that shallow? Vote please
Reply ID 81318
Robbo, we are not shallow, it is just discussion points. What do you discuss with your wife/girlfriend or mates down the pub? I guess from your post, you have never said something along the lines of "shall we have roast chicken or roast Beef today" or "shall we grab a takeaway, what do you fancy? Chippy or Indian?" as these are all trivial when faced with famine in the world. 90% of our conversations must be trivia. I tend to use it to make and maintain friendships.
Reply ID 81319
I guess some people need to think a little before posting what they may view as a valid viewpoint but which others may possibly view as "smart arsed comments". (http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.php?id=5981)