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Total petrol station - sharp practice to watch out for
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I believe what my local Total petrol station is doing is pretty naughty to say the least, and would be interested in your views on this.
The garage has a fairly standard 8 pump configuration.
Around a year ago they changed the 4 pumps at the rear of the forecourt, so that they now only sell Total's premium brand petrol and diesel, Excellium, which costs 7 to 8 pence a litre more.
The problem, as I see it, is that this isn't clear to motorists because of the crafty way they've gone about it.
The price of Excellium does not appear on the main petrol price tower, and nor does it appear on the pumps themselves in any printed/permanent form.
The hand nozzle carries the words "Excellium unleaded" or "Excellium diesel" but the colour coding is the same as for the standard fuels - and people can't be expected to automatically know that this ISN'T the fuel being advertised on the main price tower - they may just assume that Excellium is a gimmicky brand name given to the standard product, as in the case of Shell's Fuelsave.
The dearer price only becomes known to the motorist after the nozzle is taken out of the holder, at which stage the price per litre appears on the pump's LCD screen.
I wonder how many people don't notice until it's too late - or simply don't notice at all?
During the recent "panic buying" episode, even those people who were aware that the rear pumps only dispensed Excellium felt pressured into buying it (at an eye-watering 157.9p for diesel) - due to the queueing motorists behind them beeping their horns and shouting at anyone who "waited" next to a rear pump for a front pump to become available.
The garage must have made a fortune through this little exercise in petrol pump reconfiguration.
Obviously it was only done for profit and no other reason; if the rear pumps are really only capable of dispensing one type of fuel (which they're not, as they're all connected to the same underground tanks) then the standard unleaded and diesel should be the default, as these are the fuels that 90% of people want and need.
The garage has a fairly standard 8 pump configuration.
Around a year ago they changed the 4 pumps at the rear of the forecourt, so that they now only sell Total's premium brand petrol and diesel, Excellium, which costs 7 to 8 pence a litre more.
The problem, as I see it, is that this isn't clear to motorists because of the crafty way they've gone about it.
The price of Excellium does not appear on the main petrol price tower, and nor does it appear on the pumps themselves in any printed/permanent form.
The hand nozzle carries the words "Excellium unleaded" or "Excellium diesel" but the colour coding is the same as for the standard fuels - and people can't be expected to automatically know that this ISN'T the fuel being advertised on the main price tower - they may just assume that Excellium is a gimmicky brand name given to the standard product, as in the case of Shell's Fuelsave.
The dearer price only becomes known to the motorist after the nozzle is taken out of the holder, at which stage the price per litre appears on the pump's LCD screen.
I wonder how many people don't notice until it's too late - or simply don't notice at all?
During the recent "panic buying" episode, even those people who were aware that the rear pumps only dispensed Excellium felt pressured into buying it (at an eye-watering 157.9p for diesel) - due to the queueing motorists behind them beeping their horns and shouting at anyone who "waited" next to a rear pump for a front pump to become available.
The garage must have made a fortune through this little exercise in petrol pump reconfiguration.
Obviously it was only done for profit and no other reason; if the rear pumps are really only capable of dispensing one type of fuel (which they're not, as they're all connected to the same underground tanks) then the standard unleaded and diesel should be the default, as these are the fuels that 90% of people want and need.
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Comments
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I would have thought that after a year, people would have worked it out for themselves?:heartsmil When you find people who not only tolerate your quirks but celebrate them with glad cries of "Me too!" be sure to cherish them. Because these weirdos are your true family.0
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And your point is?0
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Sgt_Pepper wrote: »And your point is?
My point is as stated in my original post. Have you got any opinions to contribute?0 -
Can you name the location of this petrol station?"You were only supposed to blow the bl**dy doors off!!"0
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You could phone Consumer Direct (helpline part of Trading Standards), and see what they advise, if you are upset about it.
It may be that Total's customer research determined that, in that area, people wanted a greater access to a premium fuel product and were prepared to pay for it.:heartsmil When you find people who not only tolerate your quirks but celebrate them with glad cries of "Me too!" be sure to cherish them. Because these weirdos are your true family.0 -
maninthestreet wrote: »Can you name the location of this petrol station?
London Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire.
I've seen similar posts about Total garages on other forums, so this may be a scheme they're rolling out nationally.0 -
London Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire.
I've seen similar posts about Total garages on other forums, so this may be a scheme they're rolling out nationally.
I fell for this at a Total garage in Manchester. It's only upon paying a noticed the diesel price on receipt was higher than quoted on the massive board at edge of forecourt. I queried this with the cashier and they said that price is for regular diesel, you bought premium.
I must admit I did feel cheated as this was not clear at the pump.If my posts have random wrong words, please blame the damn autocorrect not me
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Sgt_Pepper wrote: »And your point is?
The point is it is underhand of Total!If my posts have random wrong words, please blame the damn autocorrect not me0 -
total Excellium/bp ultimate/shell v power
all sold at 5-7p more than standard fuel and all the same colour pumps ie green or black and all clearly say premium or standard
very few garages advertise the premium prices its just normally unleaded/diesel/lpg prices on tower
i pulled up on a v power pump last week by mistake did i fill up......like hell did i0 -
On two separate occasions at Total garages now the price at the pump has not matched the price advertised on the board.
Never happened at any other brand of garage. I avoid Total unless absolutely necessary now.0
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