HOS
09-06-2010, 07:43 PM
Fill up with way overpriced fuel after queueing for 10 minutes with four other cars to get to the right pump. Hopefully avoiding the cones blocking the unused pumps. Praying that when you get to the pump you`ve queued for its not got one of those green sleeves over the fuel you need saying sorry its run out. Because its a long way back round to rejoin the queue !
Hoping the person infront of you isnt going to disappear inside the cavernous petrol station and use the toilet, have a shower, buy a paper and use the coffee shop for a full English breakfast?
After fuelling up, walk across into the petrol station building to pay and stand in a queue of ten people waiting to be served by one member of staff on the only man`d till out of 4. The other 3 are closed.
A service station the size of a small football stadium with masses of shelving and hot/cold food, hot and cold drinks, an off licence, a car accessory display, a camping display, toilets, seating, cash point, 5 members fo staff stood around stacking the massive isles of shelves and usually gassing and gossiping to each other and only one person serving... :(
Stand in the queue and actually feel the old blood pressure rising, thinking why does`nt one of these 5 staff open a till so we get served faster, looking at the prices of chocky bars at 80p each and bags of crisps for a pound and thinking what a f****** rip off !
You can feel the air of tension in the queue and when you eventually get to the front with your basket (can of pop, SF magazine, bag of crisps, packet of sarnies, and chocky bar) the till person takes one minute to scan each item. As you watch them you know they are not going to put them all in a carrier bag , you just know, but you wait for the right moment to ask ;)
When they provide mini supermarkets and shopping baskets, what do they expect you to do ? Carry all the loose items in your arms and throw them all over the forecourt as you struggle to get your car keys out of your pocket ?
So the one till staff has now scanned all your items having picked them up slowly and put them down slowly one by one. ...
" That`ll be £27-99p please " looking bored from behind the till...
"Can I have a carrier bag please?" Do`nt offer any money at this stage, make them wait.....
This will lead one of two ways, the normal response is to tear off a carrier bag behind the till, throw it ontop of your shopping and ask for the money again. Orrrr...... they might put them in a bag for you although this is rare.
Time and motion study says if they scanned them individually and then put them straight in a carrier bag for you, it saves time and effort. Not too challenging ? :D
If they just throw the bag and ask for payment again, hold your ground !!! Put your shopping carefully in the bag and then, but only then !... reach for your wallet for the money. [^]
The bored and dysfunctional staff member then plays the 15 questions game.... :(
Do you have a reward card?.... answer no.
Can I have a reciept though please? (your request is ignored while they carry on with their pre-programmed routine)
Would you like to apply for one?..... answer no.
We are doing a deal if you have a new reward card?.. answer no.
Do you want a special offer/promotional offer ? ..... answer no.
Those are on offer "3 for £10" do you want the other 2?... answer no.
Do you want school vouchers .... answer no.
(Do I look like I have school age children?)
Do you want to take part in...? .... answer no.
Do you want store vouchers?.... answer no.
Getting bored of the game now... so I say... "Look ! Can I have my reciept and change NOW ! ! !"
Game over :D
Play again ? [:p]
Hoping the person infront of you isnt going to disappear inside the cavernous petrol station and use the toilet, have a shower, buy a paper and use the coffee shop for a full English breakfast?
After fuelling up, walk across into the petrol station building to pay and stand in a queue of ten people waiting to be served by one member of staff on the only man`d till out of 4. The other 3 are closed.
A service station the size of a small football stadium with masses of shelving and hot/cold food, hot and cold drinks, an off licence, a car accessory display, a camping display, toilets, seating, cash point, 5 members fo staff stood around stacking the massive isles of shelves and usually gassing and gossiping to each other and only one person serving... :(
Stand in the queue and actually feel the old blood pressure rising, thinking why does`nt one of these 5 staff open a till so we get served faster, looking at the prices of chocky bars at 80p each and bags of crisps for a pound and thinking what a f****** rip off !
You can feel the air of tension in the queue and when you eventually get to the front with your basket (can of pop, SF magazine, bag of crisps, packet of sarnies, and chocky bar) the till person takes one minute to scan each item. As you watch them you know they are not going to put them all in a carrier bag , you just know, but you wait for the right moment to ask ;)
When they provide mini supermarkets and shopping baskets, what do they expect you to do ? Carry all the loose items in your arms and throw them all over the forecourt as you struggle to get your car keys out of your pocket ?
So the one till staff has now scanned all your items having picked them up slowly and put them down slowly one by one. ...
" That`ll be £27-99p please " looking bored from behind the till...
"Can I have a carrier bag please?" Do`nt offer any money at this stage, make them wait.....
This will lead one of two ways, the normal response is to tear off a carrier bag behind the till, throw it ontop of your shopping and ask for the money again. Orrrr...... they might put them in a bag for you although this is rare.
Time and motion study says if they scanned them individually and then put them straight in a carrier bag for you, it saves time and effort. Not too challenging ? :D
If they just throw the bag and ask for payment again, hold your ground !!! Put your shopping carefully in the bag and then, but only then !... reach for your wallet for the money. [^]
The bored and dysfunctional staff member then plays the 15 questions game.... :(
Do you have a reward card?.... answer no.
Can I have a reciept though please? (your request is ignored while they carry on with their pre-programmed routine)
Would you like to apply for one?..... answer no.
We are doing a deal if you have a new reward card?.. answer no.
Do you want a special offer/promotional offer ? ..... answer no.
Those are on offer "3 for £10" do you want the other 2?... answer no.
Do you want school vouchers .... answer no.
(Do I look like I have school age children?)
Do you want to take part in...? .... answer no.
Do you want store vouchers?.... answer no.
Getting bored of the game now... so I say... "Look ! Can I have my reciept and change NOW ! ! !"
Game over :D
Play again ? [:p]