So I needed to top up the credit on my ‘driving’ phone the other night coming back up the A1. Called at the Jet at Stamford and saw the [zb] wandering around on the forecourt. Gets out and goes over to the night pay and there’s no sign of him. Rattled the metal drawer a few times, still nothing. Brayed on the drawer some more and still nothing. After 5 mins I got ■■■■■■ off with it and drove off.
Couldn’t be arsed coming off at Gonerby Moor as it’s on the wrong side of the A1, so continued a few more miles and stopped at the next Jet garage. Same shizzle there as well. Place was open but no [zb] to be seen, although I saw the shadow of someone moving around in the office. WTF.
In the end I got the voucher from Markham Moor, but what is the point of these places being open 24 hours if no [zb] is going to serve you? I’ve had the same happen at the 24hr Shell garages just south of Ferrybridge too. I can’t see how they would make any more money that the cost of the staff wages and site running costs through the night time anyway so why not just close them down and save the hassle? I now purposely all those places that refuse service just as a matter of principle. The same goes for any garage that refuses to open the door when you want some munchies and will only take your ‘order’ through night pay hatch.
I know, can’t stand it when they won’t let you in the shop on a motorway services. Fair enough if it’s a petrol station in an inner city though.
I heard the staff at the m6 toll services talking once about how the other side had the ciggies robbed the previous night so they would keep the doors locked and only let you in if you looked kosher, for example a lorry driver fueling up which is fair enough and better than not letting anyone in although could be seen as discrimination but I don’t care as long as they let me in…
Lycanthrope:
agree, it really ■■■■■■ me off they won’t let you in the shop after 10pm or so
I went to fill up one night and as I climbed out I heard him unlock the door automatically (i thought he locked it), wasn’t till I had filled up and was walking over to the window he pointed to the door, this was about 2am or so… clearly, i never looked like a baddie
Rob K:
In the end I got the voucher from Markham Moor, but what is the point of these places being open 24 hours if no [zb] is going to serve you? I’ve had the same happen at the 24hr Shell garages just south of Ferrybridge too. I can’t see how they would make any more money that the cost of the staff wages and site running costs through the night time anyway so why not just close them down and save the hassle?
I believe it is to do with insurance Rob, you have to keep them manned and rather than pay a security guard to sit behind a barrier, you may as well pay some arrogant oik the minimum wage to ignore you
I remember my brother had this same insurance problem and as the fuel station wasn’t very busy at night, he knocked it down and extended his showroom.
Think yourself lucky you only wanted a phone top up, I called in a garage for a gallon of oil I needed badly (Kircaldy) they never had any but if I had wanted to serve up a ten course meal from the middle to far east… no problem
