Tesco's petrol stations - Please boycot!

Hi All,

Been a while since I've been on here, but last night I had a run in with a Tesco's petrol attendant which really got my goat.

After pulling up to the fuel pump, and removing my helmet (As always!), I started to fill the SV with a nice drop of dinosaur juice, when all of a sudden the pump stopped. I waited, clicking the pump trigger to see if it was just me, but still nothing. I then noticed the attendand walking toward me, and them started telling me that it was Tesco policy not to allow motorcycles to be filled up whilst the rider is still straddling the bike.

I asked when this policy was introduced, to which the answer was "It's always been in place". I immeadiatly questioned this as I've been filling up at this station for 2 years now, and have never had to get off my bike before, but the attendant refused to switch the pump back on unless I filled up from the side of the bike. I then asked if it was ok to fill the bike up holding it upright with my right hand, whilst dispensing fuel with the left? The answer was "As long as your not on the bike!"

I then pointed out the dangers involved in filling up in that manner, over the much safer method I have employed over the last 2 years, but the atendand just kept stating that it was policy.

I have since been onto the complaints dept of Tesco's, who state that it is in the APSE Blue Book, and the guidelines state that motocyclists should not be on the bike when they fill up. Again I pointed out that in my 8 years of riding I have never been asked to get off my bike to fill up, and that over those 8 years spillages from me filling up that way would ammount to less that a cup full, and when you compare that to the ammount of diesel I come across on forecourts, its an insignificant.

Also as the sv is not fitted with a centre stand, I am unable to completely fill the tank, if it is leant over on its side.

The complaints department, to their credit are taking this further, with the "Officer in charge", but I also pointed out that, i would be taking it further as well.

Well this is me taking it further. Can you all if possible boycot Tesco's fuel stations, and also pass the message on to any other bikers you know. I have e-mailed MCN, and once I have Tesco's policy in writing (As requested earlier today), I will be forwarding that to the rag as well.

Thanks for reading, I'll stop the rant now.

[sv4me]

Pay at pump is your friend

I've filled up at Tesco in Southport and Formby that way for years, sat on the bike, helmet on

Wow that got you proper annoyed didn't it? It usually just depends who's working there at the time doesn't it?

I'd use pay at the pump, if it was available at the station near me. Unfortunatly the 2 closest stations are Tesco, and neither do pay at pump!

The next nearest is on the A40 so silly prices. I now plan to fill up during lunchtimes at work, where I'm about 5 miles from an Asda with Pay at Pump.

The thing that gets me most is the fact that I've been using that station regularly, and now they go an throw this at me.

Its got me that wound up I might make up a banner, and some leaflets, and stand on the public path just outside the entrance with my own little picket line!

Boycotting tesco is going to make no difference at all. So many people use it they wouldn't care less if a few hundred people from a forum didn't bother going. Plus most people will go nearest to them, and if it's tesco I doubt they'll go out of their way to go else where.

I suppose from a Health and Safety point of view the are correct.
Should you have a spillage that ignites while straddling the bike you are liable to be engulfed in flame by the spillage from the open tank when you drop the bike to escape.
If you are off the bike at least you have a better chance.

A lot of fuss over 1/2lt of petrol but you are entitled to have your views over safety as Tesco are

I wish my only concerns in life were tesco petrol station attendants! Be happy if thats as bad as it gets!

I honestly dont see what the problem is with getting off the bike.

[jonny.boyd]

To be honest I wouldn't touch supermarket fuel with a barge pole. Supermarket fuel is utter carp! I filled up my SV once with Morrisons fuel and the bike idled horribly and ran erratically... never again! It's Shell every time for me now!

Sorry mate but it all comes from the same storage facility and Shell's promises have just been slated as untrue. Providing it is RON95 specified fuel it goes in as cheap as I can get it without going out of my way.
You very rarely find a cheap Shell filling station