Was going to work this morning and needed fuel quite badly. Pulled up on the local esso forecourt, took my gloves off, opened the tank and put the nozzle in. Next thing I hear is an announcement on the tannoy 'will the motorcycle rider on pump 8 remove his helmet'....well fk me sideways! Now ONLY because I was just about out and needed to get to work did I oblige, but it meant glasses off, ear plugs out, glasses back on, pump a massive six quid in and repeat the process in reverse. The bloke on the next pump was as amazed as me, he was a likely to drive off with seventy quids worth as I was with my six. What really boils my piss though is that for most people a bike is a 2nd vehicle and quite often in Ducati world an expensive bit of kit. Had I driven in with my year old Audi A4 I would have been called 'sir' when he asked for my cash. I know there are some bad'uns out there but no more than there are car drivers. I'm going back on Saturday to fill up because sadly for him I have nothing better to do than go and argue the toss. Banks I can understand....but why do bikers still get treated like 2nd class citizens?
Bonkers eh? I flatly refuse to take my lid off. I'd have put my gloves back on and gone elsewhere. Go back in your Audi with your lid on. That'll give him something to think about.
It's probably company policy and nothing to do with the guy on the checkout. Bilking is a major issue at forecourts - my son managed a Tesco fuel station for a time, and the staff were given disciplinaries for excessive drive-offs. CCTV can identify faces but not with helmets on. It's indicative of society and how we live our lives.
It would be interesting to know how they would serve someone wearing a burka. I've often thought it would be funny to remove a helmet when requested, but have a burka on underneath! A mate of mine once created a bit of a scene, by continually replacing/removing the fuel nozzle and repeatedly ignoring the tannoy requests for helmet removal. He kept waving at the staff inside the shop, and pointing to the pump. When a large queue had formed behind him, the irate staff member came onto the forecourt moaning, and my mate pretended to be deaf. He even added a convincing speech impediment to go with it! The attendant didn't know where to look, let alone say!!!
I was once asked to remove my helmet whilst in the queue to pay,er, hello u thick twat I'm in the queue to pay not ride off u numpty
This happened to me, I refused point blank. I told her "No, you wouldn't refuse someone wearing a Burka, would you?" She mumbled something under her breath and accepted payment. I'd also purchased a small bottle of water which I took outside, took my lid off and drank. Fuck em.
I got robbed at the petrol station last night. It's getting pretty bad where I live. I called the police and they asked if I knew who did it? "It was pump number 5," I replied.
I had a full blown disagreement with the Tesco petrol station in Brixton who refused to serve me because I wanted to sit on the bike and fill up (thinking being that as it's not at angle, you get more in.) Had helmet off. Explain that please.
I was asked to remove my helmet........... ...........so I unzipped my flies and got my Harpy out of my pocket.........
I hate the bastards when they have a remove helmets policy but if you're nearly out of fuel you've got to go with it and that hurts. There's a sticker saying motorcyclists must remove crash helmets on a pay at the pump unit about 25 miles from where I live and I keep meaning to go and take a photo. I know it's only relevant if you pay in the kiosk but it just looks stupid.
I seem to remember MCN did one of their 'Daily Mail Outrage' style articles on this. They went and filled up a car whilst in full fancy dress with no problems. Although the CCTV could get the cars plate there was no way of identifying the driver which is the whole point of removing your lid. The garages always say they get knocked off for fuel but bikes cant be half as bad as a car. I can get 80 quid in the car and about £15 if the 848's dry!
"I had a full blown disagreement with the Tesco petrol station in Brixton who refused to serve me because I wanted to sit on the bike and fill up (thinking being that as it's not at angle, you get more in.) Had helmet off. Explain that please." Fire risk, spill fuel on hot exhaust. Elf and safety don't ya know!! Duke
I have worked on a petrol station previously, and was robbed. If you pay at pump, no problem with me, you don't need to take your lid off. But my god, show a bit of respect for those working in the shop - there is so many tossers out there, that will do harm, when wearing a lid/hood up/balaclava etc. Just take it off, and let the poor man at the till relax. Would you go in to your bank to take money out, with your lid on, too? How hard is it?
