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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Petrol forecourt etiquette?

129 replies

LittleMissRayofHope · 10/03/2015 10:36

Is there any?

This morning I dropped dd off at nursery and was in no rush to get home. Needed some fuel so into petrol station and waited for an available pump on the right side for my car.
There were pumps free but they weren't on the side I wanted.
Man drives in behind me and beeps. I didn't move. He beeped again, and I didn't pay notice to it.
He beeps a loooonnnnggg beep and when I didn't move he actually got out, came to my window, tapped and motioned me to wind down my window. I didn't.
He shouted through the window that my car is smaller then his so I should use the other pumps as it will reach round my car. I said I didn't want to risk damaging my car and I was happy to wait.
He said I was out of order as I would be making him late now and I was a 'selfish school run mum' I didn't say anything back although I did call him a wanker when he finally walked off

Now nasty comments aside, there is no forecourt etiquette is there? I was perfectly within my rights and reasonableness to refuse this?? Or should I have rocked damaging my vehicle or looking like a prat if the hose didn't reach as my car was smaller then his??

OP posts:

SweetValentine · 10/03/2015 10:37

Yanbu

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 10/03/2015 10:38

He was being rude. You picked a pump and waited. I dont like stretching the pump over to the other side of my car and I have a picanto, so its small. Well done for not biting back.

Clockingoff · 10/03/2015 10:40

I can understand him being irritated, but his behaviour was way out of order.

Nabootique · 10/03/2015 10:41

OMG! How rude! It's totally normal to wait for one on the petrol cap side of the car. I've never tried to do the other side and no one has ever given me shit for it. What an absolute tit.

Morelikeguidelines · 10/03/2015 10:41

He was being a tosser.

I do stretch the pump over my car but no need for you to do so if you don't want to.

Seeline · 10/03/2015 10:44

I always wait for a pump on the right side. I find the hoses too heavy to lug round the back. But I always make sure I am not blocking other drivers who may want to use other pumps that are available, and move if necessary (and possible) to let them through.
So I think YANBU to want a particular pump, but possibly a bit U to prevent others using free pumps.
However he was being totally U by being so rude.

susiedaisy · 10/03/2015 10:44

Yanbu. He was being a knob.

OddFodd · 10/03/2015 10:44

He's a twat. You can wait for whichever pump you want.

TattyDevine · 10/03/2015 10:46

He was being a dictatorial twat.

I bet if you were a burly bloke in a little car he would have been far more pleasant in his request. And far more pleasant if the request was declined, minus the personal insults.

TattyDevine · 10/03/2015 10:47

And I do hope he wasn't terribly inconvenienced while you really took your time filling up and had a little browse in the shop when you finally went in to pay

(probably what I would be tempted to do)

BuzzardBird · 10/03/2015 10:47

The hose would not have damaged your car (they are rubber) and you just have to make sure that you park close enough to the pump for it to reach (they reach a long way).

He was obviously rude and stressed/irritated.

TheWickerWoman · 10/03/2015 10:48

It wouldnt damage your car, they are made to stretch across to the opposite side. You were totally right though... And why couldn't he have just gone to the available pump and stretched it across his own car?

MsWazowski · 10/03/2015 10:48

YANBU, in my experience, hoses will reach over most cars and I just use any convenient pump, regardless of which side it is.

If he was that bothered, he could have done that, you can choose whichever one you like.

Quenelle · 10/03/2015 10:49

YANBU

I sometimes go to the pumps on the other side but I need room to pull right forward and have to get quite close to the pumps for the hose to reach. I have a Mercedes A Class which is as wide as it is long so it can be a stretch. And you're right, I have looked a complete knob when the hose hasn't reached

Mrsstarlord · 10/03/2015 10:54

He was a twat but you could have stretched the pump across. I used to do it with our huge jeep and never struggled or damaged it. Just park a bit closer. But he was definitely a twat and you did well not to rise to it.

Mrsstarlord · 10/03/2015 10:54

MrsMook · 10/03/2015 10:54

YANBU.

I don't pull up on the wrong side because the pump handles are designed for giant man hands. Having particularly small hands, I have to use both and a lot of effort to keep the handle pressed for a few minutes. I don't have the spare strength to also pull at the pipe across the car at the same time. It would be far more convenient to me if I didn't have to always queue up on the right side.

If his timekeeping has just been ruined by one person at a pump, that's his own poor planning. He should either have left earlier or filled up before it became critical. You are not responsible for that.

RowRowRowCrocodileScream · 10/03/2015 10:57

YANBU. I occasionally go to pumps on the wrong side but find it a pain and have muck about manoeuvring so it reaches. He was being an idiot and probably stressed over something unrelated.

MaxPepsi · 10/03/2015 10:57

Were you waiting for any pump to become available and therefore stopping him reaching an empty pump or were you pulled in behind the car at the specific pump you wanted and he was able to get to a free one?

bimbobaggins · 10/03/2015 11:00

I have always pulled the hose over to the other side if that is free. Its usually long enough and made of rubber so doesnt damage my car. I have never understood 3 or 4 cars queuing for a pump when others are free.
However the man was rude.

richthegreatcornholio · 10/03/2015 11:00

Of course the rubber hose can damage your car. The hose is likely to have dirt on it as is your paintwork. Dragging the hose over the dirty paintwork is likely to cause very fine scratches. If you don't give a shit about your car then fine but there are plenty of us who do.

Scotchmincepie · 10/03/2015 11:02

He was a prat and very rude.

But the hoses do stretch, I find it a bit of a faff at some pumps but just park closer, and they are designed to work like that.

Original poster

LittleMissRayofHope · 10/03/2015 11:02

MaxPepsi - no. He had more then enough room to go round and use one of the pumps on the other side but he claimed they would reach round his Range Rover and as I have a smaller car I should use those as it would reach.

He just wanted the one on the 'right' side of his car and felt I should get out of his way!

OP posts:

EddieVeddersfoxymop · 10/03/2015 11:03

Ditto rich, I never pull the hose over my baby car, I don't want to scratch my paintwork or trim. OP, YANBU, wait for which ever side you prefer. He was an arrogant twat.

Seeline · 10/03/2015 11:05

In that case YANBU!
He was BU and very rude!

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