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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that petrol stations should make the handles of their pumps easier to hold

39 replies

BoffMonster · 31/10/2009 21:52

I am wondering if anyone else is sick and tired of the fact that petrol stations have pump handles clearly designed for men, which required squeezing at a very awkward angle and in a difficult way for the female wrist, which means that your arm gets tired when filling up the car. Or am I alone?

OP posts:
MrsBadger · 31/10/2009 21:54

you are alone

practise more

Meglet · 31/10/2009 21:55

I want them to do it like the States where you pay first then the pump only lets you put that amount of fuel in, then, clicks off.

CheeeseOnToast · 31/10/2009 21:56

I used to find this, when I was driving

You are not alone!

Like sometimes when I hold the kettle at a pouring angle and something twangs inside my hand and it hurts... or maybe i'm just a bit puny?

Morloth · 31/10/2009 21:56

They are quite big aren't they? Not really thought about it before.

ScaryFucker · 31/10/2009 21:59

go to the kind of stations where a Brad Pitt-lookey-likey pumps your fuel for you.....

what fucking planet am I on ???

well, I can dream...

< goes back to the red wine and shit telly >

PacificWerewolfwoohood · 31/10/2009 22:00

I am with you on that one!

Also, why can they not be like on the continent where you can kind of click the pump on, leave it in and it stops automatically when tank is full? I love that.

dontknowwhat2do · 31/10/2009 22:06

I find it really difficult to fill my car - the petrol cap is nearly up to my shoulder which makes it very hard to use the pump.

Wish I had a tall hunky man at the pump to fill it up for me!

TheFallenMadonna · 31/10/2009 22:08
Original poster
BoffMonster · 31/10/2009 22:11

MrsBadger, is it all in the wrist action?

OP posts:
thelunar66 · 31/10/2009 22:13

I need to use two hands to pump. This has resulted in my getting barred from my local shell station.

I was using 2 hands (as normal) but with my back to the shop window.

I went in to pay.

Bloke behind glass accused me of ttexting whilst using pump. I suppose it looked like i was coz of using 2 hands. I said i wasn't texting. He said.. 'you were texting with your back to CCTV on purpose. I got upset and said I really wasnt texting. He insisted i was. I said I WASNT FUCKING TEXTING YOU ARSE! he said i was. Queue was forming behind me. I said I WASNT TEXTING YOU ARSEHOLE WHO SHOULD HAVE GONE TO SPECKSAVERS.

I cant go back to that petrol station. I have a car that is distictive and easily recognisable.

Original poster
BoffMonster · 31/10/2009 22:14

Pacific, I wondered that too. Over here they have the little thing to click into place but it never works. I wonder if the blokes that build the things disable the function?

OP posts:
whomovedmychocolatecookie · 31/10/2009 22:20

I don't fuel my car . I get DH too do it.

thelunar66 - well that's barking - they can just switch the fuel source off if they suspect you are using your phone (and normally do), he was just being an arse!

Original poster
BoffMonster · 31/10/2009 22:26

Lunar66, what a nasty little man. Let's stuff a Ginsters up his backside whilst making him text the word sorry 100 times.

OP posts:
SixtyFootGhoul · 31/10/2009 22:28

I get into all sorts of bother filling up my car. Often have tannoy person asking me to re-arange my car on the forescourt.

amazonqueen · 31/10/2009 22:33

He was being an arse .Good for you that you retaliated. He was also very wrong
www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2006/11/30/1799366.htm

thelunar66 · 31/10/2009 22:35

rearrange??? how??

whomovedmychocolatecookie · 31/10/2009 22:36

I'd also like to make it the law that you cannot display a 'pay at the pump' sign to encourage you in unless every sodding pump is PATP. I dislike going in to pay if I have to fuel my car. I will therefore only go to a petrol station if it has PATP stalls. So WTF is it whenever I do this, the one pump I go to, requires me to go in and make small talk with the annoying person in the kiosk who has not spoken to anyone in two hours (I only ever fill the car in the middle of the night - I'm not, generally a sociopath!)

cheeseandeyeballsarnie · 31/10/2009 22:37

i used to work in a garage.non self service,cant remember word as am bit drunk.serving petrol.i was about 16 and it was fine!

i passed my test the other week and dh keeps saying careful when you put petrol in blah blah blah.but its fine!i have ickle tint hands and i can do it!

thelunar66 · 31/10/2009 22:40

amazon... that is interesting link.

Original poster
BoffMonster · 31/10/2009 22:42

It reminds me of the arguments as to why socket safety covers make UK sockets more dangerous than not using them.

OP posts:
SixtyFootGhoul · 31/10/2009 22:43

I always try and be clever and go to the 'wrong side' and then I cannot quite get the thingy to stretch.
So then have to move my car andwell you know , just make a general prat of myself.

thelunar66 · 31/10/2009 23:09

You wrong-position people are brave... i never dare.

cat64 · 31/10/2009 23:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MrsBadger · 01/11/2009 14:48

I am with you cat

I park on the 'wromg' side, the hose always reaches and I never have a problem squuezing the trigger thing

there are some advantages to beign strapping rather than petite

cheesesarnie · 01/11/2009 14:51

im petite and have no problems.its skill