are you "panic buying" petrol?

[mumonthenet]

possible supply problems in the UK

where I live, in Portugal, since last night people have been queuing for petrol/diesel.

Diesel has now run out in most petrol stations in my town - some are closed, and they are still queuing (at 6pm) for petrol.

Me and Dh "panic" bought last night. We have enough for a week. The truck drivers are striking to force the gov to cut taxes on fuel, and of course, the knock on effect is that we all rush out and buy.

Interesting phenomenon, don't know what will happen.

sell them probably FK

Mow a lot of grass? Make petrol bombs? You've not done anything to piss him off have you?

I got mine in the cheapest petrol station in Norwich and still no queue. Clearly made of sterner stuff around here.

It's just a knee jerk reaction, isn't it? Papers all say 'don't panic buy petrol' so everyone rushes to the garage to do just that!

exactly - that'w what happened to dh and I - saw the news, read the Portuguese equivalent of the DM - and I had to take dd 30 kms down the road - so we filled up. Amazed at the queues we found.

DH uses diesel and when he got to the pump the lady came out and said right, after the next three cars there's no more diesel.

Not sure I would have panic bought if we didn't live in the country and have 3 kids. Keep thinking possible hospital trips - our house is not easy to find - last time I had the doc over I had to stand out in the street with a torch and my mobile phone just to get him to find the entrance to the house in the dark!!

No queues round here and diesel is only £1.30 at most of them.

Early days though. Maybe we're all a bit slow round here

No I am not. I have half a tank at the moment. Will need more at end of weekend.

Why panic buy? The strike only affects 1 in 4 petrol stations.

It is only because of panic buying that the petrol stations run into difficulties. if people don't panic buy and stokck up on it all, then we are fine. Petrol stations hod about 4 normal day's worth of sales underground - it will be fine. Just don't be daft ad fall for media hype!

ratbunny - teachers weren't allowed to ump queues, only essential staff like police, nurses, emergency staff, etc. I ran out and coldn't get petrol. Missed two days of school as a result - spent first day in petrol statin queues to no avail. Again, all caused by people ppanic buying - argh!

i thought it was only shell tankers on strike

No queues here I don't think (SW London) Dh filled up the other morning as it was below empty

Personally don't have huge amount of sympathy with tanker drivers (am I right in thinking they want £38k but currently get £36k?). However almost feel inclined to follow Daily Mail instructions to panic buy purposely at Shell garages, purely as an anti-Gordon Brown action. Anything that that might be to his detriment would surely be good. Altho' if I was Gordon Brown would obviously declare state of emergeny and lock up panic buyers for at least 42 days.

There was some queueing today at our local Tesco when I arrived at the store - I was miffed as I was v low on petrol and don't like queues.

By the time I came out though, the queue was gone so I nipped in and filled up. A tank will last ages as neither DH nor I use a car for work and we don't have much in the way of going out and about planned.

both our cars are virtually out of petrol, not going to panic buy either. i don't use mine much, walk when i can, and if dh can't get to work, so be it. he's so stressed atm he could probably do with a few days impromptu holiday!

Can't afford to fill up - have diesel car

I am not panic buying petrol.

I am buying petrol before the panic buyers buy it all

I was a nursing assistant at the time of the last petrol strike but I wasn't given special privaleges.

Its quite bad around here - the petrol station down the road is often empty because several of the petrol stations around it have been closed & turned into cash washes!
on one route to my parents from my house, I could pass about five petrol stations, now just one. And four car washes.

no but it took 20mins and £55 to fill up yesterday

if I cannot fil upthen I shall stay at home
My kids walk to school so theya re sorted

who can afford to panic buy? Sheesh
I'm buying me and the kids a fricking horse. Dp commutes diesel car 2 hrs each way... Environmental thief and fool.
long story not pretty.

Well our tank was empty yesterday so needed to fill up as we normally do, but felt very conspicuous! Didn't want to be lumped in with all the panic buyers I needed a sign that said "I really need petrol!"

There were silly queues though. Considering Shell stations are only 1 in 10, seems rather silly.

had to fill up yesterday as running out, busy, but no queues.

PILS driving to spain and had to take detour to avoid madrid as absolutely gridlocked with protestors.

Can't afford to fill up, anyway! Cost us £65 last time.

Actually, can anyone explain why diesel is more expensive than petrol? Am sure it used to be the other way around. And they both come from oil... I just don't get it.

I think Diesel still goes further than petrol so is more cost-effective. I thought is used to be cheaper litre per litre, also.

I did yesterday - had quarter of a tank left and would normally leave it until almost empty. Then DH came in from work and said they were queuing 5 deep per pump pretty much at the 10 pump station near his work.
I thought I'd best fill up while I can as I cannot get to work without my car. (I Work in offices in the middle of the countryside)

Did think how irritating it is to be in situation where I know I am being utterly ripped off but am unable to do anything about it.... Wish I could do without the car but it is just not feasible at the moment.

well I've got about 1/4 tank, am supposed to be going to a friends 12 miles away, it'll get me there and back. But thinking I might not bother.
If people are panic buying now think I'll just leave it a couple of days.