Caltex to Re-introduce Driveway Service ??

[csv8]

Dear xxxxx,

Here at Caltex we are thinking about reintroducing Driveway service to our service stations, but before we do we are keen to understand what you think about this service i.e.:

How often do you think you will use it?
How much do you think it should cost?
And how could we make it even better for you?
To learn more about the Driveway service offer and share your thoughts on the idea please follow the link below:

Follow this link to share your thoughts http://surveys.futurescape.co.nz/s3/...f-2092e71ff2ac

Everyone who shares their thoughts before Friday 23rd March will go in the draw to win 1 of 5 $50 Star Cash cards.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts,

The Caltex Team

[Uncle Niceguy]

How often do you think you will use it? all the time miss decent service
How much do you think it should cost? it should be free
And how could we make it even better for you? by making sure i dont need to hop out of the car

[Reaper8]

the prices we pay it should be free, we are being bent over now wouldnt hurt them to give a bit back

[TMC]

They charge way too much as it is. We've already paid for all the future driveway service we'll ever need. I still won't use Caltex out of protest at their ridiculous LPG prices.

[Mickxr8]

Our last one major one over here was `poveys` , got run out out of town many years ago by the big suppliers , pity.. pricewise was good but guaranteed if caltex or co bought it back youl`d have to sell a kidney

[The Yeti]

There's a little servo at Maroota in rural northwest Sydney that never stopped it, it doesn't cost any extra and aside from them going to the toilet for me they couldn't make it a better service

[BDA074]

Doubt very much that they will bring back...
They make too much from people going into the shop and buying stuff.
If they do they will probably still send you in to pay.

[GT-E]

I worked for many years in a full service petrol station. We were always 20c p/l more for petrol than the rest. Only had business people who paid on account, people who made a mistake (saw the price and left), or people who would get $5 and check everything.
Was a fun job as it was quiet and paid well when I was studying.
Personally I do not think people will pay anymore for the "service" as we already think we are being ripped off.

[benoxr]

“How much do you think it will cost?”
With that the idea is already doomed to failure. Years ago when all service stations had driveway service they had the cost built into the business. When they stopped providing service, the prices didn’t drop accordingly so why should they now want to increase the cost to re-introduce it? As already said, they make most of their money on people buying goods inside the shop. I doubt they would introduce driveway service outside of say 8-6pm either. Another issue would be the type of people they would hire to perform the work, cheap and unskilled labour so there would be some ugly scenes out on the driveway with customers. People now want to get their fuel and get going again as quick as possible so these days the public wouldn’t have the patience to wait for the service.
Maybe Caltex aren't thinking inner city or busy metro stations.

[benoxr]

Considering how many people require assistance to have the tyres checked or oil and water checked, from those that are elderly etc. I guess Caltex can see a need for it. But I dont think this idea is for a full-on driveway service. (just a shop attendant who will come out if you request it and then you would be charged extra at the time on top of your fuel. I can see many requesting it when filling up, but they'll refuse when told the extra cost so I guess if it ever got up and running the idea will be short lived.

[jpd80]

Maybe driveways service might also eliminate drive offs not paying for fuel.

[benoxr]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Maybe driveways service might also eliminate drive offs not paying for fuel.

Quite right. Though I'd suggest these days some customers would steal your mobile phone and wallet, and then drive off without paying for the fuel anyhow

[cobramania]

I think it would be good for many people, for older people, many young women, & quite a few men who don't know cars need oil & water in the engine, let alone how to put it in. Also for many parents with a car load of kids, so you don't have to get out of the car. If it was going to cost more I think it would fail, you shouldn't have to pay for customer service, at best customer service seems to be optional, most of the time not available, from any business any more.
I actually see this as a way of them stopping drive offs, which are becoming more frequent & costing the fuel companies (& ultimately the rest of us), big $. If there's 1 or 2 employees actually out on the driveway & who fill your car then walk to your window & get the money off you (like the old days of driveway service), drive offs are much less or not likely to occur. Very few of us like the idea of pre-payment for fuel, so this is another, less intrusive, more acceptable way of solving the problem.

[rancidpunx]

Anyone notice that the website is from New Zealand where they still have service outside of the towns?

[klawsterfobik]

When we were in Tassie last year, (or the year before, I forget now) they had driveway service in a couple of places there. It was great.

I think it was about 5cp/l more expensive.

[sneaky]

the local caltex here (lakehaven nsw) does driveway service for disabled people. only certain times on certain days though, just honk your horn and they come and fill the car up...

it's the only servo i have noticed with a sign to say they do it.

[cobramania]

That survey link actually takes you to the end of the survey thank you page. To actually take the survey from the start go here http://surveys.futurescape.co.nz/s3/Project-Dingo?

The first page tells you it won't be free:

[2011G6E]

No charge or no one will use it. I believe that putting in a question like "how much should it cost" is just an easy way of doing two things at once: First, it looks like they actually care and give a rats rectum about customer service to be "considering" this, and Second, it means that they can sadly say that because of negative customer feedback they won't be introducing it...so it's all the nasty drivers fault for not wanting to pay for each and every little fricking service they provide on top of the ludicrous fuel prices.

It's interesting to have done a brief sales course many years ago and learn the little psychological tricks of the trade...after you do, you'll start noticing them everywhere...

[Kevaclone]

With this driveway service they would also need to use the EFTPOS pumps due to the large number of people who don't pay by cash anymore.

There was a Caltex at Carina(Brisbane) back in the early 90s that hired young girls to work the driveway, they would check your water/oil/air, wash the screen and if asked pump your fuel. They were wearing short skirts. The other service they offered was a pick up and drop off for your car when you booked it in for any mechanical work(a large number of older people lived in the area)

All this was a free service and the fuel price was the same as surrounding servos. But this Manager took this rundown Servo and made it into a very profitable and popular site in 3 years, Caltex made him a very good offer to move to a new site at Nicklen Way Caloundra. of course when he left the Carina site the new manager did away with all the extra services and it's no longer a nice clean and popular servo

So the driveway service can and does work if done right and without the need to charge more

Two site I know of still offering full service, BP Ascot(is it still there?) and the Mullumbimbi farmers Co-op

[GasoLane]

I'm old enough to remember when self serve was first brought in.

The petrol companies said they were following the trend in Europe and petrol would be cheaper if Driveway service was discontinued...... Yeah right!

[TMC]

My local Gull at the end of street still does it FOR NOTHING. It doesn't have expensive prices either. Suck on that Caltex!!!!!!.

[roberts]

grab me a drink petrol *****

[cobramania]

I took the survey, just for the sake of it & to know what they want to know (only took about 5 mins). They ask how often you would use it, how much you spend on fuel each week, what you want them to include in the driveway service, what circumstances or when you'd use driveway service, would you rather pay a flat fee or a per litre fee, what's the max price you'd be willing to pay for it & what is a fair fee for them to charge for it, how often you filled up with premium fuel & what servo (brand) you mostly used.
Would be interesting to have the findings & see how many people say $0.00 fee.
Like Gasolane, I'm old enough to remember driveway service & I listed everything you used to get, water & oil checks/top-ups, window cleans, tyre air pressure checks, fuel fill (obviously).

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by cobramania

Like Gasolane, I'm old enough to remember driveway service & I listed everything you used to get, water & oil checks/top-ups, window cleans, tyre air pressure checks, fuel fill (obviously).

You would probably also remember that the old "Check you oil and Water sir?" was also a good time to look under the bonnet to see if they could sell you anything else... like Hoses, belts etc

[2011G6E]

No need for EFTPOS pumps as such...who hasn't been through a drive-through at a fast food joint or ordered a pizza and had a guy whip out a hand-held card machine for you to insert your card and pay up? Each pump jockey only has to have one of those and you can pay without even leaving your car.

Won't happen though...like the banks, it's too easy for them to charge us money for doing their work for them...

[Franco Cozzo]

I personally like the idea, as I've never seen it done before. The cheapest I can ever remember petrol being was like 75 cents a litre or so.

Especially if they did stuff like check washer bottle, tyre pressures etc, as I'm lazy and I can't be bothered doing that stuff like 95% of the time .

[BigBlue]

Originally Posted by BDA074

Doubt very much that they will bring back...
They make too much from people going into the shop and buying stuff.
If they do they will probably still send you in to pay.

I think that is the idea.

Instead of standing outside waiting for the tank to fill they want you inside spending more money.

Peter.

[music189]

[QUOTE=GT-E]I worked for many years in a full service petrol station. We were always 20c p/l more for petrol than the rest.

yeap thats where I started, back in '73, serving Golden Fleece petrol,checking oil tyres etc for the old man's servo. fuel didnt cost any extra either, hell I even remember when fuel went from gallons to litres we used to roll out price signs every morning weap now it was 7 cents a litre then!!

They didnt even have any shop at all, later we had aNother Caltex site with a shop and driveway service when unleaded first came out in 86? and made more money from lolies and stuff than petrol!

[Neale]

What a great idea... a service station, with service, what will they think of next.

[XR6Naranja]

How often do you think you will use it?
Not often, probably only for Jerry Cans, I'm more then capable of doing it myself, and would rather not have any fuel spillage surprises dripping down my paint.

How much do you think it should cost?
Nothing, there is already a servo in this town that provides it for free.

And how could we make it even better for you?
Drop your prices, your fuel prices don't even compare to the competitors in town, considering Caltex is a branch from Woolworths (Of which I don't support), you shouldn't have the highest prices in town if Woolworths is able to drop prices everywhere else.