The landscape of fuel retail in the country is shifting gears as AMPOL, one of the nation’s largest fuel retailers, introduces U-Go Petrol Stations—a new breed of self-service fuel stations. These futuristic stations promise a streamlined experience: drivers can simply drive in, tap their card, fill up, and be on their way without any human interaction. It’s a sign of the times, with technology increasingly infiltrating every aspect of our lives, including how we refuel our vehicles.
The rollout of these self-service stations is gaining momentum, with several locations already operational across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria. The concept of self-service is not entirely new, but its widespread adoption by a major player like AMPOL marks a significant change in the industry.
The move towards self-service stations is driven by a combination of factors. The rise of electric vehicles is reshaping the demand for traditional petrol stations, while the industry faces challenges in staffing these establishments.
Mark McKenzie, chief executive of the Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association, has highlighted the ‘significant challenges in terms of manning our service stations around the clock.’
Meanwhile, the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union has pointed out that the staffing issues are exacerbated by minimum wages and subpar working conditions. Secretary Josh Cullinan has raised concerns about the implications of this shift, particularly in terms of worker welfare and job availability.
For drivers, the transition to self-service might seem like a win for convenience, but it’s not necessarily a victory for their wallets. Despite the reduction in labour costs, the savings aren’t being passed on to consumers.
A comparison of fuel prices between a self-serve AMPOL station and a traditional BP station just a short distance away in Dunnegong, Victoria, revealed identical pricing for unleaded petrol.
Instead of reducing prices, the savings from labour are being redirected towards sophisticated technology to monitor the self-service sites. This technology is essential for ensuring safety and compliance, given the absence of on-site staff. However, it raises questions about the overall security and safety for customers using these unmanned stations.
The lack of physical presence at these sites is also a concern for some drivers who worry about their safety in the event of an emergency. Without staff trained to respond quickly to incidents, the responsibility falls on remote monitoring systems and automatic shutdown protocols to manage any potential hazards.
As we witness the transformation of petrol stations into self-service operations, it’s important to consider the broader implications. While the convenience factor is undeniable, the lack of human oversight and the absence of cost savings at the pump could be issues that drivers need to be aware of.
Do you feel comfortable with the technology in place? And most importantly, do you feel safe using them? Share your experiences and opinions with the YourLifeChoices community in the comments below.
Also read: This proposed Fair Fuel Plan could save you money on petrol every day
The BIG bottom line takes over again like Coles and Woollies. I wouldn’t feel safe using one in the middle of the night especially with no other shops around the area. Plus, a service fee most likely will be included using your credit card. More people without a job.
We have a local unmanned fuel outlet which is also the cheapest in the area by far and is quick and simple to use. Also I have often used them in Malaysia – much quicker.
It’s NOT for me.
If you have a problem at one of these “Service Stations”, you are basically on your own, after I had done the Pre-Payment Authorization, the Pump that I had chosen to use, FAILED to deliver any Fuel !!
I had to go to another Service Station to get my Fuel, and then Wait for almost a WEEK for the Pre-Authorization to Time Out and Release the HOLD on my Credit Card to the amount of $250.00 !!!!
I have used them many times, especially convenient when travelling, and I arrive in a town after the usual outlets have closed. Obviously, if it’s a late night, and poor lighting, then wait until morning. But I have never had any problems.
The hold on your credit card can be a bit of a hassle, but I can generally estimate approximately how much fuel I will need, so work out the cost, add about $20 just in case, then go ahead.
Bad news especially for safety, but people will use them, just like not using cash, wonder how they’ll feel when one day there is no record of them having any cash in their account, and they have to provide physical proof or Internet goes down for a month, but don’t worry that could never happen, right?
I’ll continue using BP or other service stations that take cash, have a staff member, toilets and windscreen washing water.
My local Metro station is self-serve and has been so for many years, and is at least 18cpl cheaper than the other majors in the city. Yes, it’s in my suburb and away from the highway, but I like it that way. 18cpl over a 60 litre tank is a saving of $10.80, and every cent counts these days.
There’s no surcharge for using a card. When you pre-authorise your fuel, it will ‘release’ the pumps, and when you have filled, or reached your limit it will automatically stop. The only amount that’s charged to my debit card is the actual amount, not the pre-authorised amount, too, so I can keep using the funds on my card. I’m happy with this arrangement.
If you’re a Costco member you know how smoothly this all goes. Of course they actually have people to help if something does go wrong. Have used this method overseas before and once we found how to change the language over it was fine. Tassie also has some servos like this near the airport as everyone is running in to fill up their tanks before returning cars. There are pros and cons to these things, but I think having a blend across the suburbs would be good – manned and unmanned stations.