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Self-pay gas station pumps break across NZ as software can't handle Leap Day

arstechnica.com

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Re: Self-pay gas station pumps break across NZ as software can't handle Leap Day

#21

Post by kolinko »

jopsen wrote: post #20
mminer237 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Putting a card in before pumping is considered "prepay". They'll put a hold on your account to make sure you have the money. There isn't much point to post-pay with cards. 10–15 years ago it was common in the US where you would pull up, hit "pay inside", pump all your gas, then go inside and pay at the register. Now because of theft, if you want to pay with cash, virtually all stations require you to go inside, pay f…

When you can pay with card at the pump, the only remaining users for "pay inside" are thieves and the occasional cash-only customer. Also no surprise they don't want you to pay cash, that means dealing with cash which is expensive. Employees at the gas station could spend their time selling hot dogs instead :)

Or people from Europe. It’s 50/50 whether an automated station will accept my European card - can’t figure out the pattern there

Re: Self-pay gas station pumps break across NZ as software can't handle Leap Day

#22

Post by dbetteridge »

pants2 wrote: post #2

Gas stations in New Zealand are interesting because for the majority of them you fill up before paying inside. They trust you not to drive away with their gas. Self-pay gas stations are relatively new.

Pay before fill is predominantly an American thing.

Australia, NZ, UK and most of Europe all operate on a fill then pay.

Some stations in Australia at least are an exception that open 24/7 and have no employees and are prepaid and some manned stations where they charge at the pump during night hours for safety reasons.

Re: Self-pay gas station pumps break across NZ as software can't handle Leap Day

#23

Post by phire »

pants2 wrote: post #2

Gas stations in New Zealand are interesting because for the majority of them you fill up before paying inside. They trust you not to drive away with their gas. Self-pay gas stations are relatively new.

It's not a huge amount of trust; They have your number plate on camera.

These days, most petrol stations do keep the pump disabled until a human inside presses a button. I assume the staff member is doing a quick visual check to check for anything suspicious or unsafe.

And it's not like you can't pay at the pump, most petrol stations have supported it for ages, it's just that most people in NZ would rather pay inside. I suspect the historic "fill up before paying" experience is just so streamlined that nobody bothered learning how to pay at the pump, no need to guess how much petrol you will need or risk needing a refund. And if you were going to buy anything else from the shop, it's actually faster to pay inside.

Re: Self-pay gas station pumps break across NZ as software can't handle Leap Day

#24

Post by crtified »

Looking back at the recent history of the company involved, Invenco, the main foundational change since the last leap year occurred (2020) is that they were sold in 2022 to a United States-based global industrial tech company Vontier.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/472444/ivenco-sold-to-us... (sic)

There is a certain pattern there, of home-grown startup, mentored through internal growth and success - then sold off, at which time all sorts of the usual merger weirdness and slipping-through-cracks happens.

Re: Self-pay gas station pumps break across NZ as software can't handle Leap Day

#25

Post by lsllc »

AdamJacobMuller wrote: post #16
theultdev wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That used to be normal in the US, nowadays most pumps are automated. You can fill up 24/7, even if the store is closed.

cries in new jersey

I make it a point when driving through NJ to fill up with gas before crossing into NJ (or making sure I have enough to get through it).

I made the mistake once of needing gas on the NJ Turnpike, stopping at a rest area and having to wait for 45 (yes FORTY FIVE) minutes while the ONE attendant operating both sides of a single pump slowly worked his way through a massive line of agitated motorists. Never Again.

Re: Self-pay gas station pumps break across NZ as software can't handle Leap Day

#26

Post by kiwijamo »

dbetteridge wrote: post #22
pants2 wrote: post #2

Gas stations in New Zealand are interesting because for the majority of them you fill up before paying inside. They trust you not to drive away with their gas. Self-pay gas stations are relatively new.

Pay before fill is predominantly an American thing. Australia, NZ, UK and most of Europe all operate on a fill then pay. Some stations in Australia at least are an exception that open 24/7 and have no employees and are prepaid and some manned stations where they charge at the pump during night hours for safety reasons.

Many fuel stations here in NZ have switched to pay first then fill for cash payments. Most stations I go to have signs saying 'Please go inside to pay first' or words to that effect on the pumps. However many chains have introduced self-payment card terminals, payments via app, etc so it's not a hassle if you can use these other options.

Re: Self-pay gas station pumps break across NZ as software can't handle Leap Day

#27

Post by kiwijamo »

berkut wrote: post #17
pants2 wrote: post #2

Gas stations in New Zealand are interesting because for the majority of them you fill up before paying inside. They trust you not to drive away with their gas. Self-pay gas stations are relatively new.

That used to be the case, but definitely Pak N Save and Gulf stations you pre-pay (at least put your card in and approve it) before hand...

Yep this is the case at most (if not all) the brands e.g. Z, BP, Mobil, etc. But it does vary by site (and possibly time of the day and/or whether they have enough staff to monitor etc). In my experience pay-after-fill has not been the norm here in New Zealand for quite some time.

Re: Self-pay gas station pumps break across NZ as software can't handle Leap Day

#29

Post by ripjaygn »

dbetteridge wrote: post #22
pants2 wrote: post #2

Gas stations in New Zealand are interesting because for the majority of them you fill up before paying inside. They trust you not to drive away with their gas. Self-pay gas stations are relatively new.

Pay before fill is predominantly an American thing. Australia, NZ, UK and most of Europe all operate on a fill then pay. Some stations in Australia at least are an exception that open 24/7 and have no employees and are prepaid and some manned stations where they charge at the pump during night hours for safety reasons.

> Pay before fill is predominantly an American thing

Huh? Every gas station I've seen in the US is fill before pay. Except in NJ where there's an attendant.

Re: Self-pay gas station pumps break across NZ as software can't handle Leap Day

#30

Post by Arrath »

ripjaygn wrote: post #29
dbetteridge wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pay before fill is predominantly an American thing. Australia, NZ, UK and most of Europe all operate on a fill then pay. Some stations in Australia at least are an exception that open 24/7 and have no employees and are prepaid and some manned stations where they charge at the pump during night hours for safety reasons.

> Pay before fill is predominantly an American thing Huh? Every gas station I've seen in the US is fill before pay. Except in NJ where there's an attendant.

Are you posting from an alternate universe? Or the 1950s?
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