SHELL - OFFICIAL STATEMENT RELEASED

[jamez]

the suspense is killing me.

[MPeX]

Rudeness

 

I think the main reason why so many bikers retaliate against this no-straddling policy is not because of the underlying reasons or health/fire hazard claims. We have to admit that they are a commercial entity which is entitled to make its own laws and policies which they deem fit.

 

Itz more becoz of the way they enforce it, their attitudes and all. From pump attendants shouting halfway across the station to cashiers using the loudspeakers to scold bikers and then half way shutting the pump. That's why so many of us are "buay song" about the whole issue. Bikers would have reacted differently to "excuse me sir, could u please dismount b4 refuelling?" compared to "EH HELLO HELLO!! GET OFF THE BIKE IF NOT I SHUT THE PUMP!!!"

 

We have assurance from Shell that this is unacceptable and it will be changed. They admit a lapse in service from their station staff in the past few weeks in the way they have been enforcing the rule. They have apologised about this and will do so again in their written statement.

[MPeX]

Static Electricity vs Spillages

 

Static - we understand that this isn't the main reason why Shell has decided that bikers must dismount.

 

They insisted that the risk of fire caused by static electricity is very very much lower than that of spillages. Which is why the policy doesn't apply across to board to all kinds of vehicles.

 

So why bikers?

 

1) Spillage will result in petrol flowing onto our engines and exhaust headers, which are extemely hot and might ignite a fire.

 

2) By standing at the side of our bikes to refuel will allow us to run away from our bikes faster in case our bike burns down, instead of straddling over the bike.

 

3) They have reported incidences of petrol spillage onto the groin area of bikers which have required medical attention.

 

 

But if we straddle over our bike, we have better control, how to spill?

 

We have, unfortunately, tried in vain to convince them that refuelling while stradded over our bikes will allow us better control of the pump, making spillages unlikely.

 

Their stand is, all it takes is one "mis-fire" on the trigger or looking away without realizing the tank is full for a fire to occur. And when that happens, refer to points (1) and (2) above.

[MPeX]

Akan Datang

 

Grace period

 

They have agreed with our view that their policy was enforced "overnight". All it took was a press release with minimal explaination and Shell stations islandwide started to strictly enforce this policy without mercy.

 

Customer mindset is difficult to change, and most of us will definitely prefer straddling over our bikes to refuel. Imagine asking an uncle on a A-plate RXK who has been refuelling for more than 20 years to change his refuelling style.

 

Shell has thus agreed to consider a grace period (duration to be determined) to buffer the impact of this policy, and to

 

1) Allow bikers to get accustomed to the new refuelling style.

 

2) Bikers who still decide to boycott Shell in the end will have a "reaction" time before they switch permanently to another brand of petrol. Applying for Speedpass takes around 2-3 weeks..

 

3) Their station staff can be trained to tactfully handle non-compliance/enquiries in the same period.

 

 

Pump Assistance

 

Bikers can also look forward to having similar treatment as cars. Pump assistants will be on hand to assist bikers refuel in the following manner

 

1) They hold our bikes upright when we refuel

 

2) If bikers are uncomfortable with them holding our bikes, we will hold our bikes ourselves while they refuel for us. Shell has assured that their pump attendants are "experts" on the trigger and will not in any case cause any overflow while pumping.

 

3) Shell has also assured us that if this scheme is put in place, pump attendents will do so patiently and will accomodate requests for the petrol level to "settle" before pumping again. This is in view that certain "uncles" can be impatient at times and do a hasty job of refuelling our bikes.

[MPeX]

Conclusion

 

We have, throughout the 2 hour meeting, drilled across our point to Shell that the customer should be allowed their own choices. The choices are

 

1) To dismount or not to dismount - riders be liable for their own vehicles and safety.

 

2) Shell vs. another petrol company down the road.

 

Why allow (2) to happen when (1) will easily solve the entire issue?

 

However Shell regrets that when formulating policies internally, a proper balance is hard to strike. Between adhering to their company's Safety Mission and customer satisfaction, a compromise would have to be struck.

 

Before this unpopular decision was made, they had incoming feedback from their station francises that this will not go down well with bikers at large. Although they decided to implement the policy anyway, they failed to buffer the impact that this policy has caused, which is why they were most willing to meet us and discuss about the issue and gather feedback.

 

Although we will not be expecting a "U-turn" in this policy, Shell promised to spend the next few weeks reviewing how they can help bikers. Please await for the written statement from Shell, which they will be releasing to members of SBF through me.

[whyh]

Something good came out of your effort, that will benefit the riding community..

 

Good job.

[w1n6]

woohoo! great work, will vote for you as honourable member!

[MPeX]

Originally posted by w1n6@Mar 12 2005, 02:11 AM

woohoo! great work, will vote for you as honourable member!

Wat are the benefits of an honarable member?

 

I would rather they gimme $500 petrol vouchers to silence me instead...

[w1n6]

Originally posted by MPeX@Mar 12 2005, 02:14 AM

Wat are the benefits of an honarable member?

 

I would rather they gimme $500 petrol vouchers to silence me instead...

no comment. *zip*

[madman]

Originally posted by MPeX@Mar 12 2005, 02:14 AM

Wat are the benefits of an honarable member?

 

I would rather they gimme $500 petrol vouchers to silence me instead...

$500 enuf to shut you up ah? I tink 1 yr free petrol better...

[MPeX]

Originally posted by madman@Mar 12 2005, 02:24 AM

$500 enuf to shut you up ah? I tink 1 yr free petrol better...

The thing is, i dun even pump Shell, not for the last few yrs at least...

 

What I did was really a 100% public service leh... $500 enuff leow la...

[MC28]

Originally posted by MPeX@Mar 12 2005, 02:24 AM

The thing is, i dun even pump Shell, not for the last few yrs at least...

 

What I did was really a 100% public service leh... $500 enuff leow la...

steady larz..i give u 50ml worth of jb mobil synergy f1..

[jamez]

Hey think this IS a proper way of settling disputes with watever companies instead of blabbering here n there...upz to you MPeX.

[StingRhea]

[william_liu]

Originally posted by MPeX@Mar 12 2005, 02:24 AM

The thing is, i dun even pump Shell, not for the last few yrs at least...

 

What I did was really a 100% public service leh... $500 enuff leow la...

Good stuff bro, really good! Want another "farking Tiger"?

 

As least you managed to get them to know what their stations are doing to enforce this ruling (which I still don't agree with though.... ) and they are taking steps about it.

As for the "same level of service as cars" plus "holding up the bikes for customers", I think I will wait and see..... quite skeptical. But at least the top management are aware, that's a start for sure.

[HONG]

good work Mpex!! i was impressed that day by the way u tok with them... very impressed...

[MPeX]

Originally posted by HONG@Mar 12 2005, 09:12 AM

good work Mpex!! i was impressed that day by the way u tok with them... very impressed...

I was quite worried u and joe looked left out...

 

I was on my school committee for 2 years, something like the student union, so had some prior experience handling top management pple in ntu...

[danieltanboonhuat]

way to go guys,,,,

 

 

sorry i couldn't come last min... would dearly have loved to be there

[rhema83]

Good work! I am happy to see that bikers' welfare is taken care of.

 

Now, once the press release is out, we can ask the attendants to hold the bike up.

[NightPhantom]

eh then what if suddenly like 10 bikes enter the petrol kiosk how??? they gonna pump 1 attendent for 1 pump ah?? if i pump attendent i dun wnat to work at shell man... stupid job.. still must hold the bike for the biker... or pump for them... what if petrol spill or overflow how? who paY?

[HONG]

Originally posted by MPeX@Mar 12 2005, 09:17 AM

I was quite worried u and joe looked left out...

 

I was on my school committee for 2 years, something like the student union, so had some prior experience handling top management pple in ntu...

nah... i dun feel left out at all.. i purposely keep quiet cos i'm worried that i will make a fool of myself if i open my mouth... cos my england fail... lol

[hohosaint]

Finally realise that how 'birds' do talking through their c*** 'alike' mouth. Just like the 'giving' better milleage.

[MPeX]

Originally posted by rhema83@Mar 12 2005, 01:45 PM

Good work! I am happy to see that bikers' welfare is taken care of.

 

Now, once the press release is out, we can ask the attendants to hold the bike up.

We also requested them to print a black and white poster size notice regarding this issue to be prominently displayed at all their stations, esp. at the pumps and cashiers.

 

For the good of both parties... the bikers can point to the notice say "uncle, u are obliged to help me with my bike!". The staff can point to the notice and say "sorry sir, pls dismount, company policy"

 

[MPeX]

Originally posted by NightPhantom@Mar 12 2005, 05:55 PM

eh then what if suddenly like 10 bikes enter the petrol kiosk how??? they gonna pump 1 attendent for 1 pump ah?? if i pump attendent i dun wnat to work at shell man... stupid job.. still must hold the bike for the biker... or pump for them... what if petrol spill or overflow how? who paY?

We brought up the point already... that's for Shell to figure out how to allocate their manpower when the situation arises.

 

Cars don't get assistance all the time either, esp during peak hours...

[Shay]

Great. Now they could be stressing thier brain cells out to come up with a viable solution to all these.

 

Frankly..i dun trust uncles or aunties pumpers even if Shell claims they are "expert in triggers". Bottomline is, c'mon! anyone can be Expert at the trigger when cars do not wobble , have 4 wheels and REQURES no manual effort to stay 100% upright. Expert my ass.

 

I dream of the day when i pull into Shell for refuelling. Pump attendants will dutifully roll out a PADDOCK STAND that is compatible to my bike (in my case, a pro-arm stand would be nice) and jack the bike up for me.

 

"the lastest version of R1?"" no problem" they say, "we have paddock stands for you too. Super4s? we have plenty of these stands behind for you, sir, pls wait a moment"

 

haha,,,pump attendants happy no need to hold bikes. we happy wont worry about thier clumsiness.

 

btw...good work there MPEX. appreciate your civil mindedness.