Quote:
Originally Posted by PatchyBoy That would be a wrong assumption. Fuel stations are paid a fixed commision per litre of fuel they sell. In Nov 2011 it was 1.50 for petrol and 0.91 for diesel. Not sure what it is now.
So, whether they sell the stock for the pre-hike price or the post hike-price, they still make the same commission. The primary reason they claim "No Stock" and shut down is to avoid the mob mania and related problems the consumers cause, in their effort to save some money.
Rajan |
Quote:
Originally Posted by itwasntme |
Thank god someone is looking at the other side of the story as well.
I have been going through the thread and thought of sharing this experience with you guys.
I am a student here in Mumbai. My family is based in Chandigarh.
My dad operates a petrol pump in Chandigarh. On the day when the hike was announced I read about the same on facebook and called up my dad (He wasn't aware of the same). He rushed to the outlet only to find at least 50 vehicles queued up on both sides. This was at 7 PM. Things were running smooth and customers were getting fuel filled up and leaving.
By 8PM tempers had started flaring up. There had been at least
5 fist-fights and numerous other verbal spats. My dad could sense trouble and like always, he called the police (telling them there is a law and order situation).
At 8:30PM 1 PCR Gypsy was sent along with an SHO and 2 constables. They tried to restore some order in the queues. Soon there were news reporters and all sorts of people who came in and started showing there high-handedness and demanded that their cars be fueled up first and that they should not be made to wait. On being told to join the regular queue like others, most of them threatened my dad and left.
By 9PM, things started heating up again and a customer on a motorbike slapped an employee (because the employee had asked him to move up ahead after his fueling was done). Also, 3 cars had hit one another in the rush to get inside. The policemen sorted the matter out.
By 9:30PM My mother called saying me that things are really getting out of hand here. Just too much fighting and arguing. (She and my sister had gone to meet my dad and to give him something to eat as he is a heart patient). Next my dad realises that the cops went away without informing him. He called up the police again only to be told that they are busy elsewhere and that he should make his own arrangements to sort out any issues. He called up the SP. She said she cannot help him in any way and he should speak to the SHO of the area.
At 10PM dad asked the employees to let maximum number of customers in (so that they can get fuel) and put up the metal chains at the entrance. He also asked them to switch the overhead lights off.
The pump closes at 10PM - IOCL guidelines.
Now comes the reason why he was trying to call the police.
Within seconds, a mob of atleast 200 customers (although i'd like to call them hooligans - these are the ones who were left outside) comes inside and starts hurling abuses and goes on a rampage. They start breaking flower pots, kicking the fuel dispensers and beat up 5 employees who try to stop them from doing so. They demand to see the owner. They hurl the choicest of abuses.
Saala Chor Hai! Kal Maal Bech Ke Paise Kamayega! (He's a thief. He will sell the stock tomorrow and earn money)
Aag Laga Denge Humein Tel Nahi Diya Toh We'll set the place on fire if we are not given fuel.
Hum Dekhte Hain Saala Band Kaise Karega We'll see to it that he doesn't shut down the pump.
My mother calls me up. She is inside the office with my sister. Both are crying because they cannot find my dad and there are these 200 people right outside wanting to barge into the office. The employees who were stopping them from coming inside are being beaten up.
My dad meanwhile had left from the rear exit and has rushed to the nearest police station to call some policemen. I google the police headquarter numbers for chandigarh and call them and tell them what the situation is. They assure me they'll send someone over. I pass on the number to my sister who also calls up and asks for help.
10:15PM 1 PCR gypsy comes with 4 policemen and my dad. 4 against 200, what a match! My grandfather (he is a retired govt employee) calls up his contacts in the police and tries to arrange for some police force.
By 10:30PM 2 more gypsies arrive with another 8 policemen. A senior police officer comes and requests my dad that it would be better if he opens the pump for some more time as they cannot control the situation and there could be a riot. Dad obliges and asks the boys to resume fueling again. The entire mob rushes back to their vehicles and in the rush to get inside 4 cars end up banging each other. Again the fight continues.
Operations go on till 11:30PM after which the 12 policemen apparently get bored and decide enough is enough. They order the employees to close the pump. Some minor altercations take place but they are resolved this time.
After checking all records and readings for the day, my family reaches home at 12:30PM. All three of them hungry and scandalized by what happened in the last 5 hours.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now coming to the employees. What was their fault in the whole deal. Poor guys don't even understand the economics or the reason why the prices were hiked. They had eaten their last meal at 1PM which was lunch and were standing there working for 11 hours, fueling up car after car. (If any of you runs their own business, you would understand what employees mean to your organisation).
But they were beaten up for stopping people from kicking the same dispensing units through which they earn their living, for trying to protect the owners wife and daughter.
The flowerpots that my grandmother and mother so carefully take care of all through winter and spring so that the flowers bloom well and we can do our share of saving the environment, were all broken. Think of the pain you undergo seeing that sight.
There were customers who barged in with their cars the wrong way (through the exit) saying that they just needed air and then would park in front of an entire queue and demand fuel. How do you handle such cases?
How about the so called well connected customers who threatened my dad when he asked them to join the regular queue.
How about the wear and tear on the dispensing units due to continuous operations for 6 straight hours?
(Well, the employees were finally given ice cream and cold drinks by my dad in the night and they were promised a meal from their choice of restaurant the next day as that day all restaurants had closed - for their good and hard work all evening)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By the end of it all, there was almost no fuel left in the tanks. The pump was dry. We didn't earn a single extra rupee from a 7.5 rupees a litre hike. All we earned as a family was a bad name for being thieves and the harassment my family had to go through.
There is just so much you have to keep in mind and think about when you are sitting on 10000 litres of fuel. How many of you will be able to keep quiet and see each car driving away with
just 200 rupees of your profits and on top of it abusing you as well on the way out. C'mon guys we should all appreciate that its a business that is being operated here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now tell me. What should my dad do when the prices are hiked the next time? Shouldn't he also put a board saying "OUT OF STOCK" and give himself and his employees half a day off?? (the much needed off incase you guys didn't realise that the operations of a fuel outlet are such that you are operating all 365 days. NO HOLI. NO DIWALI. NO CHRISTMAS. NO NEW YEARS. You just don't get an off!!)
Or should he put up with the all the nonsense like he has been, after every price hike announcement, for the last 9 years.