TARADALE PUMP PRINTS RECEIPT LONGER THAN THE BLOKE BUYING THE FUEL
Forty-two bucks of 91. Three metres of paper. One sparky ropeable.
A self-serve pump at the Taradale Gull has printed a receipt so long it trailed onto the forecourt, wrapped around the bin, and got stood on by a bloke filling up behind it.
Customer Reuben Fa'atoia, a sparky from Onekawa, put $42 of 91 into his van at pump three on Wednesday and walked off with what he called "a bloody CV". "Thought it was jammed. Nah. Just kept coming. Fuel, GST, loyalty points, an ad for pies, a survey, another ad for pies. I've written shorter quotes."
The bloke behind him, name of Whetu, watched the whole thing from his ute. "Saw the word 'thank you' about six times. Once would've done it. Reckon the pump's got things to get off its chest."
A Gull spokesperson said the receipt length was "within operational parameters" and included "important promotional information". Asked why $42 of fuel needed three metres of paper, the spokesperson said the matter would be looked into Tuesday. Which Tuesday was not specified.
Fa'atoia has kept the receipt. He's using it to line the floor of the van where his offsider dropped a mince and cheese last week. "Finally a use for it," he said.
The pump was still printing at time of filing.
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Reader Letters
Kris_Taradale
That's a bloody piss-take!
Garry (Halswell)
Do you know what? The worst thing about those receipts is they're never useful for anything you actually need. It's just another paper trail cluttering up your car. Back in my day, receipts were readable in a glance, not a novel that gets stepped on.
BarryFromBishopdale
Honestly guys, this is what happens when councils spend all their money on things like sculptures and roundabouts, not on sensible things like fixing the bloody pumps.
Sandra McKenzie
Garry, receipts aren't longer because of council sculptures, mate. They're loaded with adverts so companies can squeeze out every last cent of profit. It's not the council's fault.
MumOfThreeNapier
Three metres? That’s nothing. Try reading petrol price movements from last week, it takes a bloody PhD. Stink one for Reuben though, poor bugger just wanted to fill up.
Trev_Hornby
Gotta love a novel receipt. At least Reuben didn't use it to TP someone's house, though.
wayne1987
Gull's always saving money at the customer's expense. Let's use every damn corner of the receipt for ads, but heaven forbid they give us a bit of a discount on fuel!
Cather1na_S
Ah, the efficiency of modern technology. Took them how long to come up with an excuse? Might as well get someone to proofread their "important information" while waiting for Tuesday.
Garry (Halswell)
But Sandra, if there were fewer sculptures and roundabouts we'd save on road maintenance. That's the point, not what's written on receipts!
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