Something a bit different (Motorway Services)

Member Name: thespurs

Product:	Motorway Services
Date:	13/01/05 (262 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: They are convenient at times

Disadvantages: They are grossly overpriced, They aren't the cleanest of places to be

The sight of a motorway service station, just up ahead, can be very welcome for many motorists and their passengers. It is the chance to take a quick break from the road and driving. The opportunity just to catch a few minutes fresh and have a quick stretch of the legs before setting off again to complete the journey. They can be very handy if you urgently need the toilet and you are a long way off your final destination.


The prices that you will encounter at the motorway service stations in the United Kingdom are, in all fairness, extortionate. They charge way over the odds for basic goods that you could buy elsewhere for around two thirds of the price. I nicked a lift off of my sister and her boyfriend back to London a couple of weeks ago and I was feeling a bit peckish as I hadn't eaten any breakfast. I went into the petrol station shop and purchased a sandwich, a packet of crisps, a chocolate bar and a bottle of water. I was a little bored too so I bought a couple of tabloid newspapers. They came to a total of £6.77, which is an awful for lot compared to what you would pay in a 'normal' place. If I were to buy the same things from a branch of Tesco Express, I would estimate that they would come in at just under £5 which isn’t too bad.


The petrol prices that you find at motorway service stations are the one thing that bugs me most. The prices at the pump tend to be around 8p a litre higher than those in more accessible areas, if that is the right way to say it. That means for every 10 litres that you pay for, you would have got one free had you purchased it elsewhere. If people have pulled into a service station to buy petrol because they are running low, they don’t exactly have a choice whether to fill up or not. This way, they have the customer over a barrel and seemingly charge what they like. The worst place that I have come across is Fleet Services in Hampshire, the prices that the Shell garage charges are massive.


There are those that say, I must admit that I do agree that you are paying for the convenience. It is much the same as 24 hour or 'open 'til late' convenience stores; they are there for you when most shops are closed. In order that they operate in different circumstances to provide you with a service, they can charge that little bit more. The motorway services are rather cunning, in that just by being there people feel compelled to make use of what is being offered. They also have a policy that if the customer wants something they will pay whatever they have to, because there isn't any other alternative.


The restaurant facilities that you tend to get in these service stations tend to be very poor, although that is only a generalisation. I am not saying that there are no good quality food services to be found, but on the whole they are very poor. They are on the whole, very poorly kept. They are dirty and grubby, as well as lots of litter and bits of food lying around. The staff that work in these places, bless them, must be on fairly low wages and therefore very demotivated and in some cases disillusioned with their role. As a result, they have no desire to keep the facilities in good order. The food that is on offer is pretty poor too. You know what to expect from the usual fast food chains, so I won't even go there. The other restaurants that provide more civilised surroundings and slightly better cuisine are of a relatively low standard. The food isn't at all great and the service isn't much better.


All in all, I would say that you should only really stop at the services if you are going, or have been on, a long journey and need a break. I would definitely say that drivers stop and take a five minute break from driving and that others just get a bit of air and have a little stroll. There should be no need to buy anything from the services, provided that you are well prepared for your journey. Only a little emergency should result in you splashing your cash on the overpriced goods on sale. The services are there for your convenience and I have to say that they can be mini lifelines for some people in certain situations.

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