Rip Off you bet (Motorway Services)

Member Name: jdesa

Product:	Motorway Services
Date:	15/02/02 (303 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Convenience

Disadvantages: Price, Service, Price

Let me begin by establishing my position. I consider myself to be an average motorist and I occasionally travel on business. I have to admit the standards of motorway services (and I stress motorway services) have improved over the years however this is not really saying a lot as previously they were in a terrible state.

The food that is served whilst being edible, and in some cases quite good, is overpriced. The service is very poor and the customer is often treated with disrespect and contempt. I am generalising a bit, but I have noticed that no attempt is made to go out of the way to help satisfy the customer needs; instead we are treated as robots on a conveyor belt. On several occasions I've told the staff I?m in a hurry, but this does not appear to have improved the speed of the service one bit, so instead of eating my breakfast at a leisurely pace I end up having to 'wolf it down'!


The opening times of the concessionary stores leave something to be desired, if I want a BK whopper at 9 in the morning can I get it? "No chance mate we don't open till 11", is the response! What is the point of that I ask, don't the companies realise they are turning away good business?

As to the petrol, which for many motorists is the only reason for going to a motor service station, the prices are completely out of touch with the rest of the country with primes of 5-10p being applied per litre!

I accept that service stations need to charge a bit extra, due to there location and lack of any other source of income or custom, but they are literally driving away customer with this attitude.

In conclusion, it is no surprise that the majority of motorists are keener to drive on and save money rather than taking a break, resting and spending! Motorway services are a rip off, if they are not improved they will go out of business.

*** update

... Sorry to make such a generalisation
, but to be more specific, a lot of my driving involves the M4 motorway, and I tend to use the Lea Delamare services the most as I feel they offer the best value and quality (compared to other services). I try to leave a bit earlier in the mornings to allow myself a bit more time to enjoy my meal and I just put up with the delays!

Summary: