Motorway service stations

[britbox]

Not to mention, the watch "salesmen".

Kraug Bauman watches worth about £20 (according to a jeweller I know). These salesmen approach you "I'm just on the way back from a trade show" - show you loads of glossy brochures with the watches at £499 RRP.

One accosted me "on his way back from Earls court". problem is he was on the wrong side of the motorway to be coming back from Earls court!

[Brian Turner]

Heh, that sounds about right - sounds like the sort of people I've dealt with as well.

And welcome to the forums, britbox.

[Rob Manchester]

Originally Posted by Brian Turner

Picked up the family after they had a little holiday with relatives, but the baby needed feeding so we stopped off at a "Welcome Break".

Coming away, I'm left with the impression that you "pay most for least" in such places.

Everything about the place just seemed to say "Laughing in the face of the consumer". From complete overpricing (1 litre bottle of Coke for the same price as 2 litres in usualy shops), to general poor staffing (minimum wage 16-18 year olds, who care nothing for hygeine, can't clean appliances properly, amd can't even take orders properly).

I saw one girl trying to clean a burger grill by using a dirty sponge to drop soapy water on it. I ordered food at a food bar, only to 5 minutes later discover that the order was forgotten.

I used to work as a supervisor in a MegaBowl, knew someone who worked at McDonalds, and was generally left with the impression that fast food joints are dirty and second-rate places for consumers.

I left Welcome Break with that impression re-inforced.

Your right and I do not think menny would think you are wrong yet we all go back to them thats the strange bit

[Joff]

I think it's normally out of desperation Rob - after pounding the tarmac for an hour or two you just want somewhere to stop, stretch your legs, have a wee and maybe grab a coffee for the remainder of the journey.

There are plenty of books and websites (or just use your satnav POI's) that detail which junctions have local services just a few minutes away but in reality it's the convenience we pay for.

[brooke]

must admit, i like motorway services. from the way i look at them they feel like islands, often with resort like facilities. then again i tend to only buy a burger king.

[harding125]

I agree, most service station are awful places. They can pretty much do as they please as their customers are trapped. I guess this is what minimal competition does in the market. Over priced products delivered to a terrible quality standard - welcome to British service stations.

Gary

[domainzaar]

Motorway service stations have all ways been like this and yet people are surprised to find that they are still over priced evrey time they go in.

[Sheffy]

Hubby and I used to spend lots of time travelling all over the country and were up and down the motorways. We learnt early on NEVER to eat or drink in them - just stop to stretch our legs etc. We used to take a flasks of our own (drinkable) coffee and our own sandwiches (edible). The food in these places is just overpriced rubbish.