PSA: Always Ask for Receipt When Fueling up at 7-Eleven with Fuel Lock

buckethat on 07/04/2021 - 13:30

TLDR: They assume you won't ask for a receipt and tack on extra charges to make back the loss on the discount given. I fueled up, got a coffee and here's my receipt. I didn't get a slurpee, and they only told me about being overcharged when I asked for a receipt.

Hi all,

For once in my life, I have some info that might actually be useful for the general public. This might be common knowledge or super obvious to some but.. it wasn't to me until today.

Today, I fueled up at a 7-Eleven with a fuel price lock. ULP (91) 47.12 L @ $1.639/L, this came out to be $77.23.

I had a fuel lock of $1.21/L so I received a discount of $19.88.

I bought the $1 coffee as well. So the total should now be $58.35.

Clerk said $61.35 and me not thinking much of it, just paid for it.

Then she asked if I wanted a receipt, usually I don't but this time I did. She had a surprised look on her face and hesitated and said "Oh sorry I accidentally overcharged you $3.. do you mind if I refund you with cash".. again not thinking much of it, I just said sure why not. Thinking it was an honest mistake. Then I got my receipt.

I have a feeling that they do this to a lot of customers since most people, like me, probably don't bother with a receipt. Also the expression on the clerk's face when I said I wanted a receipt was also kind of suspicious. Could be an honest mistake though, but I'm sure if I hadn't asked for a receipt, they wouldn't stop me walking out of the store. It's not much money, and I'd still be saving money at the end of the day, but it is still dodgy nonetheless if intentional.

Anyways! Always ask for a receipt when fueling up with the price lock!

Poll Options

  • 355
    I always ask for a receipt
  • 60
    I usually dont ask for a receipt
  • 172
    I didn't but I will now
Automotive

Related Stores

7-Eleven
7-Eleven

Comments

    • jv on 08/04/2021 - 17:06

      Seems quite possible.

    • trapper on 08/04/2021 - 18:40

      The extra purchase has already gone through the system though, so doesn't really help her skim cash.

      Maybe she was skimming slurpees though!

      • FeedingTheSnail on 09/04/2021 - 00:56
        +3

        Next time somebody pays for a slurpee in cash, she can pocket it.

      • SJDR on 09/04/2021 - 11:29
        +2

        She could refund the slurpee charge after the customer leaves and pocket the cash.
        OP said she refunded it as cash so it doesn't seem like there is a policy to only refund to the original payment method.

        If the end of day balances are done by the employee and not the manager/owner, they would not see all the sales/refunds - just that the end balance is correct from the till/eftpos machine to the end of day report.

        I expect there is no stocktake done on on the slurpees, compared to bottled drinks etc.

        • trapper on 09/04/2021 - 13:26
          +1

          The refund would be processed and tracked in the system though.

          The manager would definitely see metrics on sales, refunds, and many other indicators. If a worker was refunding an abnormally high number of slurpees it will be noticed.

  • serpserpserp on 08/04/2021 - 17:56
    -3

    Looks like an honest mistake.

    • macrocephalic on 09/04/2021 - 13:25

      It can't be an honest mistake, then what would all the old people on OzBoomer get outraged by?!

      • serpserpserp on 10/04/2021 - 12:19
        +1

        People merging from the left lane.

  • trapper on 08/04/2021 - 18:37

    I rarely ask for a receipt.

    But I always have a pretty good idea in my head of what the total should be, if it doesn't sound right then I ask for the receipt - and then my refund. :)

    • capslock janitor on 08/04/2021 - 22:59

      Here's a gun, Mr White.
      Don't let them do that to you.

  • Korban Dallas on 08/04/2021 - 20:07

    I had an Indian 7 eleven clerk run me down with wacky inflatable arm tube man arms after I drove off telling me I didn't pay.

    I produced the receipt and he apologised.

    • jee on 08/04/2021 - 21:44
      +1

      Indian 7 eleven clerk? What are the odds

    • aurotaro on 09/04/2021 - 08:57
      +1

      you sure not pakistani, bangladeshi or sri lankan?

      • GG57 on 09/04/2021 - 10:00
        +1

        Or Australian, New Zealander, Fijian…the list goes on.

      • Korban Dallas on 09/04/2021 - 10:57
        +2

        Def Indian as my friend who is Indian was in the car with me and confirmed.

  • centrelink on 08/04/2021 - 21:36
    +2

    Some stores are pretty dodgy. Once there was a free red bull promotion and I tried to claim it. Was not stocked and was told it was out of stock. Then immediately she goes, "I'll go check at the back" and voila she presented me a red bull. Then says, only because you are a regular paying customer. Got me thinking that the place was aware of the freebies and intentionally tried to avoid it to give out free Red Bulls. MANIPULATION I SAY

  • dealsucker on 09/04/2021 - 07:43

    I dont think they sell at a loss though. The discount is covered by 7-eleven not the franchise running the store.

    • knk on 09/04/2021 - 10:18

      Really? You'd think the maintenance of the coffee machines, beans,milk consumables etc would be on the franchisee.

      • dealsucker on 09/04/2021 - 10:25

        That will be the case irrespective of the fuel discount. Wouldnt it?

  • cx5 on 09/04/2021 - 07:47

    I always ask for receipt. Once I filled up ULP and car engine got seriously damaged when mechanic told me it was contaminated fuel with diesel lucky I had a receipt clearly showing ULP.

  • Shiny Mew on 09/04/2021 - 08:15

    I always ask for a receipt to track my economy figures in Fuelly.

  • lycheetea on 09/04/2021 - 08:37

    Never forget the $1 coffee, true OzBargain spirit.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/04/2021 - 09:01
    +1

    From my experience everything that need be weighted at Aldi need be double checked if they put correct item code, especially considering how fast they're doing it. Part of me wants to think it's always a honest mistake but another part knows that honest mistake on some reason never worked in my favour.

  • Ryk on 09/04/2021 - 09:11

    There is one store where my fuel discount didn't go through on two occasions, when the discount was like 15c/L on 50L. No problem elsewhere. I haven't been back to that store.

    • capslock janitor on 09/04/2021 - 09:51

      Which store? or dm me

      • Ryk on 10/04/2021 - 04:39

        Liverpool Rd Strathfield South.

  • AR-MEL on 09/04/2021 - 11:13

    On a side note always wondering if similar thing happens to a bank statement/balance without explicit record of the transaction, will any of us in a position to detect this?

  • justgooddeals on 09/04/2021 - 11:23

    Well , this post is great reminder to me to always check my receipts and then remember to keep them. Something I have been very lax with lately .. Another (unintended) community service provided by Ozb. Thanks for the reminder

  • JimB on 09/04/2021 - 11:30

    Not saying that this doesn't go on elsewhere, but I doubt she was doing it on purpose.

    If she scamming you, I doubt she will then offer you the receipt.

    But for my own curiosity, I'll ask for the receipt going forward.

  • SpotTheOzzie on 09/04/2021 - 11:56

    If this was a cash transaction she could definitely pocket the extra $$$, but because it's via EFTPOS there's no way for her to benefit (as an employee) from this mistake.

    People will make mistakes though as well*

    • SJDR on 09/04/2021 - 14:14
      +2

      She refunded via cash, so if old mate hadn't noticed, she could have refunded to cash and pocketed it herself

  • aerona on 09/04/2021 - 12:06

    Remember furling up in a rural town. $70 got me about half a tank where usually it would be enough to get a full tank. I got the receipt but something told me their fuel system is rigged. I only go to main stream petrol station brands in rural towns now or until i find one.

  • Mysterious Laptop on 09/04/2021 - 13:21
    +1

    After that story on the news where a 7-Eleven made the price jump intervals on the bowser system and regular horror stories, I rarely ever go there to fill up… Only go if the fuel lock has a large significant saving like in the OP

    • SJDR on 09/04/2021 - 14:15

      Same.
      there's more than enough horror stories. I won't give them any of my money if I can avoid it.

    • JimB on 09/04/2021 - 14:20

      what news story is this?

  • [Deactivated] on 09/04/2021 - 15:10

    You're right about always getting a receipt, that is good practice. But the whole conspiracy thing… yeah.. nah…

  • zooter on 09/04/2021 - 15:10
    +1

    I once filled at an unknown station and then wife had picked up a few drinks (2 fo $5) on a deal. I just go the receipt by habit and then when I was looking over it on the way out, i saw instead of the drinks, I had been charged Apples 1Kg for $6.99

    Agreed its just $2, but that petrol store didn't even stock apples and the store attendant took about 5 minutes to sort it out. Well, it's his time wasted for their billing mistake although I should have noticed this even before paying to be honest

  • Livert on 09/04/2021 - 16:02

    Best way to check if this is a recurrent issue is for everyone to request a receipt only AFTER payment is made and report back on this thread.

  • milanoxpress on 09/04/2021 - 21:13

    That particular 7/11 servo gotta make some money somehow.
    OP should also check his purchased fuel is the correct quantity shown in docket.
    There are some dodgy servo operators that under measure petrol by 'accidental' tinkering. By the flipside, there is some servos that over measure petrol you purchase.

    If that particular 7/11 servo continues to rip people off, I would take my business to nearby Puma, Matilda, Freedom, Liberty, Coles Shell express, Woolworths Caltex. Did I miss any known servo names?

  • Mancandy on 10/04/2021 - 16:34

    A few year ago, I filled up my car and went into pay.
    I had my credit card ready in my hand to pay before i walked into the store. The cashier saw this and got the machine ready for me and selected $20 withdraw thinking i wouldn't notice (and I didn't)!!

    It was only because i tried to tap pay that the withdrawal declined (need to insert and select savings rather than tap and pay credit).
    The cashier said there was an issue with the machine and restarted the transaction without the $20 withdraw

    I should have reported it but at the time… still kicking myself i did nothing about it. Never went back to that station again.

  • SJDR on 08/05/2021 - 18:53
    +1

    Bumping this up as a 7-11 cashier tried this exact scam on me today.

    Fueled up 30.6L - pump price was $1.479, my locked price was $1.277

    https://i.imgur.com/mFHFDYC.jpg

    When I paid she mumbled something about whether I wanted a free coffee. I said no - just the fuel.

    Didn't get offered a receipt but since seeing this post I always ask for one and check it.
    Lo and behold - there is a coffee on my receipt for $1. I questioned it and she said it was free but I didn't want it and that the fuel discount included the $1 refund for the coffee.
    She even pulled out her phone and showed me a photo that had been taken of the cash register showing a $1 coffee charge and then a refund line under it. I had to point out that was not my transaction as I could see it was for diesel.
    In the end I had to pull out my phone, open the calculator and show her that 30.6 x 1.277 was $39.11, not $40.11 that she tried to charge me.

    She then claimed there must be something wrong with the system and begrudgingly gave me $1 cash back but we had a standoff for a few minutes while she argued with me.

    This is only the fourth time I've used the fuel lock (due to covid), so it didn't take long to come across the scam.

    • buckethat on 08/05/2021 - 19:43
      +1

      Thanks for sharing. Yeah.. I ask for a receipt every time now and check it right there. Honestly, its not about the money because a couple bucks is not going to kill me but the shady practice is what irks me the most.

      After reading a few different stories about people experiencing similar issues.. I'm doubtful that its just an honest mistake.. but anyways, I'm glad I made the post if it helped even one person. Have a good weekend.

      • SJDR on 08/05/2021 - 22:26
        +1

        Yeah, agreed. I saved over $30 on one lock last week, so $1 isn't gonna kill me but I'm not being taken for a ride.

  • butwhy on 09/05/2021 - 09:38
    +2

    Happened to me today. Fuel lock + $1 coffee. Scanned my app, and the till showed -$1coffee. But the charge for $1 still appeared on my receipt.

    I showed the operator, and she mumbled about something the free coffee not working with the fuel lock. Anyway without further protest she refunded the $1 in cash.

    Sounds like widespread scam

  • neilforthedeals on 14/05/2021 - 19:13
    +1

    Happened to me at 7-Eleven @ Greenslopes, QLD on ANZAC Day. Same thing with the till showing -$1 coffee and the receipt reflecting the purchase of a regular coffee.

    She again mumbled something about it being a free coffee but I didn't realise at the time it wouldn't work with the fuel lock.

    • neilforthedeals on 14/05/2021 - 19:39
      +2

      ..and just happened again at Graceville QLD. I asked for a receipt immediately before paying and saw him take it off. Definitely a widespread thing.

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