Sally Redux

Tesco definitely had pay at the pump before I left.

Pulaski

Did you pay before you left?

SultanOfSwing

Yep. Even in the farthest outreaches of the unfashionable spiral arm of the UK, we had pay at the pump at Tesco as early as 2002 and probably before.

Usually I had to buy a packet of fags when filling up though so I always went in

robin1234

Much earlier. Pay at the pump was common in the UK about ten or more years before it appeared (or was common, anyway) in the US, I believe. I think I first experienced it in England in the 1980s..

Apparently first used in Europe in 1982, first used in US in 1986 according to Wikipedia.

SultanOfSwing

That's as early as I can go back because

A) We didn't have Tesco in NI until the late 90s
B) I didn't pass my driving test until 2001
C) I only ever filled up at a Tesco once, in 2002.

I didn't say it was worthwhile information now, did I?

robin1234

No Tesco's before the late 90s? Where did people get food?

Pulaski

I first saw a PATP station in the mid-late'70's, that took £1 notes, but it was apparently a flash in the pan, because that one lost it's PATP capability shortly after the price of petrol increased to the point where you couldn't buy a gallon or more with a £1 note. It was the late 90's before I ever saw a credit card capable pump in the UK.

SultanOfSwing

In the stores that were bought out by Tesco in 1997. Also M&S.

Sally Redux

My Mum (Hyacinth Bucket) liked to go to the last garage in the area that pumped it for you

Pulaski

She'd like New Jersey then! .... There's also a Shell station near me that'll still pump it for 25¢ a gallon surcharge for you!

SultanOfSwing

I prefer to pump it myself.

Sally Redux

Pulaski

Your mind always has one foot in the gutter!

SultanOfSwing

I'm not sure what kind of mind you have, but mine doesn't have feet.

I do have incurable double entendre disease. Too much exposure to Rik Mayall as a teenager.

Pulaski

That might explain several things!