find it strange why they would do this, but at the same time doesn't surprise me, although i thought they would call the stations something other than "Z". They initially said in the news at the time of the takeover of the shell retail chain that they would keep the shell brand "for now" I wonder if they will still call the fuels by the shell names like Vpower etc, seems a bit stupid to call it "Z Vpower" either way to drop a name that has been around for over 50 years in NZ is beyond me.
grangies,
May 12, 6:46pm
Agree.
It will be some arty farty government employed IDIOT, that came up with that name.
And it will have been approved by a panel of arty farty weirdos.
Yup they sure ain't service stations anymore, does anyone else find it annoying waiting for people to buy magazines and food when you just want to get in and get out with petrol.
nzoomed,
May 12, 7:03pm
+1 i see that alot too. What happened to the personal service you used to get! Who remembers the days when the attendant would come up to you and fill your car! Or what about when they used to clean your windscreen! lol they are not service stations anymore, they are now shops, all they are interested in is trying to upsell you chewing gum or chocolate bars when paying for your petrol. perhaps if they were not so expensive, they would get alot more sales in the store!
ezekiel67,
May 12, 7:05pm
They had to pay to use the Shell brand - $10 mill a year from memory. I doubt that brand is worth that much these days as service stations are much the same.
nzoomed,
May 12, 7:07pm
i find it strange why it would cost them $10 million to keep the shell brand per year, since its actually shell petrol they are selling and is promoting their product! didn't they pay for the shell retail chain!
johnf_456,
May 12, 7:07pm
Reckon, I even remember when you use to be able to get common parts from the station as well, a lot know ts just over priced food now not to mention alot will treat you like a criminal and wron't even unlock the petrol pump because of this crap system called pre pay. I simply refuse to give them business. Sometimes I have even had to help the older generation fill their car because they simply refuse to come out and help.
foxdonut,
May 12, 7:10pm
Agree. Its practically impossible to buy gas in the morning from a BP with one of those cafe' things attached unless you can afford to wait a half hour.
Once upon a time you used to be able to just give cash at the forecort and drive off with a clean windsheild without ever having to get out of the car.
Now that's service.
johnf_456,
May 12, 7:12pm
I remember when it use to be like that, thats purely why I get gas after work because you just don't know how long you will have to wait for people to get food and coffees. The only times I buy food is when its a public holiday like easter or christmas, but very rarely.
ezekiel67,
May 12, 7:13pm
Petrol gets you in the store but they make their money out of the coffee and other crap they're selling. Hence why the staff don't give a toss about your windscreen and are more interested in pumping out flat whites and butter chicken pies.
pandai,
May 12, 7:20pm
I wonder if the product will change.We run V-Power in our cars.Might have to switch to Caltex.
hammer23,
May 12, 7:25pm
The name is not the only thing they dropped,employing kiwi's is another in preferance to Indian till minders straight off the plane.
johnf_456,
May 12, 7:25pm
Explain more
nzoomed,
May 12, 7:35pm
the only place you still see good old service is in the small old garages in the country where they still have a tyre and workshop.
johnf_456,
May 12, 7:36pm
Yeah, for now days. But I remember how good they use to be growing up.
foxdonut,
May 12, 7:37pm
I wonder if all the other Shell brand stuff will be changed over like Helix and what not.
Seems like a needlessly expensive effort. Subsidising the cost per litre at the pump using the money that would get spent renaming it would do better than a new logo and stale danishes at the counters.
foxdonut,
May 12, 7:38pm
There's a private place on the back road through J'ville to Wellington with staff that come out and make an effort. I think they're a cent a litre cheaper too.
richms,
May 12, 8:05pm
You have to license brands. That price would have been part of the sale of assets when shell pulled out of NZ.
I hope they drop the vpower, doesnt age well at all.
neo_psy,
May 12, 8:07pm
I'm surprised they didn't go for a more "patriotic" name to be honest.
KiwiFuel or something.
phillip.weston,
May 12, 8:07pm
I thought it didn't really matter where you got your fuel, it comes from the same place anyhow, just I understand each company includes their own additives.
neo_psy,
May 12, 8:08pm
Yeah - except Gull, I think. Unless they've stopped doing their own.
franc123,
May 12, 8:11pm
Agreed, I think that maybe it is time for a rebrand, there is little sense in paying out that sort of money to use a name which really doesn't have a lot of goodwill and loyalty attached to it.If they go about it the right way and maybe added more of a NZ flavour to it they will be on to a winner.
wildcat1,
May 13, 12:45am
I dont know what all you morons are moaning about I work at a gas station and all i get on the forecourt are a bunch of ungreatful tossers blabbing away on their cellphones when theyre not supposed to. I often start the day on the forecourt in a great mood happy to help whoever pulls up to the pump, but people dont appreciate service like they used too. people are often grouchy or in a hurry or just dont want to greet a gas station attendant - well because why waste your time with a minimum wage peon. so basically at the end of the day I am deflated and tired from trying to please people that cant be pleased. but you know what, I go out there the next day with a smile on my dial ready to deal with the ungreatful majority.
jono2912,
May 13, 2:05am
+1 I've seen a cellphone explode on a forecourt, while someone was texting.
wpmoore,
May 13, 2:44am
Does it matter what the brand is called It's just petrol/diesel at the end of the day.
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