Customer Service - Nope

[edatlanta]

I stopped at a Pilot Station yesterday to fill up my diesel tank which I did to the tune of over $100.00 then pulled up to a parking space by the front door next to the ice machine. I went in and told the clerk, after waiting in line since there was only one clerk working, I needed 4 bags of ice. She proceeded to tell me "The out front ice is empty, but the out back is full". I asked if I could drive to the outback one since I was getting 40 lbs of ice. She said "outback one is for big trucks". I asked again if I could drive to the out back one and again she said "outback one is for big trucks". I guess she didn't know how to answer a question.

So I told her loud enough for everyone to hear, then sell this 40 lbs of ice to "big trucks" and out the door I went.

I went down the road about a mile to a Dollar Store and they had an ice machine that was "out front" and cheaper than Pilot anyway. I feel better now.

[FPM III]

Kudos to you Ed! I'd have done the same thing. My money's good anywhere.

[DocBrown]

Pilot/Flying J, like many other companies, provides a convenient way to complain online. http://www.pilotflyingj.com/customer...ce-form-portal. When I get treated poorly I make sure to let companies know. I have had good results from doing this. Only one company never responded to my concerns about something and that was Speedway.

[namusmc65]

I see plenty of trailers behind tow vehicles in the "big truck" lanes behind Pilot all the time. I don't think I would have even bothered asking a clerk. I would have just driven around and loaded up. Pilot service is only as good as the clerk working the counter however and most of them are only there because they can't find a job anywhere else. They can't even keep managers in a lot of their stores. They change like monthly or at least quarterly.

[Roadwarrior56]

lol.....do they have security out back making sure that only the big trucks go there? Just do it !!

[Camper_bob]

Yeah, I would have given her an odd look and said "ummm, Ok got it! Thanks!" and just gone and got my ice. Unless there's some kind of guard or gate or something, who's gonna say anything? I drive around in the "big truck area" of truck stops all the time, I just try to stay outta the way so as not to get run over! LOL!

[buckeyejim]

I fill up my Diesel all time "at the Big Boy Pumps" never had a problem, better than trying to turn a 35' trailer and truck in the car fueling area. It does provoke me when a fellow RV guy is in the RV Island and "parks" his unit while he goes in the store!! Be nice & move so the next guy can fuel.

I stopped @ a Loves and went to use my credit card @ the Big boy pumps and would not work, had to walk in the rain, to the customer service counter and"pre-pay" don't stop @ Loves anymore! i agree customer service does not exist anymore, and when it does grab it! Thanks for allowing me to vent, but Happy Camping and enjoy the fall colors.

BuckeyeJim
Columbus Oh

[norty1]

I can't get rig out of the car lanes. Use the truck exclusively and I am longer than a lot of them.

[robkelly]

Originally Posted by buckeyejim

It does provoke me when a fellow RV guy is in the RV Island and "parks" his unit while he goes in the store!! Be nice & move so the next guy can fuel.

Irks me too, but I have to admit I've also been guilty a time or two. The turnpike service plazas, especially in MA and NY, force your hand though. You have to use the car lanes as there's no gas out back, no way to get to the gas pumps from out back, and nowhere to park after leaving the gas pumps. After fueling it's either block the pumps or stop again at the next service plaza for a potty break, but that's usually what required the stop in the first place. In many of the plazas there's no good place to pull over before getting to the pumps either.

This is our first season and we haven't seen much of the country, but of the ten or so states we've driven through this year I found OH to be the most accommodating to RVers - specific parking areas with electric (for a small fee) and a dump station, dog parks, easy access to fuel, etc.

[David472]

In addition to what you did Ed, I would have said to the clerk - my rig is 60 feet long. Do you consider it small?

I get more respect from the big rig drivers than most car drivers. I don't hesitate to drive and park in the big rig parking lots of a truck stop. Never had a problem, and often get a courteous nod and wave to boot.

[troutslayer]

Originally Posted by David472

In addition to what you did Ed, I would have said to the clerk - my rig is 60 feet long. Do you consider it small?

I get more respect from the big rig drivers than most car drivers. I don't hesitate to drive and park in the big rig parking lots of a truck stop. Never had a problem, and often get a courteous nod and wave to boot.

I may be wrong but I don't think the OP had his RV in tow. The way I read it, he was in his TV only?

[edatlanta]

You are correct troutslayer. I had already set up at Road Atlanta and was making an ice run and also filling up my truck for the return trip back to my home base. Unfortunately the race ended last night and this 5 day trip is almost over. Nothing left now but a 250 mile drive back.

[David472]

Originally Posted by troutslayer

I may be wrong but I don't think the OP had his RV in tow. The way I read it, he was in his TV only?

My mistake. I had thought he was towing at the time.

[troutslayer]

Originally Posted by edatlanta

You are correct troutslayer. I had already set up at Road Atlanta and was making an ice run and also filling up my truck for the return trip back to my home base. Unfortunately the race ended last night and this 5 day trip is almost over. Nothing left now but a 250 mile drive back.

Safe travels! Hope there's enough ice left for a Gin-n-Tonic when you get home .

[edatlanta]

Absolutely Skip.