They said a lot of customers would be \u201cgutted\u201d about the change.<\/p>\n
\u201cCustomers aren\u2019t going to be able to have that same experience … half the customers struggle to use the pay at pump anyway … <\/p>\n
\u201cThen we\u2019ve also got the customers that hate paying at the pump and don\u2019t want to do that. They\u2019d rather just fill up … and come inside and get some snacks and stuff and continue on.\u201d<\/p>\n
The staff member said many customers went to Mobil Reid and Mills and enjoyed catching up with staff and buying a pie and coffee before going to work.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very disappointing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The staff member said the car wash would continue operating, but on a self-service basis.<\/p>\n
They said they had been told \u201cnothing\u201d about why the station would become unmanned.<\/p>\n
They said it looked like Mobil was doing that across the country \u201cbecause they want to be more competitive with Waitomo and NPD\u201d.<\/p>\n
Speaking of the Reid and Mills team, they said that in their view, \u201cIf you talk to any of the staff, the morale\u2019s down, the team dynamic and culture is down …\u201d<\/p>\n
In their opinion, Mobil claimed to be \u201call about the community\u201d while \u201cshutting down shops left, right and centre\u201d. \u201cIt\u2019s just rubbish.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Rotorua Daily Post put the staff member\u2019s concerns to Mobil, and asked why the station was becoming unmanned, how many staff had been made redundant, and what changes would be made to the station\u2019s services.<\/p>\n
A Mobil spokesperson said the company was converting several of its service stations across the country to \u201cMobil Express sites\u201d, which would offer the same fuels.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly affecting select sites, the new model will bring Mobil in line with several other fuel retailers in New Zealand who similarly operate unattended sites across the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Zealand\u2019s energy needs are evolving. As a business focused on the reliable supply of fuel that Kiwis rely on, we\u2019re trying to address those new demands in a highly competitive market.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Mobil Oil New Zealand launched Mobil Express late last year, chairman Wayne Ellary said the initiative was an important step in the company\u2019s retail strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cMobil Express strengthens our ability to serve customers across different demographics. It combines the trusted quality of Mobil fuels with modern, streamlined payment options, ensuring we continue to deliver value and reliability,\u201d Ellary said.<\/p>\n
The fuel company said then that it was converting 14 Mobil sites to the new self-service station model, with further conversions planned in 2026.<\/p>\n
Mobil Oil NZ retail manager John Masters said at the time that the sites were designed to make refuelling convenient while maintaining the advantages customers expected from Mobil.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re optimising our footprint and evolving our store formats, including the introduction of the new self-service station model where appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new offering would compete with the offerings from Z Energy\u2019s U-GO stations and Waitomo Petrol\u2019s offering.<\/p>\n
The Reid and Mills station has been on the site for decades, with historical photos showing the business in operation dating back to the mid-1950s.<\/p>\n