Gas prices, let the anal speak!

[Benzadmiral]

I drive about 3-4 miles from my home to gas up at a convenience store with ethanol-free gas. So says their pump, and when during Hurricane Isaac I had to use ethanol-laced Chevron gas, my mileage dropped noticeably. My station charges about .10-.12 more than the Walmart two miles closer to me. However, I get approximately 10% better mileage on the pure gas than with ethanol, for a 4-5% increase in cost; so I think I'm doing okay. Since the store is a bother to get to during weeknight rush hours, I fill up early on Saturday or Sunday morning, which can last me two weeks (18-gallon tank).

If the store goes ethanol only, then I'll pick the cheapest, usually Mall-Wart.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: otis24
On a differnt note,I've seen this scenario play itself out in a c-store where work. People will purchase less than 30 gals of gas, save a nickle per gallon, then use the atm to get cash to get the "cash discount" , but pay three dollars to get the cash.. Do the math. After driving out of the way, or paying atm fees, you are spending more money to "save" than if you just paid the extra nickle per gallon .


My bank (and a few others) will credit you back your ATM fees at the end of the month so it may be a wash for them.

 

[otis24]

If you asked some people to drive across town to save $2 on a pair of shoes, they would say it isn't worth their time to drive across town to save a "measly" two dollars. But those same people will scream bloody murder over the price of gas if you charge a nickle more per gallon than the guy down the street, or would walk across coals to save that nickle per gallon. Maybe they save a buck or two on a tank of gas when it is all said and done.

 

[hattaresguy]

I don't really pay to much attention to it, really. A few cents up or down doesn't make a big difference.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
I don't really pay to much attention to it, really. A few cents up or down doesn't make a big difference.

I agree. To many drivers few cents more doesn't make any difference.

But if stations that are selling at higher price don't have many customers they will lower their price to match others.

 

[kb01]

I usually just go to the station that's most convenient. I'm not going to make a left turn across traffic or wait in line to save 5 cents/gallon. I'm willing to pay an additional $20 or $30/year for the convenience.

If at all possible, I'll hit up Sheetz if there's one on my route.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
I don't really pay to much attention to it, really. A few cents up or down doesn't make a big difference.

I agree. To many drivers few cents more doesn't make any difference.

But if stations that are selling at higher price don't have many customers they will lower their price to match others.

There's one Chevron near where I work that charges nearly 40 cents more per gallon than any other station I've seen, and they seem to get away with it. It's not to pay for an on-site mechanic; they're pretty much a convenience store. I suppose it's because they are one of only a few stations in the neighborhood.

 

[kb01]

We don't have nearly that level of variance in gas prices where I live. In general, the nicer convenience stores with clean, in doors bathrooms, no drug dealing in the parking lots, and coffee charge an extra 5 or 10 cents/gallon.

 

[bullwinkle]

Weird-around here it's the exact opposite-the stations in the bad parts of town are always HIGHER than the identical brands in the 'burbs! For example, the local Greedway in central Cincinnati is $4.199 for diesel, the one in Florence, KY is $3.699!

 

[Norm Olt]

Last time I filled up at Safeway I received a $0.70 per gallon discount having spent $75 on "normal" groceries (no alcohol, tobacco, stamps, gift cards, etc.)...

30 gallons of regular = $21.00 savings

Cheers!

p.s. I can remember buying gas en route to the Oregon Coast at the same general location when it was still under a $ for regular: my, how times have changed!