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Gas Up Alert
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Gas Up Alert |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296
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The next time you go for gas, make certain to appropriately check, how much gas your NOT getting, but paying for. I've tried this at 3 differt pumps and all three pumps were defective, to their advantage of course.  Soon as you press the pump to fuel, take note, that gas doesn't come out of the nozzel, until it registers 3, 4 or 5 cents....say 100 customers per day, do the math. God forbid, don't do what I did and prepay $20.00 for gas...the pump stopped going into my tank at $19.82 but the numbers kept going until it reached $20.00. I went in to complain, but they really didn't care. I was wondering, does anyone know who is in charge of calabrating the gas pumps all over our country. Who is received the access change? I told a couple of people at work about this, and they were shocked to find out the same happened to them, although each of them went to different gas stations, and lost different amounts of change. This is no accident. What are your thoughts and what do you think we could do about it? |
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| © Copyright 2006 Lee J. - All Rights Reserved | |||
Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
I have noticed the discrepancy as well, and was told it's just the way the meter registers one value prior to the other value. Huh? LOL, no way to prove or disprove it at the pump, but I'm almost always feeling like most stations aren't metered with 100% accuracy. I'd like the price per gallon/total to reflect the oil company's profit margin per gallon. THAT would be a telling bit of info! Somehow, I doubt the individual station owners are making a gross profit margin. |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
hi, thanks for responding...to tell you the truth, I know a gal who managed a Wawa who has gas pumps, and she made a commission, so I definately believe the gas stations are making a profit...but point being, who would be in charge of calabrating the pumps? The gas station owner, or the gas companies? I complained to a 7 year old attendent (just kidding) and she said, well, I'll make sure to tell the manager? yeah right |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
The company dispensing the gas to the customer is responsible for correct calibration, but the city or county (can't remember which) is the one who sends out someone to verify that the calibration is correct. I can't verify this for other states, but in Cali, there's big-bom-bad things that can happen to a station with inaccurate pumps. Every station you go to here is required to have city or country-seals on each pump, each "flavor." It's strange that you brought this thread in here. My signifigant other apparently forgets that "E" means "Empty," not "Enough" and ran out last night. I grabbed our gas can out of the garage and took it to the station 'round the corner. I paid my five bucks (for two gallons, sigh) and went to the pump. As soon as I turned it on, gas started coming out - before the numbers started turning. Even with some of it spilled on the ground, I still ended up with more than my two full gallons - though not by much. What I would do, if you truly believe you're being cheated, is go to your local government and ask them to check up on the station/s you have issues with. Even if they're not responsible for verifying the accuracy of pumps, they are responsible for investigating fraud. [This message has been edited by Christopher (02-02-2006 02:16 PM).] |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
thanks Christopher, good advice...will also pass this along to co workers...I'd like to see the news media tackle this one, yanno? |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
quote: You sure about that, Lee? Or is that just an opinion? Aw, come on, it's only a few pennies here and there after all. You should lighten up and let those poor oil companies make a decent profit. Ain't no big deal! (Sorry, Lee, I just couldn't resist the urge to make a point. Trust me, I take your feeling about being cheated very seriously. You should know, however, that there's a very logical explanation for those 3, 4, or 5 cents ringing up before the gas starts to dispense. With today's prices, those pennies just about cover the cost of the fumes being pushed through the hose by the gasoline. You didn't think those gas fumes were going to be free, did you?  ) |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
Hey Ron...  Your following me are you not, and you love to get me going don't you...This could be considered cyber harrasement yanno? what's there excuse for the 18 cents they docked me when I prepaid? poor little oil companies, yeah, like the poor little airline company who docked their employees, but gave the sum of that dock to themselves in bonuses...yeah, those little sneaky creapy guys in thousand dollar suits...they're motto, more, more, more, at everybody else's expense. They're slime Ron...lighten up? Believe me, for me, well, the preceeding has been a paid polical compliment... Yes sir eeee, I'm absolutely positively sure and certain...I've been watching those pumps like a hawk and, when I pointed it out to my co-workers they did the same and found the same to occur at their choice of gas station...Ronnie, Its a Conspiracy!!!! But it is  adding, my prepay story is correct as well! paying for gas fumes? huh? Not even going to go there! [This message has been edited by LeeJ (02-02-2006 03:00 PM).] |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
I recommend taking the bus |
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icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows |
Many states have a department of weights and measures. If your state does, it is likely the agency that is supposed to check the accuracy of the pumps. In some states this is done by counties. In some by towns. Check your state gov web site first. Also, usually the agency is the same one that checks the scales at deli counters in markets, When this is true the seal is visible from the customer side of the counter. Next time you go to market look at the scale. It would usually be the same agency that certifies pumps. One station close to me was recently put out of business permanently for getting caught three times in one year with inaccurate pumps. His pumps were worse than you describe though. Interestingly, his gas prices were the cheapest around - the customer just didn't get the gas. I noticed it at that station when he claimed to have put in two gallons more than the capacity of my trucks tanks. |
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