Opinion

Are gas stations ripping up off?

Posted October 22, 2011 5:00 am

Over time I have, when purchasing gasoline, made a series of observations and I wonder if anyone else has noticed the same thing. The next time you buy gas check this out. After you place the nozzle in you tank, turn and watch the pump. In most cases I have observed, the instant you squeeze the handle you have anywhere from 25 to 75 cents on the display. This is before a drop of gas has been delivered.

I presume the excuse one might be that it is to fill the hose. The pump hoses are all pretty much the same length; if it were to fill the hose the charge should be consistent from station to station. However, the hose should be full from the last delivery.

To me this is simply a ripoff. If you multiply the number of purchases per day at a station by the questionable amount, it comes to a nice piece of change.

In my observations I have also noted that the pumps at some stations actually start at zero. This tells me that others are cheating.

Ken Kitzing

Mount Prospect

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