Why is it that Gasoline stations can get away with not quoting their price over the phone..

[WCGreen]

Does anyone know if this is a law?

Does anyone think this might be some type of anti-competition industry rule that actually prohibits the exchange of information needed to make smart decisions on the consumer level?

I mean really, call a gas station and ask what the price of their regular unleaded is at this moment. The will say I can't do it.

The oil companies get away with this competitive governor by claiming competition exists on the street level, that two or more companies going head to head on the corners of an intersection will result in the natural price of fuel being established.

But I disagree. If there is one gas station a mile down the road one way charging one price for a gallon of gas, it has little effect on the price of a gallon of gas down the road a mile the other way. Effective decision making for those two gas station two miles apart are only tangentially linked.

The only true way a consumer can shop around for gasoline is by using a phone. The consumer makes up his or her mind about pulling into a set alone gas station based on need and not on price.

Calling for people to shop around for the cheapest price by driving all over town is as ludicrous as shopping around for the cheapest ER when you are in dire need of medical attention.

[dkf]

1. try gasbuddy.com

[WCGreen]

2. I know of which you speak...

But you have to have a computer at your disposal and are not facing a long walk if you run out of gas.

[dkf]

3. Very true.

[parasim]

8. No disrespect, but if you've run out of gas, ya kinda have to deal with what ya got...

dontcha? I mean, my dad seared into my brain that I should never let my gas gauge get below a quarter tank.. ever. "If you ever run out of gas, it's your own damn fault." he'd say.

I mean, if I do run out of gas, i can't imagine picking and choosing what gas station I'm gonna go to to get a couple of gallons to limp home with...

[WCGreen]

10. One thing I can always count on about DU...

There is always a naysayer who injects on nonsequitur into the argument...

It wasn't an argument about forgetting to fill up when you are down to your last quart, it was about shopping for fuel without having to waste gasoline to find the best deal...

[parasim]

13. I was only commenting on your mentioning a long walk to the gas station when you run out of gas...

Wasn't so much of a non sequitur. Gas Buddy and other similar sites does give you info on what gas stations charge for gas in your area. If you run out of gas, well, it's your own fault. Why would you care if you got the cheapest price to get yourself back to wherever you were going?

You're right, though, it really had nothing to do with your OP.

It has nothing to do with DU, though, in any forum on the internet you're going to find somebody picking at the words you write (even if they're as inane as the original post being made)... for some reason, tonight I happened to be that guy... sorry about that, I meant no disrespect.

[FormerOstrich]

14. As difficult as it may be for you to believe....

there is a small sub-culture that exists in the United States today. Within this small group, they are not very tech savvy, often times they don't own a computer and those that do restrict the usage to e-mail or for the gran'kids.

I'm sure a high-tech sort of guy like you wouldn't understand.

However, I didn't realize this was the case and now I am very interested in the answer...just as I want to know why....when I call Cox Communication to discuss my service/bill, I provide them with every detail necessary to identify myself, they ask me if they have my permission to access the account.

However, most of all...I want to know why "commenting" the selected code is considered an "advanced" function!!!!!

[Rene]

15. Why do they get away with jacking up prices on what's already in their tanks..purchased at a lower

price?

[hack89]

17. Where do you think they get the money to buy the next tank of gas?

The gas station has to have the money to replace the gas you are pumping - gas that will cost him more.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. That's an interesting question...

One I had not thought of...

And of course, you don't see them advertising in the papers!

Don't you suppose the oil companies pretty much dictate the price?

I'm not sure about that, though...:shrug:

There's probably some local control...

[WCGreen]

5. I think it is pure and simple as this;

they are stifling competition.

[Divine Discontent]

6. good points everyone...

I like the comment about them not putting ads in the paper b/c they are a monopoly that sets the price!


THAT IS AN AWESOME POINT!


Also, about your question and how you state that it doesn't effect what the station does down the street - I concur - there's a station on St Rt 535 in Orlando (hotel row) that is FORTY CENTS more than the gas stations 1/10 a mile away. How they can do that is beyond me!

but yeah... it's all a dirty monopoly - we need new types of energy in cars, yesterday!

[magellan]

7. May be as simple as this

These days, the price can and often does change throughout the day. They can't very well guarantee a price on the phone with that happening.

[WCGreen]

11. This has been in place longer than the last few years...

IT is pure and simple a way to stiffle competition,

[BigDogDistrict44]

9. Try 2 vans (mini & work) plus 3 kids in 3 schools and a State Senate campaign vs. a young kid with

No kids and a good paying job. Me I bust my ass as well as my wife does and we cannot get ahead. I hate asking for donations when others are struggling to get by. I have faith that God will help at some point. If not then I understand the dude is very busy right now.

www.unleashthedog.us

[Horse with no Name]

12. probably because of the possibility that the price might change before you get there

would be my guess.:shrug:

[AngryOldDem]

16. I don't see the point of even checking.

They've got you coming and going.

It pisses me off to see the collusion -- don't know if that comes from the national suppliers or if it's just the local guys getting together to screw us. I've noticed that if there are gas stations on opposite corners, and if one station's prices are out of whack with the one across the street, that often changes in a blink of an eye, too. I drive by a station that has gas cheaper than the one across the street, and later, when I drive by again, the two stations are more often than not right in line with each other. Whatever happened to competitive markets? Another interesting thing is, I can drive five miles and see two totally different prices, as much as a dime's worth of difference. I'm thinking that is somehow socioeconomically based, given the demographics of the two areas.

I need gas in my car. I've come to see that as just one more hard fact of life and I just look away from the pump and think happy thoughts as the charge on my credit card goes up.

[Indy Lurker]

18. There is no law requiring a store to quote prices over the phone.

In fact, there is no law requiring a store to answer their phone.

If a gas station is unattended, they are required to have a phone, and post a phone number to call in case of a spill or emergency.

[Vinca]

19. The price is going up so fast that calling is probably a waste of time.

Last week I passed a gas station in the morning and noted the price and on my way back home in the afternoon the price had gone up 5 cents.

[TreasonousBastard]

20. Did you try calling Dunkin' Donuts and 7-11 to...

compare their coffee prices? Seems to me most small retailers would rather not be bothered with that sort of call.

Around here, everyone knows the Valero in Jamesport is usually the cheapest station, with the Hess and Empire stations in Mattituck coming up maybe a nickel more at most. Prices yesterday ranged from 3.69 at the Hess and Valero to 3.89 most other places. I was in Montauk last month and it was already up to 3.89, so I'm pretty sure it's over 4 now. Learned a long time ago never to head for Montauk without filling up on the way.

Realistically, since I rarely put more than 10 gallons into my 13 gallon tank, worrying about a nickel a gallon, or 50 cents, just doesn't make sense.