Florida gas station charges almost $6 per gallon

[roadman65]

Every news outlet hates that gas station.  When Wawa opened up down the street he had an opening day sale on gas.  At the time the going average was 3.50 a gallon, but Wawa did it at 2.99.  Every news agency in Orlando covered Wawa's opening to exploit the other station who charges way more than he should.

Even so the crook still would not feel ashamed and said that he will continue to sucker those who come to his pumps.  What gets me is the stupid people who keep him in business as if everyone boycotted him he would not be able to stay open, but he is.

[hotdogPi]

Every news outlet hates that gas station.  When Wawa opened up down the street he had an opening day sale on gas.  At the time the going average was 3.50 a gallon, but Wawa did it at 2.99.  Every news agency in Orlando covered Wawa's opening to exploit the other station who charges way more than he should.

Even so the crook still would not feel ashamed and said that he will continue to sucker those who come to his pumps.  What gets me is the stupid people who keep him in business as if everyone boycotted him he would not be able to stay open, but he is.

I seem to remember (from GasBuddy) that it's something like 5.89-2.79-2.89, where the higher grades are priced normally.

[jeffandnicole]

Every news outlet hates that gas station.  When Wawa opened up down the street he had an opening day sale on gas.  At the time the going average was 3.50 a gallon, but Wawa did it at 2.99.  Every news agency in Orlando covered Wawa's opening to exploit the other station who charges way more than he should.

But it's not locals going to that gas station, it's tourists.  Tourists aren't going to see the story on the local news.  So what was the point? 

If the going rate was $3.50, and a gas station has it for $2.99, that would be news almost anywhere, especially as Wawa continues to spread across the Florida landscape. 

Since I had a few minutes, I looked this up. That Wawa opened in 2013, right?  Today, the price is $2.49 a gallon.  The stations down the road are charging $4.89 & $5.95.  Yet, those stations remain open.  So clearly people drive right by the Wawa, get to the very expensive stations, and still choose to get their gas there. 

Even so the crook still would not feel ashamed and said that he will continue to sucker those who come to his pumps.  What gets me is the stupid people who keep him in business as if everyone boycotted him he would not be able to stay open, but he is.

Again, they're tourists.  Tourists that are returning their car to the airport.  And I bet they are getting back to the airport with little time to spare.  The gas stations owners are running a legit business, and capitalizing on people's rushing around.   These tourists just spent a week in theme parks where they paid above market value for anything and everything all week long.  Seeing that the Wawa is very close to the Airport and these competing stations, the tourists can easily turn around to get to that Wawa.  Clearly, they aren't doing so.  The only reason they wouldn't get their gas at Wawa would be if the pumps were all filled up with vehicles, and these people don't want to wait.

I seem to remember (from GasBuddy) that it's something like 5.89-2.79-2.89, where the higher grades are priced normally.

Looking at Gasbuddy now, the higher grades are priced about the same at the one station: 5.95/5.97/5.99.  At the other station, it only shows the regular price (4.89)

[vdeane]

IMO overcharging people is never "legit business".  Not morally.

[Rothman]

IMO overcharging people is never "legit business".  Not morally.

IMO overcharging people is never "legit business".  Not morally.

So, what's the threshold between charging and overcharging?  Got a percentage in mind?

[vdeane]

I'm more of a qualitative person than quantitative..

[Rothman]

I'm more of a qualitative person than quantitative..

Not if you're on this board, you're not.

[jeffandnicole]

Well, a legit business means that they are obeying the rules.  Someone may not like the rules, but if they are playing by the rules, then it's perfectly legit.

In this case, let's say the gas station was told they have to display their price of regular gasoline for the public to see.  Existing statutes will say how small or large that sign can be, how high that sign can be, etc.  There's probably county/state right-of-way along the highway where the business can't put the sign.  There are trees in front of the gas station, probably required by the town/county/state.   A town can't require the business to do something that is otherwise illegal.  So the business posts a sign, as required, within all the existing requirements of the town.  If that sign isn't readable or barely readable from the road, that's not the business's problem.  And the town/county/state is pretty much powerless to say anything else, because then they'll be voiding their own laws.

Morally...well, that's a whole nother debate.  Is it moral to charge over twice what the competition is charging?  Is it moral to charge nearly $2 for a bottle of water that costs pennies to manufacturer?  Is it moral for a business to sell condoms to a young teenager?  Etc...

[realjd]

IMO overcharging people is never "legit business".  Not morally.

It's not overcharging if people are willing to pay it, and I don't see anything morally wrong with it as long as they comply with regulations on things like posting prices.

[GCrites]

This has been going on for years.   A few years ago the county passed a law requiring all gas stations to post prices.  Before that, the two gas stations nearest the airport charged these crazy prices and motorists didn't know about it until they got to the pump.  Posted or not, people continue to pay it.  You just can't fix stupid.

A lot of times people are just sending it in with their corporate expense report or using a company credit card. That's one reason things associated with flying are overpriced -- a lot of the users aren't price-sensitive since "someone else" is paying the bill.

[formulanone]

I'm more of a qualitative person than quantitative..

Not if you're on this board, you're not.

It's not all numbers...there's auto routes.

Florida does have a state law against price gouging but it's only in place when a State of Emergency is declared. It is also rather vague, using terms like "grossly exceeds" or "gross disparity", so it probably depends on how much trouble a plaintiff went through, and how much evidence they have to back their claim.

That said, since it was created in the wake of Hurricane Andrew (1992), I'm of the opinion it was to prevent violence and mayhem when the sole proprietor of food and water (or some place where large lines of people show up after a disaster), and a few psychotic folks used weapons in place of legal tender to complete their transactions. It has the potential to stave off unnecessary post-disaster strife; since Florida's a rather pro-business-owner state...I can't see it as something used to limit profits for long periods of time. Whether it actually has either effect is just as nebulous.

So a $5/gallon gasoline isn't really any different than buying the same brand of bottled beer at the grocery store for the equivalent of $1.25, getting it at the convenience store for $1.75, buying it at the local watering hole for $3, or in a dimly-lit nightclub in South Beach for $5...it's all in the demand for said good or service at that place and time.

It's not overcharging if people are willing to pay it, and I don't see anything morally wrong with it as long as they comply with regulations on things like posting prices.

There have been times I've seen prices vary by a few cents due to mislabeling - I've moved onto another station based on principle, time permitting.

That's one reason things associated with flying are overpriced -- a lot of the users aren't price-sensitive since "someone else" is paying the bill.

That, and time-sensitivity. When you absolutely, positively have to arrive by Monday, then they know they have you by the wallet. A lack of available airline choices, options, or last-minute-changes do not help, either. The leisure traveler who can take all day to get there, on days other than Monday or Friday usually has a lot more flexibility, and if it's for an important event in one's life, you don't plan with razor-thin scheduling commitments.

[Sykotyk]

IMO overcharging people is never "legit business".  Not morally.

It's not overcharging if people are willing to pay it, and I don't see anything morally wrong with it as long as they comply with regulations on things like posting prices.

That's business. It's supply and demand. There is no justification that you price your product or service at a certain percentage above your own cost. What if your product or service is used infrequently and you only sell 5 items a week that cost you $10 each to make. Would you be comfortable living on $25/week, when you know that the 5 people who want/need your product will pay $500 a piece simply because you have it in stock and thereby earn a living running your business?

[roadman65]

Nobody was at the pumps last night.  I gassed up at Wawa and he had a line at 12:30 AM, but no one was at the rip off Sun Station.

Yes its supply verses demand, but a few cents more yes, but a few dollars.  Yes the people who stop there are ignorant, but we as a society have morals to protect.  Plus volume selling, which is what Wawa does also brings in money too. 

[jeffandnicole]

Nobody was at the pumps last night.  I gassed up at Wawa and he had a line at 12:30 AM, but no one was at the rip off Sun Station.

How many people are returning their cars at 12:30am to catch a 3am flight?  I would think these stations get almost no business at night, because people aren't rushing to the airport at that time. 

Report back at 12:30pm and let us know how busy they are.

[realjd]

Nobody was at the pumps last night.  I gassed up at Wawa and he had a line at 12:30 AM, but no one was at the rip off Sun Station.

Yes its supply verses demand, but a few cents more yes, but a few dollars.  Yes the people who stop there are ignorant, but we as a society have morals to protect.  Plus volume selling, which is what Wawa does also brings in money too. 

But who decides how much markup is too much? You say a few cents vs a few dollars. I say it's his business, he can charge what he wants as long as he's not being deceitful about it. It's no different IMO than a stadium charging $10 for a hot dog or an airport bar charging $10 for a beer. And in this case, people aren't a captive audience; drivers are free to use other nearby stations if they don't want to pay the high prices he charges.

[DeaconG]

What boggles the mind is how folks who are driving rental vehicles can cut their time so short trying to return the car that they don't even bother to look at the price of the gas...I'm sorry, in a day and age when people will generally go out of their way to save ten cents a gallon why the hell would you pull up to a pump and pay that kind of money?

If they'd just spent an extra ten to fifteen minutes leaving a bit earlier to get to the rental place to find a gas station on the way that was charging the normal rate they wouldn't have to pay it.

That's stupidity...and they can pay for it.

That being said, I still think it's underhanded.

[roadman65]

Nobody was at the pumps last night.  I gassed up at Wawa and he had a line at 12:30 AM, but no one was at the rip off Sun Station.

How many people are returning their cars at 12:30am to catch a 3am flight?  I would think these stations get almost no business at night, because people aren't rushing to the airport at that time. 

Report back at 12:30pm and let us know how busy they are.

No, but Wawa was busy at that time.  Considering that no one catches a flight at that time as you say and the truth of the matter is, Wawa was busy because they charge less and offer great food at the same time.

My point is that there is a line between just ordinary and extreme.  I feel that he is extreme.  I do respect his right as an individual to charge whatever he wants, but I disagree with his amount that he charges.

[jeffandnicole]

Nobody was at the pumps last night.  I gassed up at Wawa and he had a line at 12:30 AM, but no one was at the rip off Sun Station.

How many people are returning their cars at 12:30am to catch a 3am flight?  I would think these stations get almost no business at night, because people aren't rushing to the airport at that time. 

Report back at 12:30pm and let us know how busy they are.

No, but Wawa was busy at that time.  Considering that no one catches a flight at that time as you say and the truth of the matter is, Wawa was busy because they charge less and offer great food at the same time.

My point is that there is a line between just ordinary and extreme.  I feel that he is extreme.  I do respect his right as an individual to charge whatever he wants, but I disagree with his amount that he charges.

For a late night meal or snack, there aren't many places that can beat Wawa's late night offerings...which is just about their entire menu.  I'm disappointed they stopped displaying hot dogs after 10pm or so at many of their NJ/DE stores.   In college, I made frequent 1am trips for a Meatball Shorti for a study break.  No doubt those other gas stations don't have such offerings (I noticed on GSV that the one station had a Arby's that was closed up).  Plus, people are inclined to get gas and food in one stop, and Wawa is a household name for those familiar with it.  For those not familiar with it, there's the inevitable "Wawa?". What's a "Wawa?"  (People don't really care that it's a small town in Pennsylvania near Philly)  But like many businesses, when you constantly see their parking lot filled, eventually the doubters try it...and usually become hooked.

If there was a recent storm or hurricane and the station owners jacked up their prices to $6, they would be in trouble for gouging.  But because that is their ordinary price, there's no gouging involved.  In fact, many convenience store staples: chips, candy & sodas, have more of a markup percentage-wise than gasoline, even at those $5 and $6 inflated prices. 

[realjd]

What boggles the mind is how folks who are driving rental vehicles can cut their time so short trying to return the car that they don't even bother to look at the price of the gas...I'm sorry, in a day and age when people will generally go out of their way to save ten cents a gallon why the hell would you pull up to a pump and pay that kind of money?

If they'd just spent an extra ten to fifteen minutes leaving a bit earlier to get to the rental place to find a gas station on the way that was charging the normal rate they wouldn't have to pay it.

That's stupidity...and they can pay for it.

That being said, I still think it's underhanded.

Not everyone goes out of their way to save 10c per gallon. Personally, I'm not going to drive across town, or even go to a less convenient gas station, to save $1.50 on a tank of gas.

A few reasons why people would pay the significantly higher price at this station:

• Business travelers often don't even look at the price
• Convenience - if I'm just putting in a couple of gallons to top off the tank before I return the car, an extra dollar or so per gallon isn't necessarily enough to motivate me to go find a cheaper station farther up the road, especially if I'm unfamiliar with the area
• Time - If I'm in a hurry, our travel policy says to try to return the car with a full tank to avoid the $9/gal that the rental car company charges, so a station like this is preferred. If I'm really time crunched though I'll just let the rental car company fill it for $9/gal.

Leaving 15 minutes earlier isn't always an option. Often when traveling I'm left with the choice to rush to the airport after meetings get over and fly home that night, or spend an extra night and fly home in the morning. Usually I'd rather get home earlier. If meetings run late, or if I hit unexpected traffic (I'm obviously not usually familiar with local rush hour traffic patterns), then there are times where I just need to get to my gate quickly.

[roadman65]

John Tesh once said on his radio show that traveling across town for cheaper gas does not really save you money being you have to burn more money in gas than you actually save.  However, you be a bit surprised how many people will travel across town to save not only money on gas, but even at a cross town grocery store that offers less money saved for regular used grocer items.

People are blinded by savings that they do not see the real thing.  Tesh says a lot of people train themselves to think this way as no one really pays attention to the numbers.

[thenetwork]

I'm not siding with the gas station owners at all, but if the majority of customers are international visitors, then $5-6 /gal prices is not an issue to them, as that is what many are paying in their homeland.   

That being said, it is certainly a nasty thing to pull on unsuspecting foreigners.

Then again, to have to spend on average $200/person just to have a reasonable day's experience at WDW (parking, admission, food, beverage, souvenirs included) is robbery as well.

[roadman65]

I'm not siding with the gas station owners at all, but if the majority of customers are international visitors, then $5-6 /gal prices is not an issue to them, as that is what many are paying in their homeland.   

That being said, it is certainly a nasty thing to pull on unsuspecting foreigners.

Then again, to have to spend on average $200/person just to have a reasonable day's experience at WDW (parking, admission, food, beverage, souvenirs included) is robbery as well.

Its funny how we just talked about WDW on another thread regarding PTC jacking up tolls in SE PA. Someone there mentioned the fact that Disney is voluntary thing, that people choose to pay the high prices.

Yes, the reasoning is the same with this particular station as maybe those who have money to burn to patronize Disney have it to burn for gas they could get way cheaper up the street at a better place are the ones who this crude business owner in business.

Plus I am sure its a mom and pop operation so they just want to make money to live comfortably rather than make a rich man in a suit behind a desk in some high rise office richer like corporate stations and stores.  That is why they do not care about getting more customers if they can make do with the little they have, so jack it to them in the process.

[spooky]

so jack it to them in the process.

whoa man. You're clearly excited about someone charging too much for gas, but that might be going too far.

[roadman65]

so jack it to them in the process.

whoa man. You're clearly excited about someone charging too much for gas, but that might be going too far.

Figure of speech.  Not that all concerned what he charges, but it is the truth however.

[DeaconG]

What boggles the mind is how folks who are driving rental vehicles can cut their time so short trying to return the car that they don't even bother to look at the price of the gas...I'm sorry, in a day and age when people will generally go out of their way to save ten cents a gallon why the hell would you pull up to a pump and pay that kind of money?

If they'd just spent an extra ten to fifteen minutes leaving a bit earlier to get to the rental place to find a gas station on the way that was charging the normal rate they wouldn't have to pay it.

That's stupidity...and they can pay for it.

That being said, I still think it's underhanded.

Not everyone goes out of their way to save 10c per gallon. Personally, I'm not going to drive across town, or even go to a less convenient gas station, to save $1.50 on a tank of gas.

A few reasons why people would pay the significantly higher price at this station:

• Business travelers often don't even look at the price
• Convenience - if I'm just putting in a couple of gallons to top off the tank before I return the car, an extra dollar or so per gallon isn't necessarily enough to motivate me to go find a cheaper station farther up the road, especially if I'm unfamiliar with the area
• Time - If I'm in a hurry, our travel policy says to try to return the car with a full tank to avoid the $9/gal that the rental car company charges, so a station like this is preferred. If I'm really time crunched though I'll just let the rental car company fill it for $9/gal.

Leaving 15 minutes earlier isn't always an option. Often when traveling I'm left with the choice to rush to the airport after meetings get over and fly home that night, or spend an extra night and fly home in the morning. Usually I'd rather get home earlier. If meetings run late, or if I hit unexpected traffic (I'm obviously not usually familiar with local rush hour traffic patterns), then there are times where I just need to get to my gate quickly.

Since I have not flown in nearly 20 years and I don't fly on principle, I don't have the lateness problem.  Ninety percent of my rentals are because I have a car in the shop and I need a vehicle to get back and forth to work with, so I'm never in a position to spend that kind of money on gas to return the vehicle, the other ten is when it's in the shop and I need to go on vacation and the shop screwed up their timetable.

So if you're using the excuse that your work requirements are such that you don't have the time to try to find cheaper gas; and folks are saying that it's caveat emptor when it comes to getting gas at these places and the owner has the right to charge whatever the commerce will bear, then the argument's closed.

Personally, I won't do it, but there are others who have no issue with it.

And so it goes.