What Really Grinds My Gears: Gas Stations That Have "Cash" Prices

[SP33Demon]

I patronize stations like this as well as any vendor who offers a lower cash price. A discount is a discount, I'm not picky.

Except it's not a discount. See my post above. I've found stations with the same price in the same area that don't do this cash nonsense. YMMV though.

 

[smackababy]

Maybe not all of them, but it frequently happens, including a Shell where I worked in my student days. That was in Australia, admittedly, but my understanding is that it happens in many countries. Margins on fuel, even if you do in fact have one, are too small to fund a (staffed) station these days

A lot of stations do some built in measures to avoid margins on fuel being too bad. For instance, they only fill half the tank at a time, so in the event gas prices are spiking up, they have room to stock up before it goes up too much, or if it starts to drop drastically, they aren't losing out as much and each additional gallon they buy lowers the average amount on what they've purchased.


With that said, having customers pay with cash is ideal. Going inside the store itself gives the customers time to say "well, maybe I will get that bag of chips" and such. That is extra sales otherwise completely abandoned by the swipe and drive off crowd.

Yeah it's BS. Just pay the stupid fucking 3%, Habib. Don't pass that cost down to your customers. Amazing that they stay in business vs gas stations that don't pass the cost down to customers and still maintain the same gas price or cheaper.

While some stations might "pass on the cost", those that don't are simply raking in an extra 3% profit on all cash transactions on gasoline and telling you to shove off.

 

[NetWareHead]

Yeah it's BS. Just pay the stupid fucking 3%, Habib. Don't pass that cost down to your customers. Amazing that they stay in business vs gas stations that don't pass the cost down to customers and still maintain the same gas price or cheaper.

I dont get why its BS or something to be opposed to. There seems to be some anger in this thread directed towards vendors that offer lower cash prices. Of course if you dont like it, then dont shop there. Just seems like the oddest reason to grind an axe over...

Except it's not a discount. See my post above. I've found stations with the same price in the same area that don't do this cash nonsense. YMMV though.

From my perspective its a discount; a cheaper price I realize for the same product and all I have to do is pay cash vs CC.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I dont get why its BS or something to be opposed to. There seems to be some anger in this thread directed towards vendors that offer lower cash prices. Of course if you dont like it, then dont shop there. Just seems like the oddest reason to grind an axe over...



From my perspective its a discount; a cheaper price I realize for the same product and all I have to do is pay cash vs CC.

I don't know how to emphasize this to you /smacksforehead.

IT'S NOT A LOWER PRICE.

I know what an ideal gas price is, and they are putting the cash price at the typical ideal price that your typical gas station charges (that can be used with credit). Then you pull in, and realize that the price only applies when using cash only, and the REAL price is actually 10 cents above that.

It has NEVER been that the cash price has been below the other surrounding gas stations that don't the cash bullshit ordeal. HENCE, it's a scam. Notice all the other people in here saying they never go to the cash discount stations? Yeah, it's because of that.

 

[andylawcc]

I drive by that station every week, in recent weeks there's been a 30 cents per gallon difference between Cash Regular and Credit Regular. makes me go wth.

is that gas station in the pic on Huntington and Rosemead?

I've seen a station where there was a price difference of over $1 a gallon if you paid with credit instead of cash.

there is one like that in LA on Rosemead and Garvey. sneaky bastard.

I usually get Arco which only accepts cash or debit, but one way around it is to buy gas gift cards at the grocery store using your credit card. That way, you get the lowest price plus the credit card rewards. Only reason I bothered for Arco is because I had to hit a minimum spend requirement on my card to get a bonus and Arco tends to be around 30 cents cheaper per gallon than other gas stations in the area.

oh cool, thanks for the tip.

 

[Engineer]

Isin't it illegal to charge more for credit card transactions?

Not any more. That changed over the last year or so (for EVERYTHING, not just gas/diesel).

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/credit-card-surcharges-allowed-1281.php

 

[TheSlamma]

I don't blame them, lots of companies around here don't even accept CC's anymore cause of the fees banks hit them for.

 

[ultimatebob]

Debit is the same as cash where I live. And I don't see any reason people should not be deterred from paying for such a staple item (in my country anyway) with a credit card.

Not in Connecticut, unfortunately. If you're playing with any sort of plastic (Debit/Credit/Gift Card) you get charged the Credit price

 

[NetWareHead]

I don't know how to emphasize this to you /smacksforehead.

IT'S NOT A LOWER PRICE.

When I pay a lower price, guess what? Its a lower price. You can argue and smack your forehead all day long, but when I have more money saved in my pocket because I used cash vs credit, what more evidence do you need? You are arguing about semantics while ignoring the towering evidence in front of your eyes.

I know what an ideal gas price is, and they are putting the cash price at the typical ideal price that your typical gas station charges (that can be used with credit). Then you pull in, and realize that the price only applies when using cash only, and the REAL price is actually 10 cents above that.

It has NEVER been that the cash price has been below the other surrounding gas stations that don't the cash bullshit ordeal. HENCE, it's a scam. Notice all the other people in here saying they never go to the cash discount stations? Yeah, it's because of that.

Scam not found. This is just another version of the fine print at the end of contracts or billing agreements. Or you see/hear a TV/radio commercial and the very fast speech at the end of the commercial where the fine print terms and conditions are explained. The station's own advertising and posting sign told you the price. The sign told you the price difference using different methods of payment. No different than contractual fine print. And all this before you even opened your wallet, before you even pulled to the pump and before you popped your filler door open. So step on the gas pedal, leave the station property and find another station that does meet your overly demanding standards. I have seen (and patronized) gas stations that offer lower cash than credit prices since I was a teenager and I have been driving for 20 years now. WTF could be so wrong about saving some $$$???

 

[dud]

I wish that local stations offered a cash price for gas. I would prefer to not pay the bank/CC fees.

 

[SP33Demon]

I wish that local stations offered a cash price for gas. I would prefer to not pay the bank/CC fees.

You probably didn't read the thread. In my area, the cash stations are the same price as the credit only ones. How do you logically explain that?

 

[SparkyJJO]

Eh I get 2% back on my gas purchases anyway when I use my card, so whoop-de-friggin-do

 

[uhohs]

is that gas station in the pic on Huntington and Rosemead?

yah, you can tell because of the Lamps Plus sign in the back.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lamps-plus-pasadena?osq=lamps+plus+pasadena

 

[smackababy]

You probably didn't read the thread. In my area, the cash stations are the same price as the credit only ones. How do you logically explain that?

I explain it due to the fact that gas is almost never equally priced within a radius greater than like half a mile. This rings true for both cash and credit prices.

So, unless a station is across the street from another, I don't expect the price to ever be in parity. And even then, they are going to be competing with each other. Comparing them is useless.

 

[smackababy]

yah, you can tell because of the Lamps Plus sign in the back.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lamps-plus-pasadena?osq=lamps+plus+pasadena

All I learned from that link is that Vicky M is attractive and likes bulbs.

 

[Mixolydian]

I don't think I've ever seen that around here.

 

[andylawcc]

yah, you can tell because of the Lamps Plus sign in the back.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lamps-plus-pasadena?osq=lamps+plus+pasadena

kekeke, yup. you knew what I am thinking. It's Lamp Plus ))

 

[ITDAD]

Isin't it illegal to charge more for credit card transactions?

It was never illegal. CC companies used to penalize retailers if they tried this and would threaten to pull their ability to process credit cards as a part of their agreements but a lawsuit and court ruling in favor of the retailers forced the cc companies to remove that language from their agreements. Perfectly legal.

If enough consumers don't like the practice they will stop shopping at said retailers and it will go away.

 

[smackababy]

I don't think I've ever seen that around here.

I see it all the time a bit East of you.

 

[rh71]

For me, it's really about WHY it costs more for a credit card. Whether or not it's illegal or if they're charging less for cash by arbitrarily increasing costs for credit, they are still trying to recoup the costs of the credit card transaction fees and I choose not to do business with these people. If it is common practice, then fine, but they are just trying to employ tricks to get around their own operating costs at our expense.

There's also a local market here who has gone through the trouble of installing a card reader at each cashier but they are debit or cash only, no credit. F them. I'm just going elsewhere because it's that easy.

 

[smackababy]

For me, it's really about WHY it costs more for a credit card. Whether or not it's illegal or if they're charging less for cash, they are still trying to recoup the costs of the credit card transaction fees and I choose not to do business with these people.

What? They are offering you a discount when the fees aren't applicable. If anything, you should be avoiding the places that charge the same FOR cash transactions, as they are pocketing what would go to fees as profit.

 

[DrPizza]

I don't mind, if the big signs that are visible from the street have the word "cash" on them. But, I've been to a few gas stations where the main signs do not specify that it's a cash price. There are none in my area, but a few of them on my way to a destination that I frequent (between Syracuse & Watertown, NY). The only place that says "cash" is on the price on the little sign above the pump. First time that happened to me, I drove away. 2nd time, I got one squirt of gas for a few cents. Went inside and got a cheap $1 snack & used credit. Then went to a different gas station.

OP's picture: not an issue at all. But not letting me know that it's a cash price until I actually drive up to the pump - that pissed me off. (And yes, I looked back up at the main sign to see if I missed something.)

 

[DrPizza]

By the way, can someone explain why credit/debit sales actually cost more to process? Cash: cashier in the store. Someone has to count the cash in the drawer at the end of the shift. Someone has to count the cash again prior to depositing it. Someone has to transport the cash to the bank. Someone at the bank has to count the cash.

Credit/debit: someone pushes a couple buttons once a day, the rest is done electronically. How the hell does this add 3% to the cost of every transaction?? If 100% of customers paid with credit/debit at the pizza shop, that would save 1/2 an hour or more of employee time each day.

 

[smackababy]

By the way, can someone explain why credit/debit sales actually cost more to process? Cash: cashier in the store. Someone has to count the cash in the drawer at the end of the shift. Someone has to count the cash again prior to depositing it. Someone has to transport the cash to the bank. Someone at the bank has to count the cash.

Credit/debit: someone pushes a couple buttons once a day, the rest is done electronically. How the hell does this add 3% to the cost of every transaction??

Because, the credit card companies have to maintain servers and the service to ensure the card authorization goes through, and as with anything not done by the company itself, you are paying more for that.

And, because they can. Consumers have come to expect this convenience to exist, and the card companies know this. A place of business can accept the fee or potentially lose business.

 

[lxskllr]

Credit/debit: someone pushes a couple buttons once a day, the rest is done electronically. How the hell does this add 3% to the cost of every transaction?? If 100% of customers paid with credit/debit at the pizza shop, that would save 1/2 an hour or more of employee time each day.

The problem is the 100% thing. With anything less than 100% adoption, you need a human to handle it. Gas stations have the added issue of dealing in dangerous merchandise. They need a human there to babysit the operation, so they might as well run a register also.