Gas at 22 cents a gallon!

THIS THREAD IS CLOSED.

Yesterday, for six hours, a guy pumped gas at an Indiana gas station and had put the decimal in the wrong spot so he was pumping gas at 22 cents a gallon. People filled up, called their friends and the lines were long.

Is it just my view that so many people would just take advantage of an error and put the guy's job in jeopardy? It's on radio now and many people don't think of it as stealing "because that was the price posted". Others view it as "fair" because of "the big money these gas companies make".

Personally, if I did get a phone call I couldn't find it in my heart to take advantage of an error. Maybe I just put myself in the owner's position, although I've never owned a store of any kind.

THIS THREAD IS CLOSED.

Your opinion please.

This message was edited Nov 23, 2005 10:28 AM

I agree with you Pirl. To intentionally abuse someone's honest mistake is so very wrong. I am sure if it was their child, spouse or friend behind the counter, they would never do such a thing.
I ordered my shirts last night...can't wait to wear them :))
So sad,
Margo

I had to leave the show to get to a routine physical but I'm sure he'll continue with it tomorrow.

Thanks for the positive thoughts, Margo. I just find people are so thoughtless and so willing to take advantage of an error. Sure the attendant was wrong and even stupid in filling up vans for $5.00 but how do people justify it to themselves I wonder?

You've said a mouthful there ...

Nope, it's certainly not any sarcasm either - contrary to what you or anyone else may think; it's quite an excellent observation pirl ..

I'm just guessing that anyone who would buy it at the 22 cents, knowing it's a mistake, isn't willing to post here. Maybe they only know of nine commandments........or less!

If that was to happen here at one of the stores that are still under investigation or were found guilty for price gouging during Rita then I would have filled up, dont think if I would have called my friends though. But if it was one of the stations that left their prices the same until they received their new shipments and charged according to what they paid then I would have gone in and told some one so it could be fixed.

Now before any one gets upset with me, or asks how could I have slept at night let me explain. We had stations here that were charging 7.50 a gallon the same day as RITA was striking. It was the same gas in their tanks the night before at 2.56 a gallon. We had one place that raised his prices a day before RITA struck. He is now out of business and spending some quiet time reflecting in jail.

When I filled up yesterday I payed 2.87 for reg. unleaded. midgrade is 2.97 and premium is 3.09. We have some of the highest prices in the country here. I have heard on the radio of a couple places on the opposite side of town that are .20 a gallon cheaper but it would take 40 minutes to get there and then another 40 to get back and I will need to fill up again in a couple days.

I wonder why the station owner didnt just close for the day?

Seems like it was an error, the price should only have been that while it was on the reader board. Better yet, he could have gone in, flipped the breaker, claimed power failure and closed for the day.

Hi Carat and MSJen! It was just an attendant and he wasn't in charge of anything more than pumping gas. Obviously he wasn't even aware that he was filling SUV's for $5.00. Fine, he wasn't brilliant - that's no reason to steal.

Fill up the tank $5.00
A clear conscience - priceless!

Steal -?-
A mitey damagingly tuff term applied ...

- Magpye

How do you figure that?

Verb 1. steal - take without the owner's consent.

The owner of the gas station told the attendant the price and he misplaced the decimal point. The owner didn't authorize him to post the wrong price. Even if you want to consider that the attendant was acting as an agent, on behalf of the owner, does that make it acceptable?

If the Supreme being of your choice came to dinner would you be bragging about your "bargain" or hoping it wasn't noticed?

If your best friend was a minister, rabbi or priest would you be eager to tell them about it?

Would you feel you did the wrong thing?

What term would you apply if not stealing? Obviously you are intelligent and know a gallon of gas costs more than 22 cents - right? So is it then the right thing to do to take advantage of an error?

If it was your son pumping gas to pay for college and now he had to make up the difference how would you feel? Would you then think the customers should have asked if it was the right price?

Do morals and scruples and basic ethics have a place in our lives anymore?

Good morning Pirl. How is ever thing up Nawth? Doubt there are any "perfect" people alive now a days, so we just got to live, and let live till the rapture, and hope we have invested our mortality in the right direction . I, for one, being the darn good ole Souther Boy, that i am ( my opinion, uummmmm, he he) hard to pass up a bargain, not knowin the circumstances, more than likely , thinking this was a good ole nawthin boy doing something good for customer relations. assumin yall have good ole boys up there. I feel good knowin that if you had filled ya car, van, truck , or just topped ya tank off, and realized it wasnt ligit, you would have gone back and rectified ya missfortune. Dang, i would done the same thing. Been the only right thing to do. dont ya agree? I thank Dave for givin me and you the opportunity to discuss this through his garden site., he just might be another one of those "good ole southern boys" hisself ya hear about. dont browbeat me to death about my lack of politically correct dialet cause i never recieved a diploma from the "evolutionary school system of our politacally corrective behavior.
Pirl, bet you and I have more in common than than ya think. Wish you the very best copecetic day possible. regards, always, puldeau

I'm so sorry you were raised without scruples.

I don't understand why the guy just didn't go out and change the sign? I have worked years and years of retail and retailers are supposed to honor the price they post. They can at any time change the sign but normally (not always) give the price to people that have seen it. I would think he could have fairly given the low price to the people in the lot and changed it before the cars in the lot could change. I have pulled into a lot and have seen someone change the price while I pumped. Many businesses are open 24 hours and someone is always going to *see* the prices change. I would think the owner would have rather dealt with a few angry people that didn't get the bargain as opposed to footing the bill for all the people that did fill up.

Hi Badseed! How's the new house?

In many states the price can be changed just once a day. It's against the law for the gas station to change more than once but those who set the price can change it as often as they like.

I have no idea where the owner was but obviously he was not "on premises" or he'd have wondered about the lines of cars. My only point in raising the question was one of "doing the right thing".

Pirl, I agree. People do not usually see the domino effect that can occur from even the smallest mistakes. A few people pumped gas and got an awesome deal, but in return a clerk probably lost his job, a few other more then likely had to go in for a dreaded meeting at an ungodly hour. An owner had to dig in his pocket to make up for the losses, because unless he owns a large amount of business and is not connected to a chain he is making a small profit from the sale of gas. The family of that owner is also going to have to deal with a very grumpy person for a couple days and it can just keep on spiraling from there....

Sadly,People are not who they use to be and it really doesn't look like it is going to be changing anytime soon....

Thanks Carat! Maybe the "gimme" people have just messed with my brain. I just can't believe so many people were either brought up with no morals or ethics or have abandoned them in search of more "toys".

Even in a rat race the winner is still a rat.

I'm thinkin' I would have HAD to ask Why the gas was so inexpensive and if there had been a mistake made when posting the price or if they were having some kind of one day special for marketing puposes. Then suggested to the attendant to close down and call the owner.

I don't think I could have just filled my tank and been on my way,,,unless I KNEW for sure that it was indeed a *special price* for that day only. Hey, wouldn't you go back to a gas station that had a GREAT price for a day? I would.

But lets face it,,,22 cents a gallon,,,that's way too low to even be a *special* price. People had to know it was a mistake and clearly took advantage of the situation,,,,IMO

Nope, could Not have looked myself in the mirror nor justify it in my prayers.

Kelly

dto,
Brigitte

Thanks Kelly and Brigitte for lifting my spirits.

Pirl,

Your welcome,,,
Kel

I'm in the middle of this country and my upbringing would have forced me to immediately asked "why the low price?". I do believe I remember reading in GOD's word that we are to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. How hard is that to understand? We have tried to raise our children to think and act that way but unfortunately that has not always been their way. The Bible also says we are to be a peculiar people(different in our behaviors, thinking, etc.)and that the world will not understand us. Jesus was persecuted and killed for doing good works and preaching peace and love. That the other people acted the way they did is not really suprising to me given the upbringing of so many in this world today.

leaflady,


AHHHH, The Golden Rule,,,,yes, me thinks most people forget that,,,how sad

GG I dont think they have forgotten the Golden Rule, I just think they dont acknowledge it when its tapping them on the shoulder and saying, uh ummm.

Carat - You must have heard Oscar Wilde's quotation: I can resist anything except temptation. There's also, "....lead us not into temptation".

Being tempted is one thing but giving in shows serious lack of backbone and pride in ourselves.

Big hug Pirl.....is a little temptaion okay if it pertains to daylilies ?....I am so tempted to buy everyone I see, especially the ruffly red ones :)))
You're right, Pirl....being able to resist temptation, or in plain English, knowing right from wrong, and doing the "right" thing even when we don't want to... is one the big things that sets us apart from animals. Animals act of instinct, we are supposed to think first. There are always repercussions if we don't, either now or later.
Well, time to get off my soapbox, God bless you all, Margo

Hi Margo,

Being tempted to buy can be wonderful, not to steal.

Sometimes I think the worst punishment for those who do the wrong thing is having to live with their own conscience. There's no way $50. worth of "bargain" gas could ever be worth how little they must think of their own actions.

All I will say is Amen!

If I understand correctly, there isn't that much profit in gas sales.
Some one had to make up the difference from other sources.

I sell produce; not gas so I really don't know!

On radio I heard it's 7.7% that gas companies can make on gas. The state and federal governments make 62% on each gallon here in the northeast, with the state taking the larger portion.

Loved your link. Read the story about the origins of the pecan. Now I have to hope it comes up on Jeopardy while it's fresh in my mind!

Thanks.

I hope I am not intruding and I also hope I dont offend anyone...
Right now I am just downright disappointed with people in general. I have had my car keyed (where they run a key down the length of your car to ruin the paint) while at a mall in another town, someone ran into my car at work, and the siding on the outside of my house was sprayed with spray paint. Now all 3 things happened at different places and I suppose you can consider 2 of the incidents vandalism. But I am mainly referring to the character of people these days, or actually the lack of character. Now I know these things give me no right or reason to take up the same kind of behavior, but I certainly understand how some people come to the point that they think they "deserve" to take advantage of others mistakes. You just get sick of it all.
I take pride in the fact that when I was stupid enough to back into someone at work , I took the high road and went back into work and talked to the security people to find the owner of the vehicle I hit. I then contacted the person and ended up paying for the damage I caused.
I am a true believer of "what comes around goes around". I am completely convinced that eventually I will be paid back for my actions and the type of people willing to take advantage of others because they "deserve to" will get paid back also.

Jos, I hope the sun shines a little brighter for you today. Also those responsible for destroying property are caught and face the penality.

Casey

Jos,

Know what you mean,,,,some people just don't have any conscience,,,,,it's really very sad.

I had an incident at a McDonalds once...Right after they made the *new* $50 bills to look like the *new* $20's and $10's,,,, I went through the drive thru, placed my order, went to the window to pay and gave the guy a $20 bill,,,he gave me change for a $50,,,,told him he gave me too much and gave him back the overage. He looked at me like he couldn't believe I did that,,,,he couldn't thank me enough.

I'm Not telling this story to make myself look good. I'm telling it because of the look on the guys face,,,,which told me that people just don't do things like that very much,,,,awfully sad,,,,IMO

Jos - when we do the right thing it's a reward in itself. I've been keyed with a brand new car because the woman was annoyed I didn't leave more room for her to get in the passenger side of her car. I very calmly said to her that her husband would have to back the car out to get home anyhow and she could get it after he backed it out. I had a small Buick Skyhawk and I didn't paint the lines for the parking spots but she got her revenge on me.

Another time my ex arrived home from grocery shopping and realized, at home, he hadn't paid the cashier. He called the store and went right back and paid the cashier. She thanked him and said if he hadn't paid she'd have to make it up and that would have been almost a week's salary.

I was raised to do the right thing and it so were most of the others on this thread. Taking the high road pays off every time.

Pirl

Pirl,

I concur,,,,it may not seem like it at the time,,,but it definitely does eventually.

Kelly

ty CARAT

Really the point I was trying to make is most likely not too popular. My point is that I can see how people could eventually just get tired of being the one to take the high road.....
No I am not saying that it is the right thing to do, But I have to tell you honestly some days I really want to act like noone else matters and just do whatever because it may benefit me.

I just keep going back to what I believe to be true.."what comes around goes around" and tell myself to try and not judge people too harshly. We do not know the circumstances that got them to where they are today. Not to mention who am I to judge another? That's not my job, but they will be judged in the end.

(You might even have to die before goodness 'comes around.'
Just reading in Luke..)

I would like to bring up:

It is 1. Unfortunate that folks do bad things.
It is 2, Unfortunate that we see more bad than there truly is. (Thank you, News and Media...)
it is 3. Downright heartwrenching that we do not expect good at all.

i.e: A (car) wants to pull out on to a street that is filling with cars stopped at a light or something. The driver busies him/herself, anticipating a long wait, when in fact, a nice person has left them a space to pull in.

i.e; Oh, this one is personal. A gal thinks I'm a creep because I opened a door for her, or tipped my hat. Ouch.

My motto: "Assume the best!"

Jos, notice how you walked the high road with comfort until you were done ill. Some whould be weak enough to slide down to that low road and join, which would, in turn do the same thing the first guy did: tempt yet another person into ill deed. A nasty cycle. I think a tough person like you Jos, can turn it around.

Note: When I walk to school each day, I pass many people on the sidewalk. Some do not make eye contact and strain to pretend that the oncoming passerby is not there.
The jewels of humanity do not fail to recognize one's presence, but say "Hi, Hello, Good Morning," etc.This happens in hallways, supermarkets, everywhere.

My Challenge to you all: Aknowledge the humanity of everyone you pass. It is the smallest kind deed. Even slimy looking folks. See who echos. Those people are the kind of folks on Dave's Garden, those are the folks who will inherit the Earth (or better.) The best part: perhaps someone silent you pass will begin to say "Good morning,"

It could be a morning for epiphany. For Humanity.

It is easy for me to imagine people with a low income and gas prices so high, taking advantage of the low prices at that gas station. And I am sure they feel it is justified when you hear on the news that the oil companies are making huge profits right now. But they are not thinking that the station owner buys at one price and marks it up to cover his expenses and have some profit. So that guy took quite a hit. It could even put him out of business because he may not have the funds to pay his gas bill.
I have a small antique sign with interchangeable letters from a gas station. The last price quoted when I bought it was 12 cents a gallon, lol.
One more comment: why on earth do some people insist on typing in hickese? There is enough problems with the north thinking southerners are all retarded inbred fools without promoting that idea. It's simply not true. I was born up north of southern parents and lived all up and down the eastern seaboard and some of the most intelligent and talented people I have known were southerners.
Now southern traditions are another thing, some are very good like generosity, manners and a sense of humor during adversity.

Jamesco- There are places where you would be ill advised to make eye contact with passersby, not to mention how difficult it can be in throngs of rushing humanity (Manhattan rush hour for instance). There are predators in places, and it's safer to mind your own business in those places.

When I was in Art School years ago in Manhattan, students would do fun experiments. One was (and this was before terrorism) turning around to greet everyone on the elevator and smiling. You should see how fast everyone got off at the next floor! Smiling was seen as a threatening gesture.

Allowing people to be who they are (walking in privacy in their own thoughts) can also be a generous gesture. Or even allowing them their hickese.