how far would you go to save ?

[rh71]

Scenario: You're almost down to an empty gas tank. There's gas stations on both west/east sides of the street as you head north. The station to the west requires a left turn at a stop light (because of a center divider), while the one on the east a simple driveway entrance along the way home. The west station is charging $1.67/gal for regular (promo as new business) while the east station is $1.79/gal as usual.

Question 1: Would you go to the trouble of getting into that turning lane and having to double back to return to your north route home, just to save $0.12/gal ? Or would you keep it quick and simple but pay the higher price ?

Question 2: What if it were raining and the cheaper station doesn't have an overhang ? Would you still go there in the rain ?

Background: There's a new self-service gas station opened up and they started out at $1.57/gal and cars were lining up into the street. Even in the rain. All to save about $1-2 total in exchange for a 15-20 minute wait.

 

[parsley007]

Question 1: Would you go to the trouble of getting into that turning lane and having to double back to return to your north route home, just to save $0.12/gal ? Or would you keep it quick and simple but pay the higher price ?

definetely double back

Question 2: What if it were raining and the cheaper station doesn't have an overhang ? Would you still go there in the rain ?

if i had an umbrella, yes...otherwise, no.

Background: There's a new self-service gas station opened up and they started out at $1.57/gal and cars were lining up into the street. Even in the rain. All to save about $1-2 total in exchange for a 15-20 minute wait.

but not having wait 20 minutes...in that case, i wouldn't do either..

 

[Black88GTA]

Depends on traffic, whether or not I'm in a hurry, weather, how much $$ I have on me (or in bank account), general mood I'm in that day, name brand of cheap gas vs. expensive gas, amount of traffic at the cheap station vs. expensive station, etc.

Too many factors. I put "I'm retarded and can't decide" )

All things being equal, though, I wouldn't care about the price of regular, as I only put premium in my car anyways.

 

[vi edit]

I won't go out of my way or wait in a huge line to save a buck. It just ain't worth the aggrevation to me.

 

[rudder]

I would go on principle. When they raised their prices I would stop going. Hopefully everyone would do the same. Then they would realize in order to stay in business they would have to be cheaper than the other stations around them. But it doesn't work that way in the real world. I see people pay 5cents more per gallon when the station right next to the one they are filling up is cheaper. Brand loyalty I guess.

 

[Ynog]

Wouldn't have a problem turning left, however the line and rain is another story.
I don't like pumping gas in the rain, nor do I like waiting in line to buy gas

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I won't go out of my way or wait in a huge line to save a buck. It just ain't worth the aggrevation to me.

 

[SWScorch]

12 cents a gallon? I would most definitely go out of my way for that.

 

[poopaskoopa]

East station.

 

[marquee]

Originally posted by: rudder
I would go on principle. When they raised their prices I would stop going. Hopefully everyone would do the same. Then they would realize in order to stay in business they would have to be cheaper than the other stations around them. But it doesn't work that way in the real world. I see people pay 5cents more per gallon when the station right next to the one they are filling up is cheaper. Brand loyalty I guess.

not necessarily brand loyalty. they could have a credit card from the gas station that gives them a discount, effectively making it cheaper than the other station.

 

[Saulbadguy]

Depends on the tank. With my small car, its not worth it. I'd just fill up at the one close.

EDIT: Also depends on the gas. Some people have better luck with certain brands of fuel than others.

 

[Redviffer]

Time is money. But that's not really my motivator: I just don't like to stop at all. I'd like to have refueling while moving, just like the jet planes do.

 

[fastz28]

I have a 32 gallons tank, so.... heck yeah.

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Yup, based on principle alone I would not pay more for gas on one side on of the street....they just take into consideration that many people would not double back...haha! They underestimated MrsSkoorb!

 

[dullard]

I'd wait up to 10 minutes to save the $1.50 (small tank in my Civic). That is an equivalent of $9 an hour. I currently earn about $4 an hour (student on minimal salary) so since time is money, it is definately worth the money to wait - I'll double my salary.

I would get gas in the rain, and I have no problem making a extra couple of turns - especially since there is a stop light so you don't have to worry about turing against heavy traffic.

 

[rh71]

This station is a new Sunoco and will likely join the $1.79 Mobil price across the street in a few weeks. I don't think they want to lose out on more profit. I don't believe in gas "brands" so I just go to whichever I'm closer to. If I'm northbound now, but southbound at another time soon, I'll just skip the gas altogether and go when it's more convenient (I like driving on fumes ). But waiting on line for gas sucks.

 

[Toasthead]

i have never understood this. There a cheap gas station ( lets say its 1.50 for a gallon) and there are cars LINED up waiting to get to the pumps.

RIGHT NEXT DOOR there is another stations with regular priced gas ( 1.55-1.60) and NO ONE IS THERE.

I mean were talking like AT MOST 2 BUCKS?? yer saving??

not worth it for me..

 

[shenaniganz]

If I paid attention to gas prices I would visit the cheaper one. But half the time I don't even look at the price of gas. My car needs it, so I put it in. Reminder to self: I really need to start paying attention to gas prices.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: shenaniganz
If I paid attention to gas prices I would visit the cheaper one. But half the time I don't even look at the price of gas. My car needs it, so I put it in. Reminder to self: I really need to start paying attention to gas prices.

One time I filled up myself at a full-serve pump (self-serve was on the other side) without even realizing it. I paid like $0.40/gal more because of that. The dude didn't even tell me.. he walked toward me at the beginning and decided to let me do it - I was wondering what he was so suspicious about then I realized. Bastard. I did have occasions where the guy comes out and tells me self-serve is another pump. I can't believe how deceptive some places can be if you don't pay attention. Overhead signs were different depending on which side of the station you came in.

Point is, look at prices even while at the pump.

 

[FoBoT]

$0.12 per gallon? for sure!

the price would have to be within $0.05 for me to not go out of my way

 

[TheToOTaLL]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
$0.12 per gallon? for sure!

the price would have to be within $0.05 for me to not go out of my way

Agreed.

 

[notfred]

I would go to whichever one said "Chevron" on the sign.

 

[DrPizza]

I love having an Indian reservation nearby... actually, I pass through it on my way home. Since I do some of my driving on the reservation, and some of my driving on state roads, I figure it's only fair to support the Indians by buying their tax free gas every once in a while to help support them. (saves 20 cents per gallon)

Another teacher I work with figures she saves $10-12 every time she fills up. (huge SUV) And, she's a math teacher, so I know she figures right.