WTF Costco? You pre-authorize $150 at your gas pumps????

[Tweak155]

Except that it *is* "their fault" I stopped there without cash when they deliberately advertise the cash-only price against a competitor's cash or credit price without saying so. The street signage is deliberately different from what you find after pulling in which is dishonest and deceptive which is exactly why the other poster declared it a "scam."

It's one thing to offer a discount for cash or charge more for credit, but it's somethingnelse entirely to deliberately start using the difference to sucker people in.

Actually the price is the exact same as they advertised. If they didn't have cash somewhere by the price then you have a point, but I've yet to see that (where they don't specify cash) and have the credit card price be different.

 

[alkemyst]

I actually have auto-correction turned off on Swiftkey and don't "run" anything on the PC either. Text fields in PC browsers have rudimentary automatic spell checking that I don't turn off, if that's what you mean, but I rarely post from there now.

Anyway, there are many types of Bait 'n' Switch scams, but advertising one thing and then only offering another is Bait 'n' Switch. They sucker you in from their competitors with what looks like a lower price even though you find that it isn't when you actually stop there (wasn't comparing apples to apples). Few people carry cash these days. Even if they aren't making more from the credit sale because it all goes to the CC companies, they are counting on the lower price to attract ("Bait") you. The "Switch" is in what station you are stopped at and not what product is available.

Edit: I see that I accidentally said "credit price" when I meant "cash price." My "spell checker" failed me.

No bro, I was talking about you and your bro running all our posts through spell check.

We were talking that most gas stations are reporting credit prices now or noting them as cash.

For the most part any 'cash' price quoted had equal scaling credit pricing vendor to vendor.

 

[CZroe]

No bro, I was talking about you and your bro running all our posts through spell check.

We were talking that most gas stations are reporting credit prices now or noting them as cash.

For the most part any 'cash' price quoted had equal scaling credit pricing vendor to vendor.

Except we don't. I was very clear that I don't "run" my posts though spell check when I said that I don't "run" them through anything, including spell-check.

No one said that they all pull the scam. Heck, most regions still have only one price for both methods. Just because they prominently show it in your area doesn't mean they always have in another. It happened to me in San Diego at least a couple times BEFORE the rules changed to allow it in every state.

Hopefully, those rules included rules to force signage to make it clear, but I have lived in a region that doesn't do it at all ever since 2011 when I left San Diego so I wouldn't know. I don't see it happening anymore either, but I know it has happened and I wouldn't argue against those who *have* seen it in other regions.

 

[CZroe]

Actually the price is the exact same as they advertised. If they didn't have cash somewhere by the price then you have a point, but I've yet to see that (where they don't specify cash) and have the credit card price be different.

So you think B'n'S only applies to the price changing for the same product?
LOL! NO.
You can change the product, control availability/access, or even B'n'S physical locations (you came here instead of going there based on my "bait").

 

[squarecut1]

Pulled up behind a Suburban yesterday at Costco. Thought it took forever for him to fill up so I was interested in how much gas was actually filled into the tank. 35 gallons. Hundred and $35 worth.

Earth warmed a bit too during that time

 

[JulesMaximus]

I always have cash on me but I never use it to buy gasoline.

 

[Tweak155]

So you think B'n'S only applies to the price changing for the same product?
LOL! NO.
You can change the product, control availability/access, or even B'n'S physical locations (you came here instead of going there based on my "bait").

No? I don't even know what you're talking about anymore.

They advertised a cash price (and indicated as such) and you went there without cash. The fault is yours and no one else. This isn't complicated.

 

[CZroe]

I always have cash on me but I never use it to buy gasoline.

Exactly, because then you wouldn't have enough for the very things that might require it unless you are stupid and carrying way too much.

No? I don't even know what you're talking about anymore.

They advertised a cash price (and indicated as such) and you went there without cash. The fault is yours and no one else. This isn't complicated.

There's a difference between "indicating" before or after you stop there and that is the difference between being honest and "baiting." Got it? They either DON'T show "cash" on the high-up street sign or they show it really small, by regular octane only, though displaying them right next to unlabled *credit* prices for medium and high grade. There are many tricks to downplay or hide it and that is what is a "scam." The ones that display it correctly and honestly are not the ones we are calling "scams." Some do, some don't. Got it? Jeeze.

 

[Mixolydian]

Physical currency is obsolete and needs to die.

 

[JMapleton]

Physical currency is obsolete and needs to die.

I rarely use currency but it should not be phased out. The ability to physically store, hide, and transfer wealth is a key component to a free society. When big brother can see every transaction and store of wealth you possess, you've lost your freedom.

 

[Raduque]

I didn't read this whole mess of a thread, but I just wanted to say I had a Valero Corner Store gas station auth my Amex for $100. Same station hits my debit card (used as credit) for $1, then the amount I pumped.

I primarily use Murphy's now because my Wal-Mart card gets me 10 cents off per gallon - and they're already usually the cheapest in town.

 

[Howard]

The us is weird when it comes to gas. Here we just pay what we pump. Pump till it stops or you stop then go pay what it says.

There is no gas station at which you pay for more than you pump.

And if you are saying what I think you want to say, Petro-Canada has rolled out preauthorization now as well. Of the pumps I have tried (quite a few), none let me fill up more than $100 at once. It's annoying because the last $10 or so are pumped at a crawl.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

There is no gas station at which you pay for more than you pump.

And if you are saying what I think you want to say, Petro-Canada has rolled out preauthorization now as well. Of the pumps I have tried (quite a few), none let me fill up more than $100 at once. It's annoying because the last $10 or so are pumped at a crawl.

The reason I stopped paying cash at what you guys call gas stations is because of the following scenario:

* Touristing in the land of Freedom
* Go to a 'gas' station
* Try use the pump
* Try it for a while until I realise it doesn't work
* Go inside
* Ask politely for the pump to be turned on
* Pump attendant looks at me like I'm stupid
* "What kind of place do you come from, money is the only language in America" [this is literally what he said]
* Pay $100 grudgingly - I only had a hundred on me for emergencies, what kind of stupid country penalises you for not carrying cash
* Go outside, fill up
* have to walk back INTO the store to get my change back
* Attendant gives me change, showing me the 20 or so coins he gave me one by one like I'm a moron.