F@#$king gas prices
05-25-2007, 09:39 AM
#1
Screw gas mileage
Thread Starter
F@#$king gas prices
Who's bright idea was it to charge more for credit card purchases....that's a load of crap.
I'll be damned if I'm going to that station again
I'll be damned if I'm going to that station again
05-25-2007, 10:39 AM
#5
I am a meat popcicle
Out here, there are some 76 stations that do that. They have the cash price in huge numbers, and if you get suckered in and go to use a credit or check card, the pump updates with the credit prices that are on a much smaller sign.
I've noticed that some stations also charge a "convenience" fee if you simply use your ATM/CheckCard of anywhere from $0.50 to $1.50. I just avoid those places all together.
I've noticed that some stations also charge a "convenience" fee if you simply use your ATM/CheckCard of anywhere from $0.50 to $1.50. I just avoid those places all together.
05-25-2007, 11:02 AM
#7
gas stations have to buy the gas like you and I do.
because prices are high, people are looking out for lower prices even more than normal. some stores are barely making 3-5 cents per gallon. if you pay by credit card they may even lose money on the sale.
because prices are high, people are looking out for lower prices even more than normal. some stores are barely making 3-5 cents per gallon. if you pay by credit card they may even lose money on the sale.
05-25-2007, 12:29 PM
#8
That does not change the fact that asking extra for accepting the card is illegal. If they don't like that policy, they should not accept cards.
They are free to raise their prices to the "credit card" level for all purchases if they want though.
They are free to raise their prices to the "credit card" level for all purchases if they want though.
05-25-2007, 04:07 PM
#11
gr8ness
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yea, alot a places charge more. i used to work for sunoco a while ago. i still do my oil changes and stuff there. the owner only makes 3-5 cents a gallon. and when you use credit he only makes 2-3 cents a gallon. its not like station is ripping you off. dont get mad at them. they have to buy gas for the station, and the gas they sell, dose not make close to enough money to refill the station. on a friday he profits about 30-40 dollars after he pays for the gas that was pumped. its crazy i know, i had to look at his books to believe it, but yea.
he just puts tape over the credit slot saying out of order so people have to pay cash. i think thats funny as ****
he just puts tape over the credit slot saying out of order so people have to pay cash. i think thats funny as ****
05-26-2007, 12:24 PM
#14
Its all about Style...
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Depends on the state laws but here in MA its illegal to do it be it gas stations or convient corner stores. Though I have heard of some place's putting a sign up saying credit card purchases must be over $XX amount since they get charged a few for each transaction its its under that amount they lose out on some profit. With the amount of money the gas pumps put out for the credit card companies I doubt they are losing out all that much. The charging fee is a scam pure and simple, I'd call up your Attorney General or one of those Consumer Reports people your local news station has and ask them to look into it for ya.
05-26-2007, 12:35 PM
#15
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
charging "more" for credit cards transactions is NOT illegal!
It's simple guys, ANY single place you go to and use a debit / credit card, that person has to pay a fee to their Merchant Card Service provider (the guys who lease them the machines that read your card)
That amount is a % of the 'ticket' (aka purchase) I don't care if this is a restaurant, a store, or a gas station, it's all pretty much the same.
All these gas stations are doing is offering a "cash" price so that they don't have to shell out tens of THOUSANDS to their Merchant Card Service provider. Many of these gas stations are trying SO hard to be competitive, that they've had to lower their prices to very marginal profits. If you add in the transaction charges of credit cards, suddenly they're not making much.
Remember: Gas stations are privately owned...these guys aren't raking in the money, it's the COMPANY that's killin' us (BP, Citgo, etc etc)
It's simple guys, ANY single place you go to and use a debit / credit card, that person has to pay a fee to their Merchant Card Service provider (the guys who lease them the machines that read your card)
That amount is a % of the 'ticket' (aka purchase) I don't care if this is a restaurant, a store, or a gas station, it's all pretty much the same.
All these gas stations are doing is offering a "cash" price so that they don't have to shell out tens of THOUSANDS to their Merchant Card Service provider. Many of these gas stations are trying SO hard to be competitive, that they've had to lower their prices to very marginal profits. If you add in the transaction charges of credit cards, suddenly they're not making much.
Remember: Gas stations are privately owned...these guys aren't raking in the money, it's the COMPANY that's killin' us (BP, Citgo, etc etc)
06-02-2007, 12:21 AM
#16
Super Moderator
Here all merchants/shops are charged a 2% fee for processing any credit card transaction by their bank/provider, some retailers are now starting to pass on the charge (4%) as a "credit card" fee on top of the retail purchase price..
Gas/Fuel prices in Australia have now hit $1.43.9 cents per litre or about $5.65AU a US gallon, or $4.70US a gallon, so your $3.10 US is cheap!!!!
BTW..The majority of Service Stations here are now owned by the oil companies...great hey!
Gas/Fuel prices in Australia have now hit $1.43.9 cents per litre or about $5.65AU a US gallon, or $4.70US a gallon, so your $3.10 US is cheap!!!!
BTW..The majority of Service Stations here are now owned by the oil companies...great hey!
Last edited by ASH8; 06-02-2007 at 12:23 AM.
06-02-2007, 08:08 AM
#19
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BTW, gas prices should be coming down a bit in the next week or so. Tanked up the other day and I saw what the previous driver put into his car: $82.53
06-02-2007, 08:47 AM
#20
06-02-2007, 11:28 AM
#21
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Down here in texas I dont think I have ever seen it where they charge more for the use of a credit card.
Here the price you see is the price you pay since all of the taxes/etc is built into that price. I can say though if I ever see a place that wants to charge me MORE just to pay them I will go somewhere else. My electric company pulled that **** on me when I tried to pay online, charging me a fee just use my mastercard. I now physically go down there and write a check because **** their fee.
I realize they are just trying to pass the cost -- but there is a thing called "the cost of doing business". My economics degree is telling me that setting up your business to accept credit cards will naturally draw in MORE customers, offsetting that small fee you have to "pay to play".
I personally never carry cash on me -- its slow, its theft prone, and I dont get any cashback rewards, everything I buy goes on my SINGLE credit card, and every 30 days I pay the balance off. Life is so easy this way.
Here the price you see is the price you pay since all of the taxes/etc is built into that price. I can say though if I ever see a place that wants to charge me MORE just to pay them I will go somewhere else. My electric company pulled that **** on me when I tried to pay online, charging me a fee just use my mastercard. I now physically go down there and write a check because **** their fee.
I realize they are just trying to pass the cost -- but there is a thing called "the cost of doing business". My economics degree is telling me that setting up your business to accept credit cards will naturally draw in MORE customers, offsetting that small fee you have to "pay to play".
I personally never carry cash on me -- its slow, its theft prone, and I dont get any cashback rewards, everything I buy goes on my SINGLE credit card, and every 30 days I pay the balance off. Life is so easy this way.
06-02-2007, 01:53 PM
#23
Actually, it's the commodities traders and speculators that are setting the price. Oil companies do not set the price of oil, the stock markets do. It's a commodity same as corn or beef or metal. You think the farmers set the price of string beans or wheat? No. The markets do. Oil and gasoline are no different.
06-02-2007, 02:48 PM
#24
In general all stores add the option to pay by credit car to gain the largest amount of consumers. Of course they hate it. My parent's former restaurant business had a minimum since it was a fixed rate but never liked credit cards. No business actually enjoys having to accept credits cards, simply, cash takes out the middle man in the transaction. And if this is a such a problem, why not pay with cash? I guess i grew up with this mentality, but I hate credit cards similarly. Identity theft vs losing 200 bucks... what is worse? I always pay for everything in cash, and I know companies appreciate it.
06-03-2007, 06:39 PM
#25
Super Moderator
Actually, it's the commodities traders and speculators that are setting the price. Oil companies do not set the price of oil, the stock markets do. It's a commodity same as corn or beef or metal. You think the farmers set the price of string beans or wheat? No. The markets do. Oil and gasoline are no different.
Their profit margins are way over any resemblance to growth.