New Gas Gimmick

[gobblergetter]

You know those old fashion gas pumps that spin on a dial (not digital). They stop at $4.00 so many gas stations don't know how to handle gas over $4.00/gallon. So, they have been allowed in many places to sell gas by the 1/2 gallon. Now gas reads on their signs $2.00 luring customers in b/c everyone assumes it is per gallon not 1/2 gallon.

[Louhunter]

For those of us old enough to remember, this was a big issue when gas first went over 1$ a gallon. They did the same thing selling gas by the 1/2 gallon.

[corndogggy]

http://www.state.pa.us/papower/cwp/view.asp?Q=445434&A=11

http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125--141175--,00.html

[gobblergetter]

http://www.state.pa.us/papower/cwp/view.asp?Q=445434&A=11

http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125--141175--,00.html

Sorry. My mistake. It was $3 not $4. I heard the story in NPR.

[corndogggy]

I'm surprised that they can advertise it as such though... both of those requirements clearly state that they have to advertise with the price for a full gallon. Maybe some states don't require that.

[gobblergetter]

I'm surprised that they can advertise it as such though... both of those requirements clearly state that they have to advertise with the price for a full gallon. Maybe some states don't require that.

I saw that in the articles you posted. It may be a state thing but I figure people pull in to a gas station not paying attention to the sign out front and see the price of the 1/2 gallon on the pump. I don't know. Beats me. I was just reporting what I heard on NPR cause I thought it was interesting.

[GSP]

For those of us old enough to remember, this was a big issue when gas first went over 1$ a gallon. They did the same thing selling gas by the 1/2 gallon.

I remember that well, most every pump out there only went up to 99.9

[gobblergetter]

I remember that well, most every pump out there only went up to 99.9

I remember gas being 89 cents but don't remember any stations selling it by the 1/2 gallon when it got up to $1.00.

[gobblergetter]

now that we're talking about "remember when's" I've listen to my grandfather tell us stories about hitch hiking back to the train station so he could make it back in time to go back to Italy during WWII b/c his family had run out of gas rations. Does anyone think that (rations) will happen again? IMHO I don't but its a thought of a way to drive down prices. (don't get me wrong. I'm not saying it would work)

[corndogggy]

now that we're talking about "remember when's" I've listen to my grandfather tell us stories about hitch hiking back to the train station so he could make it back in time to go back to Italy during WWII b/c his family had run out of gas rations. Does anyone think that (rations) will happen again? IMHO I don't but its a thought of a way to drive down prices. (don't get me wrong. I'm not saying it would work)

Choke off the supply and hope prices go down? :D That would just make it worse.

[Louhunter]

I remember gas being 89 cents but don't remember any stations selling it by the 1/2 gallon when it got up to $1.00.

Many of the gas pumps were the old mechanical type, click, click, click.... They put up a sign at the gas stations tell you the price was for 1/2 gallon.

[drakeshooter]

I know for a fact that The Country Store in Kirksey (Calloway County) had to sell 1/2 gallons for a while several years ago because they had the old mechanical pumps mentioned before. There was some confusion and a couple of p'd off folks who couldn't get it.

[Art]

What kind of fool pulls into a gas station and thinks they are getting a gallon of gas for $1.75? Maybe if there was a CNN truck and a five mile line then I'd think it's for real, otherwise, well.....

[raktrakr]

$1.75 per 1/2 plays with your mind and sounds a whole lot cheaper than $3.50/gal.
I'm supprised this hasnt occurred to "ease the pain" at the pump,kinda like lubing you up before they stick it to ya

[ptbrauch]

I had a guy at work tell me that one of the marinas on Nolin was selling gas by the half gallon.

[Auk1124]

When I was a kid a country store in my community supposedly sold gas at the same price as everyone else, but it was actually per liter instead of per gallon. :eek: