SthTpaLauren

Rookie Author
Tampa
Posts:50 Points:29,250 Joined:Jun 2011
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Message Posted: Jun 28, 2011 7:55:36 PM
Thank you for clarifying the best way to list the prices at the pump.
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ambius

Rookie Author
Flint
Posts:81 Points:237,090 Joined:Apr 2011
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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2011 6:50:38 PM
thank you kwzh for clearly pointing out the conundrum created by the shortcomings of the current GB system. I will add to it just a bit. Even if, hypothetically, every single user properly reported credit price and commented the discounts (or lack of) in the comments field it would still be a real pain for any smart cash users to find a good price because those of us willing to spend cash for a discount can't sort by price to find the best deal. Instead, we must slowly click on every single station to figure out where the lowest price is. And that is in a hypothetically perfect world. In the real world, we never really know which price is reported so both the cash customers and the credit customers get screwed because it is impossible to find the best price even if you are willing to click for the comments of every station. The current system is a real lose-lose. Although, on topic, at least if every price was reported properly only 1 group of users would be screwed instead of both groups. So, I agree that putting a very clear notice on the home page and also on the report price dialogue box would be a very smart idea for GB to do.
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no1doc

Champion Author
Milwaukee
Posts:20,536 Points:1,774,340 Joined:Oct 2007
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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2011 12:40:15 PM
Hi DC. I miss your input in the "Let's pretend we're looking for truth." forum. As my mentor used to say, "Any fool can ask more questions in one day than a wise man can answer in a life time". ... As to posting discounted gas prices which are cash only, here's what I was told by GM three years ago: ... "Hi no1doc,
Please post the price before the cash discount when possible. Please refer to the FAQ:
http://www.MilwaukeeGasPrices.com/faq.aspx#15
You can still provide the information, but please enter the information within in the Comments field, like this:
(example)
Station Name: Gateway Gas Address: 123 Main St & Cross St Comments Field: -5ยข with cash
=====
The REGULAR PRICE is listed, and the discount information will still show up in the address line for those eligible. Members using the discount will have to do their own math.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Regards,
GM GasBuddy Organization" ... Seems like good advice so no charge card users are surprised at the pump.
[Edited by: no1doc at 6/27/2011 12:41:56 PM EST]
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kwzh

Champion Author
San Jose
Posts:20,637 Points:3,681,270 Joined:Jul 2001
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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2011 1:46:09 AM
GaryG7 writes, > The real issue is that when you sort the prices, a mix of cash-only prices and credit prices can make a station look cheaper compared to another
If station X is 3.539 while station Y is 3.519 cash / 3.559 credit, then posting Y's cash price makes it look cheaper than X, when (if you're a credit customer) it is not. Likewise, posting Y's credit price makes it look more expensive than X, when (if you're a cash customer) it is not.
The situation is symmetric, and *neither* "post the cash price, with a (+4c credit) comment" nor "post the credit price, with a (-4c cash) comment" is sufficient. We need tools that *know* about the dual pricing.
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GaryG7

Champion Author
New Jersey
Posts:13,834 Points:2,699,300 Joined:Aug 2005
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Message Posted: Jun 26, 2011 2:01:03 PM
I've had a couple write on my whiteboard claiming that the FAQ supports posting the cash prices. For the record, that's only in the case when the station doesn't post the credit price, but the stations for which these people posted prices I know to include the credit price.
Those that insist on posting the cash prices aren't thinking about others. I pay cash for gas, but understand many people don't. The real issue is that when you sort the prices, a mix of cash-only prices and credit prices can make a station look cheaper compared to another but those that post the cash price don't care.
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ricebike

Champion Author
New Jersey
Posts:10,021 Points:1,853,770 Joined:Oct 2005
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Message Posted: Jun 26, 2011 5:22:43 AM
i write on those offending posters that post cash price to either say so in the comments section (on their whiteboard)
or have the mods finally have a separate column for cash prices; i don't see stations reverting back to same price= cash or credit= since they can pass the operating costs to the consumer this way
[Edited by: ricebike at 6/26/2011 5:23:05 AM EST]
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CampKohler

Champion Author
Sacramento
Posts:9,446 Points:1,562,015 Joined:May 2007
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Message Posted: Jun 24, 2011 5:00:06 PM
A modification of this suggestion to solve the problem is Number Thirty Two.
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20Yoleven

Champion Author
New Jersey
Posts:5,822 Points:823,005 Joined:Nov 2010
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Message Posted: Jun 24, 2011 12:57:46 PM
This 'bandaid' solution is so simple, it just might work...
C'mon mods--coffee break is over--somebody get on the keyboard!
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scoutmaster

Champion Author
Pittsburgh
Posts:81,180 Points:3,250,695 Joined:Mar 2003
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Message Posted: Jun 22, 2011 9:45:00 PM
kwzh,
That was only an example. Even so, it can be listed in the comments.
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kwzh

Champion Author
San Jose
Posts:20,637 Points:3,681,270 Joined:Jul 2001
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Message Posted: Jun 22, 2011 9:32:34 PM
Scoutmaster, car wash discounts are irrelevant, as both the current and the prior GasBuddy policy said not to post those as the price. The only difference is in cash vs credit.
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mn_vikings

Rookie Author
Virginia Beach
Posts:23 Points:7,975 Joined:Jun 2011
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Message Posted: Jun 22, 2011 1:55:54 PM
putting your favorite gas station on the home page
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jsoko

Champion Author
Detroit
Posts:1,310 Points:608,670 Joined:Sep 2005
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Message Posted: Jun 22, 2011 2:32:32 AM
2Amy: Policy is to post credit prices. Please do this. If there is a cash discount, put it in the comments i.e. (-4c Cash)
Thanks
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2amy

Champion Author
Fresno
Posts:1,709 Points:603,305 Joined:Feb 2011
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Message Posted: Jun 21, 2011 4:26:24 PM
Usually I post weather its cash prices or "cash or credit" is the same. If it isnt posted that way I would assume the price is going to be 10 cents more for my visa card.
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scoutmaster

Champion Author
Pittsburgh
Posts:81,180 Points:3,250,695 Joined:Mar 2003
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Message Posted: Jun 21, 2011 1:52:58 PM
The only problem with posting the discounted price is not everyone wants a car wash to save a nickel, etc. Posting the credit price with the discount and criteria listed in the comments gives all the information.
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ambius

Rookie Author
Flint
Posts:81 Points:237,090 Joined:Apr 2011
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Message Posted: Jun 21, 2011 1:41:18 PM
I would prefer that GB changed back to the old policy of posting discounted prices so I could actually use their service to find the cheapest gas... but that's a different subject.
on topic: whatever their policy is, I agree that it should be clearly stated in big print on the home page instead of buried in the FAQ that is hard to find and even more tedious to read.
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