Some people are doing stupid things to save at the pump

[cantdrv55]

My brother drives 9 miles one way to buy gas at Costco because it is $0.20 cheaper per gallon. Then, when he gets there, he waits and waits in line, idling his engine. He has a 4 door sedan that probably has a 15 gal tank so that's just a $3.00 saving. He wastes a gallon just getting to/from Costco! He spends more on one mocha frapaccino, plus he leaves his change in the tip cup! He's a bright guy but he sure does some stupid stuff.

[kstar]

This reminds me of certain close family members of mine who rush and dodge in and out of traffic only to find later the same car they passed much earlier in front of them.

[Rick Lee]

I kinda did something similar today. Monday I called a lot of places to get price and shipping quotes on about 2000 rds. of ammo. Turns out the best deal was at a shop about 70 miles from my house. No shipping, but I'd have to pay sales tax. They still beat my next best deal by about $25. But the 150 miles roundtrip and three hours I spent going to get it probably killed any savings. Would have been cheaper to just pay shipping instead of sales tax from the next best place out of state.

[alf]

I thought of taking the bus to the office last week. Ran a spreadsheet and figured that the extra time I spend commuting vs. gas savings I am selling my time for $3 an hour. That is 50 cents less than my first job in 86.

Oddly cycling takes the same amount of time as the bus and I get exercise and save $3 and hour cycling instead of driving. That willl be OK 2 or 3 times a week.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

My brother drives 9 miles one way to buy gas at Costco because it is $0.20 cheaper per gallon. Then, when he gets there, he waits and waits in line, idling his engine. He has a 4 door sedan that probably has a 15 gal tank so that's just a $3.00 saving. He wastes a gallon just getting to/from Costco! He spends more on one mocha frapaccino, plus he leaves his change in the tip cup! He's a bright guy but he sure does some stupid stuff.

Mocha frapaccino?

What ever happened to drinking "coffee?"

[djmcmath]

Where I live, public transportation isn't an effective means of getting to work. Two of my friends, who have 90 minute commutes already, have looked at this option. They both spend about $350/mo on gas, but would save $0.00 by shifting to public transport. Worse, the commute would take about twice as long each way. I live within 10mi of my job, which is great, but the only bike route is a narrow winding road with no shoulder, heavily trafficked by people in shiny new Mercedes and BMW SUVs. That's a recipe for suicide.

My parents pointed out to me, even before I learned to drive, that driving a long ways to save a few dollars isn't usually worth it. I guess that's one mistake I won't have to make to learn it myself, right?

Dan

[CurtEgerer]

>>>has a 15 gal tank so that's just a $3.00 saving<<<

That's the hilarious part of it. I was eating lunch in a parking lot across from a station yesterday. It was 5 cents cheaper then the one next door. People were swarming on this place. Cutting each other off, trying to get to the first available pump. Waiting in line for 10 minutes. Then once they filled up, they couldn't get out because the lot was jammed. Meanwhile, they're backed up out onto the road and are nearly getting rear-ended by traffic. All to save 80 cents on a fill up

I've always wanted to walk up to one these people after they finally get their turn at the pump and ask them how much money they just saved. Of course, these are the same math-challenged people who buy 2 lottery tickets because it will double their odds of winning ....

Great lunchtime entertainment though

[The Gaijin]

The last rest stop on the NJ Turnpike (lower gas taxes in NJ) always has a 25 minute line.

One rest stop before has the same price and no line... People are pretty stupid.

[mschuep]

A guy I work with decided to start driving 55 mph on the highway to save gas...Speed limits around here in NJ are 65, the majority of traffic exceeds that by 10+ mph regularly, so say a prayer for him.

I mentioned that I thought he could save the same amount (if not more) by just following and 18 wheeler at a safe distance. As an added bonus, he might not get run over.

[Jims5543]

Gaijin - Maybe its more about principle.

The message to the empty gas station is, lower your prices to be competitive with the one next door and you will have customers too, those same customers are not only buying gas but Red Bulls at $2.40 a can that they get for $1.35 a can and bottled water and snacks.

I stopped for gas in Georgia, I pulled into a station and there were no signs on the road as regards to price. When I got out of the car I walked up to the pump and he was 15 cents more than the stations across the street. I looked at the building, dead empty, no a single customer.

I went across the street bought gas, a red bull, 2 bottle of water and a bag of peanuts. The station was packed and there was a line of people inside buying everything from beer to soda to lunch.

Which station is making more money?

[Tobra]

People never consider the value of their time either.

[The Gaijin]

Jim - I wish it was. The price of gas is fixed the whole length of the NJ Turnpike. Every rest stop has the same price. And this was going on when gas was $1.75 a gallon...

Folks want to head home into NY or Connecticut or wherever with the fullest tank of cheaper NJ gas possible. So they wait on long lines at the very last rest stop...

It was the same situation with the powerball lottery. Hordes of NY folks jamming the road to the first exit in Connectucut to wait on line for hours buy a ticket..

Two more exits down the parkway? Thats right - no traffic jamb and no lines....

I hate to be negitive. But people are stupid. Or there is some psychic benifit to waiting on lines??

[Jims5543]

Oh, I see your point now, drive a few more miles and no lines, you know what they say, the bigger the crowd the more people show up.

When we had a hurricane threat here in Florida the sheeple all flock to the same stores, gas stations etc...

My friends and I were talking about it. Best time to fuel up? 1 in the morning at the closed gas station, guess what? The pumps are still on. No lines.

Building supplies? Local lumber yard is empty and Home Depot has lines around the building.

Groceries? 3 in the morning at wal-mart, overnight crew just finished restocking and the store is empty.

If you think outside the box there are never lines to stand in.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

This might qualify:

I now fill up every time my car gets below 3/4 on the gauge. This does a couple of things:

1. It means that there's more "old" fuel in the tank at any given time
2. It means that the vehicle is heavier (since I'm lugging around a full, or nearly full tank all the time)
3. It means more frequent stops at the pump.

However the benefits are:

1. Somehow it's psychologically easier to do three $20 fill-ups in two weeks than it is to stomach the one, $60 fill-up that would otherwise be required.
2. If there's ever a batch of "bad gas", it's less likely to cause a serious problem
3. I hedge myself (a little) against rapid price increases. Assuming prices only go one direction (up), by doing this, I'm constantly in the situation where I've bought most of the gas in my tanks at lower than today's price.

So is it stupid? I dunno. Maybe yes and maybe no.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by Tobra

People never consider the value of their time either.

that usually is indicative of how much it is really worth...

[Tobra]

Todd, we ought to change your name to Socrates

I only fill up when I am going someplace. No sense in carrying around an extra 100 lbs of fuel. I go a few weeks on 2-3 gallons.

[widgeon13]

Probably time to purchase a locking gas cap and keep the clip for the 1911 handy.

[Dueller]

I'm gonna date myself here, but anybody remember the radio commentator Paul Harvey? He would give news and anecfotes oin a syndicayed show. Back during the oil crisis in the '70's he told a humorous story about a young boy tolling his lawnmower up to the pump and asking the attendant for $.25 worth of gas. (BOY...I am old). As the attendnat was finishing the boy said "And, mister, can you shake the hose real good?"

Every time I fill up I remember that anecdote. Sorta like an old tune you can't get out of your head.

GOOOOOOOOOD DAY!

[sammyg2]

These same jackholes fools waiting in line to save a few pennies probably have their tires under inflated by 5 or 10 psi.

[charleskieffner]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I kinda did something similar today. Monday I called a lot of places to get price and shipping quotes on about 2000 rds. of ammo. Turns out the best deal was at a shop about 70 miles from my house. No shipping, but I'd have to pay sales tax. They still beat my next best deal by about $25. But the 150 miles roundtrip and three hours I spent going to get it probably killed any savings. Would have been cheaper to just pay shipping instead of sales tax from the next best place out of state.

please notify me when the "RAPTURE" is going to occur! ammo prices have skyrocketed because of china wanting more metal(look at copper stocks ie. phelps dodge) and both wars putting the hurt on ammo mfgs.. buy low sell high is the common ecomomic thought pattern, but as history shows everything is cyclic.

back in 1986 phelps dodge stock was plummeting because of lack of sales and chilean copper reserves found and exploited. took 20 years for demand to catch up and stocks to rise.

soon when things turn around in afghan and iraq you will see ammo prices and fuel plummet. every commodity has its day in the sun.

i for one with (3) bull elk tags will practice with my .22's and rws pellet guns and remain oblivious to high costs. im low on .338 win mag ammo right now. going to order from az.ammunition in cochise az. a 100rds of custom black molys which rifle was sighted with and the only ammo it will ever see. .559 group all day everyday.

as far as my "RAPTURE" ammo 9mm .308 .45 i stocked up years ago when there was quite abit of surplus around at cheap cheap prices.

gasoline will be the same way. thats why it pays working where i do. 2 stop signs 2 stoplights 8 minutes doing speed limit and im at work. in between is grocery stores dry cleaners everything i need in life so fuel isnt bothering me w/exception of going to montana/wyoming/idaho this summer.

higher demand = higher prices. i dont need fuel i dont need ammo. not gonna play their silly ass games.

supply demand its all cyclic.

remember cheapest ammo is the gun shows in mesa and az state fairgrounds. bring your dolly all the gangbangers do when they stock up on cases of 7.62x 39! kid you not we saw it with our own eyes. tatted gangbangers i mean TATTED head to foot(MM=mexican mafia) pulling cases of ammo out of gun show. where the hell is BATF when ya need 'em???????