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Author	Topic: Display cash/credit price based on % difference between the two	Post a Reply Back to Topics

awj223 Rookie Author San Jose Posts:6 Points:295,120 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 12:14:42 PM Ignore awj223 Report Abuse Here is a neat suggestion. How about displaying the CREDIT price but only if it is <x% from the CASH price? "x" can be chosen by the user. (this obviously requires having a way to enter both cash and credit prices as well). For example, if x is 3, and a station has a CREDIT price of $4.009/gal, then the CREDIT price will normally be displayed, except if the CASH price is $3.879/gal or less. The reasoning behind this? I have a credit card that gives me 3% cash back on gas. Therefore, I almost always use the credit card, so long as the difference between cash and credit is < 3%. On the other hand, if a station has a HUGE discrepancy between cash and credit prices (the biggest one I've seen was a 20 cent/gal difference in San Diego), then I would pay cash. But all I really care about when I buy gas is the EFFECTIVE cost to me, which is 97% of the credit price or the cash price, whichever is lower. On the Android app, this could be implemented by coloring the cash and credit prices differently, maybe something like blue=cash, red=credit, black=same for both. That way, I wouldn't have to look through the comments for every station to figure out what's cheapest. It would also easily indicate (in the default list) which is a cash price and which is a credit price. For example if I see a blue price of $3.879, but a red price of $4.009, and the station in blue is 5 miles farther, then I immediately know that it's not worth driving those extra 5 miles to get what's effectively 1 cent/gallon less. If both prices are blue or both are red, then I would drive the extra 5 miles. [Edited by: awj223 at 5/14/2012 12:19:20 PM EST]

awj223

Rookie Author
San Jose

Posts:6
Points:295,120
Joined:Jul 2004

Message Posted: May 14, 2012 12:14:42 PM

Ignore awj223 Report Abuse

Here is a neat suggestion. How about displaying the CREDIT price but only if it is <x% from the CASH price? "x" can be chosen by the user. (this obviously requires having a way to enter both cash and credit prices as well). For example, if x is 3, and a station has a CREDIT price of $4.009/gal, then the CREDIT price will normally be displayed, except if the CASH price is $3.879/gal or less.

The reasoning behind this? I have a credit card that gives me 3% cash back on gas. Therefore, I almost always use the credit card, so long as the difference between cash and credit is < 3%. On the other hand, if a station has a HUGE discrepancy between cash and credit prices (the biggest one I've seen was a 20 cent/gal difference in San Diego), then I would pay cash. But all I really care about when I buy gas is the EFFECTIVE cost to me, which is 97% of the credit price or the cash price, whichever is lower.

On the Android app, this could be implemented by coloring the cash and credit prices differently, maybe something like blue=cash, red=credit, black=same for both. That way, I wouldn't have to look through the comments for every station to figure out what's cheapest. It would also easily indicate (in the default list) which is a cash price and which is a credit price. For example if I see a blue price of $3.879, but a red price of $4.009, and the station in blue is 5 miles farther, then I immediately know that it's not worth driving those extra 5 miles to get what's effectively 1 cent/gallon less. If both prices are blue or both are red, then I would drive the extra 5 miles.

[Edited by: awj223 at 5/14/2012 12:19:20 PM EST]

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,777 Points:387,340 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 30, 2012 7:55:14 PM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse Gas_Buddy said "I can't think of any time remotely recently at which I've seen the sign for the cash price (when there's differing cash/credit prices) not clearly indicating clearly that it was the cash price. That's not saying that the sign indicates what the credit price is, but the signs have always indicated that it was a "cash price" being displayed. Am I, apparently, missing a lot of deceiving overhead price signs?" Her in FL, most if not all stations until recently have had the CASH notice on a side tag sign that stuck off the side of the big sign, or some listing both cash and credit clearly labeled. Recently several noted dual price stations have put up new signs. I have been watching and have not yet had time to drive in to check, but either the "cash" is hidden (one has it integrated in smaller print scroll below), or they have dropped the dual pricing. It appears that one BP and maybe 2 each of CITGO and Exxon have either made the dual pricing less obvious, or dropped it. The one CITGO had one new sign on the main hwy and an old sign on the side road. I could not see the cash on the new sign, but the tag remained on the side road old sign. Two days ago, I saw the old sign was replace. I still could not see any indication of cash, but there is a small scroll area that possibly could display the info. It was either not active, or so dim/little that in the sunshine I could not see it. Other CITGO and EXXON clearly show the cash sign - some with integrated signage and some with the "hang tag" sign.
Gas_Buddy Champion Author Maryland Posts:26,202 Points:3,061,725 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: May 30, 2012 5:39:33 PM Ignore Gas_Buddy Report Abuse I pretty much agree with Scrapheap that "I have run across stations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina where only the cash price is listed on the prominent sign and you won't know the credit price until you pull up to the pump." I split my time between the Washington Metro Area (DC/Maryland/Northern Virginia) and northern Florida, and I can't think of any time remotely recently at which I've seen the sign for the cash price (when there's differing cash/credit prices) not clearly indicating clearly that it was the cash price. That's not saying that the sign indicates what the credit price is, but the signs have always indicated that it was a "cash price" being displayed. Am I, apparently, missing a lot of deceiving overhead price signs? And I have never seen a fuel dispenser that surprises customers by changing the price AFTER their credit card is inserted into machine, not informing customers of what the price is until after they start their transaction? Even if that was the case, I would stop my transaction before pumping fuel, and contact both the gas station and local governing authorities (concurrently, so both know the other's being informed) of what I perceive to be deceptive practices. That's an entirely different issue than not posting the price along with a posted cash price on the overhead sign.
Marino5 Rookie Author Virginia Posts:86 Points:281,145 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: May 30, 2012 1:56:18 PM Ignore Marino5 Report Abuse I would like to see the GB web site allow for cash versus credit lists. Perhaps a check box could be used to show that a station does have such a scheme when adding or editing that station's info. It was popular around the country for a while during one of our gas crises, so this may be a way to fight its coming back again. Percentage calculations and such could be added easily if the postings justify that. In Northern Virginia, there are few stations that charge differently for cash vs. credit, but it is very annoying to pull up to a pump and see that stations essentially "trick" customers by posting the cash price and then tack on the extra cents per gallon when you use a credit card. Of the 2 stations locally who charge cash and credit differently, one posts the regular cash price and the credit price below it while the other only posts the cash price for all its gas and diesel grades. Now, to talk about other areas of the country, I can only say that I see a lot more stations throughout New Jersey that charge differently for cash versus credit. It is a bit different there in another respect - they do not allow customers to pump their own gas (no self-only pumps at all). So, if you pull into a station and not pay attention, you get your charge receipt back with your per gallon price higher than expected and you cannot do anything about it. At least with a self pumping station, you can get back in your car and drive away if you are unhappy with the credit price.
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:82,174 Points:3,281,320 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: May 30, 2012 6:50:38 AM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse There are a few cash only stations in my area. There is no requirement to post any prices, awj223.
gaspricepasser Champion Author Miami Posts:4,307 Points:532,715 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 8:42:44 PM Ignore gaspricepasser Report Abuse There are a mix here in Florida of all types mentioned. The majority only post one set of prices, and some, usually BP, only post a single price for regular, even though they almost always have a cash/credit differential. There are the misleading ones that only post their "Regular" price, only you find out it is cash only, when you put in your credit card, and the price changes at the pump [most other dual price stations down here have two price levels on the pump itself]. I agree that there should be a flag on the price list, notifying people that the station has dual pricing. It would make it easier to decide where to go fill up.
TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,777 Points:387,340 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 24, 2012 7:38:37 PM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse ajj223 - you sate that you have never seen a station post only the cash price. Well, the rules are different in California (oh, wait, that was a state of FLORIDA saying. Not all states have the same signage requirements. I believe someone here on GB posted in a thread that California has a requirement to post both prices and maybe even the different grades. Here I am seeing more and more stations that only post the REGULAR price at the street, and making their (in FL) required sign if dual priced more embedded in the signage so it doesn't stand out as much. We need a durable flag tied to the MSL that indicates if the station is a dual price station - at least.
Scrapheap Champion Author Virginia Posts:14,697 Points:2,386,755 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: May 24, 2012 12:46:59 PM Ignore Scrapheap Report Abuse awj223 wrote > I've never seen a gas station post only the cash price. Some of them do post the cash only price on the most prominent sign (the one hanging from the post with their station logo on top), but there's ALWAYS a smaller sign nearer the ground with the credit price on it, that's visible from the road. I have run across stations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina where only the cash price is listed on the prominent sign and you won't know the credit price until you pull up to the pump. I thought I posted a reasonable solution in this thread. It would expect people to enter whatever prices was on the prominent sign but be able to display either price for the user. All the work would be performed by the server based on MSL entries.
awj223 Rookie Author San Jose Posts:6 Points:295,120 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: May 24, 2012 11:45:55 AM Ignore awj223 Report Abuse I've never seen a gas station post only the cash price. Some of them do post the cash only price on the most prominent sign (the one hanging from the post with their station logo on top), but there's ALWAYS a smaller sign nearer the ground with the credit price on it, that's visible from the road. Most stations that do this, however, just post them side by side, in the same size font. Since when was it MANDATORY to enter all types of prices? I've seen plenty of people who only post the regular price, for example. It's also possible to post only the premium price. So if, in the off chance a station is only displaying a cash price, why could the poster not just fill in only the "cash price" fields and leave the credit price fields blank? This would essentially mean that people looking for credit prices would have a big question mark by this station (and probably wouldn't show up unless they are very close to it). Good! If stations are being deceptive and hiding credit prices from passers-by, then they deserve to be losing customers. Only if the person checks the "cash/credit prices are the same" box would both fields be populated. [Edited by: awj223 at 5/24/2012 11:49:53 AM EST]
TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,777 Points:387,340 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 19, 2012 8:14:40 AM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse WR-INC, So if it was mandatory for BOTH to be entered, in my area there would be a lot of fake posts or a dramatic drop off of price posts. I sure am not going to waste gas and time pulling into each station and driving up to the pump. I think the reason the FAQ changed to posting cash is because with the AP users, they are posting from the sign. I never posted for the dual stations because here there is only the cash price. Heck, most of the new signs going up around here only list REGULAR. kwzh - I doubt the durable flag on MSL would be major rework, and at least it would be fair warning if you decided to get off for a "cash" price that the differential could be small, or huge for credit. [Edited by: TXJEANS at 5/19/2012 8:16:21 AM EST]
WR-INC Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:39,677 Points:3,652,035 Joined:Dec 2002	Message Posted: May 19, 2012 5:26:05 AM Ignore WR-INC Report Abuse TXJEANS, Maybe in your area, but certainly not in the area that I drive.
kwzh Champion Author San Jose Posts:20,791 Points:3,711,810 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: May 19, 2012 12:23:30 AM Ignore kwzh Report Abuse 98BlueVette writes, > Simple?? In a word: No. The GasBuddy team has described this as the equivalent of scrapping the entire system and rebuilding it from the ground up.
TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,777 Points:387,340 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 18, 2012 11:39:43 PM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse Unfortunately, in many states only the cash price is posted at the street/billboard. That would mean having to drive up to the pump to post prices. IT would be nice to have both prices, but at a minimum,it would help if GB would make a durable flag for dual mode stations.
98BlueVette Champion Author New Jersey Posts:14,408 Points:2,650,375 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 18, 2012 3:16:00 PM Ignore 98BlueVette Report Abuse I'm in favor of cash/credit posting. Make it MADATORY that to post a gas price, you must enter BOTH PRICES... cash and credit. Let GasBuddies decide which way to pay. Simple??
jci25946 Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,402 Points:967,265 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: May 16, 2012 9:25:48 AM Ignore jci25946 Report Abuse I'm in favor of cash/credit postings. I've jumped off an interstate to find a reported cheap gas price and find that the price is cash only!!
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:82,174 Points:3,281,320 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: May 16, 2012 8:48:58 AM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse "How many of GB users actually use cash, let's just say for discussion, half the times they fill up? Huh, once or maybe twice in a year !?!" If you go by the polls taken on GB, about 80% pay with a card.
tdioiler All-Star Author Detroit Posts:933 Points:441,935 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 16, 2012 8:05:44 AM Ignore tdioiler Report Abuse How many of GB users actually use cash, let's just say for discussion, half the times they fill up? Huh, once or maybe twice in a year !?! I don't know about all the fancy calculations I would have to depend on others to do when they cannot follow simple directions. But I don't like the 'cash price only' thoughts either. Since over 80% of us use credit, why not show what the credit price is?? Some stations use 10 cents, others something else, and some don't bother and cover the cost in their regular price. How would one really gauge the level of credit=cost gouging going on between stations? How about this: Post the higher price (usually credit) and provide a cash discount box. If the credit box is empty - it's a cash price; for those who post of points only and really don't know the prices since they never drive by. If you post a price with a zero in the credit discount box, the station charges the same for cash or credit. If there is another number for credit that would be the amount to take off the price for cash.
kwzh Champion Author San Jose Posts:20,791 Points:3,711,810 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: May 16, 2012 3:18:27 AM Ignore kwzh Report Abuse awj223 writes, > [How about displaying the cash and credit prices differently?] Fine -- except that it's meaningless, until we have a way to enter dual prices reliably. Right now, the site has no way of knowing whether an entered price was for cash, credit, or both, so (obviously) it can't pass that information back to you.
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:82,174 Points:3,281,320 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 1:49:16 PM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse <rim shot>
CampKohler Champion Author Sacramento Posts:9,689 Points:1,585,260 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 1:42:31 PM Ignore CampKohler Report Abuse This suggestion has been added to the Suggestion Tracking List as a new topic on an old subject. I think it is a fine idea. In fact it is soooo fine that I suggested the same thing a while ago, except that the cash price would be displayed and the credit would be calculated from the differential. Nevertheless, be that as it may and not to put too fine a point on it, you are entitled to proudly wear one of these magnificant encrustations.
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:82,174 Points:3,281,320 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 1:04:30 PM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse Someone wants this site to do their work for them! How unselfish of them!
maxstar Champion Author Chicago Posts:18,680 Points:837,245 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 12:48:27 PM Ignore maxstar Report Abuse I agree with scoutmaster and Gas_Buddy. I see no need for this. awj223: how about contributing more by updating gas prices? A member for close to 8 years and you have points that some members earn in a couple of months.
awj223 Rookie Author San Jose Posts:6 Points:295,120 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 11:40:56 AM Ignore awj223 Report Abuse Gas_Buddy: I actually do have cash in my wallet at all times. Most of the time, more than enough to buy a tank of gas. I can and will gladly pay cash if it becomes cheaper to do so (in other words, a cash price that's < 97% of the credit price). The problem is, this site becomes much less useful to me if I cannot determine what the effective cost is at each station (due to lack of info about credit vs cash prices), because there is a significant (3%) difference for me between the listed (credit) price and the effective cost after I get the cash back. I suspect that many other site users are in the same situation, with credit cards that give 2%, 3%, or for a lucky few even 5% cash back on gasoline. I had one of those 5% cards up until last November, when AAA canceled its entire Chase Visa program and left me using my Costco Amex (3% cash back) instead. I think the PenFed card still has a 5% gas rebate though...in any case, this is a site that people use to save money on gas, and I wouldn't be surprised if a great many site users have gas rebate cards.
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:82,174 Points:3,281,320 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 9:28:04 PM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse Gee let's not think of only ourselves! I think it's a totally lame brain idea. But CK will add it to his never ending unreadable topic.
Gas_Buddy Champion Author Maryland Posts:26,202 Points:3,061,725 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 8:35:10 PM Ignore Gas_Buddy Report Abuse I, for one, don't think it's a "neat" suggestion. What the problem with the original post is: "But all I really care about when I buy gas is the EFFECTIVE cost to me...", becuase all that others really care about is what is the EFFECTIVE cost to them, or knowing what prices are so THEY can shop intelligently. And everyone "me" is different. Here's a solution, and I know it won't go over well at all. Even if you always pay for gas by credit card, even if you try to buy every stick of gum by credit card, maybe carry a couple twenties in your pocket or in the glove compartment, and if you see a good gas price as you drive, or find a good one on Gas Buddy, buy gas. If you can, pay for it by credit card, if the price is the same as cash. But, if you're interested in saving pennies at the pump, maybe break or change your habit and pay...heaven forbid, using real money and pay less than if you used plastic money. Just a suggestion. And it's not necessary to ridicule the suggestion because I already know almost everyone here will say "I never use cash; I never carry cash; a tank's worth of cash is too much to carry because you could be robbed, and (the inevitable) I can't waste my time going into the store and back to the car...I've got more important things to do with my time, and would never waste a precious moment of the limited time I have left on this earth."
awj223 Rookie Author San Jose Posts:6 Points:295,120 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 2:25:30 PM Ignore awj223 Report Abuse Yes, that is a problem, and having a way to explicitly enter cash vs. credit would go a long way toward solving that problem. Perhaps there could be a check box added to the Android app as well for "cash/credit prices are the same". This is becoming more and more of a problem as it seems like every month, I notice a new station that has started offering cash discounts. I find that the utility of this site is greatly reduced when I have to guess whether it's a cash or credit price (this is particularly true when people don't even indicate something in the comments like "+6 cents for credit"). For example several times I've driven to a station that showed up as 5-10 cents a gallon cheaper, only to find that it's a cash only price -- and the credit price at that station was actually higher than at the other station. Of course, with prices around $4/gallon, that means that I'm getting 12 cents/gallon cash back on my credit card, and it's cheaper to pay with my credit card at the more "expensive" station.
Scrapheap Champion Author Virginia Posts:14,697 Points:2,386,755 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 1:29:01 PM Ignore Scrapheap Report Abuse Would be nice but most people do not indicate whether or not they are reporting cash prices, credit prices or what the difference is between the two.