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Author Topic: Buyers Beware in Michigan Post a Reply Back to Topics
mudds

Rookie Author
Detroit

Posts:16
Points:30,400
Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 2:27:41 PM

So I am watching on Youtube how Weights and Measures make sure that gas stations are properly calibrated to make sure u're getting every ounce of your gallons. Yet, the lowest cost on the market according to OPIS is 3.62. Gas stations are pricing as low as 3.45 on the weekend when u know what? Weights and Measures doesn't work on the weekend...what does that tell u?

You think its still a good deal when #1 u're getting less than what u r getting but the price is a quarter less than everyone? #2 u still think u're a getting a good rate when no name or lame names like Firebird and Wow and Zazz who have no affiliation with major companies have an evaporation rate of alcohol in your tank three times the rate that BP, Mobil and Sunoco have....

U do the math....and then think about this...u think u got a good deal but the owners of these "huts" are getting the best of you if they are #1 ripping off gallons, #2 ripping off sales tax, #3 ripping off banks and #4 ripping off the vendors who will eventually charge u for their loss by raising prices...Buyers beware of something too good to be true.
REPLIES (newest first)
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PithyOpiner
Champion Author Stockton

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Message Posted: Feb 27, 2012 2:02:24 PM

Weights and measures don't work on the weekends? So what? If they check on Friday, there is no need to go back and check the pumps on Saturday or Sunday. Or, are you intimating the gas station owner is tweeking the pump to his advantage on the weekends and setting it back as it was on Friday come Monday?
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kookiwoogi
Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Feb 27, 2012 1:03:09 PM

If this is true, then, report them or buy gas elsewhere.
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hailsupersport
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Feb 27, 2012 12:49:57 PM

ok
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pickfordite
All-Star Author Michigan

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Points:94,020
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Message Posted: Feb 27, 2012 12:46:01 PM

"I don't know why people label this as a conspiracy theory"

Anyone ever notice that conspiracy wackos *never* understand why their crazy ideas are considered to be conspiracy theories?
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mudds
Rookie Author Detroit

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Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: Feb 27, 2012 12:48:03 AM

No problem!
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Michael29644
Champion Author Greenville

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Message Posted: Feb 27, 2012 12:45:07 AM

OK, I just deleted the snapshot of the gas price screen. Have fun dealing with this non-issue yourself. I don't care about the matter, nor your attitude.
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mudds
Rookie Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Feb 27, 2012 12:36:30 AM

lol...yes implied...and the word "if"
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Michael29644
Champion Author Greenville

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Message Posted: Feb 27, 2012 12:32:35 AM

"I never said that they were tampering"

Oh, yes, you certainly implied they were.

"So I am watching on Youtube how Weights and Measures make sure that gas stations are properly calibrated to make sure u're getting every ounce of your gallons. Yet, the lowest cost on the market according to OPIS is 3.62. Gas stations are pricing as low as 3.45 on the weekend when u know what? Weights and Measures doesn't work on the weekend...what does that tell u?"

And...

"U do the math....and then think about this...u think u got a good deal but the owners of these "huts" are getting the best of you if they are #1 ripping off gallons"
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mudds
Rookie Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Feb 27, 2012 12:20:49 AM

I never said that they were tampering I said beware of something too good to be true as previous experience has shown that when someone runs low on cash flow or is about to bankrupt their site they do this. Other locations have to lower their prices as much as they can to match this type of guy and financially suffer. Speedway in my area is 3.59 and dealers complain that their cost is 3.66. Speedway is notorious for never letting anyone undersell them. Speedway goes up on its price one shot and if other dealers don't follow they come back down maybe the next day and match the lowest price on the street. As my link shows you Speedway is allowing the non branders to stay below them by 11 cents. That's not their usual stance. In other areas Costco and Sam's club is also 3.45 because a dealer in their area is that low...as far as where I got the post it came from my Facebook as I am a previous dealer in the city of Allen Park and I am friends with other dealers and distributors who describe what their customers have done in the past.

Here is the link for costco and Sams club matching the lowest price.

http://detroitgasprices.com/
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Michael29644
Champion Author Greenville

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Message Posted: Feb 27, 2012 12:00:28 AM

OK, I've snapshotted that page with its weekend prices. I'll compare it to the prices posted tomorrow and again on Tuesday so see if a pattern develops. But I must wonder, if you think there is tampering happening with the pumps, why didn't you contact weights & measures yourself? I just don't see the point of warning people in a national forum about a local price issue, and failing to report what you allege to be a criminal act. I live about 750 miles away, so there's no chance I'll be buying from any of those stations, and even less of a chance your local W&M inspectors will take a report from someone like me who has no first hand knowledge of the situation.

There are many factors which could cause stations to vary so widely in price and to change prices so frequently. So far, you've offered nothing to prove that pump tampering is occurring, just your speculation that it is based solely on price changes. And unless you have some inside information you aren't sharing with us, you really have no way of knowing what the stations' costs are, do you?

Like I said, I'll watch it for a couple of days, but I can guarantee you two things. First, even if I spot a suspicious trend, I won't take any action, because I can't. And second, as a citizen of your community who feels that an illegal act is occurring, it is your responsibility to report it to your local authorities and let them investigate it.

Deal?

BTW, when you lift text from another source and post it to a forum such as this (as you claim you did), it's customary to provide a link or an attribution to the original source.
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mudds
Rookie Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 11:36:32 PM

I haven't posted anyone specific but I am suspicious when I drive down a street and everyone is in the 3.60's and 3.70's and then some lowly little place is selling way below the average. Wouldn't you question it? You either wonder about the 17 selling the average or the one person who stands out. Something is wrong but again, they aren't the only ones doing it. Not naming any place specifically but some of these sites have had 6 different owners in the past 6 years.
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jcpatriots
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 11:17:42 PM

Unless you have proof that this is what these stations are doing, you're basically slandering these gas stations as thieving people when you have absolutely no proof whatsoever of whether or not that it is happening or not. I suggest you probably not do that, unless you want to risk getting sued.
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mudds
Rookie Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 10:27:05 PM

http://www.DetroitGasPrices.com/Westland/index.aspx

Here is an example of non branders selling 14 cents below cost.
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mudds
Rookie Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 10:13:39 PM

I don't know why people label this as a conspiracy theory when Michigan has the highest debt to the State of Michigan for non payment of sales tax by gas station owners. I also am not a regular poster as i am someone who watches the gas prices just like anyone else. We also have a very high rate of fraud with banks and foreclosures on gas stations who owe their distributors. As well, the average price in Michigan is 3.68 so who in their right mind would sell for less than 3.62 cost? You are all professional posters and gas runners nothing more. I also do not need an English lesson as this was copied and posted to this board. You can heed the warning or ignore it. That is your choice. Your computers are hacked all the time whats to stop a gas station owner from hacking into his. If you read the post it says there are several ways for someone to cheat when they sell below cost. One of them was the pump, the second was non-payment of sales tax, the third was non payment to the distributor and the fourth bankrupting the site during the weekend and fleeing. In Michigan we have the highest rate for that.
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Michael29644
Champion Author Greenville

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 8:49:52 PM

"So I am watching on Youtube how Weights and Measures make sure that gas stations are properly calibrated to make sure u're getting every ounce of your gallons. Yet, the lowest cost on the market according to OPIS is 3.62. Gas stations are pricing as low as 3.45 on the weekend when u know what? Weights and Measures doesn't work on the weekend...what does that tell u?"

Absolutely nothing. Post the names and locations of these alleged stations so we can see what prices get posted for those stations.

"You think its still a good deal when #1 u're getting less than what u r getting but the price is a quarter less than everyone? #2 u still think u're a getting a good rate when no name or lame names like Firebird and Wow and Zazz who have no affiliation with major companies have an evaporation rate of alcohol in your tank three times the rate that BP, Mobil and Sunoco have...."

First, this isn't texting, so you're free to spell out "you" and "you're" in full. Second, I think you failed physics and math.

"U do the math....and then think about this...u think u got a good deal but the owners of these "huts" are getting the best of you if they are #1 ripping off gallons, #2 ripping off sales tax, #3 ripping off banks and #4 ripping off the vendors who will eventually charge u for their loss by raising prices...Buyers beware of something too good to be true."

I did the math. Accusations - facts = conspiracy nonsense.

What is it with this recent rash of long time account holders with low point totals going rogue in the forums?
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clswanson3
Sophomore Author Florida

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 8:19:47 PM

wow
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diesdown
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 7:05:46 PM

Will not buy gas in Michigan.
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DaisysMomNC
All-Star Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 6:30:27 PM

That is rediculous. It sure doesn't happen in NC
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mudds
Rookie Author Detroit

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Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 6:28:43 PM

Well all I can say is its your dime.....and as far as posting prices for points not really into that anymore. Most prices are already posted in my area and the only time I change them if they are incorrect so don't judge me by how many times I drive down a block to record prices....I have a life....
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maxstar
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 5:50:26 PM

That is quite a story mudds. I do not believe any of it. A member for 6 and a half years and you have a point total that can be earned in about a month. As noted by others below contribute to the site by updating gas prices. That is information others can use.
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Gas_Buddy
Champion Author Maryland

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 5:27:28 PM

So you're saying, mudds, that the gas stations are tampering with the pumps on the weekends when no one is watching, and then fixing the pumps before the officials start work on Monday? And that they reinstall the seals?

And they do this every weekend?

And the gas stations are having high prices during the week when the tags are in place and they can be checked by officials, but they sell for a lower price when officials aren't around?d

And they do this every weekend?

Maybe it's me but that really doesn't make any sense.

Unlike the others, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to raise this issue and for all the help you've provided your fellow Gas Buddy in the Detroit area. During the past six years you've posted almost 200 gas price posts for which you should be commended. That's more than two price posts per month. Keep up the good work.
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WEPSMAN
Champion Author South Dakota

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 4:49:09 PM

Nice try, but most states only inspect pumps 1X per year. They are tagged so they cannot be tampered with. If tampered with, there would be huge fines. Why would they risk that.
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Millers37
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 4:24:51 PM

This is nonsense. Post some gas prices and also post something of interest to genuine posters on this site
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mudds
Rookie Author Detroit

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Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 4:15:20 PM

So everyone who made such statements believe that some guy is selling gas below cost by .17 cents per gallon out of the kindness of his heart? And this guy who sells 9-10 thousand gallons per day is purposely losing 1700 dollars per day....cos he's a good guy? Or wait...his store is making up the difference? No sorry people who are on this forum are searching for low prices nothing more. I speak from experience and from all the gas stations that have been foreclosed on in the past few years because of hit and runs who lease their locations for a few months and take off. So la la land it is!
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jcpatriots
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 4:02:38 PM

Lol, this sounds like some ridiculous conspiracy theory. Also, post some gas prices.
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TrixieNY
Champion Author Buffalo

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 3:32:53 PM

That is hogwash... post some gas prices!
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pickfordite
All-Star Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 2:55:49 PM

If you're getting evaporation from your fuel tank, then you've got major problems with either the tank or your inlet system. The rest of your nonsense is just, well, nonsense.
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