buckeyecountry
Champion Author
Ohio
Posts:8,034
Points:701,930
Joined:May 2011
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Message Posted: Jan 7, 2012 9:00:51 PM
They ignore my emails
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herndonks
Champion Author
Baltimore
Posts:1,116
Points:211,685
Joined:Dec 2011
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Message Posted: Jan 7, 2012 7:18:41 PM
I live in the Baltimore area and joined GB about 5 weeks ago. Looking at reported prices, it at first seemed that a handfull of members were doing 80% or more of the reporting. After 5 weeks of using GB to help me find the best gas prices, and also reporting alot prices myself, I have noticed reporting patterns by more than half of the members doing alot of reporting that tells me they are not actually seeing the prices they are reporting, but simply reposting prices that other members have posted earlier. They report diesel prices for stations that don't sell diesel. They post old prices when stations changed their prices hours before the post. When one of them posts an incorrect price, there seems to be a domino effect, with member after member continuing to repost the incorrect price. When looking for the best price on gas I look at prices posted on GB and would like to think that the more recently posted prices are more likely to be accurate, but with all the reposting going on I can't tell how old a price actually is. What can I do to get these bad apples thrown out of GB? What is really sad is that some of these guys are long time members with high point counts. It seems that they are more interested in points and seeing their GB name on the GB price lists and maps than in helping other members find the best buy on gas. I wish GB would do away with all the point stuff. It makes it a game for too many people, and too many people cheat the system and in doing so cheat other members.
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CrackedLCD
Champion Author
Alabama
Posts:9,041
Points:1,756,775
Joined:May 2008
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Message Posted: Jan 7, 2012 6:25:13 AM
I've contacted the site/moderators before and gotten action on bad apples. You just have to kind and thorough and point them to the offending prices, I think.
A lot of this would be eliminated if we could treat the MSL as gospel and only allow posts to show up if it matches the grades of fuel the MSL says a station carries. That would eliminate 50% of the bogus posts right there.
I also see a lot of the prices being recently updated even though they're wrong. But it's hard to tell in many cases whether the price really just went up/down or not without being there exactly when someone submits a price. After all stations can and DO update prices multiple times a day when the markets are volatile.
What I guess some people don't know is you can back-time prices to when you saw them. So even if you back time a price 12 hours in the past you still get points for them, even if the site already has a newer time. Not that I advocate cheating like that, but if you saw a price four hours ago and no one's updated it since, don't say it's current; back-date it and at least maintain some semblance of honesty!
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scoutmaster
Champion Author
Pittsburgh
Posts:81,371
Points:3,255,570
Joined:Mar 2003
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Message Posted: Jan 3, 2012 7:17:00 AM
If someone is reporting incorrect prices, report them to the moderators. Incorrect prices hurt the credibility of this site.
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PuddinPal
Champion Author
California
Posts:3,436
Points:673,315
Joined:Dec 2008
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Message Posted: Jan 3, 2012 2:25:52 AM
The value of this site is enhanced when we all act with honesty and integrity to report the prices correctly so that we can then correctly identify the lowest prices in the area.
If there are those that don't care about the system and misreport for personal gain or profit, we should be able to identify them and weed them out. They will never all go away, but we can try.
If someone is blocked from the system what is to stop them from signing up again using a different user name and password?
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PuddinPal
Champion Author
California
Posts:3,436
Points:673,315
Joined:Dec 2008
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Message Posted: Jan 3, 2012 2:18:40 AM
Most of the incorrect prices posted are posted by someone with the ability to gain personally or professionally by misreporting either their own station's prices or a competitor's prices. In my area we have at least two or three reporters that repeatedly continue to misreport. I have reported them several times and nothing has been done to stop the abuse of the system. We know who they are why can't we weed them out of here?
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herndonks
Champion Author
Baltimore
Posts:1,116
Points:211,685
Joined:Dec 2011
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Message Posted: Dec 29, 2011 12:25:25 PM
I am a new member (29 days old) in the Baltimore area, and normally buy gas and report prices in the area northeast of Baltimore. I have observed that there are a couple of long-time members (each with more than 1,000,000 points) in the area who report alot of prices. While most seem to be correct, I have seen errors and made observations. Late in the evening I have reported prices at stations that are closed, and sometimes when doing so have seen that one of these members updated the price just a few minutes before me, but with their prices being wrong. I suspect that they did not put eyes on the sign at all, but rather just updated a price that someone else posted earlier in the day, using their computer while they sit at home. I have also seen that these guys have reported diesel prices at stations that done sell diesel. When I first joined a few weeks ago, I saw that one of these guys was posting prices for a gas station that not longer existed (it had been demolished for environmental work,and since then the GB master station list has been updated to show it closed). While these "post prices from home or work" guys are not as bad as vandal posters, it still does not contribute to accurate price reporting. I HAVE A SUGGESTED SOLUTION. NO MORE COMPUTER UPDATES! RESTRICT PRICE UPDATES TO PHONES WITH GPS AND REQUIRE THAT THE POSTER BE WITHIN 1 MILE OF THE STATION TO POST AN UPDATED PRICE. Thanks to all of you for tolerating my venting. GB website/system guys, hope you consider my suggestion.
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mymren
All-Star Author
Texas
Posts:636
Points:473,960
Joined:Aug 2011
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Message Posted: Dec 29, 2011 11:53:02 AM
I sent us a "contact us" form this morning for erroneous pricing at a Chevron that keeps getting blasted in my area. Must be someone who hates them or something, trouble is they keep doing it at least every 2-3 days. I sent all the info to the moderators, but the person is listed as "visitor" every time. Maybe they can block that station from getting updates by visitors.
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cbrandonchapman
Rookie Author
Washington
Posts:14
Points:318,730
Joined:Aug 2008
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Message Posted: Dec 21, 2011 10:45:46 AM
Cheaters blow.
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buckeyecountry
Champion Author
Ohio
Posts:8,034
Points:701,930
Joined:May 2011
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Message Posted: Dec 16, 2011 10:15:31 AM
Contact moderator HERE click on Website Feedback via "contact us" at bottom right of page
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rspiano
Champion Author
Tucson
Posts:8,853
Points:1,803,455
Joined:May 2008
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Message Posted: Dec 14, 2011 10:15:47 PM
Apiergallini, start documenting the instances of bad posts, what you observe vs. what is posted, with dates and times. If a pattern emerges, then email the moderators under the "Incorrect Prices" category. They will message the offender, and ask them to stop. If they don't, and you notice further bad posts from them, email the moderators again. They can, and will, ban that person from posting again. Good luck!
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apiergallini
Veteran Author
North Carolina
Posts:389
Points:244,855
Joined:Mar 2011
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Message Posted: Dec 13, 2011 9:38:57 PM
I saw an instance of this a couple weeks ago. I was waiting at a bus stop down the street from a gas station, and the price on GB was like 30 cents higher than the actual price. I updated with the correct prices, and then, when I came back that way later on, they were increased again, by the same person. I suspect he is somehow involved at another station, and is trying to get customers to go to his station instead of that other one. I'm not sure what the solution is.
Maybe create some sort of reliability rating, where when someone is constantly corrected by multiple people, and is off by more than a few cents (since some people can't seem to grasp that the 9/10 of a cent is already built in, and since gas prices do change), they eventually lose the ability to report prices that actually show up to others, and to earn points and awards. Then, as they report more prices that are confirmed by others, their reliability can go back up, and they can eventually publicly post prices again. People would still be able to game the system by creating multiple accounts, or getting other people to "confirm" bogus prices, but it would at least be harder.
Another possible solution would be to give precedence to price updates that include a photo of either the sign or the gas pump, showing that the prices reported are legit.
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gatorgal46
Champion Author
Florida
Posts:1,449
Points:440,550
Joined:Jun 2011
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Message Posted: Dec 12, 2011 12:35:46 PM
I am still a GB newbie and try to always be an honest person, so it makes no sense to me to post false prices. I have made a typo now and then and try to go back and fix it.
We are all trying to save money but getting the best possible price on our local gas. What do you gain by posting false prices? You can only get points for 5 prices a day. I have an android, so I don't know about the game on the Iphone.
Thanks :)
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Scrapheap
Champion Author
Virginia
Posts:14,556
Points:2,360,780
Joined:Sep 2006
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Message Posted: Dec 9, 2011 10:17:24 AM
WildmanMO - If you get 10K points, you could access the MSL and mark the station as closed. Otherwise, the best place to post this should be here in the local Missouri forum. You'll have to mention which station it is.
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scoutmaster
Champion Author
Pittsburgh
Posts:81,371
Points:3,255,570
Joined:Mar 2003
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Message Posted: Dec 9, 2011 10:04:53 AM
apowell123,
I don't think closed stations get removed from the site. They stay on the MSL and are marked as closed. I made a suggestion in the forums and also sent it to the moderators regarding this. It simply stated no one should be able to post any price to any station that is in any state of closed.
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apowell123
Rookie Author
Fort Worth
Posts:37
Points:296,700
Joined:Jan 2011
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Message Posted: Dec 9, 2011 9:58:25 AM
I will admit to making the Premium / Diesel mistake at times. Several of the independent gas stations that I pass have Regular / Plus / Diesel on their sign. If you find that there is a station that is CLOSED (and has been closed for over a year) you can recommend its removal on this website. I've done that with several stations that, due to the high price of fuel, stopped selling gasoline altogether. I got tired of people posting the prices of $2.65/gallon when other prices were 3.3-3.76/gallon.
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WildmanMO
Rookie Author
Kansas City
Posts:3
Points:130,760
Joined:Oct 2011
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Message Posted: Dec 8, 2011 12:40:31 PM
Here in Smithville, MO, someone keeps posting prices for a station that has been closed for almost a year!!!! 95Vette I believe is the one that does it the most. Don't believe any of his posts. I don't know where else to post this.
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PuddinPal
Champion Author
California
Posts:3,436
Points:673,315
Joined:Dec 2008
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Message Posted: Dec 6, 2011 11:15:52 PM
There are two kinds of people posting incorrect prices in my area. The first are just stupid people that do not know the correct rules of price posting, so they do it wrong sort of innocently. The second are more insidious, they know the rules but consciously choose to ignore them because they want to and will personally stand to gain by the incorrect information. Most of these are due to the fact that they either own or work for a station or brand and hope gain an advantage for themselves and their companies.
The first are easy enough to deal with by educating them to the correct rules of price posting. However, the second group are beyond help. Even with knowledge of the correct rules they will continue to flaunt the system for personal and professional gains. This unfortunately will diminish the value of the whole GasBuddy system.
The value of this site is maximized when we all work together with integrity to provide each other with correct information. Everyone that posts incorrect information should be dealt with; either with education or discipline. In extreme cases these individuals should be permanently bared from being able to post gas prices and information.
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ebink315
Veteran Author
Wisconsin
Posts:266
Points:212,725
Joined:Oct 2011
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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2011 12:55:05 PM
I wonder why people would fake them. I pass more than five on my way to work... Probably more than 10-15 in a day.
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91873
Champion Author
Indiana
Posts:2,601
Points:551,675
Joined:Nov 2011
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Message Posted: Nov 20, 2011 2:08:18 PM
I have seen several bogus prices posted near my home recently. Many times it is by a Visitor.
Stop allowing Visitors to update prices.
Only registered members should be able to post updates.
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buckeyecountry
Champion Author
Ohio
Posts:8,034
Points:701,930
Joined:May 2011
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Message Posted: Nov 18, 2011 11:08:24 AM
>buckeyecountry: I believe "Inbox" is actually the preferred way to contact them.
That is what I have used but there is within the drop down box of the "contact us" for "incorrect prices" via email there
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Gas_Eyes
Champion Author
Dallas
Posts:2,687
Points:646,810
Joined:Mar 2011
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Message Posted: Nov 18, 2011 11:03:30 AM
I think that sometimes mistakes are made. If a station only has three grades of fuel, a person could input diesel instead of premium as intended. Once the diesel is entered, you can not erase it. The system should allow entries to be erased if erroneously entered.
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Gas_Eyes
Champion Author
Dallas
Posts:2,687
Points:646,810
Joined:Mar 2011
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Message Posted: Nov 18, 2011 11:01:48 AM
I think that sometimnes mistakes are made. If a station only has three grades of fuel, a person could input diesel instead of premium as intended. Once the diesel is entered, you can not erase it.
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kwzh
Champion Author
San Jose
Posts:20,659
Points:3,684,560
Joined:Jul 2001
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Message Posted: Nov 13, 2011 11:36:33 PM
buckeyecountry: I believe "Inbox" is actually the preferred way to contact them.
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rumbleseat
Champion Author
Winnipeg
Posts:22,937
Points:3,531,365
Joined:Oct 2002
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Message Posted: Nov 13, 2011 5:03:28 AM
asks scoutmaster: "If I'm not mistaken, this is addresses in the FAQ's??????"
Yes, and no. The actual FAQ reference is about somebody posting wrong information, so one has to deduce that includes prices, address, metro area, station name, etc. It is a fairly lengthy answer, and one has to read several paragraphs before reading the part about conacting the moderators.
Note also, some members have suggested before that the FAQ should have it's own prominent link, as many other websites do, not be buried under "help", this would make it likely more people would actually realize we do have a FAQ, and that includes some who were members when there was only an unofficial FAQ.
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buckeyecountry
Champion Author
Ohio
Posts:8,034
Points:701,930
Joined:May 2011
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Message Posted: Nov 12, 2011 10:52:53 PM
I see. I learned something new.
Down at bottom right of page "help" ..... "contact us"....
then "Website feedback" then click "GO"
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rspiano
Champion Author
Tucson
Posts:8,853
Points:1,803,455
Joined:May 2008
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Message Posted: Nov 12, 2011 10:23:28 PM
I have reported no fewer than 7 bad price posters in the past 3 years on the Tucson site through Help/Website Feedback with the Email Category as "Incorrect Prices." Sometimes one note to the poster from the moderator will do the trick. Otherwise, I have seen them terminate posting privileges from those that do not respond to their request to stop bad postings.
In your note to the moderator, be sure to document dates/instances of bad postings (how many if all made at the same time), type (reposting, inventing prices, etc.) and maybe some examples of bad prices which you yourself verified. The moderators do take this seriously; I do not seem to be annoying Brendan yet (hope not - I am watching 2 newbies whom I may report next week sometime.)
May have to do with people wanting to quickly rack up points for the "Perfectionist" award in the phone app. These new "Awards" may motivate the newer members of GasBuddy, but frankly, I really couldn't care less that I'm a Level 4 Reporter or not even a Level 1 Pioneer - I just try to report accurate prices every time I'm on the road.
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scoutmaster
Champion Author
Pittsburgh
Posts:81,371
Points:3,255,570
Joined:Mar 2003
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Message Posted: Nov 12, 2011 10:16:08 PM
If I'm not mistaken, this is addresses in the FAQ's??????
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buckeyecountry
Champion Author
Ohio
Posts:8,034
Points:701,930
Joined:May 2011
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Message Posted: Nov 12, 2011 7:05:15 PM
Contact moderator via messaging.....hit "inbox" upper right and click on GB moderator to message them.
[Edited by: buckeyecountry at 11/12/2011 7:08:12 PM EST]
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