Ethics: would you buy gasoline at $.002/gal.?

Ladewig · 28th May 2006, 01:55 PM

Several days ago, a Shell gasoline station in Plainfield, Indiana mistakenly entered a price of $.002/gal. into the computer. That was the price displayed at the pump. Scores of people filled up with the obviously mispriced gasoline. After a few hours, a customer notified the attendant.

The majority of callers to local talk radio stations in Houston were of the opinion that filling up and not notifying the station owner was a very appropriate thing to do. Some descibed it as getting even. Some believed that because they have "been screwed" by other businesses, they were perfectly within their rights to screw others. Given that the majority of callers to these programs also believe in posting the 10 Commandments in schools, I was exceptionally curious if there was overlap between these two sets of people.

As for me, I saw it as stealing. I would have told the cashier.

Z · 28th May 2006, 02:00 PM

I'd have filled up. If the company makes a mistake, it's their own fault when they lose money. I'd feel no different than I do when the grocery store mis-marks an item, or if no price is in the computer and they undercharge me.

Then again, I'm not a very ethical person...

andyandy · 28th May 2006, 02:00 PM

take the money and run...or more appropriately, take the gas and drive

Kopji · 28th May 2006, 02:44 PM

Ooooo, this is a toughie. Here we have a gas station with cars lined up around the block to get cheap gas, and register transactions of $1 or so.

And nobody notices. So is it the customer's responsibility to inform the attendant they are an idiot or not?

Oh, I'd probably fill up first and instead of telling the attendant exactly what was wrong, ask some questions about the line of cars and tiny transactions. If they were still clueless I'd go my way.

Paul C. Anagnostopoulos · 28th May 2006, 03:24 PM

Oh for crying out loud. Let's screw the gas station owner because we're pissed at the price of fuel. Is he part of the conspiracy, too?

~~ Paul

roger · 28th May 2006, 04:03 PM

Certainly theft is moral if nobody notices. What a dumb question. *sheesh*

[/sarcasm]

Remind me to double check my doors are locked when around some of you. Yikes.

slingblade · 28th May 2006, 04:39 PM

Nope, I wouldn't do it. I'd be the one to inform the attendant. Otherwise, I'd be stealing.

supercorgi · 28th May 2006, 04:43 PM

I wouldn't do it as tempted as I might be. Many gas stations are self-owned, they're going to have to pay the gas company the big bucks even if they don't collect them. I think I'd have to apply the same ethics that I do when I tell the convience store clerk that they gave me too much change. I should not profit from someone's unitentional mistake especially when it hurts them. And they say that aethiests have no morals. Hah!

Silly Green Monkey · 28th May 2006, 04:58 PM

I'd be wondering more about the accuracy of the pump in dispensing gas. Two cents a gallon might be nice, but what if it's only measuring out a teaspoon?

RandFan · 28th May 2006, 05:08 PM

I've not bothered to return merchandise that I hadn't paid for in the past. It bothered me. I'm not perfect. I've taken things that didn't belong to me. It bothered me. So now when I walk out of the convenient store with a cup of coffee and I'm 3 blocks away before I realize that I didn't pay I go back and pay. I accept the basis of a free market so I can't assume that the price was unfair in the first place and even if it was I can't justify one wrong by appealing to another.

I'm reasonably certain I would tell the attendant.

Paul C. Anagnostopoulos · 28th May 2006, 05:56 PM

Shhh. Don't mention software.

~~ Paul

Jeff Wagg · 28th May 2006, 06:03 PM

I would tell simply because I'm curious. Also, I've made mistakes, and I appreciate when people don't take advantage of them. I'm happy to return the favor.

tkingdoll · 28th May 2006, 06:41 PM

There are few independent gas stations in the UK, but I would still tell, not because I don't think that BP or whoever shouldn't be swizzed out of a few quid, but because I know I'd be annoyed by all the people using that as an excuse.

Kopji · 28th May 2006, 07:28 PM

Oh ok, so I'm hopelessly honest.

RandFan · 28th May 2006, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by Paul C. Anagnostopoulos

Shhh. Don't mention software.

~~ Paul

Busted..., damn, I've downloaded a song or two also. I guess material property stirs my conscience more than intellectual property.

Roboramma · 28th May 2006, 10:01 PM

Hm.. That's a tough one. I think I'd tell the attendant.

Of course, I realise how easy it is to say that, but I think back on times when I could have profitted from other's mistakes, and most of the time I didn't. Most of the time.

I like to think I'd tell them. Well, I like to think I'd tell them before I filled up, that is. I'm certain I'd tell them one way or another, but whether I let myself profit first?
No, I don't think I would.

And I'm not too proud of this, but the presence of someone else whose opinion of me mattered to me might influence my decision as well, though I'd try not to let it.

LW · 29th May 2006, 12:43 AM

The father of a friend of mine used to own a gas station that belonged to Shell franchice. He used to say that selling gas is a charity: after deducting the expenses he was left with a profit of 1-2 pennies per litre, and those were Finnish pennies (that's 0.5-1 US cents per gallon). This was about 10 years ago. Instead, he made his living by having an attached garage where he repaired cars.

strathmeyer · 30th May 2006, 08:57 AM

"Shoplifting is a victimless crime, like punching someone in the dark" ~ Nelson

Jimbo07 · 30th May 2006, 09:44 AM

Even if you're not scrupulously honest (for shame

), there're practical considerations in similar financial situations:

i) If a price is mis-ticketed, why should a retailer be obliged to sell at that price? Customers could dishonestly switch the paper tickets and act 'confused' when the computer said otherwise.

ii) Flyers often have lots of fine print, re: Prices subject to change, retailer reserves the right, blithery blithery blithery

iii) In some transactions, like pay and taxes, you are liable for not noticing mistakes, not the organization!

iv) A service station attendant so asleep at the switch might not respond well to spills and other emergencies!

ma1ic3 · 30th May 2006, 11:27 AM

I knew some kids that would go to the mall and jack things out of peoples cars. One of them said "you wouldn't believe how many people don't lock their doors". His justification for stealing was that it's there fault for being so stupid. I've heard reasoning like this many times before with theft and ripping people off. Especially when ripping people off.

Speaking of getting ripped off. I got some mozzarella sticks from Burger King yesterday and they jipped me one. Vendor machines and fast food places **** me over a lot. I would love to return the favor.

Dark Jaguar · 30th May 2006, 02:05 PM

In answering the poll, I just assumed someone had REALLY cheap gas and this was some moral question about whether it's right to buy cheap gas or something. So, I said "I'd buy it and tell everyone I know". Then I read further and realized it was a mistake.

Unfortunatly I'm just naive enough that I might not even think it's a mistake in the real world either...

"Wow, this must be some sort of sales gimic, one day only, or something." Yeah, I can see myself saying that.

Wheezebucket · 30th May 2006, 02:56 PM

I would fill up and then tell my friends and family. In a second.

Z · 30th May 2006, 03:01 PM

What seems odd to me:

In the U.S. (or at least, where I live), gas stations have big outdoor signs with plastic numbers they have to put up, manually, when prices change. Very few have digital signs up. So that means someone saw that gas was some ridiculous price, who works for the company, and said/did nothing.

To me, then, that's the company's fault.

If, on the other hand, it was an error at the pump itself, I doubt I would have ever noticed. I very often swipe my card, pump, and leave. It could be charging me $20 a gallon and I probably wouldn't realize it right away.

But you know what? If I got home and realized I'd payed some outrageous price for gas - and it was my fault? - I'd take it as a lesson learned.

Well, I feel the same applies the other way. I'd pump and drive, and some time later would notice my total gas bill equalled two cents... Oh well. Their loss.

Dark Jaguar · 30th May 2006, 05:32 PM

Would you take it as a lesson learned? I say that because the lesson seems to be "check the price before you pump" which you freely admit you rarely do.

And yes, around here too there is a lack of digital signage. Probably the norm actually. One odd thing I still don't really understand is the "100th's of a cent" stuff they stick in the price. Universally (except not so much, I understand some places use 9/10's after the price instead of an extra decimal place superscripted next to it) they seem to pull this. What exactly are they attempting to do with this? I mean, I know that $199 might trick people into thinking it's closer to 100 dollars than 200 (people who don't seem to be good at math or something, and with sales tax it's still going to be over 200 anyway), but who does it fool when you are trying to trick people into thinking it's a PENNY cheaper? What sort of person is struggling to save that extra, I dunno, 10 or 20 cents (depending on the size of the gas tank) per refill? Further, how do you charge 9 100ths of a cent anyway? Just round it up! Even if you add it up I'm only losing one penny per 10 gallons anyway.

The thing that gets me is they ONLY do this silly marketting thing for gas. I guess when people hire astrologers to determine company marketting and pricing this is what you get.

CaptainManacles · 1st June 2006, 01:54 PM

Accidently leave your cellphone on a call some time and watch them not credit your $300 of overage. I don't know. I'm all for free market, but in a lot of similar situations if YOU make the mistake, they're not about to turn around and help you out. Assuming the correct price was visibly posted, I suppose I would feel an obligation to pay the correct price.

Jeff Wagg · 1st June 2006, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by CaptainManacles

Accidently leave your cellphone on a call some time and watch them not credit your $300 of overage. I don't know. I'm all for free market, but in a lot of similar situations if YOU make the mistake, they're not about to turn around and help you out. Assuming the correct price was visibly posted, I suppose I would feel an obligation to pay the correct price.

Yep, but if they didn't, people could claim they just left it on. It's a different situation. And just because they're bastards, doesn't mean we should be.

Beleth · 1st June 2006, 02:20 PM

I would tell the attendant, but only if I could be out of earshot of the other customers. They might not be as ethical as I am, and I am not willing to risk retribution against myself in the course of correcting another's error.

Marquis de Carabas · 1st June 2006, 02:37 PM

I would tell the attendant. Were I not rewarded for my honesty by being allowed to fill up at the reduced price, I would kill him, fill up anyway, and take some Chee-tos.

Beleth · 1st June 2006, 05:21 PM

The news story

No mention of "hours", but a mention of how much they lost. $550 / $2.75/gal = 200 gallons exactly. That's, what, between 10 and 20 cars' worth? If it takes 5 minutes to fill a car, and 2 pumps were affected, that's at most 50 minutes.

Ladewig · 3rd June 2006, 05:40 AM

Originally Posted by Beleth

The news story

No mention of "hours", but a mention of how much they lost. $550 / $2.75/gal = 200 gallons exactly. That's, what, between 10 and 20 cars' worth? If it takes 5 minutes to fill a car, and 2 pumps were affected, that's at most 50 minutes.

I took the "hours" from a radio story. I am willing to believe that the radio story was inaccurate.

On the other hand, your calculations assume that there are cars waiting in line to fill up. I imagine that there in Plainfield, Ind. there is some time between customers when the pumps aren't being used at all.

UndercoverElephant · 3rd June 2006, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by Ladewig

As for me, I saw it as stealing. I would have told the cashier.

I'm with you, 100%. I would have told the attendant straight away. It would not have occured to me to do otherwise. Likewise, two weeks ago when I was given an extra £10 in change in a pub, I told the barmaid and gave it back to her.

All the people posting in this thread claiming it is fine to "get even" with the gas station are guilty of acting immorally, IMO. I know someone who used to shoplift habitually, claiming that she was only ripping off big corporations so it didn't matter. She was wrong.

RandFan · 3rd June 2006, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Marquis de Carabas

I would tell the attendant. Were I not rewarded for my honesty by being allowed to fill up at the reduced price, I would kill him, fill up anyway, and take some Chee-tos.

This Guy · 3rd June 2006, 11:21 AM

I'd have to tell. Most likely I'd have started filling up before I noticed the price, and I'd probably finish up before talking to the operator.

But I'm the kind of guy that would try at least three times to explain to a cashier that I was given too much change back before giving up (this has actually happened).

Don't hold much stock in the bible, but I'm a firm believer in doing unto others as I would have them do unto me. Heard that when I was a youngin, and I think it's served me well so far (I'm 51 now :-).

UndercoverElephant · 3rd June 2006, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by This Guy

Don't hold much stock in the bible, but I'm a firm believer in doing unto others as I would have them do unto me.

Exactly.

RandFan · 3rd June 2006, 11:53 AM

I would be willing to bet that given a poll most of us would say that we were honest. I like to think that I am but many if not most of us have our own justifications for unethical behavior. I can't make a rational argument to justify taking advantage of the gas company. I can't make a rational argument for downloading songs either. Both are stealing. At least we ought to acknowledge that fact.

UndercoverElephant · 3rd June 2006, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by RandFan

I would be willing to bet that given a poll most of us would say that we were honest.

That question came up in a seminar not long ago. Kant was famous for defending the claim that dishonesty is never morally justified, and I agree with him - but most people reject this absolutism and claim there are cases where dishonesty is justified. If there really are such cases, they are very few and far between. Yet most people habitually lie, and think nothing of it.

I would fill up and then tell my friends and family.	20	38.46%
I would fill up.	9	17.31%
I would talk to the operator about the price	19	36.54%
On Planet X gasoline already costs less than one cent per gallon.	4	7.69%
Voters: 52. You may not vote on this poll

28th May 2006, 01:55 PM	#1
Ladewig Hipster alien Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: not measurable Posts: 16,807	Ethics: would you buy gasoline at $.002/gal.? Several days ago, a Shell gasoline station in Plainfield, Indiana mistakenly entered a price of $.002/gal. into the computer. That was the price displayed at the pump. Scores of people filled up with the obviously mispriced gasoline. After a few hours, a customer notified the attendant. The majority of callers to local talk radio stations in Houston were of the opinion that filling up and not notifying the station owner was a very appropriate thing to do. Some descibed it as getting even. Some believed that because they have "been screwed" by other businesses, they were perfectly within their rights to screw others. Given that the majority of callers to these programs also believe in posting the 10 Commandments in schools, I was exceptionally curious if there was overlap between these two sets of people. As for me, I saw it as stealing. I would have told the cashier.
	Last edited by Ladewig; 28th May 2006 at 02:00 PM.

28th May 2006, 02:00 PM	#2
Z D.D.D. Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: In a den in my lair, on the edge of your mind. Posts: 9,166	I'd have filled up. If the company makes a mistake, it's their own fault when they lose money. I'd feel no different than I do when the grocery store mis-marks an item, or if no price is in the computer and they undercharge me. Then again, I'm not a very ethical person...
	__________________ Merry Yarglemas!

28th May 2006, 02:00 PM	#3
andyandy anthropomorphic ape Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: up a tree Posts: 8,192	take the money and run...or more appropriately, take the gas and drive
	__________________ "Contentment is found in the music of Bach, the books of Tolstoy and the equations of Dirac, not at the wheel of a BMW or the aisles of Harvey Nicks."

28th May 2006, 03:24 PM	#5
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Nap, interrupted. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: a little toolshed Posts: 18,592	Oh for crying out loud. Let's screw the gas station owner because we're pissed at the price of fuel. Is he part of the conspiracy, too? ~~ Paul
	__________________ Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ---Susan Ertz RIP Mr. Skinny

28th May 2006, 02:44 PM	#4
Kopji Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Mogollon Rim Posts: 7,697	Ooooo, this is a toughie. Here we have a gas station with cars lined up around the block to get cheap gas, and register transactions of $1 or so. And nobody notices. So is it the customer's responsibility to inform the attendant they are an idiot or not? Oh, I'd probably fill up first and instead of telling the attendant exactly what was wrong, ask some questions about the line of cars and tiny transactions. If they were still clueless I'd go my way.

28th May 2006, 04:03 PM	#6
roger Penultimate Amazing Join Date: May 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 11,021	Certainly theft is moral if nobody notices. What a dumb question. sheesh [/sarcasm] Remind me to double check my doors are locked when around some of you. Yikes.

28th May 2006, 04:39 PM	#7
slingblade Guest Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 23,642	Nope, I wouldn't do it. I'd be the one to inform the attendant. Otherwise, I'd be stealing.
slingblade Guest Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 23,642

28th May 2006, 04:43 PM	#8
supercorgi Dog Everlasting Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: State of Confusion, Massachusetts, USA Posts: 2,525	I wouldn't do it as tempted as I might be. Many gas stations are self-owned, they're going to have to pay the gas company the big bucks even if they don't collect them. I think I'd have to apply the same ethics that I do when I tell the convience store clerk that they gave me too much change. I should not profit from someone's unitentional mistake especially when it hurts them. And they say that aethiests have no morals. Hah!
	__________________

28th May 2006, 04:58 PM	#9
Silly Green Monkey Cowardly Lurking in the Shadows of Greatness Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 3,047	I'd be wondering more about the accuracy of the pump in dispensing gas. Two cents a gallon might be nice, but what if it's only measuring out a teaspoon?

28th May 2006, 05:08 PM	#10
RandFan Mormon Atheist Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 53,227	I've not bothered to return merchandise that I hadn't paid for in the past. It bothered me. I'm not perfect. I've taken things that didn't belong to me. It bothered me. So now when I walk out of the convenient store with a cup of coffee and I'm 3 blocks away before I realize that I didn't pay I go back and pay. I accept the basis of a free market so I can't assume that the price was unfair in the first place and even if it was I can't justify one wrong by appealing to another. I'm reasonably certain I would tell the attendant.
	__________________ Ego, ain't it a bitch? It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion. --Adam Smith

28th May 2006, 05:56 PM	#11
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Nap, interrupted. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: a little toolshed Posts: 18,592	Shhh. Don't mention software. ~~ Paul
	__________________ Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ---Susan Ertz RIP Mr. Skinny

28th May 2006, 06:03 PM	#12
Jeff Wagg Eponymous Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,052	I would tell simply because I'm curious. Also, I've made mistakes, and I appreciate when people don't take advantage of them. I'm happy to return the favor.

28th May 2006, 06:41 PM	#13
tkingdoll AKA TEEK Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Up Myself Posts: 12,471	There are few independent gas stations in the UK, but I would still tell, not because I don't think that BP or whoever shouldn't be swizzed out of a few quid, but because I know I'd be annoyed by all the people using that as an excuse.
	__________________ www.stormmovie.net Official website of Tim Minchin's Storm Movie

28th May 2006, 07:28 PM	#14
Kopji Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Mogollon Rim Posts: 7,697	Oh ok, so I'm hopelessly honest.

28th May 2006, 08:25 PM	#15
RandFan Mormon Atheist Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 53,227	Originally Posted by Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Shhh. Don't mention software. ~~ Paul Busted..., damn, I've downloaded a song or two also. I guess material property stirs my conscience more than intellectual property.
	__________________ Ego, ain't it a bitch? It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion. --Adam Smith

28th May 2006, 10:01 PM	#16
Roboramma Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Shanghai Posts: 7,095	Hm.. That's a tough one. I think I'd tell the attendant. Of course, I realise how easy it is to say that, but I think back on times when I could have profitted from other's mistakes, and most of the time I didn't. Most of the time. I like to think I'd tell them. Well, I like to think I'd tell them before I filled up, that is. I'm certain I'd tell them one way or another, but whether I let myself profit first? No, I don't think I would. And I'm not too proud of this, but the presence of someone else whose opinion of me mattered to me might influence my decision as well, though I'd try not to let it.
	__________________ "... when people thought the Earth was flat, they were wrong. When people thought the Earth was spherical they were wrong. But if you think that thinking the Earth is spherical is just as wrong as thinking the Earth is flat, then your view is wronger than both of them put together." Isaac Asimov

29th May 2006, 12:43 AM	#17
LW Master Poster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: 60°N 25°E Posts: 2,800	The father of a friend of mine used to own a gas station that belonged to Shell franchice. He used to say that selling gas is a charity: after deducting the expenses he was left with a profit of 1-2 pennies per litre, and those were Finnish pennies (that's 0.5-1 US cents per gallon). This was about 10 years ago. Instead, he made his living by having an attached garage where he repaired cars.
	__________________ Skrbl.

30th May 2006, 08:57 AM	#18
strathmeyer seriously unable to be serious Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Posts: 2,382	"Shoplifting is a victimless crime, like punching someone in the dark" ~ Nelson

30th May 2006, 09:44 AM	#19
Jimbo07 Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,417	Even if you're not scrupulously honest (for shame ), there're practical considerations in similar financial situations: i) If a price is mis-ticketed, why should a retailer be obliged to sell at that price? Customers could dishonestly switch the paper tickets and act 'confused' when the computer said otherwise. ii) Flyers often have lots of fine print, re: Prices subject to change, retailer reserves the right, blithery blithery blithery iii) In some transactions, like pay and taxes, you are liable for not noticing mistakes, not the organization! iv) A service station attendant so asleep at the switch might not respond well to spills and other emergencies!
Jimbo07 Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,417	__________________ This post approved by your local jPac (Jimbo07 Political Action Committee), also registered with Jimbo07 as the Jimbo07 Equality Rights Knowledge Betterment Action Group. Atoms in supernova explosion get huge business -- Pixie of key

30th May 2006, 11:27 AM	#20
ma1ic3 Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Layton, Utah Posts: 359	I knew some kids that would go to the mall and jack things out of peoples cars. One of them said "you wouldn't believe how many people don't lock their doors". His justification for stealing was that it's there fault for being so stupid. I've heard reasoning like this many times before with theft and ripping people off. Especially when ripping people off. Speaking of getting ripped off. I got some mozzarella sticks from Burger King yesterday and they jipped me one. Vendor machines and fast food places **** me over a lot. I would love to return the favor.

30th May 2006, 02:05 PM	#21
Dark Jaguar Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,666	In answering the poll, I just assumed someone had REALLY cheap gas and this was some moral question about whether it's right to buy cheap gas or something. So, I said "I'd buy it and tell everyone I know". Then I read further and realized it was a mistake. Unfortunatly I'm just naive enough that I might not even think it's a mistake in the real world either... "Wow, this must be some sort of sales gimic, one day only, or something." Yeah, I can see myself saying that.

30th May 2006, 02:56 PM	#22
Wheezebucket Master Cylinder Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mr. Belvedere's House (in Seattle) Posts: 1,493	I would fill up and then tell my friends and family. In a second.
	__________________ The Evangelists myspace.com/evangelistscomic "My nipples start to bleed on very long runs." - Ian "We called her the gorgon. Not because we liked her." - Nikki

30th May 2006, 03:01 PM	#23
Z D.D.D. Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: In a den in my lair, on the edge of your mind. Posts: 9,166	What seems odd to me: In the U.S. (or at least, where I live), gas stations have big outdoor signs with plastic numbers they have to put up, manually, when prices change. Very few have digital signs up. So that means someone saw that gas was some ridiculous price, who works for the company, and said/did nothing. To me, then, that's the company's fault. If, on the other hand, it was an error at the pump itself, I doubt I would have ever noticed. I very often swipe my card, pump, and leave. It could be charging me $20 a gallon and I probably wouldn't realize it right away. But you know what? If I got home and realized I'd payed some outrageous price for gas - and it was my fault? - I'd take it as a lesson learned. Well, I feel the same applies the other way. I'd pump and drive, and some time later would notice my total gas bill equalled two cents... Oh well. Their loss.
	__________________ Merry Yarglemas!

30th May 2006, 05:32 PM	#24
Dark Jaguar Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,666	Would you take it as a lesson learned? I say that because the lesson seems to be "check the price before you pump" which you freely admit you rarely do. And yes, around here too there is a lack of digital signage. Probably the norm actually. One odd thing I still don't really understand is the "100th's of a cent" stuff they stick in the price. Universally (except not so much, I understand some places use 9/10's after the price instead of an extra decimal place superscripted next to it) they seem to pull this. What exactly are they attempting to do with this? I mean, I know that $199 might trick people into thinking it's closer to 100 dollars than 200 (people who don't seem to be good at math or something, and with sales tax it's still going to be over 200 anyway), but who does it fool when you are trying to trick people into thinking it's a PENNY cheaper? What sort of person is struggling to save that extra, I dunno, 10 or 20 cents (depending on the size of the gas tank) per refill? Further, how do you charge 9 100ths of a cent anyway? Just round it up! Even if you add it up I'm only losing one penny per 10 gallons anyway. The thing that gets me is they ONLY do this silly marketting thing for gas. I guess when people hire astrologers to determine company marketting and pricing this is what you get.

1st June 2006, 01:54 PM	#25
CaptainManacles Muse Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 818	Accidently leave your cellphone on a call some time and watch them not credit your $300 of overage. I don't know. I'm all for free market, but in a lot of similar situations if YOU make the mistake, they're not about to turn around and help you out. Assuming the correct price was visibly posted, I suppose I would feel an obligation to pay the correct price.
CaptainManacles Muse Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 818

1st June 2006, 02:07 PM	#26
Jeff Wagg Eponymous Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,052	Originally Posted by CaptainManacles Accidently leave your cellphone on a call some time and watch them not credit your $300 of overage. I don't know. I'm all for free market, but in a lot of similar situations if YOU make the mistake, they're not about to turn around and help you out. Assuming the correct price was visibly posted, I suppose I would feel an obligation to pay the correct price. Yep, but if they didn't, people could claim they just left it on. It's a different situation. And just because they're bastards, doesn't mean we should be.

1st June 2006, 02:20 PM	#27
Beleth FAQ Creator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Not in a cave Posts: 4,134	I would tell the attendant, but only if I could be out of earshot of the other customers. They might not be as ethical as I am, and I am not willing to risk retribution against myself in the course of correcting another's error.
	__________________ Administrator and Head Moderator, The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe Forum Big Fan, Stop Sylvia Browne I will come back only after the words "Hi, Nyarl!" are returned to the post http://forums.randi.org/showpost.php...5&postcount=14 .

1st June 2006, 02:37 PM	#28
Marquis de Carabas Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: vuori Posts: 27,106	I would tell the attendant. Were I not rewarded for my honesty by being allowed to fill up at the reduced price, I would kill him, fill up anyway, and take some Chee-tos.
	__________________ Jesus ... wasn't he the bloke who turned fish into wine and made the lepers multiply? -KateHL Violence is more acceptable than incest. I have been told to keep this in mind.

1st June 2006, 05:21 PM	#29
Beleth FAQ Creator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Not in a cave Posts: 4,134	The news story No mention of "hours", but a mention of how much they lost. $550 / $2.75/gal = 200 gallons exactly. That's, what, between 10 and 20 cars' worth? If it takes 5 minutes to fill a car, and 2 pumps were affected, that's at most 50 minutes.
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3rd June 2006, 05:40 AM	#30
Ladewig Hipster alien Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: not measurable Posts: 16,807	Originally Posted by Beleth The news story No mention of "hours", but a mention of how much they lost. $550 / $2.75/gal = 200 gallons exactly. That's, what, between 10 and 20 cars' worth? If it takes 5 minutes to fill a car, and 2 pumps were affected, that's at most 50 minutes. I took the "hours" from a radio story. I am willing to believe that the radio story was inaccurate. On the other hand, your calculations assume that there are cars waiting in line to fill up. I imagine that there in Plainfield, Ind. there is some time between customers when the pumps aren't being used at all.

3rd June 2006, 08:02 AM	#31
UndercoverElephant Pachyderm of a Thousand Faces Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 9,060	Originally Posted by Ladewig As for me, I saw it as stealing. I would have told the cashier. I'm with you, 100%. I would have told the attendant straight away. It would not have occured to me to do otherwise. Likewise, two weeks ago when I was given an extra £10 in change in a pub, I told the barmaid and gave it back to her. All the people posting in this thread claiming it is fine to "get even" with the gas station are guilty of acting immorally, IMO. I know someone who used to shoplift habitually, claiming that she was only ripping off big corporations so it didn't matter. She was wrong.
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3rd June 2006, 11:03 AM	#32
RandFan Mormon Atheist Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 53,227	Originally Posted by Marquis de Carabas I would tell the attendant. Were I not rewarded for my honesty by being allowed to fill up at the reduced price, I would kill him, fill up anyway, and take some Chee-tos.
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3rd June 2006, 11:21 AM	#33
This Guy Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the corner of WALK and DON'T WALK Posts: 2,000	I'd have to tell. Most likely I'd have started filling up before I noticed the price, and I'd probably finish up before talking to the operator. But I'm the kind of guy that would try at least three times to explain to a cashier that I was given too much change back before giving up (this has actually happened). Don't hold much stock in the bible, but I'm a firm believer in doing unto others as I would have them do unto me. Heard that when I was a youngin, and I think it's served me well so far (I'm 51 now :-).
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3rd June 2006, 11:37 AM	#34
UndercoverElephant Pachyderm of a Thousand Faces Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 9,060	Originally Posted by This Guy Don't hold much stock in the bible, but I'm a firm believer in doing unto others as I would have them do unto me. Exactly.
	__________________ "I am real!" said Alice, and began to cry. "You won't make yourself a bit realler by crying," Tweedledee remarked: "there's nothing to cry about."