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i don't know, but that's been the case forever. that mobil? station at the intersection of old new brunswick rd and south randolphville rd has been 10-30% more expensive since i started working around there, in 1989!
anyone that has a smartphone should download the free "gasbuddy" application. it's awesome for when you are in an area like that, with a few expensive stations.
usually, it's because you're near a major hub where interstates connect (lots of on/off traffic grabbing gas cause they have to).
... which means that they are upcharging for cash.
Hey, I'm not complaining, since I charge too, but someone has to pay for the credit card fees that the station pays.
You're right. I generally charge as I have a card that gives me 5% back on gas purchases, but the stations that do same price cash or credit are always 2-4 cents higher than the cash price at stations that offer separate cash and credit prices.
>Nexis3Jersey is correct. Our gasoline tax is too low. We should haave raised the tax to make it one of the most expensive gasoline states, but our government seems to fail to realize this. <
Wrong. Due to the extreme expense, people are forced to live further from work. Safe areas of Bergen, Essex, Hudson co have incredibly high housing costs. W Orange is a perfect example of inanely expensive but somewhat safe relatively close to work places city.
The Hess near me is consistantly 5 to 10 cents cheaper than other brands and they don't upcharge for credit.
i refuse to patronize a business with the two prices (cash and credit). also...psychologically speaking, i can't buy hess gas because of the rumors that they diluted it more years ago...granted...i know this is virtually impossible to be true...but i don't like Hess lol
... which means that they are upcharging for cash.
Hey, I'm not complaining, since I charge too, but someone has to pay for the credit card fees that the station pays.
not to steer completely off course...but the reason businesses accept credit cards is to attract more business. the studies show that people show up more often, and spend more money....at merchants that accept credit. the transaction fee is a cost of doing business, that should result in an increase in business.
so it's not exactly correct to say people paying cash are being upcharged to cover the merchant fees.
there's a station i drive by everyday on my way home that accepts cash only. they hardly ever have someone there, even though they are cheaper, except the day where everything is 10 cents off (tuesdays).
You're right. I generally charge as I have a card that gives me 5% back on gas purchases, but the stations that do same price cash or credit are always 2-4 cents higher than the cash price at stations that offer separate cash and credit prices.
i don't find that true in my area. the station i go to is actually 4 cents less than every other price in my area, including the cash only spot. plus, the 5% i get back would more than make up for a 2-4 cent difference...
i refuse to patronize a business with the two prices (cash and credit).
That's certainly your choice. Do you pay with credit card? If the station has 1 price, cash customers are subsidizing the credit card customers.
The fees make a real difference to gas operators because their margins are thin. And the effect only gets worse with higher gas prices -- they try to make a certain gross profit per gallon sold, so (ignoring fees for now) they typically make about the same gross profir at $2/gallon or $4/gallon.... BUT the credit card fees are a percentage of the purchase price (not gallons), so those fees grow quickly with price hikes even though they are selling the same number of gallons.
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