Gas Station Prices - How do you choose

[disneysteve]

On my way to work today, I happened to pass 2 gas stations that are literally right next to each other. The price at one was 11 cents/gallon more than the station 30 feet away. But the more expensive station was still getting plenty of customers.

I will gladly go a bit out of my way to save money on fuel but some people seem loyal to a station regardless of price. Any thoughts?

 

[Robinette]

I am not loyal to one gas station. I fill up whenever I see a good price. I work mainly from home so I don't need to stop every couple days.

There is a station at the main intersection by my house who about once a month will post the same price for all grades of gas. That's a good deal since I use the middle grade (89)

 

[Nebsky]

Im not loyal to any particular one. Whichever has the cheapest gas (Premium for my car) I go for but it has to be on my side of the road. I will not cross the street or backtrack though. . The only way I would possibly consider crossing to the other side of the road is if there is a light. I hate getting stuck behind someone who is too timid to "make a break" for an open spot.

 

[Amirah95]

I go where the price is cheapest unless the lines are really long.

 

[Cinders]

We live in a small town so if I need fuel and am not going to the bigger cities I alternate between 2 of our local stations since DH (electrician) has done work for both. If I'm going to a large city such as Ft Wayne I'll watch for the lowest price....except I refuse to buy water......errrrrrrr I mean fuel at a Kocolean (sp?) station since a friend that was a tech at a Chevy dealer told me that place causes all kinds of problems since the fuel is bad there.

 

[disneysteve]

19 votes so far and none is loyal to one station regardless of price. Perhaps that's because I posted this to the Budget Board. Maybe over at the Community Board I'd get different responses.

So is there anyone out there who sticks with one station or at least one brand?

There are 2 stations near our house that always charge 20 cents per gallon more than all other local stations. My wife and I always joke that you must get a vial of cocaine with each fill up because we can't imagine why any sane person would keep paying that much extra when there are other stations right down the street that are so much cheaper.

The only thing I can think of is folks who have a credit card from the company but any bonus you earn on the card would be wiped out by the extra cost of the gas.

 

[arminnie]

Originally posted by disneysteve
So is there anyone out there who sticks with one station or at least one brand?

Well I just answered that I always stick with one station - but I also happen to know that it ALWAYS the lowest. I buy my gas at Sam's Club. I don't even consider going anyplace else.

 

[Amirah95]

My DH sticks to Mobil and that's it. He buys Super because he say anything less is garbage in your car. I don't care...I go for the cheapest so I can get more.

 

[GaTech]

Some helpful links...

GasBuddy for low & high gas prices by city. Just enter your zip code at the top and it will list the lowest gas prices by station.

AAA Fuel Cost Calculator to calculate your total trip cost.

 

[Robinette]

Originally posted by arminnie
Well I just answered that I always stick with one station - but I also happen to know that it ALWAYS the lowest. I buy my gas at Sam's Club. I don't even consider going anyplace else.

That's right!! Costco and Sam's Club have excellent prices on gas. I have a membership to Costco but it's too far to go just to fill up! 40 minutes away!

 

[Lewisc]

Steve--some of the discount gas stations offer a lower octane gas as "regular". A fair comparison may be their premium grade to other stations regular. Some of the discount stations don't have the same fuel additives. It defeats the fuel savings if you have to add fuel injector cleaners because the gas doesn't have the added detergents.

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by Lewisc
Steve--some of the discount gas stations offer a lower octane gas as "regular". A fair comparison may be their premium grade to other stations regular. Some of the discount stations don't have the same fuel additives. It defeats the fuel savings if you have to add fuel injector cleaners because the gas doesn't have the added detergents.

As far as I know, all Regular grade gas in NJ is 87 octane. As for the detergents, we've never had a problem in any of our vehicles so I'm not sure how real that issue is for most people. There may be some vehicles that have a problem but I don't think its that common.

In my original example, both stations were national brands, not discounters - one Exxon and one Amoco.

 

[liznboys]

I have witnessed the same thing and wondered what the heck people were thinking??!!

When I need gas, I will look around at the nearest stations, and as long as it's not a huge hassle, I'll go to the cheaper place. I'm certainly not loyal to one place.

My dh will actually drive to another town (10 minutes away...passing by several other stations on the way) to get gas at this really cheap place!!

 

[arminnie]

Originally posted by Robinette
That's right!! Costco and Sam's Club have excellent prices on gas. I have a membership to Costco but it's too far to go just to fill up! 40 minutes away!

That the way I was in CA - we only had Costco not Sam's. There was a Costco about 1.5 miles from my house but unfortunately it did not sell gas. The nearest one that did was way too far away.

Sam's is about about 3-4 miles away, but it is in an area that I go to to run errands so I'm not really going out of my way.

There's one other station in town that is known for low gas prices but it is also know for being robbed all of the time. I have been there but would never go at night. It's a few blocks from the house where I grew up so the neighborhood is familiar to me - I think most people from my part of town now wouldn't set foot there.

 

[GoofItUp]

I go wherever it's cheapest. Sam's isn't too far from where I work, so it's on the list. I'll even go a little out of my way if needed....but not too far as you have to realize that, depending on your gas tank size, a dimes difference in gas price is only saving you a couple of dollars or so.

 

[disneymom3]

I go to the cheapest one! I have noticed the same thing DisneySteve--on my way to work, there is an intersection with three gas stations at it--one is a Mobil, one is Phillips 66 and the other is a Super America. The SA is routinely 10-20 cents more per gallon and there are people there!!! I always shake my head and wonder what on earth they could be thinking. Brand loyalty for a couple of pennies a gallon, maybe but sheesh!

 

[DebbieB]

I usually head to whatever station is convenient. I haven't seen a swing of more than 5 cents in my area. One thing happened last week that was strange. I was below 1/4 and stopped at the station closest to my home after work. The sign said $1.85 for regular, which is about the norm. I pulled up to the pump and there was a sign "all pumps ultra only". $2.11 per gallon! I was busy and afraid to let it go too low, so I put $10.00 worth in, took me up to 1/2. What kind of crap is that? I think they should have to put the $2.11 up on their big sign. I was surprised that several people were filling up, I didn't see anyone drive away once they saw the sign on the pumps.