Got gas?

[Zdog]

Sometimes, I'm not proud of my line of work. The news business is, believe it or not , about grabbing attention through headlines that are a bit extreme. Take the following example below:

http://tampa.cbslocal.com/2012/02/2...g-out-nearly-6-a-gallon-at-some-gas-stations/

I may be mistaken, but isn't this the same gas station that gouges customers returning their rental cars to MCO? The one that typically doesn't post its prices on a big sign out front, but just at the pump, catching rental returnee's in a hurry to top off the tank before catching a flight by surprise?

The headline grabbed my attention, but the devil is in the detail. Gas prices are high. But this is far from the norm.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I am going to move this over to the transportation forum where things like this are typically discussed.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm sorry, I don't understand the problem. The article lists two stations, one with $5.89/gallon, the other with $5.79/gallon. To me, that matches the headline of "Florida Drivers Shelling Out Nearly $6 A Gallon At Some Gas Stations"

 

[GirlDreamer]

When I clicked the Florida Gas Prices link it said the cheapest gas was $3.56 and that doesn't seem bad at all.

 

[gmeh1]

I'm sorry, I don't understand the problem. The article lists two stations, one with $5.89/gallon, the other with $5.79/gallon. To me, that matches the headline of "Florida Drivers Shelling Out Nearly $6 A Gallon At Some Gas Stations"

I think the point that the OP was making is that these are the stations gouging consumers and not advertising their prices till you get to the pump.

 

[Zdog]

That's the point-didn't want people thinking $5.79/gal for gas is the norm in Orlando. Gas prices are high enough, but for those traveling to Orlando, be aware, there are a couple of gas stations that will take advantage of the unsuspecting. Then again, some may argue that's the case nationwide!

 

[GirlDreamer]

I usually fill up my rental in the gas station in Disney, because the airport isn't that far away, so the tank is still full when I drop it off.

 

[sam_gordon]

I think the point that the OP was making is that these are the stations gouging consumers and not advertising their prices till you get to the pump.

That's the point-didn't want people thinking $5.79/gal for gas is the norm in Orlando. Gas prices are high enough, but for those traveling to Orlando, be aware, there are a couple of gas stations that will take advantage of the unsuspecting. Then again, some may argue that's the case nationwide!

I read the OP as a slam against the headline writer for sensationalizing the story, but when you read the article it's not accurate. Believe me, I know that happens, I just don't think this is a good example of it.

 

[goofy4tink]

When I was in Florida earlier this month, the gas prices were actually a bit lower than what we are paying up north, in NE.
I do know that the gas stations that are close to the airports tend to charge a lot more per gallon!!! So, the unsuspecting car rental customers get stuck. They figure they have to fill up at the closest station to the airport, and by the time they realize their mistake, it's too late. We tend to fill up at the Hess Station, next to BW. Then, if returning the car at Sanford, we top off at a nearby station...costs a lot less that way. Usually, the tank is just fine, so no need to stop.

 

[TDC Nala]

They do that here in Washington DC too. Pick the station with the highest prices - higher than all the other stations in the area - and feature a picture of the price board in front of that station in the newspaper with a headline about how "some stations are approaching $5 a gallon" which, while true, tends to make readers think that all stations in the area have prices that high.

I guess because they just don't pay attention to the fact that the headline says "some stations" and are looking at the photo.

 

[blondietink]

There is also a gas station near the outlet mall in Lake Buena Vista that I think is a Shell station, and every time we go by it is way up over $5.00/gallon. We never see anybody there, either, so I don't know how they stay in business. If they lowered the price to what the other stations charge, they would have penty of customers as it is in a convenient spot.