MCO North Exit Gas Station Ripoff Alert

[BigTigger]

Just a quick reminder to any of you that need to fill-up the rental car and are arriving back at MCO via the 528 toll road/north entrance that the first gas station north of the airport on 436 North (Semoran Blvd) is a Suncoast Energy Gas Station at 5928 Butler National Drive, Orlando, FL. This station has a Wendy's as part of the convenience store buidling. It has no listed prices. After you swipe your credit card it will finally tell you they are charging over $2 a gallon more than the going rate. You can cancel and leave, but I bet most people pay for the convenience.

You can drive another mile up 436 to Hoffner and find the Citgo, Mobil and RaceTrac stations all charging regular prices. Apparently this station is NOT price gouging according to the FL Attorney General. More here:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/community_conway_blog/2008/03/469-a-gallon-te.html

 

[krissyh]

Thank you for posting.

I'm sure a lot of people would go ahead and fill up simply because they are worried about trying to find another station when they have a flight to catch.

I must admit, I've never seen a gas station that does not clearly advertise its prices. Florida law must have some wiggle room that allows the pumps to be set to not show the price until after the card is put in. Hmmmm.....

 

[seashoreCM]

I can remember driving into a gas station to find out the price and driving right back out when I did not like the price. This was back in the old days when a bell rang in the office when you ran over an activating hose stretched in front of the pumps.

OT: I also remember a gas station with the pump so close to the sidewalk that a car on that side blocked the sidewalk while being refilled and I walked around another pump and intentionally stepped on the bell hose.

Returning from Disney to the airport use I-4 East (northeast) and take 528 east. (I don't think the Beach Line or Andersen name is on the sign)

Get off 528 at its exit 9 (Tradeport), one stop and two miles shy of the airport.
Left (north) and cross under, nice cheap gas station is right there on the left.

Leaving the gas station resume heading north (Conway) and get into middle lane. Required right onto McCoy, little over a mile is 436 (Semoran). Right for airport, left for Hertz and the aforementioned expensive gas station.

 

[pamjb]

I always fill up at the Hess near the Boardwalk. The tank always shows "full" when I get to the airport. The prices are consistent with others near the airport

 

[dioxide45]

We always fill up at the Marathon station that is at the IDrive exit off of 528. It isn't a long drive from there to MCO and the tank always shows full.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I always fill up at the Hess near the Boardwalk. The tank always shows "full" when I get to the airport. The prices are consistent with others near the airport

Except, you're cheating the next renter out of some gasoline to which they're entitled - especially if they've purchased the gas from the rental agency.

OT: I also remember a gas station with the pump so close to the sidewalk that a car blocked the sidewalk while being refilled and I walked around another pump and intentionally stepped on the hose.

Inconvenience the customer, or even the stations employee (at a full-serve station) for a design flaw for which neither is responsible? What's the point?

 

[francie57]

We also always fill-up at the Hess station. I don't consider it cheating the next renter since it is less than a gallon of gas to get back to the airport. We have done this for years and will continue to do it on our next trip.

 

[kydisneyfans]

All rental companies have fuel onsite and realize that not everyone fills up the tank right outside of the airport. The company that I used to work for topped off the tank before a new rental everytime, and did not charge the previous customer if it took less than a gallon to fill it.

I usually go 12-15 miles after my fillup to turn a rental car in. Part of the reason is there is no gas station within 4 miles of the Lexington airport.