Its a simple question with a simple answer, unless you are 7 years old, probably not very long. In fact I would bet that none of you would stay in line very long for any amount of money under a few bucks, and even that is pushing it.
So why do I see lines of cars at gas stations waiting on line during “gas sales” which never mean you are going to save more then 5-10 cents a gallon, and unless you are driving an F350 super duty with double tanks, chances are you aren’t filling up more then 10-15 gallons anyway.
This isn’t a new phenomena even during my first year of owning a cat when gas prices were under a buck (gets all nostalgic) people would still rather wait on line to save 2 cents a gallon then go to the empty gas station across the street.
I feel like its the one aspect of cheapness ingrained in us, we never think about how stupid it is, even nonsensical- due to the idling car wasting gas, or the time being made up by driving fast wasting more fuel. Some people may say that the savings add up. That is great, but if you think about it, unless you drive 40,000 miles a year it really doesn’t.
Just as an FYI, I refuse to wait in line for gas, unless I will save a lot and I know all the crowded stations. Such as the ones on the Palisade Parkway, when returning from NYC I always take the lower level of the GWB and get off the Palisades exit which dumps me right by an always empty LukOil station.
-->
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
FYI, the Valero gas stations, on the NY 17, are a good 35-40 cents cheaper then the NY stations. On a round trip to the “country,” which takes about 20 gallons, that is about 7-8 dollars. for some of us, that is not pennies. A morning coffe and danish, and a tuna sandwich for lunch. Not chump change.
Yes but you are going on the way, I am talking about people who wait in line- when there are two gas stations across the street from one another- and one has gas for 3 cents lower.
I only buy my gas in Jersey- but Jersey has 100 gas stations everywhere you look.
I love that gas station, Hesh (the one off the palisades).They have flake frummy chocolate bars, usually.
what the heck is “flake frummy chocolate bars”?
I would … then again, I’m a coupon clipper and sale shopper.
My mom used to drive 2 miles out of her way to go to the one station that was $.05 cheaper per gallon…and this was back when gas was cheap. I could never figure out the logic behind that strategy.
heimish, I just posted a picture of one on my blog.
hahah!! what do u think the “free slurpee day” was, to a tee? people spending five dollars on gas to get a free 75 cent slurpee. its a 75 cent SLURPEE for gods sake it was a mob scene in brooklyn. i say, let me know when its free tv day at best buy! (chas vsholom, i would never own, it was for illustrative purposes only!)
It happened just a few months back to me…
I go to my dunkin donuts for my daily coffee and I cant even get in the door. Free iced coffee day (cant be more than a $1.50) and you’ve got people waiting for 10 minutes or more!
I also read a study about a year back. Its has a money-management basis and the general question was regarding peoples fiscal “literacy.” One question was asking if people would drive out of their way (up to 5 minutes) to find a gas station that was cheaper by $0.02. It turns out, most people spend more money to save less. The articles estimate was that people would spend up to about $0.60 on gas to save about $0.25 for a cheaper fill-up. Keep in mind this article was written when gas was about $2.75, but I dont think it changes the net affect.
Anyway, I know the Lukoil youre talking about, but I have a notorious lack of any sense of direction and get lost EVERY time I take the GWB lower level to the palisades. I personally prefer to use the palisades gas station after you cross back in to NY. Its only about $4.80 there these days.
(Seriously though… who uses that station?)
Here’s the thing about free slurpees and Free cone day from Ben and Jerrys. People go in order to say they went and they get to chill on line. Its a fun event, I’ve been to free cone day and its a big deal, people organize it like its a concert or something. It has nothing to do with saving money.
But the gas thing is all about the money. Proof that not only Jews are cheap as well.
It’s a matter of money. We need to save it. Every penny we save is a penny less than the hundreds of pennies we already pay too much. It’s a matter of not only economy, but wounded pride. We’re hurting over these prices and every bit we get back is one less bit ‘they’ get to take from us and keep, whoever ‘they’ is.
Yes but Suitepotato most of the time you end up spending more to save on gas and people don’t realize, instead you should accelerate slower or drive slower- that would save money and I guaruntee you would there the same time. Also this stuff happens when gas prices were way lower- its ingrained in Americans for some reason
I have wanted to murder those people at the station right off the Palisades for years. My husband will be on empty and refuse to stop there and says he would rather “slit his wrists slowly than stop there and give them his money.” Yes, he takes this very seriously. He has been insisting I drive up 45 to Montvale to get gas for years now. That’s where they have a Dunkin’ Donuts and some excellent shopping (you gain, you lose). I will not wait on line, though, so it is getting annoying. There is a Luk Oil all the way up Saddle River at the Lake St. turn to 45 (shortcut to GSP). No lines there and the Indian guy will go in and get you a water so you don’t have to leave the car.
Unfortunately for my car I can only use Luk Oil because its the only brand in NJ that doesn’t have those long plastic noodles on the pump. My gas tank leaks if the pump is not placed all the way inside of it. This is what happens when you have 297,000 miles on your car- dont worry 300k is around the corner and I’ll have some sort of event for it.
My best car–love of my life–my ‘77 Camaro with a million miles on it–don’t remember how many. It ran great. I don’t even know why I sold it. That car had pride, it had power, it was a bad…(you have to see Cool Runnings to truly appreciate the spirit of my Camaro).
Same reason why most people wouldn’t get in a car and drive for twenty minutes to make thirty cents but they would drive to a supermarket that’s further away if their cereal is 30 cents cheaper…