Reader Matt says he bought gas from a Sunoco station in New Jersey, but the price advertised didn’t match the price he was actually charged. He even “double checked” to make sure there wasn’t a separate price for cash vs credit. Matt says he tried to resolve the dispute with an employee, but that the employee “just kept saying he doesn’t know why it’s happening. So I just snapped a picture and left.” What should Matt do?
Gas stations fall under the watchful eye of New Jersey’s Office of Weights and Measures, so we think Matt should report this gas station immediately. Unlike more lackadaisical government agencies, the folks at Weights and Measures are usually pretty enthusiastic about their jobs, particularly when the job involves busting shady gas stations for overcharging their customers. If something illegal is going on here, they’re the ones to put a stop to it.
Here’s an example of how one Consumerist reader brought down the sword of justice on a Wisconsin gas station. Now it’s your turn.
New Jersey Office of Weights And Measures Contact Information [New Jersey]
UPDATE: Matt filed a report with the New Jersey Office of Weights And Measures (which he forwarded to the Consumerist), and, independently, Sunoco contacted us to confirm the location of the gas station so that they can conduct their own investigation.
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Guy should visit this website and file a complaint:
[www.state.nj.us]
Sorry, I thought the post ended with “what should he do.” You can delete my last comment as being the product of a failure to read the rest of the post after the jump.
Wow – I live literally one block from this station.
Answers:
1.) I was in a hurry and couldn’t wait for “about an hour” for the manager to come in
2.) The Sunoco is on Nassau st across from Blue Point Grille
3.) I’ve submitted an official complaint using the links above (hurray power of the comments). I received a confirmation and I’m mailing a copy of the receipt tomorrow.
Hopefully I will wield the sword of justice for all
PS. sorry for the lack of info Meg, I decided to submit while I was at running around @work this morning
****comments will probably all come at once since none are going through right now.
I pologize for the repeat
@Myownheroine: Except $4.219 is not the same as $4.229. Remember that extra 9 at the end of gas prices.
@Marshfield: It’s the combination of oil companies, competition between stations and CC merchant fees. Plus “Pay at the pump” takes away the opportunity to impulse-sell the customer a Coke from the fridge inside.
For the OP: certainly report them, but in the future, get your gas at the Sunoco at the Harrison St. & Route One intersection, just 1.6 miles away. I got gas there yesterday for their advertised price, which is over $0.10 a gallon cheaper than the Nassau Street location anyway.
@AlteredBeast: I’ve had the same type of problem getting a gallon of gas for my moped.
I need to mix it with oil before filling the tank, so I keep a two-gallon container for it. I have a measured cup to provide a 50:1 mixture when added to exactly one gallon of gas.
I’ve run across half a dozen gas station employees who will just stare at me stupidly when I ask for one gallon of gas. If gas is three ninety-something a gallon, they ask if I want four dollars of gas. “No, I want one gallon of gas.” Half the time they still try to round it out to the nearest dollar. And yeah – if they DO get it right, they’re unable, unwilling, or just too dumb to make change.
What works the best is to carry exact change, round the gallon up to the nearest penny, hand them it in advance, and ask for exactly that much gas.
At first glance I thought it was “Sorry, We don’t know my our PIMP is overcharging you.”
That would have been a much more exciting story…
Why are there no self-serve pumps in New Jersey? Does the State feel the the people can’t do it themselves or is this politics?
contact the state Consumer Affairs Department, and the BBB. you’ll be amazed at how quickly the attendant will be able to answer all of your questions after you do that. had something similar happen out here in CA. i got a $50 gas card out of it. woohoo! 1 free tank of gas!