Since BP is doing such a great job cleaning up that oil spill, it’s only right that consumers show their support for the quicker, thicker picker-uppers by bringing their business to subsidiaries ARCO and AM/PM, and greasing the wheels with BP’s Castrol Motor Oil. [More]
Costco Dispenses E85 Ethanol Instead Of Gas
By May 14, 2010
A tank that customers at an upstate New York Costco gas station thought was full of premium gasoline may have actually dispensed E85 ethanol, damaging engines and fuel systems of cars not designed to deal with the fuel. E85 is a mixture of 85% corn juice and 15% gasoline that can severely damage engines not designed for it. [More]
To Tip Or Not To Tip: Full-Service Gas Station Attendants
By April 1, 2010
Last week’s poll on tipping the pizza delivery guy certainly riled a lot of feathers, with over 300 comments on the topic and more than 12,000 votes tallied. It’s also brought up some good questions about tipping from Consumerist readers, like this one from Chad, who has just been introduced to mandatory full-service gas stations in New Jersey. [More]
Man Dies In Freak Gas Pump Fire Caused By Static Electricity
By March 10, 2010
A Pennsylvania man died last Friday in a freak fire at a gas station. Authorities say that the fire was sparked by static electricity on the man’s body, and he died of inhalation of superheated gases. While this type of fire is very rare and fatalities even rarer, they do happen. To prevent them, you should do something terribly mundane: do not ever get back in your car while fueling, and make sure to touch a metal surface before fueling. [More]
Do Not Steal An ATM, Then Ram A Stolen Truck Into It
By February 21, 2010
Police in East Peoria, Illinois say that an unidentified man used a stolen pickup truck to smash through the door and front window of a gas station and dislodge an ATM from the wall it was bolted to. He then hauled the machine to a parking lot where he attempted to withdraw cash by backing the truck into the ATM. He was not successful, and may have stolen another vehicle to leave the area. [More]
Please Prepay This Gas Station In Advance
By February 21, 2010
Reader Neil found this sign on a gas pump near Cleveland. He’s disappointed, since he prefers to pre-pay after the transaction is over. [More]
Do Not Drive Your Truck Into A Gas Station Instead Of Prepaying
By February 4, 2010
A man in Alabama has been charged with attempted murder and resisting arrest after allegedly driving his truck into a gas station. According to Jefferson County police, the suspect was angry that the only pump available was pre-pay only. [More]
Citi Mysteriously Closes Scads Of Mastercard Accounts Nationwide
By October 20, 2009
Without warning, Citi decided to close a swath of gas-station co-branded Mastercard accounts nationwide. The trouble seems to have started October 15. Quan was one of the affected customers and the credit card company was pretty disingenuous about it when called.
Gas Station Writes "Big Fat Black Lady" On Customer's Receipt
By September 27, 2009
The gas station clerk needed some way to identify a customer who was returning after being shorted $10 at the gas pump. Before scrawling “Black Lady – Big – Fat” on her receipt, however, he probably should have realized that she would be taking the receipt with her.
Customer Complaint Leads To Sincere Apology, Actual Change At HyVee
By September 11, 2009
Matt complained to his local Hyvee grocery/gas station about the excessive holds they place on gas customers’ debit cards. The company apologized, offered him a gift card, and changed their signage to prevent further customer frustration.
WaPo Devotes Five Pages To Wawa/Sheetz Epic
By August 27, 2009
We thought our love for Wawa was deep and true, then we read this lengthy column in the Washington Post about people getting married at a Wawa or flocking to the stores on 9/11 to regain a sense of community and normalcy.
10 Things You Should Know About Gas Stations
By July 7, 2009
MSN Money has a list of 10 secrets about gas stations that could cost you money if you don’t know about them. The best ones are about why you shouldn’t use a debit card. For example, some stations will ask banks to place a hold on some of the cash in your account to cover your purchase, and won’t report the real purchase amount for a few days, leaving your cash in limbo.
Watered-Down Gasoline Damages Cars Near Baltimore
By June 18, 2009
Rain water, not fraud or sabotage, is behind the bad gasoline sold at stations near Baltimore early this week. Hess, the supplier, is covering any damage to customers’ cars caused by the diluted fuel. So, how does this happen?
So, Why Is The Price Of Gas Rising Now?
By January 19, 2009
I just don’t get it. Does Consumerist know of a good media source that has a *current* (i.e., in the last week or two) breakdown of why the heck gasoline prices are rising 10 cents a week and more in the last month?
ExxonMobil Gift Card Results In Higher Prices At Pump
By December 29, 2008
ExxonMobil says their gift cards are “better than cash.” They also say, “This cash card is not a credit card.” But Rob in NY was hit with a credit card surcharge when he used his.
Why Was Gas So Expensive?
By October 13, 2008
Did you know that gas price gouging almost never occurs as prices rise? Rather, it’s most often when dealers keep prices artificially high even as their costs fall. As gas costs were near $5 a gallon until falling and oil companies earn around $100 billion each year, it’s a good time to question what really goes into the price of gas. The numbers on the gas station sign hide a complex set of transactions. Before gas can power your car, it must be discovered as crude oil, traverse three markets, and be refined from crude into gas. Inside, we’ll explain the three markets, walk you through the role of refineries, and show how oil companies use creative tactics to manipulate gas prices…
Find Out Where Your Money Goes When You Buy Gas
By October 7, 2008
Want to know where your fifties go when you fill up your car with gas? GOOD’s latest chart breaks down the assorted costs, and compares them with other places around the globe. You can grab a free printed copy at any Starbucks, or go here to check it out in bright RGB goodness.
NY Attorney General: 25% Of Gas Stations "Engage In Deceptive Practices"
By August 29, 2008
New York’s Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo, is warning consumers after an undercover investigation found that 25% of gas stations are engaging in “deceptive practices, including wrongfully surcharging credit card customers.” The AG says that under New York state law, retailers are not allowed to impose surcharges for using a credit card.
