Log In | Register
SPACE GUY
I am heavily involved in getting us off the planet!
Articles Posted: 53; Links Seeded: 1801
Member Since: 2/2007Last Seen: 11/29/2009
Member Since: 2/2007Last Seen: 11/29/2009
42 Comments
PrintOutrageous Gasoline Price Gouging in Orlando Florida
News Type: Event — Wed Jun 11, 2008 4:20 PM EDT
advertisement
In these times of high gasoline prices it is up to us as consumers to inform each other when we see particularly heinous examples of inordinate gas prices. I travel a great deal and have a pretty good feel for gas prices across the country. In Central Florida on June 11, 2008 I have driven from Coca Beach to Orlando. In central Florida right now the average price for regular 87 octane unleaded ranges from $3.97 per gallon to about $3.99 per gallon with premium 93 octane at around $4.29.
Most vacation travelers who are returning to the Orlando airport want to fill up their gas tanks before they take the cars back as this is generally cheaper than allowing the rental companies to do so (this is another scam for another day). So instead of taking the exit south into the airport (for everyone but Hertz and Alamo which are across the street from the offending station) most people take the exit north to hotel row where there is a gas station at the first red light.
Interestingly, most gas stations advertise their prices. Not this one. When I pulled up to the pump I noticed to my horror that the price of regular gas was $5.29 per gallon with unleaded plus (89 octane) at $5.39 per gallon, and premium at $5.49 per gallon! I took pictures for verification of this that are included in this article. This is over $1.30 per gallon higher than anywhere else in the central Florida area that I visited.
The name of the company is Suncoast Energies and is on the right hand side of the road just north of the airport. A nice hint that I got from the Budget Rental car agent was to go another 1/2 mile north and that station sells gas for $3.99 per gallon so there is absolutely no excuse but greed for what Suncoast Energys is doing.
Tell all your friends, this has to be the highest priced gas in the United States.
26 Votes- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
Published to:
- space guy's Column, All of Newsvine
- Groups: ConsumerVine, Heated Debate, Hubbert's Peak
- Regions: none
- Public Discussion (42)
- ConsumerVine
- Heated Debate
- Hubbert's Peak
What's this?
Who's leading the conversation?
This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user
has on the current conversation.
The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd
row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera).
Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group
is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the
left, in their corresponding group.
Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the
number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative
one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their
relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.
22
8.8
2.2
{"commentId":1941021,"authorDomain":"wingod"}
Trying to let everyone know.
{"commentId":1941021,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"wingod"}
- 4 votes
#1 - Wed Jun 11, 2008 4:23 PM EDT{"commentId":1942591,"authorDomain":"macbrowns"}
Hey Space Guy,
I live in Orlando. WFTV did a story on this about a month ago:
It's the last gas station tourist will see before returning the rentals to the airport or to the Hertz across the street. Convenience My A$$, I still say it's price gouging, especially when the other gas stations a mile or two up the road are a dollar cheaper.
{"commentId":1942591,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"macbrowns"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1943248,"authorDomain":"janeway77"}
Was anybody actually buying gas there? I wonder why? Surely folks would drive away after they saw the price at over $5.00 a gallon.
{"commentId":1943248,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"janeway77"}
{"commentId":1943591,"authorDomain":"wingod"}
{"commentId":1943651,"authorDomain":"insert"}
space guy, as long as you get notice of the price before you put the gas in your car, there really isn't any sort of legal problem.
{"commentId":1943651,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"insert"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1943720,"authorDomain":"wingod"}
{"commentId":1943786,"authorDomain":"insert"}
Sorry? I know fraud laws...
{"commentId":1943786,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"insert"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1943842,"authorDomain":"wingod"}
{"commentId":1947468,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
Was anybody actually buying gas there? I wonder why? Surely folks would drive away after they saw the price at over $5.00 a gallon.
They probably make most of their money off of three types of people:
1) Business types who have an expense account
2) People who are running late to meet their plane
3) People who are just too lazy to be bothered going somewhere else
Like I said - I have no problems with what they are charging. In Jacksonville the gas stations at the airport always charge considerably more than the ones just one exit down. My response is simple - I don't fill up there.
{"commentId":1947468,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1950329,"authorDomain":"insert"}
Why is it immoral? If you don't want to pay the price, buy your gas elsewhere.
{"commentId":1950329,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"insert"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1942216,"authorDomain":"monkeyknuckle"}
Contact Florida's attorney general. It may be illegal.
{"commentId":1942216,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"monkeyknuckle"}
- 2 votes
#2 - Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:25 PM EDT{"commentId":1942229,"authorDomain":"wingod"}
{"commentId":1942246,"authorDomain":"wingod"}
Folks
I just found the Department of Energy Price Gouging Report form.
If about 10,000 people report this station, I bet we would have some results.
Here is the station address
5928 Butler National Dr. Orlando, FL 32822
{"commentId":1942246,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"wingod"}
- 3 votes
#3 - Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:31 PM EDT{"commentId":1942265,"authorDomain":"wingod"}
Here is a local TV report about this station.
http://www.wftv.com/news/14940867/detail.html
Lets see if Newsvine can have some effect in the big bad world!
{"commentId":1942265,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"wingod"}
- 1 vote
#4 - Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:36 PM EDT{"commentId":1942643,"authorDomain":"insert"}
Is this really illegal, though? It hardly qualifies as price gouging, which, according to Wikipedia, only applies in a civil emergency or other shortage situation. The fact that gasoline is available for $1.30 less elsewhere only proves the point that this is not price gouging. Any person has the right and ability to go to another gas station and pay less. This is a perfectly legal method of taking advantage of people valuing their time (to turn around and go to another station) more than the additional $1.30/gal. If the free market actually objected to this, people would stop patronizing this station, and instead patronize other stations, so the proprietor here would lower his prices. The AG of Florida is right not to get involved.
{"commentId":1942643,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"insert"}
- 2 votes
#5 - Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:46 PM EDT{"commentId":1942762,"authorDomain":"kebig3"}
Check out the video I took at 7:20PM on 06/11/2008
{"commentId":1942762,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"kebig3"}
#6 - Wed Jun 11, 2008 9:12 PM EDT{"commentId":1943811,"authorDomain":"adamkemp"}
It's not illegal to charge this much. There is no shortage of gas right now. There is no emergency. Price gouging happens when there is an emergency and the sellers take advantage of that emergency. This is just a case of someone with a really great location who is able to charge a whole lot more because people are willing to pay more. Obviously enough people are willing to pay that much rather than turn back. He's probably paying a premium for that location for exactly that reason.
{"commentId":1943811,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"adamkemp"}
- 1 vote
#7 - Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:18 AM EDT{"commentId":1943843,"authorDomain":"insert"}
Exactly.
Is it wrong to charge more for a waterfront house than for the exact same house a mile from the sea? Of course not. Same thing with this. Location confers utility on a product.
{"commentId":1943843,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"insert"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1944322,"authorDomain":"mildlydisturbed"}
heh, the shell station on el camino here in san mateo CA goes up daily, its at 5.30 to about 5.60 today i think...
never see anyone there, must be a cover business.
{"commentId":1944322,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"mildlydisturbed"}
#8 - Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:08 AM EDT{"commentId":1944626,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
I think it's Minnesota that has a law saying gas stations can't charge more than eight cents a gallon higher than nearby stations...?
They did it to keep mom-and-pops from going broke when Arco moves in or something.
Average price at ARCO stations, Seattle area: $4.15 for regular unleaded on June 10, Auburn North Arco.
{"commentId":1944626,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
- 2 votes
#9 - Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:50 AM EDT{"commentId":1946446,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}
What's funny is that New Jersey has a law that works quite the opposite, gas stations are bared from selling gas at below cost, or maybe even forced to sell it for some profit. The idea being that some major gas station chain would come in and operate at a temporary loss by selling their gas for below cost in order to drive their competition out of business. Then they would jack up the prices.
There is this one section of highway in NJ where the gas station on the north-bound side sells their gas for at least 10 cents higher than the gas station directly across on the south-bound side. Both gas stations are owned by the same person. I guess north-bound traffic doesn't want to take the time to make the u-turn to go to the cheaper gas...
{"commentId":1946446,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1947359,"authorDomain":"adamkemp"}
Robert, that would be a stupid way of solving that problem, considering the thing that puts smaller stations out of business is when other stations charge less. That law would effectively kill smaller stations because the bigger ones could just set the price, say, .30 lower, which would force the smaller stations to lower their prices by law.
{"commentId":1947359,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"adamkemp"}
{"commentId":1945022,"authorDomain":"craig19"}
If all the gas stations on this "row" got together and formed a cartel and decided on a price that people would be willing to bear just short of driving their cars into the storefronts in a revolutioary rage, would this be price gouging?
{"commentId":1945022,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"craig19"}
- 1 vote
#10 - Thu Jun 12, 2008 8:57 AM EDT{"commentId":1946402,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}
Game theory shows that this would be very unlikely, which is hasn't happened...
{"commentId":1946402,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}
{"commentId":1947365,"authorDomain":"adamkemp"}
I'm pretty sure price fixing between companies is illegal.
{"commentId":1947365,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"adamkemp"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1945116,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
I don't have a problem with this. I wouldn't buy gas there but I don't have a problem with them charging whatever they want. If people pay, more power to them.
{"commentId":1945116,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
- 3 votes
#11 - Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:15 AM EDT{"commentId":2135717,"authorDomain":"briguy1q2w"}
I got stuck too! $5.499!!!!! on July 1st, 2008 ....OUCH!
Same thing as others. Price not posted and the pumps were full. I was another airport idiot.
Does Florida have any uniform usury laws to report these dinks?
{"commentId":2135717,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"briguy1q2w"}
- 1 vote
#12 - Mon Jul 7, 2008 5:39 PM EDT{"commentId":2135724,"authorDomain":"briguy1q2w"}
I got stuck too! $5.499!!!!! on July 1st, 2008 ....OUCH!
Same thing as others. Price not posted and the pumps were full. I was another airport idiot.
Does Florida have any uniform usury laws to report these dinks?
{"commentId":2135724,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"briguy1q2w"}
- 1 vote
#13 - Mon Jul 7, 2008 5:39 PM EDT{"commentId":2160982,"authorDomain":"carlroosevelt"}
What really ticks me off is they don't post the prices. I was extremely low on gas one day and pulled in there but by the time I got to the pump and saw the prices it was too late - I needed the gas. If I had been informed at the time of pulling off the road that the prices were insane I would have gone up a half mile. I really wish the owner of the gas station down the road who has legitimate pricing would buy billboard space right in front of the gas station saying, "Just 1/2 mile down the road you'll find gas for $1.30 less per gallon!" They'd make a killing!!
{"commentId":2160982,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"carlroosevelt"}
- 1 vote
#14 - Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:42 PM EDT{"commentId":2164399,"authorDomain":"wingod"}
{"commentId":2165581,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
I was extremely low on gas one day and pulled in there but by the time I got to the pump and saw the prices it was too late - I needed the gas. If I had been informed at the time of pulling off the road that the prices were insane I would have gone up a half mile.
If you were so low on gas that you couldn't pull out and go that half mile - what makes you think you would have made it anyway? Did you fill up? Personally if I felt I was that low and they were that outrageously expensive I'd have probably put in a dollars worth and gone on to some place cheaper.
It is a free a market. They can charge whatever they want. No one forces you to pay it.
{"commentId":2165581,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2306361,"authorDomain":"oliverstreats"}
The crook that owns this station has been getting away with this for years. There is no defending this guys actions, they are immoral at the very least. Tourist are in a hurry to drop their car off and the last thing they expect after spending a ton of money on vacation, is to be robbed at the gas pump. The state of Florida needs to put 1 law into effect, that would put an end to this guy's scam. They need to make it a law that all gas stations must post their prices on a large sign that can be seen from the road. This station might be the only one in the state without such a sign. There has been many complaints against this station but nothing is ever done to help protect tourist as well as Floridians from this crook.
{"commentId":2306361,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"oliverstreats"}
#15 - Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:21 AM EDT{"commentId":2308711,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
There is no defending this guys actions, they are immoral at the very least
What is immoral about it? Why doesn't this guy have the right to charge what he wants to charge for gas? Nobody forces you to buy it. Heck, he is probably still charging less than what it costs to let the rental company refill it (either that or this is the place they use).
Tourist are in a hurry to drop their car off and the last thing they expect after spending a ton of money on vacation, is to be robbed at the gas pump.
They are not being robbed they are making a choice. They choose not to fill up earlier. They choose to go to a station that doesn't advertise its prices. They choose to fill up after they find out what the prices are. At every step in the process they could make a choice that would take them to a lower cost gas station. Often they don't though because that would inconvenience them. That is fine - your paying for the convenience.
They need to make it a law that all gas stations must post their prices on a large sign that can be seen from the road. This station might be the only one in the state without such a sign.
No they don't. People can choose not to go to the station without the sign. People can choose to pull out without filling up. Nothing forces them to fill up there but their own choices.
There has been many complaints against this station but nothing is ever done to help protect tourist as well as Floridians from this crook.
Neither tourists nor Floridians need protection from this guy. They need to make better choices. Unless this guy is not displaying the price before you fill up or he is displaying an inaccurate price he is not a crook. People need to take responsibility for their choices. You don't like the price? Don't buy it then.
{"commentId":2308711,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2308945,"authorDomain":"wingod"}
{"commentId":2309552,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
What should happen is that the station down the block put up a sign directing people to the cheaper gas at his/her place!!
Somebody probably should.
The other guy is still a douche though and I want to let more and more people know about it.
Like I said before - the guy can charge what he wants. He should charge as much as he possibly can. What I really think is going on though is that he probably has contracts with the rental companies (and perhaps other businesses at the airport) to fill their fleets and charges so much in order to make sure that his supply matches demand.
{"commentId":2309552,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2612367,"authorDomain":"garinwhite"}
I was at this gas station yesterday befor returning my rental car. The price of gas is NOT advertised on a sign. Thank goodness I payed attention before inserting my credit card because the gas is now $5.49, $5.59, and $5.69. I called and reported it to the price gouging hotline. That is outrageous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
{"commentId":2612367,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"garinwhite"}
#16 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:08 PM EDT{"commentId":2612627,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
It is his right to charge what he wants. He isn't required to advertise, only give you the price before you pay. It isn't gouging.
{"commentId":2612627,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2640230,"authorDomain":"s1cooper20"}
I personally think it it totally outrageous for any gas station in that general area to charge that much. By definition though it i not price gouging under Florida law. It does fit the Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary definition for fleecing, 2. b. to charge excessively for goods or services. Although I personally find fleecing immoral and unethical it is no against the law.
{"commentId":2640230,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"s1cooper20"}
- 1 vote
#17 - Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:02 PM EDT{"commentId":2905637,"authorDomain":"gixxer32404"}
see my article
{"commentId":2905637,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"gixxer32404"}
- 1 vote
#18 - Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:55 PM EDT{"commentId":2905755,"authorDomain":"gixxer32404"}
and there was lines to get it at 5.50 a gallon while other nearby stores were like 4.00 a gallon.
{"commentId":2905755,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"gixxer32404"}
- 1 vote
#19 - Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:05 PM EDT{"commentId":2905772,"authorDomain":"gixxer32404"}
Tallahassee craigslist.org rants and raves
{"commentId":2905772,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"gixxer32404"}
- 1 vote
#20 - Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:07 PM EDT{"commentId":4485196,"authorDomain":"ky5q"}
The phone number of Bob Barnes, the owner, is (407) 438-2355. Lets get lots of people calling him to let him know that we are not going to take it any more.
{"commentId":4485196,"threadId":"286185","contentId":"1563856","authorDomain":"ky5q"}
#21 - Thu Dec 18, 2008 10:09 PM EST{"commentId":4486734,"authorDomain":"wingod"}
{"canLink":false,"threadId":"286185","isPrivate":false}
You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.
Start Tracking
Stop TrackingCOMPANY STUFF:
LEGAL STUFF:
- © 2005-2009 Newsvine, Inc. |
- Newsvine® is a registered trademark of Newsvine, Inc. |
- Newsvine is a property of
