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Author	Topic: Cash or Credit Price.	Topic is locked Back to Topics

KathyWess Rookie Author Michigan Posts:2 Points:1,290 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Oct 9, 2011 2:11:49 AM Ignore KathyWess Report Abuse New at GasBuddy, and haven't searched for this subject. It's very difficult to make a judgment call if we are unknowingly comparing Credit against Cash. I always enter Credit price and notate the Cash amt in the comment box - but that isn't seen on the listing screen. Btw, the wide range of mark-ups between the two are insane. Why would the Credit price be more at the C/C place than the one who only change one price regardless? It's illogical. Like BP's prices might be 3.27/3.39 while Speedway is 3.31 regardless. I won't go to any station which does the C/C bit! Having a button or something to indicate Cash or Credit pricing would be helpful.

KathyWess

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Michigan

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Message Posted: Oct 9, 2011 2:11:49 AM

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New at GasBuddy, and haven't searched for this subject. It's very difficult to make a judgment call if we are unknowingly comparing Credit against Cash. I always enter Credit price and notate the Cash amt in the comment box - but that isn't seen on the listing screen.

Btw, the wide range of mark-ups between the two are insane. Why would the Credit price be more at the C/C place than the one who only change one price regardless? It's illogical. Like BP's prices might be 3.27/3.39 while Speedway is 3.31 regardless. I won't go to any station which does the C/C bit!

Having a button or something to indicate Cash or Credit pricing would be helpful.

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Don Moderator	Message Posted: Aug 27, 2012 4:02:59 PM Ignore Don Report Abuse The suggestions are being considered, as for when something like this will be implemented, it's hard to say. For the time being, please refer to your local area level price posting guidelines or the FAQ for more info.
Snardly Rookie Author West Virginia Posts:30 Points:13,000 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 27, 2012 3:50:39 AM Ignore Snardly Report Abuse "The major issue with implementing a cash and credit price reporting system now over top of everything is that, because a "dual-price reporting system" was not how the sites were originally designed nor intended for, the developers would essentially be re-doing the site and apps in regards to how prices are taken in, recorded, stored, and organized for display." All that is requited is an Icon or something to indicate it the price shown is the cash price or Credit price, not both prices. Very simple. I get pissed when I go to a station and the gas buddy price was for cash only. It is extra work to write in the details if it is the cash price which discourages people from posting.
ambius Rookie Author Flint Posts:81 Points:237,090 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2012 8:30:53 PM Ignore ambius Report Abuse Don, thank you for the detailed insight. 1st - I heard someone say the GB policy has changed to posting cash now? I like this but was never informed. comunicate better!! In fact, integrate this policy onto the price reporting window of both the web and the apps. A few words are an extremely-easy-to-implement visual change that will help the community a lot. Don't get it? I can photoshop an example. quick & easy fix #2 add a 2nd set of boxes for us to report credit prices or surcharges. if reporter leaves this blank: nothing happens. If filled in, the system will store the information as a comment for that grade along with brief text to explain the numbers. This idea would require no changes to the database or any of the systems that display prices, only a few very small changes to the reporting system.
Snardly Rookie Author West Virginia Posts:30 Points:13,000 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2012 6:19:59 AM Ignore Snardly Report Abuse RE:Message Posted: May 3, 2012 3:40:15 PM This is a very high level priority. Just because we aren't responding here doesn't mean we aren't listening. We are. This is something that we are doing, but it is VERY difficult to implement. Ideas? <hr> Yes, Hire somebody with the smarts and quit stringing us along.
procky Rookie Author New Jersey Posts:1 Points:120 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 9:50:04 AM Ignore procky Report Abuse Just signed up, looked at your FAQ, and immediately noticed that GasBuddy doesn't differentiate between cash and credit prices. It says you can enter a comment, but it's not required. In my area of Morris County NJ, about 1/2 of all stations charge more for credit, and the surcharge varies very widely. Even within individual brands, there's no consistency. Since I use credit and GasBuddy doesn't reliably tell me which stations differentiate, the app is virtually useless; there's no sense in driving a mile out of my way to discover that the actual credit price at that station is 50c more/gal than GasBuddy's quote. I asked friends and neighbors who had tried GasBuddy how they dealt with this, and all had uninstalled it from their phones. I'd love to be able to use GasBuddy, but you need to provide surcharge data before it will be of use to us. I, too will remove GB from my phone for now, but I hope you'll let me know if/when you are able to provide surcharge information!
CampKohler Champion Author Sacramento Posts:9,470 Points:1,564,205 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 3:10:54 AM Ignore CampKohler Report Abuse One more small twig on the single-price method: The absolute prices are really unimportant in and of themselves, because everyone is going to buy gas no matter what the price is. The real purpose for the prices is to compare vendors to see who is cheapest. Users can do that with cash as well as they can with credit pricing.
kwzh Champion Author San Jose Posts:20,671 Points:3,686,550 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 10:27:44 PM Ignore kwzh Report Abuse Don, thanks for the update. Let me remind you that adding an MSL flag for dual-pricing (and for cash-only, and members-only) is almost certainly going to be something you'll want to have eventually, and there are some good reasons for going ahead and implementing this minor step right away.
CampKohler Champion Author Sacramento Posts:9,470 Points:1,564,205 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 1:09:38 PM Ignore CampKohler Report Abuse Don: Thank you very much for taking the time to fill us in such detail. We hear so little of what is really going on, that perhaps we make our suggestions without the light of reality. Reading of all the complexities involved, it seems to me that easiest solution is to remain with a single-price method for the basic operation of the system, i.e. cash. Then place on top of that a translation to what people may wish to see in addition, namely credit prices. If a cash-credit differential could be added FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY, then (in addition to the code to store the differential), only that code which displays the data would need to be modified. If a differential field were to be added, even it took much longer to modify the displays of all devices, we could start inputting the differential now to be ready for its use later. Searches would function the same as the now do, except that the displayed results would be as the user chooses: cash or credit. If the diff field was zero, credit and cash prices would be the same. If a diff field was not entered on a price report, no credit prices would be produced; instead cash prices would be displayed with the caveat, "No credit prices are available at this time. The differential field for this station needs updating." The keys to making this work are: 1) Everyone must understand the principle behind it, i.e cash + diff = credit. 2) Members must realize that reporting the differential would be as important as the prices themselves. In Canada, if the diff field remained blank and nobody requested credit displays, it would be a non-issue to them. In all cases, the default type of display could be a profile choice, with optional per-search override. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Don Moderator	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 12:17:19 PM Ignore Don Report Abuse There is no definitive timeline as to when such a feature will be included, but it has been discussed numerous times. From what I understand there is a lucky developer making their toward the task of sitting down and sweating this one out. As kwzh has mentioned, the solution will need to be subtle, be integrated properly and be very well organized. The major issue with implementing a cash and credit price reporting system now over top of everything is that, because a "dual-price reporting system" was not how the sites were originally designed nor intended for, the developers would essentially be re-doing the site and apps in regards to how prices are taken in, recorded, stored, and organized for display. Furthermore it is important that it be done in a away that does not affect Canadian mobile app/mobile web/full web users as cash/credit prices are rarely if not ever encountered in Canadian areas, and the Canadian users make up large population of the user base. There is another drawback wherein the applications are tied into the websites, which calls for redesigning both full web and mobile platforms to make the two consistent. On top of this, the sites all share a similar 'base code'. Because all the sites and mobile sites are built off of a 'base code', it wouldn't be quite as simple as just adding something like a check box, it would require some reconstructing (and that's what a lot of people overlook, a check box is just a check box to most, it's what's behind the check box where all the work goes) to make sure that United States users can use the new system with ease in a clean, user friendly fashion, and the Canadian users aren't pestered or turned away by a price reporting system that does not affect them. A lot of users wonder why GasBuddy hasn't looked at attempting something with this sooner, but in the past we had used the Weekly Opinion Poll to see how many people paid for fuel using cash and credit cards, or which areas have stations that offer these price difference. Among the results we gathered, ultimately at the time what we found was that not all areas offer Cash and Credit prices, and that there were actually only a few very vocal areas hard-pressing the issue. This is partially why Cash/Credit reporting hadn't been integrated into GasBuddy any earlier. I realize that things may be different now, I wouldn't be surprised if the same questions previously asked before were brought up once again, but if you are interested you can see the previous poll results that I am referring to Here (2008) and Here (2009). Whatever the outcome a Cash/Credit price might be, we appreciate your support and concern, and thank you for your patience. [Edited by: Don at 8/14/2012 3:20:21 PM EST]
kwzh Champion Author San Jose Posts:20,671 Points:3,686,550 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 2:26:19 AM Ignore kwzh Report Abuse 5150windsurfer, it's a known problem and the folks in charge have said that they're working on it. The actual fix will have to be more subtle than "add a checkbox", though.
5150windsurfer Rookie Author Washington Posts:4 Points:63,230 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 7:14:21 PM Ignore 5150windsurfer Report Abuse After driving out of my way last week to buy cheaper fuel from a statioin that historically lists credit price on their signs, I found that the price listed on GasBuddy was their cash price instead. Being nearly empty, I fueled up with the more expensive gas (credit price) that was out of my way. I would've actually saved money if I had not used GasBuddy. I understand that people can denote cash price in the comments field, but very few do. I think it would be nice if GasBuddy could update their site to include a checkbox beside the update box for price, that would denote cash price or credit price. The default position should be credit price, as that is what most people pay. I believe more people would use a checkbox for cash price rather than trying to type it into the comments box.
saluki2011 Sophomore Author Florida Posts:110 Points:310,535 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 12:23:53 AM Ignore saluki2011 Report Abuse I post cash prices and in the comments area I'll write "Credit/debit 5 cents more"
20Yoleven Champion Author New Jersey Posts:5,848 Points:828,755 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Aug 9, 2012 6:00:02 AM Ignore 20Yoleven Report Abuse Yeah guys, it was. But hey--I'm right 97% of the time; Who cares about the other 4%? ;]
kwzh Champion Author San Jose Posts:20,671 Points:3,686,550 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:40:55 PM Ignore kwzh Report Abuse Rest assured, it was.
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:81,383 Points:3,256,545 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 5:40:38 AM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse "This makes 'perfect' sense, as nearly 14% of consumers are still using cash to purchase fuel." I'm hoping this was said in jest.
20Yoleven Champion Author New Jersey Posts:5,848 Points:828,755 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 4:51:55 AM Ignore 20Yoleven Report Abuse As of somewhere around February this year, GB changed its 'preference' of primary price posting to the CASH price. This makes 'perfect' sense, as nearly 14% of consumers are still using cash to purchase fuel. As for myself, I fall into the 'minority' that uses a card (always debit), so I always post the ACTUAL card price in the Comments line, if applicable. Posting the actual spotted price, as opposed to "credit 8¢ more", etc., is, I feel more helpful, as stations occasionally raise or lower this 'fee'. If the price is the same (cash or credit), I furnish that 411. And that is MY solution until GB gets the dual-pricing software up & running... ;}
fittofill Rookie Author New York Posts:1 Points:43,620 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Aug 2, 2012 7:20:49 AM Ignore fittofill Report Abuse i would like a separate delineation for cash vs credit too.
AmiraMelody Rookie Author San Jose Posts:1 Points:1,245 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Jul 30, 2012 10:48:46 AM Ignore AmiraMelody Report Abuse I definitely agree on this topic. I was just about to post my own and then saw this feed. I have gone to a seeimingly cheaper station and paid with credit, then found out that it was .45 more expensive because I wasn't paying cash, which made it more expensive than the station I chose it over. It would be helpful if there was another checkbox for this
awj223 Rookie Author San Jose Posts:6 Points:278,770 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Jul 29, 2012 12:07:50 PM Ignore awj223 Report Abuse @kwzh: But the problem is not doing ANYTHING about this issue is also worse than useless. Even the official FAQ says "The Comments field may be used to include a note about cash/credit prices, but this is not required." If it is NOT required to note a credit price difference, then this makes the site nearly worse than useless for me, unless I KNOW that a station does NOT charge separate cash/credit prices. Several times, I have pulled up to a station, only to find that the price listed was cash only. Because I get 3% cash back with my credit card, this ends up being effectively more expensive to me than another station with a higher price. Want to make things even more confusing? Yesterday, in Kahului, I saw a station that listed E-0 gasoline (ethanol-free) for 10 cents per gallon more than the price of regular. How the heck do you indicate THAT on Gasbuddy? As many people know, ethanol contains a lower energy content per unit volume than gasoline, so if you're buying fuel blended with ethanol, you're being ripped off. [Edited by: awj223 at 7/29/2012 3:13:26 PM EST]
Scrapheap Champion Author Virginia Posts:14,567 Points:2,362,000 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jul 29, 2012 5:55:12 AM Ignore Scrapheap Report Abuse Do you actually believe they are working on this?
kwzh Champion Author San Jose Posts:20,671 Points:3,686,550 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Jul 29, 2012 2:11:54 AM Ignore kwzh Report Abuse Sure, it can be done. The trouble is, doing it right is going to be a nontrivial change, for reasons that have already been discussed in other threads. And doing it wrong is worse than useless. They've said that they're working on it. Let's hope they're taking the time to do it right.
PuddinPal Champion Author California Posts:3,441 Points:674,290 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jul 29, 2012 12:37:12 AM Ignore PuddinPal Report Abuse I can not believe that a service as big as GasBuddy can not make a program fix or upgrade that would solve this problem. I have done a fair amount of traveling and tried to use GasBuddy to locate the cheapest gas prices in and area that I am not familiar with. It is very disappointing to travel several miles to take advantage of a lower price only to be confronted with the old cash/credit differential thing. It would be so easy to add a ballot box or two to the price posting screens so that one could indicate weather or not the prices were cash/credit. Come on GasBuddy team, you guys are too big and to good not to be able to get a handle on this problem.
jferrara41 All-Star Author Pennsylvania Posts:598 Points:110,665 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jul 28, 2012 9:38:51 PM Ignore jferrara41 Report Abuse I have been posting cash prices.
DeeMamma88 Veteran Author San Bernardino Posts:352 Points:285,105 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 8:34:27 AM Ignore DeeMamma88 Report Abuse What do most people post? I usually post the cash price (cheaper).
Snardly Rookie Author West Virginia Posts:30 Points:13,000 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 7:05:24 AM Ignore Snardly Report Abuse So, what is being done to fix this problem? Snardley
Mandrake All-Star Author Alabama Posts:502 Points:2,214,405 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 3:31:18 PM Ignore Mandrake Report Abuse From GasBuddy's FAQ: gasbuddy.com/faq.aspx#16 Item #16 Q: Do I post the cash price, or the credit price? A: Differences in Cash/credit prices are common in some areas as a result of stations needing to offset the additional costs of these transactions. GasBuddy's goal is to help everyone make wise fueling decisions. When reporting prices for stations in areas that have different prices based on method of payment, we ask that you post the cash price where it exists. If the station does not offer a cash price, the standard price should be reported. The Comments field may be used to include a note about cash/credit prices, but this is not required. --------------- Keep in mind, there is a big difference between "discounts" and the business of credit vs. cash price. That's addressed in Item #15 of the FAQ. This policy was changed in recent months, where the preferred posting was the "credit" price.
saluki2011 Sophomore Author Florida Posts:110 Points:310,535 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jun 19, 2012 9:23:59 AM Ignore saluki2011 Report Abuse I have also settled on posting cash prices and then noting in the "Comments" Credit or Debit cards 6¢ more per gallon all grades. "Different credit/debit pricing in effect" Perhaps a check box for " If box is checked off then another box that would be normally grayed out would active. "Price difference: Different credit/debit pricing in effect? checkbox here, y/n Additional cost for use of credit/debit all grades: 5¢ My apologies if someone else has already suggested something like this. [Edited by: saluki2011 at 6/19/2012 12:26:36 PM EST]
2011370Z Champion Author Phoenix Posts:6,003 Points:686,005 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 3, 2012 4:49:24 PM Ignore 2011370Z Report Abuse I post the cash price and note the addional cents for credit. How about we post both, if available at the station, or have an auto note for dual price stations?
gaspricepasser Champion Author Miami Posts:3,964 Points:510,290 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jun 3, 2012 11:32:26 AM Ignore gaspricepasser Report Abuse Just a cash/credit button that you could press when inputting prices, that would leave a flag or some other notation indicating dual pricing, would be sufficient.
TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,570 Points:371,830 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 31, 2012 7:20:36 PM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse Although I would rather be pleasantly surprised than unpleasantly surprised, the fact is that in many states the stations do not have to post both cash and credit prices. Therefore, the price posted by GB members tends to be the CASH price at the dual priced stations. Even with comments, we will usually not know what the price differential as most posters will not be pulling up to the pump at each station they pass. The most that GB alone can do to assist is to allow durable comments that are not lost when someone updates a price and is too lazy to add a comment, or better, to put a durable flag that is tied to the MSL. At least then we will know we are taking our chances when we pull off the hwy for one of these stations. Thus far, I have been able to beat the cash discount price either directly, or indirectly with y PF 5% cash back card. That said, I know that might not be the case if I were traveling in say -- Long Island, or elsewhere. So, come on Gas Buddy - throw the 80% or so that use plastic a bone!
TH34 Champion Author Baltimore Posts:4,217 Points:2,266,655 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 31, 2012 6:13:29 PM Ignore TH34 Report Abuse That is why comments are needed. I always post comments when I post my prices. Many people do not so it is a crap shoot as to what you are going to pay. I know my own area well enough that I know what I am looking for but with price spreads of up to 10 cents a gallon, I would prefer to be shocked by the lower price than the higher when traveling in an unfamiliar area. Not only that; what percentage of gas buyers actually pay cash today when it costs upwards of $50 to fill up an economy car? Most people probably pay with a credit or a debit card. And one more reason is to pay at the pump you need some kind of card. I have yet to see a pump that takes cash. This site is the best thing around but due to the greedy nature of the gasoline stations, banks or oil companies the prices on here are not even close to accurate without knowing whether the price is cash or credit and how much the difference is.
Gas_Buddy Champion Author Maryland Posts:25,991 Points:3,036,990 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: May 31, 2012 5:26:26 PM Ignore Gas_Buddy Report Abuse TH34: "For all those people who are traveling: What would you rather see. A credit price posted and if you are going to pay with cash get a discount? Or would you prefer to pull off the freeway and find out the price is 8¢ more per gallon than you than expected?" But what if I'm simply looking for the lowest price? Why should I drive to a gas station that, in fact, has a lower price, but I wouldn't know about the lower price unless I pulled into this gas station hoping to be surprised that there might be a lower price, passing up a cash-listed station that was in fact a little lower than the credit card station which didn't surprise me with it's non-existant cash discount? Sorry, but I can see both sides of the issue and, while I don't expect a quick solution, I'll wait for Gas Buddy's eventual update.
TH34 Champion Author Baltimore Posts:4,217 Points:2,266,655 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 31, 2012 5:13:35 PM Ignore TH34 Report Abuse For all those people who are traveling: What would you rather see. A credit price posted and if you are going to pay with cash get a discount? Or would you prefer to pull off the freeway and find out the price is 8¢ more per gallon than you expected?
tdioiler All-Star Author Detroit Posts:895 Points:422,375 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 7:12:52 AM Ignore tdioiler Report Abuse So, just like the confussing prices relations between stations and cost of oil, the fuel companies win again by all the pricing signage. Got wait till ya' hit the pump, literally! SCREW THE CONSUMER! (their slogan, not mine)
TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,570 Points:371,830 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 3:28:15 AM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse "Until we have the infrastructure to support dual-pricing, it really doesn't matter whether cash or credit is "primary". " Even then, we still have a problem beyond GB - signage. Unfortunately, at least where I live, the signs rarely ever give information on both cash and credit price. Fortunately, the majority still are single mode stations and the state does require a "notice" on the sign (small) that their price is cash/specific card. But, if they would do the durable flag on the MSL, at least we know the risk of getting off at a particular exit for a "low" price. Folks will (especially with the APs) will post what they see from the street with the exception of when they actually have to fill their tanks. And, if that sign only has the cash and regular price (such as many stations around me) the data available is limited.
kwzh Champion Author San Jose Posts:20,671 Points:3,686,550 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:15:02 PM Ignore kwzh Report Abuse Until we have the infrastructure to support dual-pricing, it really doesn't matter whether cash or credit is "primary".
TH34 Champion Author Baltimore Posts:4,217 Points:2,266,655 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 4:49:30 AM Ignore TH34 Report Abuse I have become resigned to the fact that gas buddy prices will leave a lot more guess work than I had hoped. Since I don't travel much by car, I do much more posting than I do looking prices up. I had really hoped for some kind of solution to the ambiguity of these prices listed by now. I still believe the primary post should be the credit price.
TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,570 Points:371,830 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 5, 2012 9:46:58 AM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse A town in Michigan just froze over on May 4th! ;-) A post from a particular poster that I 1) agree with, and 2) is not jabbing at someone else. I agree that the first step of the solution is check or radio buttons on the MSL so at least we can weigh our options on the dual price stations. Doesn't fully solve the problem but the full solution would take more than just GB programming changes, but regulations requiring stations to post the price differential for cash/credit dual price stations. Folks can only post what is on the sign and just knowing cash/credit dual price status does not allow credit card users to know best price - just that they take a risk of being hit by a larger than expected price differential at that dual mode station.
TH34 Champion Author Baltimore Posts:4,217 Points:2,266,655 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 5, 2012 6:05:21 AM Ignore TH34 Report Abuse There seem to be a lot of good suggestions here. Hopefully something will come of this soon. With the price differential varying all over the place between cash / credit; the fact there is no way to know which price was posted, any indication of what the price might be would be better than what we have now. However, with all that said, kudos to the GB group for making this one of the most useful sites on the web.
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:81,383 Points:3,256,545 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 8:19:35 AM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse If there was check boxes or radio buttons on the MSL that tied to the posting of the station, that would make it even better!
Scrapheap Champion Author Virginia Posts:14,567 Points:2,362,000 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 7:10:00 AM Ignore Scrapheap Report Abuse PD - Thanks for showing that there may be some interest on the part of the moderators on this issue. I believe there is a problem in your approach for a couple of reasons. There are several threads both here in SWSI and TBTU about cash vs credit. Most of this is about a preference for cash or credit prices being posted. All but one of them should be closed so all the discussion is in 1 thread. For the most part, these threads have nothing to do with solving the actual problem but is more of a years long debate of which should be posted. As to solving the problem, an idea that could help alleviate the problem in the short term and shouldn't be that difficult to implement is to provide a "Cash Price" check box on the app. If someone checks it, a "Cash Price" comment is added. As for a longer term solution, I would like you to comment on the suggestion I made in this thread.
TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,570 Points:371,830 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 8:45:40 PM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse I think this is something that is hard to solve not from the software side, but from the human side. In my area the stations are not forced to post the credit price (as I understand they are in CA) BUT, they are required to post a sign showing that it is a cash or brand card price. So lately I see new signage going up. Many stations are going to just posting the regular grade and putting the cash discount note in a little bar w/in the sign rather than a sign that is tacked on the side and easy to see. With the AP folks are posting as they drive - bad idea - and are only catching the signs as they glimpse the sign and check their lane and then their SP to enter the price. They don't notice or care about the cash vs credit pricing, but about the next award level. Many of the APs users are younger and grew up with games and points and they are more into the game than the value of the site (IMHO - and obviously not ALL APs users). So - what to do? I think starting with the flag for MSL would help on the short term while a better mouse trap is worked out. Additionally, I would like to know why the change was not announced to the membership as we now have folks posting under two sets of rules. For those that find stations with huge differences between cash and credit, (like the dollar difference someone reported) I suggest complaining to your card and -as much as I hate saying this - your state regulators. I hate state/federal interference, but must admit I like that Cali requires credit to be posted.
yuckandmuck Champion Author Worcester Posts:2,417 Points:716,635 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 8:35:22 PM Ignore yuckandmuck Report Abuse Thanks, PD, for the reassurance that GB is listening! Implementing any sort of change that provides all the desired info (cash/credit/discount, plus offset data, etc), and yet, does not make it unduly difficult for the more casual spotter to enter prices, certainly presents a challenge. Perhaps an incremental first step might be doing something like you mentioned. e.g. Adding a set of MSL-based check boxes, indicating less specific price-related things like: 1) station has separate prices for cash/credit 2) station is cash only 3) station offers other discounts (member, points, etc) That way, even if the spotter did not indicate which price he/she entered, at least users would know that there's a possibility that the price on GB may not be available with credit. As a credit user, if I'm traveling in an unfamiliar area and don't feel like risking a wasted stop, I might avoid stations with notation #1 above, regardless of the price listed on GB. As far as the app goes, adding this info to the "Features" section of the station page would probably be sufficient. Looks like plenty of scrollable room there at the bottom. Maybe also add a little asterisk next to the price on the listing page (or a different color/italics/etc font for the price), indicating that one or more of those price-related indicators above is set on the Features page for a given station. That might at least prompt users to go look at the Features page to see if any of the price-related indicators are of concern to them. A more robust reporting mechanism that handles separate cash/credit indicators, deltas, etc, would certainly be ideal, but more general indicators like the suggestion above would certainly be helpful (and hopefully easier to design/implement in the short term).
98BlueVette Champion Author New Jersey Posts:14,277 Points:2,625,600 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 7:04:52 PM Ignore 98BlueVette Report Abuse If I might make a suggestion... to post a price for any grade at any station... TWO boxes cash and credit MUST be filled out to post a gas price (if same price, just put the price in both boxes) This will make it possible for Gas Buddy to compare if he/her wishes to pay in cash or pay with a credit card if his/her card provides a greater discount with a % rebate or rewards of his/her choice. By making it mandatory, this eleminates the need for a Gas Buddy to add a note (notes could be used for the extra rewards gas stations may provide, store discounts, car wash discount, any other purchase discounts).
PD Moderator	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 4:28:46 PM Ignore PD Report Abuse We've thought of that before, perhaps adding an entry to the MSL because not ALL stations have separate prices. Entry in MSL would ask if there are different prices for credit/cash/debit. The difficulty isn't necessarily with the website, its implementing on the app. We continue to brainstorm, listening for suggestions. Snardly, if you don't have any idea on how to implement it, etc, you clearly realize the difficulty we're having with tackling this too. There is such a wide variety of prices, street sign prices, pump prices, cash discounts, store discounts, car wash discount, additional purchase discount- eventually we have to draw the line.
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:81,383 Points:3,256,545 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 4:18:51 PM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse Ideas? Sure! Check boxes or radio buttons for cash/credit/both for each grade. Credit price takes priority and the cash discount MUST be listed in the comments. Cash would only be used for cash only stations. Both would be used for single priced stations. [Edited by: scoutmaster at 5/3/2012 7:20:53 PM EST]
Snardly Rookie Author West Virginia Posts:30 Points:13,000 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 1:21:03 PM Ignore Snardly Report Abuse I appreciate the comments. Now I know the topic is not being ignored. There are at least two threads on this topic going back over a year. I have no idea of how to implement it. Maybe some more check boxes at the top of the form like the ones that say regular mid grade etc. Or radio buttons where you can only choose one option. Maybe some icons could appear in the report to indicate it is cash only, credit card or discount card like my Safeway Club Card that gives me a $.03 per gallon discount. I don't report a lot of prices because I get gas on the way to somewhere and by the time I return home to my computer, the price is already 8 hours old at least and will disappear in 4 hours so I don't see the great benefit to others. I do appreciate Gas Buddy. It has saved me $. [Edited by: Snardly at 5/3/2012 4:23:22 PM EST]
PD Moderator	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 12:40:15 PM Ignore PD Report Abuse This is a very high level priority. Just because we aren't responding here doesn't mean we aren't listening. We are. This is something that we are doing, but it is VERY difficult to implement. Ideas?
Gas_Buddy Champion Author Maryland Posts:25,991 Points:3,036,990 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 11:25:27 AM Ignore Gas_Buddy Report Abuse Snardly: "This suggestion is evidently being ignored." Just because a suggestion isn't implemented doesn't mean it's being ignored. Though it is interesting that the person starting the thread/making the suggestion, in the more than six months since starting the thread, is still at 2 message posts/1,290 points. Is non-participation because the ideas wasn't implemented?Seriously, while many members have suggested or thought that the price posting options needs to be revised in light of the growing number of cash only gas stations, or dual pricing at gas stations, and because many members either can't or refuse to properly post price or provide pricing differential information in the comments sections, the "wide range of mark-ups between" cash and credit prices is not, as KathyWess suggested they are, insane. Each station determines and sets it's pricing based on it's individual operating costs. That, in her words, "Like BP's prices might be 3.27/3.39 while Speedway is 3.31 regardless", is entirely irrelevant. No one here knows how the stations determined the way to cover their operating costs, nor do they know the operating costs to begin with, nor does anyone here know the ratio of cash to credit to debit payment customers. If you don't like the idea that a gas station sells at different prices for different forms of payment, so be it. Don't shop there. But then at least be consistent, and if the dual priced or tiered station is selling for less (whether it's for cash or credit or debit), don't buy at that station when it's lower priced than a single priced station. Keep your values; pay more if necessary; just keep your values by being consistent. But until all gas stations have the same operating costs that they have to cover, and all receive the same (proportionate) return, until all gas stations pay the same wholesale price, etc., then prices can and will vary, just as they do at other stores. But wouldn't it be nice if KathyWess gave us her opinion, based on what people commented regarding her original post?
Snardly Rookie Author West Virginia Posts:30 Points:13,000 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 5:59:33 AM Ignore Snardly Report Abuse This suggestion is evidently being ignored. There needs to be an indication, a box to be checked or radio buttons to show whether the reported price is with a discount card, a cash only price or a credit card price. Otherwise the person reporting has to type it in the notes which requires extra effort. This extra effort causes some people to either not enter it into the notes or not report the price at all. I would like to see some comments from whomever is supposed to be reading these suggestions.