Now here's the really interesting added wrinkle to this SCAM: He indicated that he's convinced that these crooks have not only jiggered the pump monetary calculation mechanism but HAVE ALSO TAMPERED WITH THE VOLUMETRIC MECHANISM, CAUSING THE CUSTOMER TO GET FEWER GALLONS THAN THE AMOUNT INDICATED ON THE PUMP!!
The impact of that is, of course, that reading the $ amount on the pump for the first gallon -- EVEN IF IT DOES MATCH THE ADVERTISED PRICE -- WILL NOT SAVE ONE FROM THIS OUTRAGEOUS SCAM!
I suspect this is a nationwide situation and it is time to get the state folks who police these devices to get out there and do their jobs!
PS: We'll be carrying a precisely measured and approved 1 gallon gas can in the car and the first gallon of periodic fill-ups at even our REGULAR station will go into that can, which can will then either be emptied into the vehicle tank or brought home to fill the lawn tractor tank! If we find we're being shorted, we'll IMMEDIATELY be in touch with the state agency tasked with keeping these crooks honest!
“That particular SHELL station was being operated by 2 men from India.”
I wouldn’t be surprised if Muslims would do this and not have one lick of conscience about it. But these were Indians, eh?
Why isn’t this in breaking news?
thx for the heads up....I’m going to keep my eyes open....
This email claim has been going around since 2008.
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/c/Cheating-At-The-Pumps.htm#.VADKQPldV8E
Yeah, right.
Just a guess, but the stations that are most likely to do this would be the independent ones; the stations that have surprisingly low prices (relative to nearby gas stations) I would think.
Do some stations rig the metering on the pump to overstate the actual amount of gas pumped into the car?
I called the local Department of Agriculture (weights and measures division) from my cell phone immediately – waiting for them to show up. They did, some 20 minutes later.
I think they meant “20 days” later...
Check the all beef hot dogs also. It could be someone’s mother.
If you know the amount within ONE TENTH of a gallon and the price is $3.50 a gallon, you’re getting screwed out of 35 cents.
uhhh ok. so you pump 1 gallon according to the pump in to your tank and the price is right...
how do you know the pump gave you exactly 1 gallon and not .9 or .8 gallons??
Life is just to short to sit there with a can measuring the amount you get.
This runs on to big money. The local corner store even in a small town turns $3000 to $4000 a day in fuel and counter sales. Most of it is fuel at usually low margins. A few percent bump from dishonesty is a doubling of profit. I wonder how they reconcile or if they reconcile purchases with sales vs. revenue?
Same thing happened here at a Shell station run by a bunch of Pakistanis. I went to get diesel in a 6 gallon can and put over 7 gallons in it. I went in and told them their pumps were off and they said, no that they were just inspected bla, bla, bla. They came close to ridiculing me.
I called the Texas Dept of Agriculture number on the pump and reported them. TDoA asked if I wanted a call back when they inspected and I said I did. They called back to tell me the pumps had been sealed. Next day the station was back in business. I’ll never shop there again.
These people are as dishonest as they can get away with. I’d say it is common to all but I think dishonesty is a way of life with some society groups. Check. Check the first gallon is one way to look, check the price for a gallon is another. I believe I’ll carry the gas can as you suggest.
Another possible solution is to trade with a big chain and not mom and pop stores. Sorry mom and pop, you are known by the company you keep. Ditto for the major oil companies... you need to police your dealers better.
Another way to check, but after the fact, is to keep track of your fuel economy as an indicator.
The EXXON stations in NE Mississippi are notorious for this little subterfuge. They are owned by a political Democrat family that sometimes masquerades as Republicans.
Weights and Measure showed up in 20 minutes?
Uhmmmmm boo chit...
Was it important to note the operators are Indian?
Fake story...
I assume you are suggesting that you have a gallon container with you to see what the gallon price will be? I would not be surprised that with digital controls the pumps can be programmed to start charge more per gallon AFTER five gallons have been dispensed. Certainly would seem doable to me.
“Now here’s the really interesting added wrinkle to this SCAM: He indicated that he’s convinced that these crooks have not only jiggered the pump monetary calculation mechanism but HAVE ALSO TAMPERED WITH THE VOLUMETRIC MECHANISM, CAUSING THE CUSTOMER TO GET FEWER GALLONS THAN THE AMOUNT INDICATED ON THE PUMP!!”
i have heard that the time of day affects the volume recorded as pumped, as gasoline expands as it warms up. but how any surface temperature may affect the volume of gasoline flowing into the car from a buried tank, i cannot see? there is some sort of caveat on a small label on gas pumps which may speak to this apparent discrepancy, but i cannot recall the wording oft hand.
I have dealt with many Indian business owners. A great deal of them are looking to scam people out of their money.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=94d_1384926750
1 of every 3 Gas Stations in Houston TX Ripping off Drivers
Ummm...they usually rob you by rigging the pump to sell you 0.95 gallons, and call it 1.0 gallon.
Charging a higher price and displaying it on the dial is just stupid.
I track miles driven and gallons put in...and I can tell if a particular fill up didn’t get me good mileage. Its possible I was driving aggressively...but more likely I was cheated at the pump. And I avoid such pumps in the future.