Posted on 12/10/2007 10:08:19 AM PST by John Cena
(AP) Dozens of drivers made a mad rush for cheap gas after a station employee accidentally changed the price to 33 cents a gallon.
An employee closing Trig's Minocqua Shell for the night mistakenly entered the price of a gallon of gasoline as 32.9 cents instead of $3.299 on Monday night.
He left about 10 p.m., but drivers could still use their credit cards to buy gas.
Word of the bargain spread fast in the rural northern Wisconsin community, with 42 people buying 586 gallons of gas in an hour and 45 minutes. One person had pumped 27 gallons and two purchased 18 gallons.
Local police saw the horde at the station and called store manager Andrea Reuland, who went to the station and pushed the emergency stop.
"There were cars two deep at each of my pumps," said Reuland, who knew many of the drivers and told them they were being dishonest _ the main store sign had the correct price.
"I was very upset that there's that many dishonest people," she said. "They knew there was a problem, and they took advantage of an employee's mistake and I think that's terrible."
The employee, who has been there for about six months, had changed the gas prices 25 times in the past six months.
"It was an honest mistake," Reuland said. "I could have done it."
Area residents were still talking about it Friday morning.
"Was it you guys?" a woman in the station asked Reuland. "Why do I always miss the good stuff?"
How many Wisconsin kids will be telling their grandchildren 50 years from now, “I remember when gas only cost 33 cents!”
I would have been there with a pickup full of 55-gallon drums.
Not a bargin, theft.
No, I think it’s a sad commentary. You would think at least one of those folks would have contacted authorities to help the owner out.
Gas station owners have a slim margine. If they don’t get market value for their supply, they won’t have any money to replenish the supply.
This owner could have been put out of business by the people who took advantage of the error. I find that really sad.
But a theft not unlike charging $3.299 for a gallon of gasoline.
dis-honest gain
...imo
Exactly.
Hey folks, the door to the super-market was left open, have I got a deal for you...
Same difference. Those folks were major a—holes!
What do you think she pays for the gas $0.25 cents a gallon?
Come on guy, you know better than that.
This sounds very familiar....let me backcheck a bit
You should complain to your Rat/Rino politicians about the price. Do not blame the owner, refinery, or oil companies.
Imagine if they threw in a free Wii with every fill-up?
Its theft.
If a bank leaves its vaults open over night and someone steals the money, it is still theft.
They should get the credit card numbers and get their money back.
Customers Have Fill-Up Frenzy After Gas Price Mistake ($.002 per gallon)
Couldn’t agree more. Good call!
I hope each one of the motorists find that cheap gas the most expensive gas they ever “purchased.” Hopefully they pulled sediments and gunk into their tanks.
What ever happened to doing what’s right especially when no one is looking?
I hope all of those who filled up will be going into the store to buy the all the things that the owner makes money from in future, if there is a future for the owner.
Ouch!
These people were stealing - period. They ought to be ashamed of themselves.
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