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Author	Topic: CHANGE GB POLICY TO REPORT CREDIT PRICES	Topic is locked Back to Topics

Larry76 Rookie Author Sacramento Posts:16 Points:287,520 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Nov 2, 2012 11:20:48 PM Ignore Larry76 Report Abuse The following GB FAQ Answer wants the lower CASH prices to be reported, when GB policy should be to report CREDIT prices. Past opinion polls show 82% of GB members use credit cards, not cash, to pay for gas. And the majority of credit card users receive a rebate. Credit card Rebates make the net cost of credit prices LOWER than CASH prices. Thus, the majority of GB members are being ignored by GB policy to favor the 16% who pay with cash. Stations that require cash only payments dominate the featured stations charging the lowest GROSS price, while omitting the lowest NET cost stations that sell at low credit prices on which 5% rebates can be earned on some credit cards like PenFed and Sallie Mae. Why does GB require reporting the lower CASH prices of the minority of stations that post cash prices when the high majority of members use rebate credit cards at the majority of stations that post only credit prices??? Helping members make wise gas purchases includes teaching them the advantages of using the highest rebate credit cards at stations posting the lowest credit prices because that makes the NET cost of gas less than the hassle of paying cash prices. Q: Do I post the cash price, or the credit price? Show Answer Link to This 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.

Larry76

Rookie Author
Sacramento

Posts:16
Points:287,520
Joined:Jan 2010

Message Posted: Nov 2, 2012 11:20:48 PM

Ignore Larry76 Report Abuse

The following GB FAQ Answer wants the lower CASH prices to be reported, when GB policy should be to report CREDIT prices. Past opinion polls show 82% of GB members use credit cards, not cash, to pay for gas. And the majority of credit card users receive a rebate. Credit card Rebates make the net cost of credit prices LOWER than CASH prices. Thus, the majority of GB members are being ignored by GB policy to favor the 16% who pay with cash. Stations that require cash only payments dominate the featured stations charging the lowest GROSS price, while omitting the lowest NET cost stations that sell at low credit prices on which 5% rebates can be earned on some credit cards like PenFed and Sallie Mae. Why does GB require reporting the lower CASH prices of the minority of stations that post cash prices when the high majority of members use rebate credit cards at the majority of stations that post only credit prices??? Helping members make wise gas purchases includes teaching them the advantages of using the highest rebate credit cards at stations posting the lowest credit prices because that makes the NET cost of gas less than the hassle of paying cash prices.
Q: Do I post the cash price, or the credit price? Show Answer Link to This
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.

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,517 Points:366,280 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Nov 9, 2012 8:33:47 PM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse "Because cash and credit pricing does not affect all areas throughout Canada and the United States," That is exactly why we need the durable flag - so as we travel, we are forewarned. I pretty much no which stations are dual priced in my local area.
Don Moderator	Message Posted: Nov 8, 2012 4:02:09 PM Ignore Don Report Abuse Because cash and credit pricing does not affect all areas throughout Canada and the United States, there is no definitive timeline that we can give you as to when such a feature will become available. For information on how to properly report Cash and Credit pricing using GasBuddy, please see the FAQ. -Don
TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,517 Points:366,280 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Nov 6, 2012 6:56:40 PM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse @Don But Don, it is not as simple as the cash price being the lowest. Without any specific membership, just one of many credit cards, folks can beat the cash price. I have no problem with the principle of the posting of the cash price, but less because it is the lowest, but because it is the most likely to be posted as it is what is on the curb sign (excluding California). BUT, it would be really helpful to have a durable flag tied to MSL that indicates these dual priced stations. That way, when I am traveling and may not have access to my ATM and don't want to carry a bunch of cash that could be stolen, I can still make informed decisions to go with the KNOWN price of a single priced station than risking a big CC surcharge like was being reported in LI earlier this year. If I am on the expressway between point A and point Z and know I will need gas somewhere between point D and E to be able to make it to Z, I don't want to get to E and find that it is significantly more due to DUAL pricing than if I had stopped at D. I would rather pay a known X at D than get to E and that the X-2 is really X+11 with CC.
Don Moderator	Message Posted: Nov 6, 2012 6:16:09 PM Ignore Don Report Abuse GasBuddy was originally developed to help users share the lowest fuel prices in their community. With this in mind it was decided that, in areas where cash and credit prices exist, the cash price should be reported over the credit price. This is mainly because in areas where cash and credit prices are applicable, the cash price is the lowest price that does not require a membership or discount card, which makes cash prices the lowest price available to everyone. -Don
TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,517 Points:366,280 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Nov 3, 2012 11:03:34 PM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse So gary49er - Not everyone lives in California where you all apparently have both prices posted at the curb. In most of the country, it is the lowest price posted at the street. In places that have dual pricing, that would be the CASH price. Most people report prices they gather as they drive because they do not fill up their tank every day. Therefore, when posting the street posted price, in most places in the country they would be posting the CASH price. GB - we need a durable flag tied to the MSL to indicate DUAL priced stations. [Edited by: TxJeans at 11/3/2012 11:04:04 PM EST]
gary49er Rookie Author Los Angeles Posts:1 Points:586,570 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Nov 3, 2012 9:22:51 PM Ignore gary49er Report Abuse I vote vote credit price. It's a bummer to drive to a station to find it has a 10 cent cash discount and you only have credit! We should report the price as credit and and a note saying 10 cent cash discount
CampKohler Champion Author Sacramento Posts:9,443 Points:1,561,955 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Nov 3, 2012 7:05:18 PM Ignore CampKohler Report Abuse This suggestion has been added to the Suggestion Tracking List as a new topic for an existing subject.
TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,517 Points:366,280 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Nov 3, 2012 1:51:30 PM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse Gas_Buddy said "My view of the "GB POLICY TO REPORT CREDIT PRICES" is fairly simple; posted prices should be the lowest commonly accepted price (which in any case is cash, even if cash and credit are the same); that people prefer to pay by credit is a different issue than "Do you want to pay the lowest price possible for fuel, or do you want to pay the most convenient price possible for fuel?" Credit and debit card holders have the option of paying the lowest price or the most convenient price." I think I have been very clear in stating that GB changed the FAQ to CASH and that CASH makes more sense on several levels - since I have yet to find a dual priced station that posts the CREDIT price rather than the CASH price (at least in MY travels). And, the LOWEST price for us CC users (Pen Fed, Sallie Mae, and others) is often the CREDIT price at the HIGHER listed station down the road. Yep - CITGO 3.27 CASH (have no idea how much higher for credit) and RACETRAC right next door 3.28 for CASH/CREDIT, but add in my 5% cash back (I pay my bills in full - no annual fee, no interest) so - the HIGHER cash priced station is actually the LOWER price for me. [However, the cash price at the CITGO is rarely less than the posted cash/credit price at the Racetrac next door which is brightly lit and easier ingress and egress, and better store if you use the convenience store (I don't generally)]. I also stated that I understand why the CREDIT card users are not happy but that they still won't get the consistently correct information if/when GB gives us two sets of fields due to the signage issue and most reporting from the "street". The OP was stating the policy should be to report CREDIT and I was trying to point out the LOGIC of the CASH reporting change since it is the CASH price posted at the street price board. The OP also mentioned that the majority of GB members pay with Credit Cards. This may be true in a global sense, but in areas that are heavily dominated by Dual Priced stations (as I understand some communities are), they may find that most pay cash - I don't think that analysis has been done here. Are the CC users still using CC over cash because they can, like me, meet or beat the cash price, or would they still pay premium to use their card if it became more difficult to beat that CASH price? "However, this topic has been (and is still being) discussed in multiple topics. I'm not sure if this topic is doing anything but diluting the other topics. However, that's just my opinion. " As far as multiple topics, GB can be blamed in part with their archaic forum software and lack of moderation. The MODS have the choice of locking overlapping threads - they have done so on other topics. You seem to do a lot of criticizing other posters for their posts. Your posting to this thread to criticize my post just moved the thread up the list in the forum.
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:81,170 Points:3,249,620 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Nov 3, 2012 1:44:00 PM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse The policy should be from site to site. If cash is more prevalent, that site posts the cash price. If credit is more prevalent, that site posts the credit price.
Gas_Buddy Champion Author Maryland Posts:25,947 Points:3,030,065 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Nov 3, 2012 12:48:36 PM Ignore Gas_Buddy Report Abuse TxJeans: Not being cynical but "...so when out of my normal market I don't drive to a station with that flag just to find out I have to empty the cash from my wallet that I carry for emergencies." GB Pbut if you absolutely need fuel and you can't find a credit card station to get gas, this pretty much sounds like an "emergency" reason to empty the cash fromd your wallet that you carry for emergencies, something that can be reasonably be replaced for the next "emergency". My view of the "GB POLICY TO REPORT CREDIT PRICES" is fairly simple; posted prices should be the lowest commonly accepted price (which in any case is cash, even if cash and credit are the same); that people prefer to pay by credit is a different issue than "Do you want to pay the lowest price possible for fuel, or do you want to pay the most convenient price possible for fuel?" Credit and debit card holders have the option of paying the lowest price or the most convenient price. However, this topic has been (and is still being) discussed in multiple topics. I'm not sure if this topic is doing anything but diluting the other topics. However, that's just my opinion.
TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,517 Points:366,280 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Nov 3, 2012 10:15:37 AM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse KWZH -"Even within California, the cash price is often more visible than the credit price. I'm glad GasBuddy changed back to the original rule of cash pricing. " As much as I would like to see the CREDIT price, the CASH price posting does make sense when you consider that most post from the sign. Sigh. However, I would like GB to consider a durable flag for the dual priced stations so when out of my normal market I don't drive to a station with that flag just to find out I have to empty the cash from my wallet that I carry for emergencies.
buckeyecountry Champion Author Ohio Posts:8,008 Points:696,205 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Nov 3, 2012 9:21:56 AM Ignore buckeyecountry Report Abuse All caps in topic headers is screaming.
kwzh Champion Author San Jose Posts:20,631 Points:3,678,650 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Nov 3, 2012 4:38:09 AM Ignore kwzh Report Abuse Even within California, the cash price is often more visible than the credit price. I'm glad GasBuddy changed back to the original rule of cash pricing.
TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,517 Points:366,280 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Nov 3, 2012 12:03:48 AM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse Larry - While I agree that the change was poorly instituted, it makes sense for most places except California. As I understand it, in California the stations must post both prices at the curb. In most other states that is not the case. The CASH price is posted at the curb. For single priced stations CASH price = CREDIT price and it is not an issue either way. However, since most prices are posted as we drive to and from during our day from the curb side signs, what we are in most places (except California) posting is the CASH price that in single price mode stations is the same as the CREDIT price. But, with the rise in the number of DUAL price mode stations in some parts of the country, this price is more reflective of the CASH price. Therefore the FAQ was changed (albeit w/out proper notification to the membership). Now, say they put fields for both cash and credit. How often will the price on the sign be mistakenly put in the CREDIT fields, or the price be put in the CASH and the CREDIT left empty? Providing two sets of fields will not solve the problem, nor will saying to post the CREDIT price. Until all areas change to post both cash and credit on their signage like California, we will still have problems with adequate pricing consistency in posting. Therefore, I have suggested that until we get dual price fields AND dual price signage (not likely) in all areas, we need a DURABLE FLAG for dual priced stations tied to the MSL (and maybe durable comments that remain until actively changed/blanked out) so that the buyer can beware of the pricing differential risk at these stations. [Edited by: TxJeans at 11/3/2012 12:04:50 AM EST]