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rrocket
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« on: October 20, 2009, 08:16:40 pm » |
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There is a local gas station that is cheaper than most everyone else. Today gas went up, so everybody was in a rush to get gas. As usual, this cheaper place was so busy there were line-up. Long line ups. About a 15-20 minute wait I would guess, since I passed by before and after stepping out to get dinner, and the same cars were still in line on my way back. There were only a few truck in line. Mostly small and midsized cars. The difference in gas was 90.6c vs. 91.2c I saw an Echo in the line. Basically, if he could fill it right to the top, he's save about 25 cents for his 20 minute wait. 20 minutes of my time is worth far more than 25 cents. Would anyone here wait in line that long to save so little?
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How fast is my Supra? I sh*t on Cessnas from a roll....
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Railton
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« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2009, 08:27:21 pm » |
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Not unless I was buying a  -pile of gas, say maybe 500 gallons. Railton |
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Do you realize that in about 40 years, we'll have thousands of old ladies running around with tattoos?
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Cudworthhab
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« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2009, 08:37:24 pm » |
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Not a chance. |
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Arctic_White
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« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2009, 08:40:31 pm » |
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No way.
As it is, most of us have so little time to begin with! |
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The Mighty Duck
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« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2009, 08:47:00 pm » |
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An interesting study in behavioral psychology, isn't it? Most of the members of this forum would probably not wait in line - members here tend to be in a higher income bracket, I think.
The people who wait in line to save a few cents are the same people who clip coupons: those with a lower value of time, which corresponds to a lower income (after all, if you're unemployed, what ELSE are you going to do with your time that would have a higher return?). But even so, 20 minutes for 25 cents? I think there's a large irrational part of what makes people do that, too! |
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Demosthenes [noun], dem-aws-thene-s
1) (384 BC – 322 BC) the greatest of the Ancient Greek orators
2) pseudonym used by Valentine Wiggin in Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game to alter the events of world history
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TopGun
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« Reply #5 on: October 20, 2009, 09:04:00 pm » |
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An interesting study in behavioral psychology, isn't it?
....
I think there's a large irrational part of what makes people do that, too!
People just want a deal....irrespective of how rational or irrational the final deal might be. Heck, most people go through their daily lives without really thinking about what they're doing. Rrocket did the math...many do not. 42L tank in the Echo rrocket? |
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If it flies, floats or f#%&s...rent it.
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rrocket
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« Reply #6 on: October 20, 2009, 09:09:55 pm » |
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An interesting study in behavioral psychology, isn't it?
....
I think there's a large irrational part of what makes people do that, too!
People just want a deal....irrespective of how rational or irrational the final deal might be. Heck, most people go through their daily lives without really thinking about what they're doing. Rrocket did the math...many do not.
42L tank in the Echo rrocket?I've never fit in more than about 40-42 myself..... |
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How fast is my Supra? I sh*t on Cessnas from a roll....
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Flinter
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« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2009, 09:10:50 pm » |
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Very strange behavior indeed. It is especially prevalent back in NL where gas prices are adjusted on a set time interval by a Petroleum Products Pricing Commission.
If they announce gas prices are going to go up a penny a liter tomorrow, the lineups start in a nanosecond.
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rrocket
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« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2009, 09:15:06 pm » |
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An interesting study in behavioral psychology, isn't it? Most of the members of this forum would probably not wait in line - members here tend to be in a higher income bracket, I think.
The people who wait in line to save a few cents are the same people who clip coupons: those with a lower value of time, which corresponds to a lower income (after all, if you're unemployed, what ELSE are you going to do with your time that would have a higher return?). But even so, 20 minutes for 25 cents? I think there's a large irrational part of what makes people do that, too!
I don't think that has anything to do with it. There were some nice cars in the line...cars people with lower income could not afford. It just seems like people's brains go to mush when you talk about gasoline pricing. People would look horrified when I told/tell them my car run on premium. They would say "Oh that must be really expensive!!" And I would answer "Yes...$1 dollar a day!" |
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How fast is my Supra? I sh*t on Cessnas from a roll....
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quadzilla
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« Reply #9 on: October 20, 2009, 09:20:43 pm » |
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It just seems like people's brains go to mush when you talk about gasoline pricing. People would look horrified when I told/tell them my car run on premium. They would say "Oh that must be really expensive!!" And I would answer "Yes...$1 dollar a day!" One day I saw a guy with a BMW 335 putting in regular.  A lot of people don't or can't see the big picture. I wonder how many of those people left their cars idling while they waited? Personally I wouldn't do it. Then again I don't think a sale starts until 30% or greater is the discount. |
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How is it possible that after electricity has traveled through hundreds of miles of power line then hundreds of feet (or yards) of romex in our home, that changing the last three feet of wire with something exotic, expensive (cool looking, and packaged in a pricey box) is going to make a difference?
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Arctic_White
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« Reply #10 on: October 20, 2009, 09:21:49 pm » |
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An interesting study in behavioral psychology, isn't it? Most of the members of this forum would probably not wait in line - members here tend to be in a higher income bracket, I think.
The people who wait in line to save a few cents are the same people who clip coupons: those with a lower value of time, which corresponds to a lower income (after all, if you're unemployed, what ELSE are you going to do with your time that would have a higher return?). But even so, 20 minutes for 25 cents? I think there's a large irrational part of what makes people do that, too!
Adding to that, people are probably burning about $0.25 worth of gas lining up! (Assuming that their engines are running.) |
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HeliDriver
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« Reply #11 on: October 20, 2009, 09:23:23 pm » |
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It just seems like people's brains go to mush when you talk about gasoline pricing. People would look horrified when I told/tell them my car run on premium. They would say "Oh that must be really expensive!!" And I would answer "Yes...$1 dollar a day!"
Uh huh. Don't we have a 150-page thread here about gasoline prices?  |
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mmret
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« Reply #12 on: October 20, 2009, 09:56:16 pm » |
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The stop+go in that lineup will kill any savings easily. Not to mention the time.
I don't even bother looking at the price when I gas up. Its not as if +5 cents / litre is going to make me stop buying the stuff. |
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Turbo Bob
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« Reply #13 on: October 20, 2009, 10:54:23 pm » |
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It just seems like people's brains go to mush when you talk about gasoline pricing. People would look horrified when I told/tell them my car run on premium. They would say "Oh that must be really expensive!!" And I would answer "Yes...$1 dollar a day!"
Uh huh. Don't we have a 150-page thread here about gasoline prices?   Says a lot... |
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Power is how fast you hit the wall... Torque is how far you take the wall with you!  |
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whistler
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« Reply #14 on: October 21, 2009, 01:10:51 am » |
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I've been saying this for years.
This always happens around here. You will see one "cheap" gas station with huge lines and people getting into fights over the pumps, while the "expensive" gas station is deserted and you have no wait.
The funny part is the difference between the "cheap" and "expensive" gas stations is normally only 1 or 2 cents per liter.
The math is pretty simple. Say you have a 40 liter tank, and you are paying 2 more cents to fill up, thats 80 cents.
Not wasting my time and getting frustrated is worth WAY more than 80 cents to me. I always laugh at those cheapskates.
The REALLY dumb ones are the idiots that will drive halfway across the city to get to a gas station because they heard that it is like 5 cents cheaper, but in the process they BURN all their savings and then some because they are going so far out of their way to get to the place. |
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« Last Edit: October 21, 2009, 01:12:34 am by whistler »
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davidy
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« Reply #15 on: October 21, 2009, 09:33:03 am » |
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Is the gas jockey a good looking chick? If so, I would wait in line with or without the 25 cents in savings.  Dave |
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tenpenny
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« Reply #16 on: October 21, 2009, 09:51:42 am » |
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The REALLY dumb ones are the idiots that will drive halfway across the city to get to a gas station because they heard that it is like 5 cents cheaper, but in the process they BURN all their savings and then some because they are going so far out of their way to get to the place.
Similarly, I know people who plan their grocery shopping with stops at 2 or 3 stores, to take advantage of sale prices. In the end, they'll save $5 or $10, but when it involves more time and more driving, I just can't see the point. |
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The Mighty Duck
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« Reply #17 on: October 21, 2009, 10:29:12 am » |
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I don't think that has anything to do with it. There were some nice cars in the line...cars people with lower income could not afford. It could still be a value-of-time thing. Spouses of wealthy people, wealthy retired people, business owners who earn money even when not there... these people can afford to take the time to wait because they wouldn't be doing any better by being elsewhere. But that's just academic. In reality, I think you're quite right - people get very irrational about gasoline prices. Unless you're doing a lot of driving (and/or driving something abysmal on gas), they don't make a whole lot of difference. A few dollars here or there... meh. |
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Demosthenes [noun], dem-aws-thene-s
1) (384 BC – 322 BC) the greatest of the Ancient Greek orators
2) pseudonym used by Valentine Wiggin in Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game to alter the events of world history
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mrthompson
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« Reply #18 on: October 21, 2009, 10:56:11 am » |
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overtakeyouintheleftlane
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« Reply #19 on: October 21, 2009, 11:20:15 am » |
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Hell no! I don't wait in line to spend money (government services, dentist/doctor, mechanic I wait for as you are at their mercy).
I never wait in line to spend cash. I have a habit of shopping once the store opens, I pick up the merchandise and get the hell out. I refuse to wait (can you tell I have no patience?).
The savings on gasoline is nothing compared to the frustration/potential fender-beders that happen when people go crazy in the gas station over a differences of a nickel per litre. Personally, I buy gas late at night or on the way to work when nobody is there.
Not worth the time or effort. |
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