posted on July 9, 2001 10:43:20 AM new
Thank you, jlpiece for that info. I was always under the impression that it meant 9/10ths of a penny. While most people may be like sheep as you say, I have always hated it. In fact, wasn't it the state of Maryland just this last month of June that outlawed the use of the 9/10ths? Some New Englnad state did and I am eagerly awaiting for the sentiment to drift West some year. We'll see that reform out here on the west coast just as soon as it is proved to be harmless to oil corporations to change over.
posted on July 9, 2001 10:47:36 AM new
I love trivia, but I've never heard that gasoline was sold in 9/10ths of a gallon. I know that a barrel of oil is 42 gallons and not 55 gallons, but this 9/10th of a gallon is news to me, and with all due respect I'd like to see a source of the info.
posted on July 9, 2001 10:51:37 AM new
Hmm, according to all the information I've just come across on the web, the 9 does refer to 9/10 of a cent and not 9/10 of a gallon. I'd been under the same impression as jlpiece, but it appears to be false.
A quote from that site:
All motorists are well aware that active price competition exists among the various service stations within a given area of the state. However, for at least the past 70 years, competition has been nonexistent when it comes to the 9/10 cent per gallon portion of the gasoline or diesel price, although fractional cents other than 9/10 are, and for many years have been, as easily programmable into the dispenser computer as changes in whole cents. The 9/10 cent pricing concept, accepted without question by Arizona motorists, creates a false sense of accuracy when applied to any gasoline or diesel purchase made at current prices. Also, 9/10 cent pricing of gasoline and diesel requires that almost all purchases be rounded to the nearest whole cent. Because traditional mathematical rules for rounding are not applied to certain gasoline and diesel purchases, a 15 to 10 bias exists toward rounding up. Certainly, in the 21st century, the time has come to abandon the deceptive, anachronistic and collusive practice of 9/10 cent pricing of a gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel.
posted on July 9, 2001 10:55:13 AM new
By now we should be accustomed to the fact that jlpiece's posts are authoritative and we shouldn't have to demand citation of proof. Baaaaah!
posted on July 9, 2001 11:31:34 AM new
Rainy Bear the only reason I 'knew' that, because I didn't really notice it that much, is because I have my brother right here, who worked in a gas station years ago, and the owner explained to him what it was, and how it was to be charged on a credit card.
But I do remember gas bein .35 cents a gallon, boy I'd like to see that again!
posted on July 9, 2001 11:44:29 AM new
I bought gas at a station with a posted price of $1.69.9. I stopped the pump when the sales total read "$16.99"- the digital readout said that I had pumped 10.000 gallons.
I'm not quite sure how they were trying to trick me, but since I got exactly the amount of gas I had expected based on the posted price, I don't think it worked.
posted on July 9, 2001 11:57:01 AM new
if you buy 2 gallons @ $1.009/10 the cost is $2.018/10! do the digital price LED's always charge up to the next dollar if you are over 5/10? or down to the next dollar if you are under 5/10? what about if you are at exactly 5/10? there are separate meters for the amount of gallons and the price. jlpiece-have you ever contemplated the far more important issue of what it is that causes some to be compelled to pose obscure questions to others and then browbeat them for not knowing the answers? or better, how convenient it is to then tell everyone it was all one big joke and not to be insulted at one's overbearing attitude? BTW- the price per gallon is posted in large letters on the 20 foot high signs as you enter the gas station! it does say $171 9/10 etc.!
posted on July 9, 2001 12:08:28 PM newif you buy 2 gallons @ $1.009/10 the cost is $2.018/10! do the digital price LED's always charge up to the next dollar if you are over 5/10?
When does anyone buy gas by the gallon? I remember when there used to be attendants at the station, and people would ask for $2 worth of regular, not 5 gallons of regular.
posted on July 9, 2001 12:19:03 PM new
Back in the mid sixties, my 1st job was pumping gas! This was even before "women's rights"! In fact, it was a "stroke of genius" by the station owner...he only had girls pumping the gas, washing the windows, checking the oil, ect. The "guys" got to change the tires, oil ect. We "girls" had cute little uniforms (shorts, white button-up shirts with the name of the station embroidered on the back and tennis shoes) we looked like a bowling team! The guys wore slacks instead of shorts! Today, the guy would probably be driven out of business as "politically incorrect". Not to mention what we "girls" would be called!
He blew his competition away (what can I say, those were the times) even though his prices were a nickel and 9/10 more than his competitors!
One of my best friends dad owned a gas station at the same time. She worked for him, but she got to actually change oil and she could fix flats and everything. I was awed...so I quite my job and went to work with her and got to learn to do all that really neat stuff too, but I lost my cute uniform . We charged 45.9 cents per gallon!
Is this the place we can kick back, relax, and have fun! Share a story, tell a joke, write a poem, make a friend...???
posted on July 9, 2001 12:20:10 PM new
Actually to test the concept, we bought 10 gallons at $1.39. Instead of paying $13.99, which is what it would be if it were representative of a fraction of a penny, we paid $13.90, indicating that we indeed paid exactly $1.39, not $1.399. Simple math will show what I am talking about.
It doesn't round anything up or down.
[ edited by jlpiece on Jul 9, 2001 12:22 PM ]
posted on July 9, 2001 12:28:01 PM new
JL,Perhaps you need to find a new gas station. You must be getting ripped off.Is it your whole area or is it just a plot against you? HMmmmmmmm...something to think about.
Where I live the 9 stands for a fraction of a cent. It is posted that way and simple math makes it come out that way.
posted on July 9, 2001 01:34:10 PM new
jlp - thanks for enlightening us, but either way, what are we supposed to do with the information?
I forgot to mention......the gas at the corner says 72.4 per litre.......what does the 4 mean??
[ edited by kraftdinner on Jul 9, 2001 01:35 PM ]
You are a pitiful bunch. You all see the tip of the iceberg - the 10% above water, without caring to see the mountain of truth beneath the surface. You all should be ashamed at your lack of desire to know the truth of all things. That little nine is just the beginning to your lack of knowledge and understanding of all things hidden in plain sight. Shame on you all.
posted on July 9, 2001 09:52:57 PM new
jl, I'm sure you can find a remedial algebra course listed at your local community college, after completion of which you would be able to comprehend nature of your erroneous assumptions, beliefs, and calculations.
-gaffan-
. We charged 45.9 cents per gallon!
