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Good morning. Happy Monday.

Okay, enough with the niceties. We begin our week with a tiny bit of paranoia offered by G of San Diego, who was trolling back in old Bing Blogs (get a life, dude!) and found something additional in what we might learn from the current crisis (as I saw it last August, when things were so much merrier, and we weren’t all sitting around waiting for the final quarter-point cut from BenCo).

It has to do with gas prices. This past weekend, I was in the Bay Area near San Francisco, and Regular was going for around $4.00 a gallon. I saw Premium for as high as $4.29.  Amazing sight to somebody who once used to get Merit for 23-cents a gallon — and I’m young, I tell you. Young!

As always, the gas is higher in affluent areas, which might make a person cynical if they didn’t believe in the fairness and probity of fuel companies and the Feds who oversee their evergreen efforts. They tell me that gas prices are still low in Texas, so that’s something.

At least, one would hope, you get your $4.29-worth when you sidle up to the fuel dispenser.  But this note from G  suggests otherwise. I don’t know about the accuracy and fairness of his or her research (there is no discernible gender to the letter G), but it seems worth passing along…

“The Gasoline Octane and how they are ripping off consumers per-gallon, and they can’t even see it happening to them,” G writes, searching for a subject and verb. He continues…

“As a consumer you should be aware of the following when purchasing a “Octane price” of gasoline in San Diego, CA.

Note
92- $4.12 /gallon
87- $4.09/gallon
84- $3.50/gallon

However, after filling three test gas bottles with different octanes of gasoline - 92, 89 and 84 - and after testing each octane with a octane tester, we found that most of the octanes of each gasoline were marked with the wrong octane of the gasoline, [which] was found to only to have a 87 Octane reading gasoline at some gas stations.

Most of these readings were tested more than three times…

What we have found… we paid $4.12 for something that was only worth the price of 84 octane fuel, which should of been only $3.50. In truth it showed a loss of 62 cent per gallon. As for the loss of a 20 gallon fill up, I lost a whopping $12.40.

Now I am thinking of hiring some consumer affairs attorneys to file a lawsuit on three gasoline companies for my losses since the the gas crisis started. Any Ideas of any attorneys that want to go up against three major gasoline companies?

I am happy to say that I know no such attorneys. I am, however, interested in the topic as a consumer.

Is this an urban legend? Could some small part of it be true? Is it a local gas-station issue, or something being foisted upon us as a gigantic corporate trend? Or is little G giving the big G gas companies a bum rap?

Anybody out there have a clue? If so, pump it up the pipeline, will ya?

As ever, the intrepid Yadgyu has “little sympathy for people and their ‘troubles.’” Sometimes it’s hard for me to figure out whether you’re kidding or not, Y-man, but your comments are always a breath of fresh liquid nitrogen.
———————-

I do not see the problem with my comments.

The masses are always complaining about something. Does that mean that companies should heed to the masses and try to please them? Maybe.

Should companies please people at the expense of profits? No way.

Does it make sense to listen to complaints when the money keeps rolling in? Not at all.

Should companies try to do things to inform the public about the aspects of business? Only if it helps to bring in more cash.

The masses do not want to sacrifice. It only makes sense for them to be taken advantage of. The people who get sick of being used start putting in work to improve their situation. These people become a part of the few who actually get ahead in life. Everyone just keeps complaining.

Posted By Yadgyu, Harkeyville, TX : April 30, 2008 10:06 pm

Here’s a perfect example: in order to assist with the shortage of gas, I now pull my own finger instead of asking my young son to do so.

Posted By Ivan, Washington, DC

Funny you should mention that, I had a bad hamburger the other day that gave me so much gas, an oil company helicopter followed me home
I am negoiating the drilling rights
as we speak/write.

Posted By Jack Hammond Canada : April 30, 2008 3:27 pm

“But it takes nothing short of a miracle to get people to actually do something to change their habits or make improvements.”

Well, speak for yourself, Y. While there is certainly more that I can do, I have changed many of my own habits and made some improvements. Here’s a perfect example: in order to assist with the shortage of gas, I now pull my own finger instead of asking my young son to do so.

Posted By Ivan, Washington, DC : April 29, 2008 8:46 pm

My apologies for my spelling on recent posts, it seems some of my fingers are longer than others,
I’m off to health care to have it checked out.

Posted By Jack Hammond Canada : April 29, 2008 12:26 pm

As ever, the intrepid Yadgyu has “little sympathy for people and their ‘troubles.’” Sometimes it’s hard for me to figure out whether you’re kidding or not, Y-man, but your comments are always a breath of fresh liquid nitrogen.

Posted By Bing

Yes Bing if I was held hostage by terrorist and Yadgyu showed up as the negoiator, To dave time, I would probaly ask the terroists to put a couple of bullets in my head before he started talking to them.

Cause he is direct and to the point and most people can’t handle the truth.

Posted By Jack Hammond Canada : April 29, 2008 11:33 am

I saw a headline this morning claiming that gasoline consumption is down 7% from a year ago, so apparently Y’s supposition that people will not change their consumption habits is in error.

Personally, I bought a hybrid SUV (Escape) about a year ago and have modified my driving habits from driving 70 mph to get to work which renders the electric motor useless to cutting a few miles off my trip and driving thru adjoining neighborhoods in the mornings. Adds maybe 3 minutes to my trip, but cuts 3 miles and lets my electric motor do about half the work.

Rising prices do, in fact, effect behavior. That’s why Al Gore (Bless his ignorant little heart) was calling for $5/gallon gas in 2000.

Posted By Tom - Cape Fear : April 29, 2008 9:29 am

Yadgyu, as he often does, has a point in his ramblings. We complain that our lifestyles suddenly cost more, but often take little action to adjust those lifestyles or increase our incomes. I even saw an article on your affiliate pages where Disney claimed that the family vacation was “sacred.” Give me a break.

Posted By Curmudgeon, Nashua NH : April 29, 2008 9:19 am

Since I always buy the regular stuff, I guess I’m getting a deal (at $3.60 per gallon)! Boy am I glad I don’t drive much!

Posted By T, Jville, FL : April 29, 2008 8:48 am

As ever, the intrepid Yadgyu has “little sympathy for people and their ‘troubles.’” Sometimes it’s hard for me to figure out whether you’re kidding or not, Y-man, but your comments are always a breath of fresh liquid nitrogen.

Posted By Bing : April 29, 2008 6:58 am

The only time I buy the higher octane is when I use it on small engines, ie: lawnmower etc. It does make a difference on small engines like that.
The rest of the time, the regular stuff will do. If you buy a car that requires high octane to run then live with it.
You get what you pay for (sometimes)

Posted By Jack Hammond Canada : April 28, 2008 11:58 pm

LeeeeeeRoy! You rocked it!

Posted By Jessica, St. Cloud MN : April 28, 2008 6:13 pm

Gas costs money.

If people would spend more time trying to get more money instead of complaining about gas prices, we would not have an issue here. But Americans are increasingly lazy and cynical. It doesn’t take much these days to get people to become angry. But it takes nothing short of a miracle to get people to actually do something to change their habits or make improvements.

I congratulate the oil companies for making record profits. Americans are not going to stop complaining. But they are not going to start driving fuel efficient vehicles or drive less. People are going to keep complaining and then refuse to change. This is why I have little sympathy for people and their “troubles”.

Posted By Yadgyu, Harkeyville, TX : April 28, 2008 5:57 pm

If one reads on the gas pump, they should be able to read caveats about fuel grade specifications etc. as required by the state in which they operate.

One warning I read was: “If you leave without paying we’ll get you, and you’ll lose your driving peiviliges and be subject to all other applicable penalties!”. A picture of a Michigan Highway Patrol officer was posted by the caveat.

State inspectors are also supposed to be on the job checking fuel grades and capacities. Fuel stations are supposed to be operating according state mandated regulations; penalties exist for violators of the state mandated standards.

If perpetraters know the limits of the radar screen, they may risk it; the sniper who nails them could be an anonymous anybody.

Posted By Bob Shelby Twp. Mi. : April 28, 2008 3:01 pm

Bing, you’ve been sold a load of bull.

There’s no “octane tester” out there that one can simply buy at the local True Value or Zany Brainy.

The measurement of octane ratings has been evolving for nearly a century, and it’s highly unlikely that the person who wrote to you claiming to have tested octane actually did so, given the appearance of his post. Which test method did he use? Research Octane Method? Motor Octane Method? U.S. pumps indicate “pump octane” (or “AKI”, for “anti-knock index), which is the average of RON and MON. You’ve probably seen “(R+M)/2″ on gas pumps and said to yourself “self, wtf is (R+M)/2?” and now you know.

Octane testing is conducted using a test engine under very carefully controlled conditions, including the ability to vary compression (and variable ignition timing, pre-heated fuel, and other scientist stuff for MON testing). Air-fuel mixture must be controlled, etc. One can’t simply put some gasoline in a widget and shake it and see if it turns blue. I seriously doubt anyone who knew what they were doing would refer to all this as “obtaining an octane tester.”

This is seriously boring stuff, but it would be moot if we all rode donkeys to work.

Posted By Leroy Jenkins : April 28, 2008 2:35 pm

A gas company having an ethical issue???

You mean like the one where the CEOs of the major ones testifying before congress that the reason gas prices are so high is because “It’s Congress’s fault.”???

Is that an ethically correct statement? Um, NO. I believe we can assume the same response to your question, Bingo.

Posted By Jessica, St. Cloud - when will the snow disappear? MN : April 28, 2008 2:09 pm

A Land Rover mechanic (a good profession to be in due to the notoriety of British engineering)once told me that gas companies have found that their fuel truck delivery guys often put the wrong fuel in the wrong hole. Now I can’t scientifically confirm this to be true, but though that I would pass along this tidbit.

Posted By bo atlanta ga : April 28, 2008 1:53 pm

“Ethical” issues? “Ethical”?? Perhaps you were searching for another word and mischanced upon this one?

Posted By Allan, Orlando FL : April 28, 2008 1:49 pm

Before we jump to conclusions there is a lot of information missing here.

For instance, how larger were the test bottles? Most states use 3-4 gallons for testing. This allows the fuel to cycle through the pump when the pump uses a single hose to deliver all grades.

Further more was the sample sealed and vacuumed? What was the temperature? Was the gas E10? I would suggest G look on the pump for a certification sticker and call who ever is responsible for the certification. Here is Georgia it is the Department of Agriculture who performs the testing and certifications. If the gas is wrong they shut down the station in a heartbeat.

I think we need more information.

A better item to jump on is the ethanol farce we are all a victim of. The ethanol blend I am forced to buy gets me 15% - 20% less mileage. And it has no shelf life even when sealed.

Posted By Ralph Atl GA : April 28, 2008 1:48 pm

Another related “is it truth or urban myth” question:

I’ve heard that the cost of the additives they put into gasoline to raise the octane to premium levels actually cost less than the gasoline they’re adding to meaning that from a cost standpoint, higher octane gasolines should cost less per gallon than regular octane. Truth or myth??

Posted By Tom - Cape Fear : April 28, 2008 11:47 am

I know the grammar wasn’t the best. I’m going to give G the benefit of the doubt and just conclude that he/she was writing fast. I wonder, however, if the point remains the same, even if inelegantly put. The fuel companies seem to have no problem charging for their product on a Marxist paradigm: from each according to his ability. Would they have ethical issues making “mistakes” about stuff we can’t really ascertain on the spot? Like octane?

Posted By Bing : April 28, 2008 11:28 am

I forgot to add the fact that my car requires 91 test and above. In the past when the attendant has messed up, and they do, and given me even 89 my check engine light comes on. I have yet to actually get a high test fuel and have my ce light come one. If it’s a problem I’d have to guess it’s a very isolated one.

Posted By Case-NJ : April 28, 2008 11:18 am

Note
92- $4.12 /gallon
87- $4.09/gallon
84- $3.50/gallon

However, after filling three test gas bottles with different octanes of gasoline - 92, 89 and 84 - and after testing each

He doesnt even have the his numbers straight. Or his grammar for that matter.

Posted By Case-NJ : April 28, 2008 11:12 am

A reader from California writes...
My boss called me 12 times during the 2 hour period when my wife was delivering our first baby. In the 12th call he told me that I should be courteous enough to pick up the phone even though I was in the operating theater. I made one call to him after my baby was born and I could just see his face as I responded with one line: I quit. I got another job in about a week. Read more crazy boss stories.
Stanley Bing
Stanley Bing is a Fortune columnist and best-selling author of business books noted for their wisdom as well as their sharp, slightly acrid sense of humor. He is also the only writer on business and the workplace who still puts on a suit and tie and goes to do battle with the dragons that breathe fire at corporate America every day. This blog captures what remains of his brain after it has exploded in all other directions.