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A local gas station just up the street is always the first one to jack their prices whenever there's a gas hike. And they're usually the last one to come down in price when every other station in town drops.
A few weeks ago I stopped in for gas - and filled my tank. Most times I avoid the place just on principle. But it's on my way home, and at the time they were the same price as all the other stations.
I put $80 bucks worth in the tank. When I went inside to pay for it, the guy at the counter tells me he accidentally reset the pump and asked me how much I put in.
I told him $80 and paid for it.
As I walked out the door, a guy in line behind me says, "Should've just told him $20 bucks."
He was likely thinking - fuck them...big gas companies rip us off all the time.
And he'd be partially correct. But gas stations are independently owned (under contract) - and the profit margin (to the owner) on fuel is so small that most have to rely on either a store kiosk selling convenience items, a car wash...or some other service/product.
I'll admit - I'm no saint. And quite honestly I was tempted to say a very low amount to the guy at the counter. But I didn't. I'm really not sure why. Perhaps its that little voice in the back of my head that says, "You took the high road and kept it honest. You didn't sink to their level."
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