Impetus: Macon gas station runs promotion where cash buyers could get regular unleaded for 99¢ a gallon, resulting in massive lines, long waits, frustrated customers and ultimately police intervention
A few years ago, I went up to visit my parents, and I was driving around running some errands with my dad. His tank was running low, so he said he needed to get gas, and proceeded to go to a station that he preferred, because it was the cheapest place. We arrive at the gas station, and it’s an eight-pump station that is in fact ten cents cheaper than everywhere else, but every single pump is occupied, and there were a few other cars precariously circling the premises like a hungry shark stalking an opening.
My dad said that this was the norm. I said that if he’s really hard up on the dollar he’ll save by going to this station as opposed to the numerous alternatives surrounding the area, I’d be happy to give him a dollar to go somewhere else. Since I was the one driving anyway, we went to the Shell station down the street that was completely open, filled up, and was right back on track doing our own things, as opposed to joining the feeding frenzy at the cheap station, risking road rage, headache and fender benders all in the sake of saving, a literal dollar for ten gallons of unleaded.
Time, is worth more than money. Piece of mind, is also worth more than money. Definitively, for both. And it astounds me that there are people that don’t seem to understand this.
I get that money isn’t easy to earn, believe you me, I dread the notion of paying for the things that I want to acquire, but still; there’s something to be said about the feeling of efficiency and accomplishment when one makes the choice to spend just a little bit more, and get something way, way, way easier than if they were hell-bent on getting the lowest price.
This gas station in Macon selling gas for 99¢, is not a place worth going to, regardless of just how 2001 those fuel costs may have been. With people camping pumps, and becoming irate and cussing others out, in a place like Macon, it’s only a matter of time before people start brandishing firearms, or start using their giant redneck trucks as battering rams. Thankfully the fuzz showed up to keep things somewhat kosher, and the promotion went on without any regrets, except the station owners who learned to never do this again. I’d imagine if the police didn’t show up, waiting customers might’ve gone postal on the guy who brought a 60-gallon barrel to fill up for his boat.
The amusing part to me is that the station’s standard price for unleaded was already $1.79, which is nearly 30¢ cheaper than the average cost per gallon of unleaded in Atlanta. I’d be stoked for $1.79 gas much less 99¢, but putting myself into a volatile and time-consuming situation over $8-12 savings just doesn’t seem worth it. I value time and piece of mind way more than saving what amounts to maybe lunch money. But hey, Macon isn’t Atlanta, and it’s a different way of life down there.
