This feels like the movie "oil storm"

sisterpine · #1 08/30/05, 09:02 PM

Watching the news from the gulf coast and thinking about that movie that was on recently. I think in the movie the problem was in New Orleans (sp) too where the port had to shut down due to a wreck of some kind. I cannot even imagine what it is like for those folks inside the disaster area. And I cannot really imagine any way this country is going to over come this disaster in the short term without some really big happenings nationwide. I won't pretend to know what those "changes" will be. But around here (montana) all gas must already be "pre-paid" due to so many drive offs. And I dont see the situation getting any better. I'm thinking this will drive the cost of petroleum (sp) products to an all time high within the next few weeks. And I don't know about you folks but my wages are not increasing and the cost of everything I purchase is in some way connected to the cost of fuel!

oz in SC · #2 08/30/05, 11:38 PM

Thats EXACTLY what I thought too!!!

Great minds think alike...or tin foil conspircay theorists....
LOL

rzrubek · #3 08/30/05, 11:58 PM

The last time I remember being able to pump gas and then pay was clear back in 1986 in Kansas. Moved here in 1998 and its prepay or pay at pump here also, has been virtually forever. Everybody just remember that hoarding gas will result in gas rationing and unnecessary shortages. I know we had a gas line break a couple of years ago and everybody freaked out and started topping off their tanks and it was a huge mess. Lines blocks long and most of them just to top off.

greenacresusa · #4 09/01/05, 06:01 AM

Where I live (rural, well used to be rural) Maryland/PA line we haven't had pre-paid gas yet but you may be right that this will change. We had one gas station open about two years ago that had pre-paid before pumping and no body would go there because of that. They changed that after their sales went to almost zero. The only people buying gas there then was the city transplants that were used to pre-paid gas.

pcdreams · #5 09/01/05, 09:03 AM

I don't prepay for gas period. I figure if they don't trust me to pump gas then They don't want my business. and yes I've run near empty just to get 20 miles to then next station (than I knew was not prepay)

The concept is simple. Don't price gouge and you won't have near the drive-offs you do now.

Becca65 · #6 09/01/05, 09:36 AM

We use our debit cards to buy gas, we never use cash.

sisterpine · #7 09/01/05, 09:45 AM

I sure dont know about other states but here in montana one of the main gas stations is Flying J truck stops. According to them they have lost many millions (who can you really believe) in drive offs including 18 wheeler drive offs and there fore have instituted pay at pump or pre pay inside. They even had to hire extra clerks and give special training on how to speed up the checkout process and the manager said even with the extra expenses it was cheaper than losing all those dollars to gas!

mightybooboo · #8 09/01/05, 11:02 AM

Prepay here,dont think you can find a place that isnt.

BooBoo

WanderingOak · #9 09/01/05, 11:23 AM

In Front Royal, VA, you do not have to pre-pay. Most gas stations have security cameras to prevent drive-offs. I pay at the pump most of the time anyway. There is one station that still has old pumps without card readers. Everybody pays inside, and nobody has to pay in advance. A few kids to gas-n-run with their mopeds and chainsaw powered scooters, but that is the exception not the rule.