Gas for a penny a gallon due to glitch: do you buy?

[Snapdragon]

Thievery is stealing. This is underpaying. While perhaps also unconscionable, they are two distinct activities.

The legal definition and moral definition are not necessarily the same, but the dictionary definition will suffice.

steal stēl/ verb

take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it.

If gas costs $3.40 a gallon and you pay $0.01, knowing that it is a mistake, you have just taken $3.39 worth of gas without the owner's permission. It's pretty cut and dried.

 

[actaeon277]

I suppose nobody buys things on sale either?

A big difference between a sale, in which the owner knows he is selling for less, in the hopes to attract more business, turning more of a profit.

 

[chezuki]

For fun, let's see how many people who tried to jump on the "ammo deal" in THIS THREAD are now acting high and mighty in this one.

 

[hoosierdoc]

For fun, let's see how many people who tried to jump on the "ammo deal" in THIS THREAD are now acting high and mighty in this one.

I missed that thread, but after reading it I am shocked at how few of those names I recognize

 

[chezuki]

I missed that thread, but after reading it I am shocked at how few of those names I recognize

I know! Some come and go so quickly!



EDIT:^^^

 

[hoosierdoc]

I know! Some come and go so quickly!



EDIT:^^^

Who, lilly Von Schtupp?

 

[atvdave]

For fun, let's see how many people who tried to jump on the "ammo deal" in THIS THREAD are now acting high and mighty in this one.

Looks like their are a few in this thread that did flip flop from that one. I also seen a few take the "high road" in both threads.

 

[chezuki]

Looks like their are a few in this thread that did flip flop from that one. I also seen a few take the "high road" in both threads.

Yep. I started to call them out directly, but decided to take the high road myself.

 

[HeadlessRoland]

The legal definition and moral definition are not necessarily the same, but the dictionary definition will suffice.

steal stēl/ verb

take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it.

If gas costs $3.40 a gallon and you pay $0.01, knowing that it is a mistake, you have just taken $3.39 worth of gas without the owner's permission. It's pretty cut and dried.

And to reiterate my response to this situation (that I made in a different thread, which is why I was so confused for a bit): what is the role of virtue in the market? Even if everyone on INGO had the "character" or "integrity" not to fill up at one cent per gallon, would everyone else? If not, the guy is still out however many gallons that tank holds, and the net result is the same. Granted, the owner did not intend to give gasoline away for that little, most assuredly. The price didn't even include federal fuel excise tax, so to anyone paying attention this is clearly a mistake but it was a mistake recognized too late; the market had already stepped in. Hopefully - if his business survives this mistake - in future he will learn to check the results of fiddling around with the software, rather than relying upon some made-up word like "integrity" or "character" or "decency" to preserve his profit margin in future. Even if virtue is a necessary feature of civil society, what of the market? What impetus is there for consumers to willingly and purposefully pay more than they're able when opportunity presents itself? I've seen grown men brawl over access to a pump with a quarter's price difference from the rest of the pumps in town. Is it then logical to assume that people won't jump at the opportunity to pay next-to-nothing for gasoline when they get into physical altercations trying to save 25 cents per gallon? Rightly or wrongly, "integrity" or lack thereof, this guy is out a significant amount of cash. Who is to blame? Those who lack "integrity" and took advantage of an obviously wrong posted price, the owner for not double-checking his handiwork? Or is it a failure somewhere else entirely?

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Yep. I started to call them out directly, but decided to take the high road myself.

YOU?!?!?

 

[ashby koss]

Highly depends on if I know that business is PRO-2A or Anti-2A. If that is not known, then I would not cheat them regardless of price. A product worth something doesn't loose (or gain) that value because of a sign....

 

[hoosierdoc]

Highly depends on if I know that business is PRO-2A or Anti-2A. If that is not known, then I would not cheat them regardless of price. A product worth something doesn't loose (or gain) that value because of a sign....

I am totally confused. The golden rule and 8th Commandment depend on the political view of a station owner? What if this was in Europe?

 

[hornadylnl]

I am totally confused. The golden rule and 8th Commandment depend on the political view of a station owner? What if this was in Europe?

Makes sense, huh?

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Gracious. From what I recall with my rickety memory, the situation was that the station was closed except the pay at the pump function, and an error/glitch/asshattery had left the price at one cent/gallon for the evening. This was not advertised, it was not per se offered at this price, vs a sale price which is advertised. Technology had merely allowed it to happen and subsequently it was discovered by someone who felt no compunction in informing others. This is not the market speaking; that implies a buyer and seller freely agreeing on a quantity and a price. As in the case of the ammunition deal, there may have been an error of some sort in the ad. A lot of the catalogs will have a disclaimer that the seller will not be held responsible for typos, and if this one didn't, I bet it will next time.

Turn it around. It's your gas station. Would you just lay down and take it? Dinosaurs lived like that. Aren't we a little better than dinosaurs?

 

[stephen87]

Do I notice the obvious error before or after I start pumping? If I noticed before, I'm going to a different station UNLESS I need to get gas. If I need to get gas or notice it after I filled it, I'd ask them if they'd like me to pay normal price.

 

[saleen4971]

you bet your ass i would be there! if the station is open for business, there should be someone there to monitor. too lazy or oblivious to notice? not my problem - higher better employees.

 

[stephen87]

What about closed, middle of the night, pay at the pump only?

 

[HeadlessRoland]

.

 

[saleen4971]

Wow....did I really? I won't even edit that post. I deserve this shame.

 

[Bunnykid68]

For all of us that would not fuel up, remember there is an emergency shut off on the building or at the pumps, hit that button and look for a number to call. I bet you might even get a free tank of gas out of the deal for saving the owner so many 1000's of dollars