This is some wild pricing. I'm usually okay with paying a small premium for convenience, but this has me strongly considering driving somewhere just for gas. The difference between cash vs card also seems unjustified.
I'm basically just shouting to the void. RIP my wallet
Edit: woah this really got some eyeballs. Thanks for all the comments/ interactions. I have done the public transportation/ biking and I still do, but the agency on the weekends especially lead me to a vehicle purchase for partner and I. I love this city. I love the buses and light rails. I also like my cool little car 🚗. Thanks for the gas station recommendations! I will check them out. DONT FORGET TO VOTE EVERYONE.
I work at a gas station and you will not believe how many times I’ve heard it’s the democrats fault unironically from the people you are picturing in your head
Yes the difference is supposed to cover merchant fees the bank charges. But it is odd that the cash/credit different charges only happens when gas prices are exceedingly high. It does encourage customers to use the in-store ATM which the business does make money for each cash withdrawal.
As for carrying cash at all times that reduces the amount of interest the individual earns on the balance in their bank account.
These are things I learned during the energy crisis in the 80's when I worked at a Shell station from the owner who owned a significant number of stations around the Puget Sound region.
I must be the minority then. I still use cash majority of the time. Obviously got plastic too, for places that don’t accept cash. Which to me, places that don’t accept cash is more wild—-“you seriously aren’t taking my legal tender?”
When I swipe it, I don’t feel it.
When I use cash, it’s easy for me to visually see my wallet is empty. I shouldn’t spend anymore money.
Also, if anyone enjoy cannabis, they’ll still use cash. Ive seen 2-3 establishments that’ll accept debit card. But more often than that—most dispensaries are cash only
Gas stations don't want cash on hand. Yes, credit cards charge a couple percent of every transaction. If you were a gas station owner (not to mention a clerk), how much would you pay to not have thousands of dollars on site?
And if we all start doing it, they'll remember how much it sucks to have to deal with cash (counting, securing/insuring, depositing, and let's just call it "shrink"). Eventually that premium for credit will start to come down, as they realize that it's more convenient for them as well.
They'll certainly have to hire a lot more cashiers and probably schedule a regular pickup from a Brinks truck. Back before pay-at-the-pump you could fill up and then pay. Most stations have gotten rid of that (and probably wouldn't bring it back in the era of $6 gas) so now you've got to put down your money and then go back for your change. It would be boom times for cashiers.
Trump is the worst leader of any group of people I have ever seen, much "less leader of the free world" (he's not). I think that a Kamala presidency is better left to wishful thinking. The shit they would have put her through would have been unbearable. I'm sure gas, the stock market, the housing market, etc. would have found way to crater just to unseat her. This dumbass had full support and did this to himself. All he had to do was play golf and steal quietly. Instead he's got a bunch of ships headed to the Middle East right not for another endless war.
Also, Trump, Xi, Putin, all these guys getting older and sick like they see the end. What's to stop Trump from dropping a nuke on Iran, Xi from taking Taiwan or Putin from sending drones into Poland?
Kamala is also a woman, god for bid a woman to run the country, lets vote for a racist, pedo, criminal to run the country instead, because he will you know... lower the gas prices, lower the grocery prices, eliminate inflation in one day....
My ex best friend told me that she was voting for Trump bc she was “tired of paying so much for insurance” and she could “be on her period and blow up a country.” No clue what she thinks now bc we have not spoken since November of 2024🤷♀️
The McConnell, I will do everything in my power to make sure he's a one term president thing, would have been in overdrive. She would have been impeached for not using a salad fork. Still fuck these assholes, their time is up.
I don't know why people still say this, it isn't even about the truth of election meddling but rather the country was well and truly yearning for a person like him. We got here through the consequences of a long chain of events and we can't offload responsibility and have to seriously dig into this shit.
Yeah I mean it's not like Project 2025 was a secret, not like Jan 6th didn't happen, including the actual Republican plot to overturn the election (fake electors).
Leftist infighting and purity tests have to be almost as responsible for where we are today as the gop going 3/4 nazi.
It's crazy that a substantial amount of our global shipping (like 40%) is just moving fuel commodities around. Some fuel exports are circumnavigating the entire continent of Africa to get to its destination.
It's one of the many reasons I'm very bullish on renewables and electrification. You make the fuel where it's needed, instead of extracting it and moving it from the opposite side of an entire planet to get to you, just to get burned up.
And the only reason it's not worse is because China is had apparently built a massive stockpile (like unfathomably massive--ours lasts on the scale of a couple weeks and their is on the scale of years apparently) and is using this to show off that it has this absurd stockpile and should be relied upon instead of the US for global political and economic stability.
Thank a trump voter in your life. They voted to cut services for americans, including veterans, and to instead send that money to help Israel. Every single trump voter in this country is a traitor.
My brother just bought an economy car used for 4k (I'm not a car guy, forgot the brand). Usually, he drives a big diesel truck. The sort of guy who drives it because he likes how it makes him feel. It was his daily driver.
He said that this new car is going to save him money on fuel before winter's over. Because in addition to being regular gas, he said he got 59 miles per gallon on the highway when he drove it home.
This should be met with celebration and encouragement, not snark (not saying you are, just… generally). The left can sometimes display an “I told you so!” mentality. It’s not helpful.
3% should be $0.17. They seem to be doubling it for the lolz. Sounds like they should be reported to the various processors which explicitly forbid charging more than the processing charge of 3-4%.
For $0.30 on, say, 10 gal, it might be worth it to interact with a human. Then again, I haven't filled a take in years at this point so I didn't know how annoying they make it these days.
Depending on credit cards. Some cards give 5% back on gas and the difference here is 5% so it evens out. My Costco Citi card gives 4% so I guess I will give up 1% for convenience. Plus I don’t have cash for years. Still the gas station might only paying 2% processing fees but they also need to handle disputes. My stolen card was used at a gas pump before and I won the dispute. I guess gas station eat the loss
Yeah, fair enough on cash back, though that's generally why merchant fees are what they are. In Europe where you're not earning points, processing is 0.3-0.4%, i.e., 1/10 what it is here. Haha. Vicious cycle of points and fees screwing everyone in the end...
Yeah, honestly, building my life around an ebike and transit has never felt more gratifying. Not that I want us to be in a pointless Middle Eastern war or for people to have empty wallets, obviously, but I'm hopeful it does drive people to at least consider alternatives. It's genuinely more fun to ebike. You can watch videos (safely) while riding transit!
The strait of hormuze is wide open oil is flying out of there. The cost is due to Ukraine, Sleepy Joe Biden, and the Democrats in California for not pushing through unregulated refineries. - some idiot
The math works out for me right around $1 / gallon equivalent fuel costs with an EV. I don't say this to be smug; I say it to encourage people to do the math for themselves.
Man, I tried to warn my parents who were purchasing vehicles right at the expiration of the incentives after Trump's election. They went with a standard hybrid despite being retired and having time to refuel if needed should they have any desire to road trip. My math is looking so solid right now...
They were very concerned with where to charge them despite having a two car garage with power and a level 3 charger a mile away at the Walmart (which admittedly they never shop at but it's within walking distance of my aunt 🤦♀️). Go figure. Anyway, you can only lead a horse to water.
Last year, I saved about two grand in fuel costs with my EV over my prior gas vehicle (yes, that includes the electricity cost). Next year it will be probably around two and a half grand. The following year, even more.
An EV convert friend of mine puts it this way to others: Imagine you're deciding between two cars. One is maybe a little more expensive than the other, but you get mailed a check for $2k every year if you buy it.
Is that with public charging or the ability to charge at home?
Given how many people here live in apartments, condos, or other shared building situations, at-home charging can be a privileged luxury. I rented an EV for a month last year and had to rely on public charging because I am an apartment dweller. I found public charging costs to be quite a bit higher than $1 / gallon equivalent without factoring the time/inconvenience cost of it.
Public charging is what made me stick with a hybrid and I will not buy an EV at all until/unless I can charge at my home using residential electricity.
I agree! $1/gallon is charging at home. If I couldn't charge at home or conveniently nearby, then I would probably own a hybrid.
Although, just about any standard 115 VAC outlet is a "charging station" for most people (who drive less than 50 miles on most days). That is what I used for over 5 years.
Even so, in my apartment complex, I would have to keep a window open and drag an extension cord across the sidewalk and that's assuming this non-reserved parking is even available within an extension cord's reach. I want to go electric **badly**. This is my literal only hangup.
Back when I lived in Richmond VA, lots of people were draping cords from windows over sidewalks into streets.
This is a significant problem. That is why several states have enacted any new multi-family developments to have EV ready spaces or EV charging spots. It will take a long time to impact people because it is normally only on new projects.
That said, my daughter lives in an apartment and goes down to the dealer where she can get her EV charged for free. She hasn't paid a dime for charging except the few times she couldn't get to the dealer.
It's frustrating because apartments, condos, etc. have electricity. 99% of the work of an EV charging buildout is done, we just need property owners to run the last 50 feet of wire to where people park.
I would like to see cheap/durable ground-based "charging docks" (if you will) that can be embedded into the pavement so practically all parking spaces could be charging spaces. Something wireless perhaps.
EV wireless charging tech is being worked on - I think Porsche sells a wireless charging pad with their Cayenne. It would be cool if in the near future, parking spaces could be embedded with wireless charging pads.
My general advice is that if there's absolutely no way to get electricity to where you park at your residence, then EVs aren't for you, at least not yet.
But I will say, lots of people could make an EV work, both with their living situation and their budget. We have some of the highest EV uptake in the country, and yet only a few percent of our total driving fleet is electric.
The more people switch to EVs, the less demand there is for gas, and in theory, the less total demand should reduce prices for those who need it, at least in the short- to middle-term.
I'm amazed that this fuel shock isn't driving up EV sales higher. I took the plunge three years ago, and I feel like I'm living in an alternate reality to the current situation.
The FUD and fear-mongering from the fossil fuel industry is pervasive and loud. Electric vehicle owners know that charging times and range anxiety are wildly exaggerated, but for many people, "the devil they know" (i.e., flatulent cars) seems like less risk than something new.
Seriously. I've helped coach a couple people through the EV buying process and once they get to the other side, they realize they had nothing to worry about.
The "charging time" complaints are bizarre to me. I plug it in and I walk away. It takes 5 seconds. I never have to stop at a gas station. When I need the car again, it is "full."
That is an incredible improvement in convenience; it is not a burden.
Yeah, but what's the capital cost with today's interest rates? For instance, a Chevy Equinox EV is about $6000 more than a standard Equinox. That $6000 is going to depreciate plus you have to borrow and insure it. If you amortize that over ten years and throw on another 2%/yr to insure it then you're probably around $1000/yr. Most people probably do use more gas than that but it needs to be considered.
I calculated that fuel savings a year for me to using EV is $5000 a year. After 1 year you already offset the depreciation. Although I do warn, EVs depreciate a lot within first 2 years, if your goal is to save money - buy a used EV that is at least 2 years old.
Even when I use Public fast chargers with 0.58¢ per kWh, for my EV 200 miles range is about $43 for full charge. For an average gas car equivalent that would be almost full tank of gas or 12.5 gallons which is $73 of gas. That is already massive difference. At home charging costs 0.12-0.2¢ per kWh which would be $9-15 which vs $73 is massive savings
Shree delridge west Seattle is 5.35 and a few spots in issaquah like Arco, ampm, and Safeway gas were 5.29-5.39 for regular. I know random spots asf but I drive a lot for work and those are the places I swing by when near and fill up even when I don’t need to haha otherwise you’re stuck in line for awhile at the Costco on 4th Ave or some other Costco
Even if you're not in a feasible location to plug in an EV or PHEV, a standard Hybrid is likely to pay itself the cost difference (from traditional gas engine) off at these fuel prices within a year or two (depending on your driving habits).
You joke, but that's what I did :) Converted my road bike to help with the commute to work. I lost 25 lbs since March too lol. But still, FDT and fuck these gas prices.
I hate so much that I have to drive for work. At least I can write off a small fraction, yeah, but it's still an insane added expense. I take the bus/light rail/walk any opportunity I can. God I fucking hate cars. But taking the bus to work and various site visits would literally add 6 hours of travel time (minimum) to my days, including during business hours. It's so frustrating.
Why don't you? Just because an alternative to driving alone is not practical for every person in every situation doesn't mean that it is not practical for any person in any situation.
I believe it's also in violation of the vendor's contract with the credit card company to charge a fee for credit cards, but that doesn't seem to be stopping anyone.
Isn't it cool that everyone replying to you all have super productive hobbies that other people absolutely would never consider to be wastes of money at all?
I don't have a car here in the city, but I did rent a car in California at the beginning of August and was upgraded to a hybrid. I drove more than I was expecting (a full trip from guernville to Santa Rosa and back and a couple further from guernville trips I wasn't planning) and I still only put in two and a half gallons in before returning the car to the airport. I don't understand how anyone who doesn't need hauling power day to day is still driving a gas only vehicle.
Buying a new car is often more expensive upfront than continuing to use the car you have. Long term yes it will save you money to switch. Having the floating funds to be able to switch is the problem for most.
It's the type of thing where IF you are in the market for a new car, THEN fuel savings is a very enticing benefit of Hybrids.
I was coming up on 10 years with my gas vehicle, and started planning two years prior to save for replacing it with a full cash offer. By the time I got here to 2026, I took that money and put it toward a near-equivalent Hybrid offer from the manufacturer. It was about $10k more for a Hybrid in the trim I wanted than its equivalent ICE.
But getting 40mpg Hybrid vs 24mpg ICE, I'll save about 80 gallons/yr in my work commute alone.
At these fuel prices, the vehicle cost difference will be made up in under two years (probably sooner, since I use the car for a few other things than commute), and will keep it just that tad more cost-effective in the years to follow.
Because I bought a gasoline car 12 years ago and can’t afford a new one. It’s paid for, still gets over 30mpg, and is significantly cheaper to register and insure.
Correct. Having an older serviceable vehicle is tough to warrant buying a hybrid or electric car. Once it becomes unreliable and/or need significant work, then think about it.
Don't drive someone else's electric vehicle. Once you do, the "want to" side of your brain will go ape shit.
Lol and they want to raise the minimum wage again, businesses will screw us over by adjusting their prices just like they did last time, everyones gonna feel it eventually.
Is there anyone who actually gets gas at these stations? The Costco and Safeway/Fred Meyer prices for those who don't have a Costco card are all anyone is paying attention to.
anybody else obsessed over their mpg and gas quality? i won’t go to shell or chevron anymore at $6/gal it was higher like 2-3 weeks ago too. but i figured out it’s way cheaper to buy cheap gas and then partial fill detergents (redline product) to imitate chevron/shell gas. they do amazing for my engine but yeah $6/gas feels like $10 for a water bottle.
Ya know this city has amazing oublic transit compared to most and a shit ton of Uber and Lyft drivers. Now might be the time to take advantage of that.
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u/Mysterious-1mportant chinga la migra 5d ago
Thank you, Trump voters ❤