Why the 9?
While on the road today I kept noticing the gas station billboards that were listing prices at $2.599, or $2.569. Why the extra number? With gas prices the way they are there's no way you're squeezing anything out for less than a cent, so why advertise it? I would think that this is bad marketing for the gas companies as it advertises the fact that if there were some way to get coins in smaller increments than pennies, the gas station would charge us as much of this newfound coinage per gallon as economically possible. Am I the only one noticing this?
Not a profound way to come back from a long pause perhaps, but hey folks, it's the weekend and I'm on vacation.
Not a profound way to come back from a long pause perhaps, but hey folks, it's the weekend and I'm on vacation.
4 Comments:
The same reason CDs cost $14.99, not $15. Apparently, people grumble less in the case of the former than the latter. I had this question at one point and looked it up. Apparently, the difference in profits is staggering (one web site estimates the 9/10-cent pricing accounts for nearly $200M profit for gas companies per year in the U.S.). In Europe, the 9 isn't fixed, it could be any number there, by the liter/litre, of course.
By the way, there are a few stores/restaurants here that have nice, round, tax-included prices. I LOVE that (can't emphasize the magnitude of the love enough).
Here's the thing that bugs me at times when I'm feeling suspicious about things: who says the machine is being honest about how much gas it's giving me? I'm going to drive my car anyway, probably 'til the gas light comes on or threatens to. Gas mileage varies. There's no way to visually verify a full tank. Again, these are suspicious moments. Not necessarily rational. I mean, I'm sure the government verifies accuracy, right?
What a flurry. I promise, I'm done.
What a great follow-up. It is indeed a pleasure to hear from The Chris James again. I've wondered about the machine honesty thing as well. I suppose you're right, that is the role of organizations and governments, but maybe one of these days you will find me at the pump with a measuring cup and a calculator just to be sure.
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