9/10 of a cent scam

Collarspace Discussion Forums

Home Login Search

9/10 of a cent scam

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> 9/10 of a cent scam

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

9/10 of a cent scam - 8/31/2005 10:12:47 PM

FangsNfeet

Posts: 3758
Joined: 12/3/2004
Status: offline

As many of us are becoming more irritable with our rising gas prices, I've decided to vent what ticks me off the most with our gas companies.

Every gas station always sells with a 9/10 of a cent along with the rest of the price per gallon. It's as if all these companies really think that we're paying $2.85 a gallon instead of 2.85 9/10 per gallon which is really 2.86 per gallon. After all, 9/10 is always going to get rounded up to 1. So the price is rounded up but we only put 9/10 in our tanks. What a SCAM and every company does it.

What causes ever company to sell gas around the same price and why the 9/10 BS? I wish we could put an end to what goes on behind the curtains with these Gas Deals. I really don't care what the price of gas is. It has to naturaly increase with inflation and supply/demand just like all the other products we buy and use. But what keeps one, just one gas company from getting rid of it's 9/10 and maybe selling gas just a little cheaper than the others?

I hate the 9/10 scam. I've always hated it after taking fractions back in elementry. What would it take to get rid of the 9/10 of a cent on the price of gas per gallon?

_____________________________

I'm Godzilla and you're Japan

Profile

Post #: 1

RE: 9/10 of a cent scam - 8/31/2005 10:17:59 PM

Lordandmaster

Posts: 10943
Joined: 6/22/2004
Status: offline

In the old days, they used to indicate the 9/10 of a cent in the billboards with a little superscript "9" at the end of the price. Now they don't even bother.

(in reply to FangsNfeet)

Profile

Post #: 2

RE: 9/10 of a cent scam - 8/31/2005 11:18:08 PM

GoddessDustyGold

Posts: 2822
Joined: 4/11/2004
From: Arizona
Status: offline

I asked the same question many years agol. I'm a bit hazy on this, but I did hear the story...from My dad, I think. It has something to do with way back when, and the attendants were able to skim, somehow, when the amount was even. I think it was actually lowered by 1/10th of a cent in order to make this an impossible practice. I know I am, not remembering the the entire explanation, but it made sense at the time.
I could be all wrong on this.
There is also this article from the Honolulu Advisor's business section .
Maybe someone else knows the actual answer?

edited to add: LaM...they still have the 9 at the end of the price on the billboards here.

< Message edited by GoddessDustyGold -- 8/31/2005 11:19:50 PM >

_____________________________

Dusty
They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety
B Franklin
Don't blame Me ~ I didn't vote for either of them
The Hidden Kingdom

(in reply to FangsNfeet)

Profile

Post #: 3

RE: 9/10 of a cent scam - 9/1/2005 3:52:50 AM

UtopianRanger

Posts: 3251
Status: offline

quote:

What causes ever company to sell gas around the same price and why the 9/10 BS? I wish we could put an end to what goes on behind the curtains with these Gas Deals. I really don't care what the price of gas is. It has to naturaly increase with inflation and supply/demand just like all the other products we buy and use. But what keeps one, just one gas company from getting rid of it's 9/10 and maybe selling gas just a little cheaper than the others?

It's a psychological marketing ploy designed to make something appear cheaper than it actually is. It's used everywhere goods and services are purchased.

- The Ranger

< Message edited by UtopianRanger -- 9/1/2005 4:00:35 AM >

_____________________________

"If you are going to win any battle, you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do... the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."

-General George S. Patton

(in reply to FangsNfeet)

Profile

Post #: 4

RE: 9/10 of a cent scam - 9/1/2005 4:34:15 AM

RiotGirl

Posts: 3149
Status: offline

True Ranger. Which is why when you go to the store its 39.99 instead of 40. Your mind see's the 3 thinks 30's.

29.99
19.99
49.99

i'd like to see

28.88
29.98

(in reply to UtopianRanger)

Profile

Post #: 5

RE: 9/10 of a cent scam - 9/1/2005 5:30:05 AM

LadyAngelika

Posts: 8070
Joined: 7/4/2004
Status: offline

I've seen stores lately price things at .77 to get away from the .99 stigma. Do they think we are morons?

To be honest, I love seeing a round number. What I love even more is when I'm told it's tax included. The clothing boutiques I go tend to round off their prices and include the taxes. So does the market where I buy my produce. I appreciate it very much.

- LA

_____________________________

Une main de fer dans un gant de velours ~ An iron hand in a velvet glove

(in reply to RiotGirl)

Profile

Post #: 6

RE: 9/10 of a cent scam - 9/1/2005 6:20:19 AM

MsIncognito

Posts: 742
Joined: 5/24/2005
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: UtopianRanger

It's a psychological marketing ploy designed to make something appear cheaper than it actually is. It's used everywhere goods and services are purchased.

Exactly what I was thinking. It's no different than a store selling an item for $6.99 instead of an even $7. As if that one penny makes such a difference, but it *does* work.

(in reply to UtopianRanger)

Profile

Post #: 7

RE: 9/10 of a cent scam - 9/1/2005 6:22:07 AM

MsIncognito

Posts: 742
Joined: 5/24/2005
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: RiotGirl
i'd like to see

28.88
29.98

Go to WalMart. One of their policies is that they NEVER price anything at $0.99. They claim that their prices are the "true" prices because they sell at $8.37 or $2.78. *shrug* Just another marketing ploy.

(in reply to RiotGirl)

Profile

Post #: 8

RE: 9/10 of a cent scam - 9/1/2005 6:55:54 AM

perfection20005

Posts: 419
Joined: 4/20/2005
Status: offline

It would take some smart and honest oil people. We all know that isn't going to happen, they just want to make people think they are getting a deal.
There was a gas station in my area that was selling at 8/10 gallon at a cheaper price, and people thought they were getting a better deal than the stations at 9/10 for a penny more!

_____________________________

perfection

"I took one look at Him, and I knew He was my Master."

(in reply to FangsNfeet)

Profile

Post #: 9

RE: 9/10 of a cent scam - 9/1/2005 7:51:58 AM

JohnWarren

Posts: 3807
Joined: 3/18/2005
From: Delray Beach, FL
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: MsIncognito

quote:

ORIGINAL: UtopianRanger

It's a psychological marketing ploy designed to make something appear cheaper than it actually is. It's used everywhere goods and services are purchased.

Exactly what I was thinking. It's no different than a store selling an item for $6.99 instead of an even $7. As if that one penny makes such a difference, but it *does* work.

Sadly, it does. When I began Diversified Services. I sold things for the even dollar. When my mailing list passed the 5000 mark I decided to do a split mailing. One set of catalogs had even dollars; the other had .95. I got twice as many orders from the second set and I'm sure it wasn't a rational "savings" of a nickle.

Next catalog mailing was all .95. Sales went up again.

_____________________________

www.lovingdominant.org

(in reply to MsIncognito)

Profile

Post #: 10

RE: 9/10 of a cent scam - 9/1/2005 6:40:02 PM

LadyAngelika

Posts: 8070
Joined: 7/4/2004
Status: offline

quote:

Just another marketing ploy.

I think it's about catering to the population. It's also a social strata/cultural thing.

Many of the clothing boutiques I go to would never mark decimals on their clothes because it would make them look plebeian. It is an image they want to project that yes their clothes cost a lot and they are proud to display it. Mind you, more often then not, I go in perusing their sales racks cos I'm a bargain hunter that way ;) Gotta love getting a 300$ suit for 50$!

It's also a cultural thing. A Japanese friend of mine explained to me that when you pay for something in Japan, you do not wait around for change. At the very least, not small change. To do so brings dishonour to you because it portrays you as someone who has financial troubles.

I know in Canada, we have the .99 stores but it's mostly in the larger grocery stores (not the small épiceries) and the larger American-influenced department stores that cater to the masses. Not the higher end department stores.

I don't want this post to make me come off snooty. I'm just trying to illustrate cultural perceptions and impressions.

- LA

_____________________________

Une main de fer dans un gant de velours ~ An iron hand in a velvet glove

(in reply to MsIncognito)

Profile

Post #: 11