Deceptive Fuel Ads

[Pete Masterson]

The clerk told you wrong. The signs an Flying J display the _cash_
price. The pump has the credit price. If you pay cash, you pay the
cash price. If you pay with a credit card, you pay the credit price.
I was in a Flying J in St. George, UT two hours ago, and there was a
small sign on the pump that explained the "posted price" is the cash
price and the "pump price" is 6 cents more as the credit price. It
was clear and concise. I imagine that similar notices are on pumps in
other Flying J stations. No deception involved.

The good news is, with a Flying J "R.V. Real Value Member" card
through FMCA, you can get the cash price but pay with a credit card.
You use the Flying J card to 'release' the pump, answer "cash" for
payment and answer any other questions the card reader asks (It asks
me my "unit number" (I enter 95WL), my 'hub odometer reading' (I put
in some numbers approximating my current mileage) and my license
plate number and state then it tells me the pump is ready).

I then fill up and pull forward clear of the pumps (to let the next
guy in) then go inside and pay at the "fuel desk" with my credit
card. No questions asked and I get the cash price and (usually) a
small additional discount (some "franchise locations" don't give the
extra discount) for my "frequent fueler" card.

You can also get an RV card or a frequent fueler card direct from
Flying J at any of their stations or order online from their web
site. It gives you a small discount, but I don't know (for sure) if
it guarantees the cash price.

I will say that in _Oregon_ most of the truck stops advertise a "tax
exempt" price that's about 10 cents per gallon less than the price
that most people pay. There's usually a "PUC Exempt" note under the
posted price.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Hurricane UT (Zion NP)



On Oct 6, 2007, at 9:52 PM, John McGinnis wrote:

> Driving 600 miles this weekend we noticed fuel ads on the highway for
> Flying J at 2.95 per gallon, but when we pull up to the pumps they
> read 3.05. We asked the clerk and was told that sign was for the tax
> exempt truckers. Is deceptive advertising a common practice for
> Flying J. We didn't notice it the last time we filled up at Flying J,
> Piolet read the actual price and so did Loves. So what's up with
> Flying J?
> John 88FC35 Bird Brains



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