Orlando Gas Gouging

Comments (scroll down to add your own):

1. Maybe it is just me, but I always look at the sign before pumping! $4 is a total bad beat though, I wonder if those customers will come back for more next week?

   Comment by Blain Reinkensmeyer — Apr 24th 2007 @ 9:25 am

2. That sounds like a great way to make a couple dollars today and lose a customer forever.

   We have a membership to BJ’s, and the other day I was having trouble getting it to remember my scanned membership card all the way through pumping. I was wondering how many people think they are getting a deal on the gas but wind up paying an extra 10 to 15 cents per gallon because they don’t notice that their card (even though scanned) had turned itself off before they actually started pumping.

   Thankfully, I’m anal like that and noticed before letting any gas out of the hose so I had a $0 sale and then the normal sale.

   Comment by Blaine Moore — Apr 24th 2007 @ 9:41 am

3. “a gas station near the Orlando, FL airport”

   That answers your question. They are getting people returning their rental cars who would probably pay $5 a gallon if they let the rental car place refill it. This seems slimy at the least.

   Comment by Kurt — Apr 24th 2007 @ 10:53 am

4. I heard gas was going to hit $4 anyway. I bet they’d charge $5+ if that ever happened.

   Comment by Henry @ Binary Dollar — Apr 24th 2007 @ 11:00 am

5. I STAYED ON TOP OF THE OIL COMPANYS BEFORE I BECAME GOVENOR , NOW SCREW ALL OF YOU…

   Comment by CHARLIE CRIST — Apr 24th 2007 @ 1:18 pm

6. I do think there are some rather obvious pricing irregularities these days. Here in Washington State, it sounds like there is going to be an investigation as to why Bellingham, a college town near the US/Canada border typically has prices $0.25 - $0.30 higher than the statewide average. Lately, it seems that the prices change twice per day, once in the morning and once in the evening, all for gas that is still in the tanks. To me, that seems like gouging

   Comment by Fellowes — Apr 24th 2007 @ 8:14 pm

7. I live in Canada and we are paying about $4.60 a gallon. $4 sounds like cheap gas to me.

   Yeah, I keep my Chevy Avalanche parked a lot!

   Comment by Crediteria.com — Apr 25th 2007 @ 4:05 am

8. Interesting. $4.60 Canadian is still roughly $4.10 USD, so it sounds like you’re paying a good bit.

   Comment by nickel — Apr 25th 2007 @ 8:08 am

9. It’s the first gas station you come to off 528 The bee-line on SR 426 Semeron Blvd. As of last night they were still $1.20 higher than any other station in the area at $4.19.. The receipt has Suncoast Energys, 528 Butler Nat’l Dr., Orlando FL. 32822, but this is not the location of the pumps. No prices posted, ripping people off…I really don’t understand how they keep getting away with this…

   Comment by JMelvin — May 19th 2007 @ 1:01 pm

10. In response to #9, they “get away with it” because the price is posted at every pump above the grade selection button. No they don’t post the price of gas on the road, but they don’t list their milk and egg prices either.

    If you can’t read the price posted at the pump, how are you supposed to notice it on the road?

    “Ripping people off” is when you post one price and then charge another. This is not happening.

    If you don’t like the price at Starbuck’s go to a 7-Eleven.

    Comment by Iheight Wieners — Aug 31st 2007 @ 7:24 pm

11. In response to #10…your way off the mark. There is such a thing is business ethics and responsibility to the public. The owner of this gas station is taking advantage of the tourist life blood of Florida. What he is doing is unethical and despite the prevailing laws of Florida regarding “gouging” it is gouging in my opinion.

    Comment by John Kostenbader — Sep 29th 2007 @ 6:35 pm

12. There is no defending the person who owns this gas station. He has been ripping people off for years and I’m sure he is a multi millionaire because of it. He is the closest station to the airport as well as the car rental places and he is taken full advantage of the tourist that wants to drop iff their car and get to the airport. It’s unfortunate that the state of Florida allows places like this to be in business and rip off the very person who is spending a ton of money at the theme parks in Orlando???

    Comment by Mike Rogers — Oct 7th 2007 @ 3:09 pm

13. From the Orlando Better Business Bureau

    “Based on BBB files, this company has a satisfactory record with the Bureau. Any complaints processed by the Bureau in its three-year reporting period have been resolved. The number and type of complaints are not unusual for a company in this industry.

    To have a “Satisfactory Record” with the Bureau, a company must be in business for at least 12 months, properly and promptly address matters referred to it by the Bureau, and be free from an unusual volume or pattern of complaints and law enforcement action involving its marketplace conduct. In addition, the Bureau must have a clear understanding of the company’s business and no concerns about its industry.
    Consumers have advised that gas prices at this station are higher than average. The company has responded the higher prices charged are needed to absorb some of the higher costs of building in the location and meeting higher stringent standards of Lee Vista Center; street price signage is not permitted. The price per gallon is digitally posted at every pump and the consumer can make a decision prior to purchase. Company is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.”

    So it seems that they pay their dues to the BBB

    Comment by Jason — Nov 30th 2007 @ 10:24 pm

14. I purchased gas yesterday at Suncoast Energys in Orlando exactly the way they intended–Returning a vehicle early in the morning–no prices posted and had started pumping before I realized the price $4.499 per gallon. They should be tarred and feathered!!

    Comment by david savoie — Feb 21st 2008 @ 9:17 am

15. As I was looking on how to file a complaint regarding a gas station near Orlando Airport charging $4.49 for the gas price per gallon for regular unleaded self-serve, I am surprised to see many people have the same experiencefor such a long time and authorities have not done anything about it. Can someone please tell me if there is place where I can fomally send my complaint.

    Comment by Jyoti Seth — Feb 26th 2008 @ 9:19 pm

16. I first noticed this in February 2007. Pulled my rental car up to the pump, took one look at the prices and proceed 1.5 miles down Semoran Blvd to 7-Eleven where I paid a market rate for gas. One of my co-workers who routinely flies in and out of MCO said he never noticed this (oops…) but that he will also drive the extra 1.5 miles to 7-Eleven from now on. When I returned in 2008 I didn’t even bother to stop at the Suncoast station.

    Comment by Jon — Feb 28th 2008 @ 3:55 pm

17. They are still charging exuberant prices, almost 2 dollars a gallon more than anywhere else and yes, still no sign. I started getting gas and stopped once I realized the price, but it took me a couple double takes which in that period ran me quite a bit of money for no gas. It is an example of unethical business practices, which do not always include anything illegal. Merely two miles down the road the other stations are normally priced, but then again, they also clearly advertise their prices. Either way, Suncoast Engergys has been doing this for awhile and I am sure will continue. Here are the owners, Raymond Pannone, Charles Lechtworth and Bob Barnes.

    Comment by Eric — Aug 5th 2008 @ 11:19 am

18. I was just there on the 9th and they are at $5.49 a gallon. Still there today I called to check. I filed a complaint with the Florida Division of Consumer Services. Since there is now a declared state of emergency they can hopefully investigate these scumbags. I was caught up in the same situation running late for a flight and had to fill my rental. I will NEVER make that mistake again.

    Comment by Tom — Aug 19th 2008 @ 10:55 am

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