Gas-saving promises often costly, too good to be true

I am old enough to recall the “gas crisis” of the 1970s, complete with long lines and a mandated 55 mph speed limit on highways. Given that deception has been around as long as people have, I am sure there was quite an array of clever scams back then with regards to saving or simply buying gasoline.

Well, here we are in the 21st century with a new crop of marketplace schemes hounding the gas industry. Take these options with many grains of salt per gallon.

Set the bait and switch prices

You drive by and see that a posted price per gallon is almost 10 cents below the competition in the area. Lucky you! So, you pull in and fill up both those tanks on that dual reservoir SUV. But the price per gallon is not what is posted on the street. You walk to the cash register counter and the clerk explains that the posted price applies only to cash sales, and you are trying to pay with a credit card. You’re stuck! Your two tanks are already filled up with gas totaling well over $100 and you do not have that much cash on you. So you have no choice but pay the higher price. What really gives you heartburn is that you paid a nickel a gallon more than you would have at your regular station. Some deal.

What can you do? Report it to the Better Business Bureau, for starters. The stations should make a “cash only” price clear on the street sign. We will contact the station and work with it to correct the confusion. Advice? Check the “price per gallon” on the pump before you fill up.

Additives and gas-saving devices

One of my favorites gas-saving devices was one sold via ads in magazines and newspapers. For a mere $49.95, the “Magna-Reducer” claimed it would increase your miles by at least 5 miles per gallon on the very first tank after installation. We ordered one and had a couple of engineers review its efficacy. What a joke! You know the small magnetic boxes you can hide an extra key in and stick someplace under you hood? That is all it was, just packaged differently. This company is long gone, but it’s a wonder how much money they made in the short time they were in business.

We are still seeing ads for liquids you pour into your tank that claim to make your vehicle more fuel-efficient. Many of these have absolutely no scientific basis, and frankly, if there were such a legitimate product, wouldn’t we all know about it? Check with your trusted mechanic before you go wasting money on things that do not work.

Betting on the price of gas

The Web site mygallons.com first came to BBB Miami’s attention on July 1. It offers a gas card program where you can “buy gallons in advance at your MyGallons price at the time of purchase and then redeem your gallons at the pump after the prices have risen.” An annual membership fee ranges from $29.95 to $39.95, depending on the program you choose.

BBB met with the company July 9. As a result, the company’s claims have been modified. The company’s merchant services provider, PowerPay, has assured the BBB that membership fees processed by them on behalf of MyGallons.com customers have been placed in a non-interest bearing escrow account.

Mygallons.com acknowledges it does not have a contract in place with a vendor that can process transactions with gas stations across the country; it has suspended taking membership fees.

BBB encourages consumers to carefully read and understand all the terms, conditions and risks of this offer.

Driving 30 miles to save a few cents

I giggle when I hear people talking about driving 30 miles roundtrip to save that few cents. So here is the math: You drive a car that gets 30 mpg and has a 15-gallon tank. Gas is $4.15 a gallon. You spend $62.25 on a tank at that price. How much less per gallon will you need to pay to see any savings when you drive 30 miles? Five cents? Nope, that is $61.50 a tank. Ten cents? Nope, that’s $60.75 a tank. How about a quarter? OK, that is $58.50 for that full tank, and you saved $3.75 on the 15 gallons. That hardly seems worth your time to make that drive.

There are a number of other saner ways to save gas, but if they sound too good to be true you might be smart to just drive away.