Author Topic: What's with the gas lines at Costco?  (Read 7292 times)

Offline cmey

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What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« on: March 22, 2017, 09:30:44 AM »
Someone pointed this out a few days ago, and it is pretty puzzling to see lines of cars six deep waiting for gas by Costco. The price is maybe 8 cents per gallon cheaper than neighboring gas stations with no lines. How in the world does it pay to wait that long to save under 2 bucks a fill up. Arent most of the Costco customers upper middle classs? Presumably they would value their time at way more than that- not to mention that there is gas wasted idling etc.. Or is there a different lower class clientele that is mostly utilizing the gas station?

Offline Z56

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2017, 09:32:23 AM »
Someone pointed this out a few days ago, and it is pretty puzzling to see lines of cars six deep waiting for gas by Costco. The price is maybe 8 cents per gallon cheaper than neighboring gas stations with no lines. How in the world does it pay to wait that long to save under 2 bucks a fill up. Arent most of the Costco customers upper middle classs? Presumably they would value their time at way more than that- not to mention that there is gas wasted idling etc.. Or is there a different lower class clientele that is mostly utilizing the gas station?

I guess its the "lower class"
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Offline aygart

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2017, 09:48:31 AM »
1. Their gas line moves much faster than many other places.
2. It is out of habit
3. You do not need to be a member to buy gas if you use cash IIRC.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline shulem92

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2017, 10:06:15 AM »
1. Their gas line moves much faster than many other places.
2. It is out of habit
3. You do not need to be a member to buy gas if you use cash IIRC.
Don't need to be a member at all.
The convenience of not having to remember which side your gas tank is on, as they will stretch it around the car for you

Offline JTZ

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2017, 10:09:25 AM »
Someone pointed this out a few days ago, and it is pretty puzzling to see lines of cars six deep waiting for gas by Costco. The price is maybe 8 cents per gallon cheaper than neighboring gas stations with no lines. How in the world does it pay to wait that long to save under 2 bucks a fill up. Arent most of the Costco customers upper middle classs? Presumably they would value their time at way more than that- not to mention that there is gas wasted idling etc.. Or is there a different lower class clientele that is mostly utilizing the gas station?
Maybe they are upper class who became upper class because they know how to manage money.  :P
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Offline aygart

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2017, 10:12:39 AM »
Maybe they are upper class who became upper class because they know how to manage money.  :P
But not how to manage time? Doubt it.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline JTZ

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2017, 10:22:32 AM »
But not how to manage time? Doubt it.
They are probably there anyway.
"LESS IS MORE" It is the cumulative effect that kills deals!!! How many times do I have to say this?  >:(

Offline HowYaDoin

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2017, 10:23:49 AM »
1. Their gas line moves much faster than many other places.
2. It is out of habit
3. You do not need to be a member to buy gas if you use cash IIRC.
+3

Offline aygart

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2017, 10:24:40 AM »
They are probably there anyway.
On line?
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline cmey

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2017, 10:36:26 AM »
+3
I would guess it's not possible to fill up in less that 1.5 minutes per customer. That's around $2 for ~10 minutes - idling and restarting engine etc= under $12 an hour. There's is no way that makes financial sense. I'm guessing it's habit and seniors who are not otherwise occupied....

Offline SSLPhD

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2017, 10:46:58 AM »
Don't need to be a member at all.
The convenience of not having to remember which side your gas tank is on, as they will stretch it around the car for you
No need to remember anything.  There is an arrow in/by the gas gauge that points to the filling side.  Especially useful in rentals.
44/50, 46/63

Offline hachover

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2017, 11:01:48 AM »
No need to remember anything.  There is an arrow in/by the gas gauge that points to the filling side.  Especially useful in rentals.

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Offline coralsnake

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2017, 11:15:20 AM »
No need to remember anything.  There is an arrow in/by the gas gauge that points to the filling side.  Especially useful in rentals.
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Offline shulem92

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #13 on: March 22, 2017, 01:44:11 PM »
No need to remember anything.  There is an arrow in/by the gas gauge that points to the filling side.  Especially useful in rentals.
I know. It was a joke

Offline cmey

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #14 on: March 22, 2017, 04:21:38 PM »
Hey, people spend 20 minutes to get a $5 credit on Amazon so maybe there's something to that...

Offline JTZ

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #15 on: March 22, 2017, 06:42:41 PM »
Hey, people spend 20 minutes to get a $5 credit on Amazon so maybe there's something to that...
...or they spend hours on DDF and get nothing.  :)
"LESS IS MORE" It is the cumulative effect that kills deals!!! How many times do I have to say this?  >:(

Offline mekler

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #16 on: March 22, 2017, 07:00:40 PM »
I'd name it CGS (cheaper gas syndrome ). Most people suffer from it. They're obsessed with paying a few cents cheaper for gas

Offline shulem92

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #17 on: March 22, 2017, 11:15:18 PM »
I'd name it CGS (cheaper gas syndrome ). Most people suffer from it. They're obsessed with paying a few cents cheaper for gas
+.019

Offline regular

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #18 on: March 22, 2017, 11:19:55 PM »

Online shmoe joe

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Re: What's with the gas lines at Costco?
« Reply #19 on: March 22, 2017, 11:27:30 PM »
And on the palisades parkway it's the same. people wait 15-20 mins on line to save $3-3.5!
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