Petrol prices change during the day?

PBandNutella · 02-02-2016 1:14am #1

I was on my way out and topped up the car with petrol today. This was €1.22 a litre at the time. On my way home roughly 2 hours later I noticed that the garage I had been in and the one on the opposite side of the road had gone up in price by 2 cent. I was always under the illusion that the price changed overnight and each day had its own set price.
Is this true that the can change at any time of the day or did I shine the whole thing?

coylemj · 02-02-2016 1:24am

They can change the price 20 times a day if they choose to.

Foxhole Norman · 02-02-2016 1:52am

It basically changes whenever the boss tells them to change it.

Atlantic Dawn · 02-02-2016 1:57am

Is it possible for them to change the price during the refuel process or would all pumps need to be off at the time?

Foxhole Norman · 02-02-2016 1:59am

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Is it possible for them to change the price during the refuel process or would all pumps need to be off at the time?

Can all be changed at a minutes notice! You can do it whenever.

Yawns · 02-02-2016 2:04am

They change it on the system. If a pump is in use then the price displayed when you start to use it is the price you pay. Each pump will reset back to 0.0 liters dispensed / sold at start of each use. When it does this, it also checks and displays the current selling price per unit as well as tracking how much is dispensed. The unit price per litre cannot change while in use. It must wait until the pump handle is replaced and lifted again, wait for til operator to activate it again and it will check current price again as well as reset counters to 0.0 again.

So if I was at pump 1 and halfway filling at say 1.20 a litre, the owner changed price on board up by 2 cent. After this you come in and start filling at pump 2 while I am still there, your pump will display 1.22 per litre but mine would still display 1.20 until the pump gets reset.

However in most cases, the price is changed in the morning before opening or after a delivery if deemed necessary. But it can be changed throughout the day.

gercoral · 02-02-2016 2:16am

yep usually changes after a delivery! depends what price the retailer buys it in at.

Unspokenhero · 02-02-2016 2:20am

I was always under the impression that the more people who short change the shop ie. Put in €20.03 worth or petrol / diesel and only pay with €20 they then raise the price to counter act that

Jesus. · 02-02-2016 2:47am

I wonder how calibrated pumps are in general. Would you really be getting what it says on the tin?

gercoral · 02-02-2016 2:50am

Jesus. wrote: »

I wonder how calibrated pumps are in general. Would you really be getting what it says on the tin?

I *HATE* electronic pumps. I think they are defo fixed. i work in a station where we have the digits that roll (not even sure what they are called!), and i believe them to be true. however, the electronic pumps seem to jump in big numbers..even if you barely squeeze the handle

wonski · 02-02-2016 3:10am

gercoral wrote: »

I *HATE* electronic pumps. I think they are defo fixed. i work in a station where we have the digits that roll (not even sure what they are called!), and i believe them to be true. however, the electronic pumps seem to jump in big numbers..even if you barely squeeze the handle

Maybe because the new ones have more efficient pumps

wonski · 02-02-2016 3:12am

Unspokenhero wrote: »

I was always under the impression that the more people who short change the shop ie. Put in €20.03 worth or petrol / diesel and only pay with €20 they then raise the price to counter act that

No.

This is at the end of the list of reasons for price changes at the pumps.

If it even makes it to the list.

02-02-2016 5:43am

Unspokenhero wrote: »

I was always under the impression that the more people who short change the shop ie. Put in €20.03 worth or petrol / diesel and only pay with €20 they then raise the price to counter act that

With the rounding brought in you can safely bring it up to 20.02 and it will be rounded down, 20.03 will get rounded up

J.pilkington · 02-02-2016 6:16am

Unspokenhero wrote: »

I was always under the impression that the more people who short change the shop ie. Put in €20.03 worth or petrol / diesel and only pay with €20 they then raise the price to counter act that

So if they are overcharged by €0.02 200 times do they increase the price to recoup the €4 then when they have reduce it back down?

That makes no sense.

J.pilkington · 02-02-2016 6:22am

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Is it possible for them to change the price during the refuel process or would all pumps need to be off at the time?

It's a balancing act, changing the price during a delivery would only be correct if the tanks were bone dry before the delivery. There would always be a couple of thousand litres in the tank.

It's just easier to change when the place is closed(night / morning), otherwise forecourt (not just pumps) need to be empty as the someone might drive in based on the signs advertised on the road and get annoyed if they are charged more and then you lose a customer, obviously 24hr stations don't have this option so assume they pick a quiet time at night

ohnonotgmail · 02-02-2016 11:12am

PBandNutella wrote: »

I was on my way out and topped up the car with petrol today. This was €1.22 a litre at the time. On my way home roughly 2 hours later I noticed that the garage I had been in and the one on the opposite side of the road had gone up in price by 2 cent. I was always under the illusion that the price changed overnight and each day had its own set price.
Is this true that the can change at any time of the day or did I shine the whole thing?

what garages are increasing prices at the pumps? Isnt the trend downwards everywhere?

slimjimmc · 02-02-2016 12:26pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

what garages are increasing prices at the pumps? Isnt the trend downwards everywhere?

Overall trend is currently downwards but individual stations can fluctuate up and down during the day as demand fluctuates.

kirving · 02-02-2016 1:33pm

If the shop inside doesn't do very well in the morning say, because people are in a rush to get to work, they may lower the price in order to get more customers into the shop, who may then purchase others things like coffee while they're there. A small hit on fuel might give big returns for the shop overall.

Conversely, if people stop there on the way home in the evening out of habit, and because they have more time, raising the price might be a good idea.

RiseToMe · 02-02-2016 1:36pm

Jesus. wrote: »

I wonder how calibrated pumps are in general. Would you really be getting what it says on the tin?

They're all calibrated by the NSAI. If in doubt check the pump there should be a calibration sticker.

ironclaw · 02-02-2016 1:41pm

Kevin Irving wrote: »

A small hit on fuel might give big returns for the shop overall.

A friend used managed a number of branded garages. From him, and this was a few years ago, he said the margin on fuel was nothing and the majority of the garages take was on deli or convenience items. Furthermore, the possibility of a pump being fiddled with was nigh impossible, the regulation was far too tight and the fines too large. Then again, look at the recent news regarding the garage on the quays in Dublin.

Del2005 · 02-02-2016 1:43pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

what garages are increasing prices at the pumps? Isnt the trend downwards everywhere?

The price of a barrel of oil has little affect on our prices, the price is increasing as expensive wells are being shutdown like the Saudi's wanted. The Euro Dollar rate has an impact, which is getting worse, and the recent snow storm across the East coast of the US would affect the price from refineries.

kirving · 02-02-2016 1:50pm

ironclaw wrote: »

A friend used managed a number of branded garages. From him, and this was a few years ago, he said the margin on fuel was nothing and the majority of the garages take was on deli or convenience items. Furthermore, the possibility of a pump being fiddled with was nigh impossible, the regulation was far too tight and the fines too large. Then again, look at the recent news regarding the garage on the quays in Dublin.

I think I read on the AA website recently that they estimated the garage would make 4c per litre. Even if I filled the 50L tank, they're still making more money ob the chicken fillet roll and bottle of coke I might buy when I'm in there.

I'd trust a digital pump over a mechanical one any day, far harder to mess with I'd say

Kamili · 03-02-2016 11:34am

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Is it possible for them to change the price during the refuel process or would all pumps need to be off at the time?

This happened me, went in and started to fill up car. Price changed as I was filling my tank and I ended up having to fork out for the difference.

Never used that station again.

whomitconcerns · 03-02-2016 2:57pm

Kamili wrote: »

This happened me, went in and started to fill up car. Price changed as I was filling my tank and I ended up having to fork out for the difference.

Never used that station again.

Sorry..im calling porkies there....that couldnt be done.. Where was that and why would you pay if tehy changed the terms after you had filled your tank?

gercoral · 03-02-2016 10:49pm

the price on the pumps can't be changed while you are filling.

testicle · 04-02-2016 12:04am

Kamili wrote: »

This happened me, went in and started to fill up car. Price changed as I was filling my tank and I ended up having to fork out for the difference.

Never used that station again.

Bullshít

coylemj · 04-02-2016 12:30am

J.pilkington wrote: »

It's a balancing act, changing the price during a delivery would only be correct if the tanks were bone dry before the delivery. There would always be a couple of thousand litres in the tank.

The operator can change the price for any reason and at any time he chooses, it does not have to coincide with a delivery. It's a free market.

J.pilkington wrote: »

It's just easier to change when the place is closed(night / morning), otherwise forecourt (not just pumps) need to be empty as the someone might drive in based on the signs advertised on the road and get annoyed if they are charged more and then you lose a customer, obviously 24hr stations don't have this option so assume they pick a quiet time at night

Wrong again, read yawns post (#6) above.

J.pilkington · 04-02-2016 8:58am

coylemj wrote: »

The operator can change the price for any reason and at any time he chooses, it does not have to coincide with a delivery. It's a free market.

Where did I say that they could not. If you read my post in conjunction with the quote I was replying to (that is what quotes are for) you would see I was replying to a poster who I take it was inferring that the petrol station operator would want to match their sale price to the purchase price of each litre(plus their margin) by changing the price during the delivery. I stated that this would not achieve the operators objectives as there would be existing stock in the tank and purely for convenience and customer experience purposes it is easier to change the price when the station is empty.

coylemj wrote: »

Wrong again, read yawns post (#6) above.

Another case of not reading a post and simply clicking reply (for post count?) :rolleyes: I am going to try and understand why you say "wrong again", here are the points I made in the post:
- "It's just easier to change when the place is closed(night / morning)"
- "Someone might drive in based on the signs advertised on the road and get annoyed if they are charged more - ie they see fuel advertised at 99c, drive in and before they get to the pump the price has increased, I can imagine that this would be annoying especially if you do not notice it until after filling up

So again nowhere did I state anything was either possible or not possible. My point is all about customer experience. For petrol stations its all about volume, you need repeat customers, piss customers off and you risk losing them for life.

BTW, nice attitude you have, maybe slow down and read posts rather than just replying and be a little bit courteous in your relies, it might improve your reputation

.

VincePP · 04-02-2016 10:44am

Jesus. wrote: »

I wonder how calibrated pumps are in general. Would you really be getting what it says on the tin?

NSAI test stations about once a year and give certificates. Usually you will see a sticker on the side of the pump. Digital pumps are extremely accurate. In their report last year a small number of garages were out by 0.5% or more - but more were in favour of the motorist than the garage.

9935452 wrote: »

With the rounding brought in you can safely bring it up to 20.02 and it will be rounded down, 20.03 will get rounded up

Over 70% of fuel transactions are by card. Makes no difference.

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

what garages are increasing prices at the pumps? Isnt the trend downwards everywhere?

Downtrend on oil prices stopped 2 weeks ago when prices rose from $28 to $32 in 24 hours. Price is now $35. Price changes take 10-14day to hit pumps. Expect about 5c - 6c rise from last week's lows over the next week. Funny, very little in the press about the 25% increase in oil prices.

Del2005 wrote: »

The price of a barrel of oil has little affect on our prices, the price is increasing as expensive wells are being shutdown like the Saudi's wanted. The Euro Dollar rate has an impact, which is getting worse, and the recent snow storm across the East coast of the US would affect the price from refineries.

Price of oil have a direct effect on prices. But as oil is 20c a litre, it is just this 20c (and the vat on it that changes) - it was under 16c 2 weeks ago. Refining costs, logistics, Duty, carbon tax, distribution, retail and vat on all that make up the balance. Distribution/retail is av. 10c.

Kamili wrote: »

This happened me, went in and started to fill up car. Price changed as I was filling my tank and I ended up having to fork out for the difference.

Never used that station again.

Absolute bull - it cannot change mid fill. It may have changed the second between looking at the pump and lifting the nozzle, but just not possible after nozzle is lifted.

Petrol prices change during the day?

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