Don't Trust Gas Buddy

[bigred715]

I found out first hand not to trust the diesel prices posted on Gas Buddy.com. I found a Shell station with diesel for $3.99 posted on Gas Buddy and when I arrived at the station it was $4.14 a gallon. The station manager said his station was once a BP and Gas Buddy never checked the price of his station. I suggest you call the station you are going to to confirm the correct price.

[brenkco]

I have had that happen a time or two but for the most part, the prices are spot on. I use MSN gas prices too and check between them. We also have prices on Sync in our Ford. Gas Buddy has more stations in our area, more frequent updates.

Ken

[firetrucker]

Gas Buddy posts prices reported by people driving by and, unfortunately, by unscrupulous station owners/managers who want you to stop at their station. Gas Buddy doesn't check on the prices itself.

We had one station in town that consistently reported the wrong price, and even leaves prices off their sign to get you to stop in. We pulled through once to check the price on the pump. We were so obvious about it when the attendant came out to help us that we have never seen an incorrect price on Gas Buddy again.

Good luck at getting the station to tell you over the phone what their prices are, especially if they are not the lowest in town.

Bob

[PapaBeav]

We have a station down the street from us that has a cash and a credit price but for some reason it is always the cash price that is on Gas Buddy. Every time I go by I will change it to the credit price and within a couple of hours it is back at the cash price. Who do you think is changing it?

[mtheo]

I use Gas Buddy all the time and love it. They do not post the prices and it is up to those that use it to keep it up to date and to keep those dealer honest.
If you like to get the best price you can then you along with the rest of us need to take a few minutes to help keep it updated.

And yes Rich I always post cash price, for those wanting the lowest price.
This last trip to the coast some places charged up to 15 cents extra per gallon for credit.

[Art-n-Marge]

I think the station owner is the one who changes it. Until there is a distinction made in these Gas monitoring sites (like another column) there will always be some discrepancy between cash and credit.

We were in Reno for 4-5 days and I monitored a couple of websites. The GAS Buddy website showed the Cash prices for the stations I visited. I paid $3.99 for diesel even though the posted sign said 4.15. It wasn't until I paid the attendant the cash, then the price adjusted down to the cash price. Whew!

A little misleading but as consumers we have to know of these possibilities. I think if you call ahead to confirm the prices and they tell you wrong, they'll just say that's the day they change the prices. The only way to catch them telling you wrong is to stare at the prices when you call them just to see if they're dishonest.

Whatever the case, the cheapest diesel where I am is $4.29 per gallon and a week ago when we returned from our trip it was $4.33. When I check Gas Buddy it does not always match.

Beware of these tools, they can be "out-of-date".