Poll:Do You Actively Comparison Shop For Gasoline?

[Car-Guy]

But, except for large ticket items , I rarely compare prices when shopping. If I am happy with the price, I pay it, even if it is not the absolute lowest.

Me too. However even for larger purchases, I seldom compare prices between brands. I've found that quality usually (not always) cost more. However "regular" gas, is pretty much the same (minus additives, which doesn't seem to matter much, IMO)

 

[mountainsoft]

We do not use gas price apps. We already know all the gas stations in the area and know which ones tend to have the lower prices. The difference is generally less than 5-10 cents anyway, so we would only save 1 to 2 dollars at most on a tank of gas. That's not worth the trouble.

We usually get gas at Safeway or Chevron. They're the most convenient depending on which direction we're heading and we get 10 cents per gallon discount for every 100 dollars groceries we buy (which we do easily every shopping trip).

There's really only one other station nearby with a significantly lower price, but access is kind of a hassle. Once you pull into the lot, getting back out is tricky because of the traffic flow in the area. Saving a dollar is not worth that hassle and potential for an auto accident.

When we're traveling most of our trips are doable on a single tank of gas. So we just fill up before we leave home. Otherwise we just pull over when the gas gets low or our bladders get full.

 

[scrabbler1]

I buy gas once every 3-4 weeks so if I am paying an extra dollar per fill-up for the 12-17 fill-ups every year I don't care. My regular gas station is close by, convenient if I am on my way home or out, and is the one my regular mechanic owns, so we know each other. Being a known, regular customer, he lets me use his air pump for free and pump my gas first before paying cash (not his policy for cash customers). These little conveniences are well worth the extra dollar I might pay for each fill-up.

 

[street]

No, I don't but if I lived in larger city I would most likely use the app. Where I live there is only a few places to fill gas so not worth the bother. If I travel which isn't much I would use it more.

 

[Bamaman]

After 35 years traveling for work, I know where the cheaper gasoline is. We have a 5 cent differential in prices just crossing the river downtown.

When I travel long distances, I pay attention to fuel prices. And when I return, I know where to stop. Gas Buddy works too.

 

[MichaelB]

Price differences among gas stations do not vary much where we spend most of our time, so third party apps aren't helpful. The low & high price retailers are always the same, we take advantage of low when possible. The potential saving is usually limited to 10-15 cents per gallon, so I'll buy if nearby but not go out of my way.

Gas Buddy has not been particularly helpful. The reported prices are not always valid and often confuse cash vs credit card prices. I think gas stations are learning how to use it to attract drivers. It does help trying to find fuel when the area is shut down because of hurricane. As more people discover that use, it becomes less useful for all.

 

[jazz4cash]

Not enough choices in the poll. I use gas buddy about 1/3 of the time. Mostly when I am not close to home to avoid the overpriced stations vs. trying to find the lowest price around. Someone mentioned gas apps don't work for premium but Gas Buddy in my area does list prices for premium. I hope I never own a daily driver that requires premium. I sure don't worry about saving a few cents/gal especially since I don't use much gas. My big savings is using the Penfed cashback card and grocery store discount points at Shell.

 

[Cobra9777]

I've done the Kroger thing... 4X fuel points on gift card purchases, plus I get the 5% "grocery" cash-back when using our AMEX Blue Cash card. I buy $250 in Amazon gift cards, get $1/gal off, plus I can use all 35 gallons if my Suburban is empty plus my 5-gallon gas can. It's good savings but a bit of a hassle. And the 4X thing only happens a few times per year usually around the holidays.

When traveling we use Google Maps and Android Auto for navigation. When we're running low on gas, I just say, "OK Google, I need gas." It immediately displays all upcoming gas stations with the price per gallon and distance to each. Very useful.

I used Gas Buddy when I was commuting. Back then, I filled up the Suburban every 4 work days, so it was worth it. Now that we are both retired, we don't consume enough gas to bother. I fill up about once a month, if that. Locally, we have one or two stations that we frequent, mainly because they are convenient (easy in/out), clean, well lit, pumps are fast, and usually good prices.

 

[Bestwifeever]

That’s why I attempted to explain in the OP. I can’t think of any better way to comparison shop for gas than using a gas finder. How else would you do it effectively, certainly not driving to many different stations every time you refuel? And I addressed folks who just look at stations within sight of each other, that’s not an effective comparison.

True but your poll is exclusively about using apps and software and we know you can be quite touchy about people not staying on your topic so just want to clarify.

Re comparison shopping: Our talk radio names locations with low gas prices when they do traffic. Most people’s trips are within a few miles of home so if they cared they would notice the prices when they drive by. Most interstates have stations at the exits but people other than RV and truck drivers where a few cents make a difference (as REWahoo mentions above) probably don’t use an app to plan their fill ups. Your mileage may vary

 

[kcowan]

We tend to use the same station that we know has diesel at a good price. When we travelled for work, we knew where the cheap stations were on the route. But we drive so seldom now, it is not worth it. Just call it our Blow That Dough moment.

 

[Fedup]

No, but we go to Costco and they tend to be cheapest around here. But a different Costco might have better price.
But I notice for large item, and I’m brand conscious, if I want to buy anything, I just surf that brand website, add an item but not purchase it yet, and within days I get an add to buy at that shop for 30% discount.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Close to our house is a gas station that is always cheaper so we use that. We only fill up every 2-4 weeks. I didn’t even know there were gas apps. When traveling we get off the freeway and look at the signs. BW, Chick-fil any one)

 

[Ian S]

I do use a gas app on trips but locally, we almost invariably fill up at Fry's Food and save $1.00/gallon using fuel points. We play the fuel points game religiously by getting bonus points for prescriptions, surveys and via digital coupons. We also buy gift cards for places we frequent and get bonus gas points that way too. In a typical month we will have 2000 to 3000 fuel points available for use between both cars.

 

[audreyh1]

Gasbuddy app is one of the guys that has been selling people’s location data. https://9to5mac.com/2018/09/07/location-privacy-ios-apps/

We usually go to Costco and do some checking by internet site if we a traveling away from home.

Where my Dad lives Kroger usually has one of the better prices anyway, and you get another 10c off a gallon if you buy enough groceries.

 

[YVRRocketSurgery]

We don't actively seek out the cheapest price but normally just note what the prices have been trending as and then fill/top up if it's under what we've been seeing.

We only have one car and even then we generally don't put a lot of miles on it. Really best case, I suspect we could save maybe $100/yr. Realistically, we'd probably save about $30/yr if we were more actively searching for the cheapest price.

 

[Walt34]

We don't bother, most of the time we buy gas at the grocery store since we're there already anyway and their prices are the same as everyone else's. Sometimes we'll have grocery store discounts and of course we'll use that.

When we go to MD or VA we'll fill up there if we have half a tank or less since their fuel taxes are significantly less than WV but it's not enough of a difference to make a special trip worthwhile.

While the pickup truck gets 18 mpg on a good day, it'll often sit in the garage for a week at a time so fuel use isn't a big deal for that. The Honda Accord is the daily driver and gets ~30 mpg.

 

[Another Reader]

This is a practice I learned from my parents. No internet in the late 1950's and early 60's. When gas prices were $0.33 a gallon, gas wars would drive them down to $0.31 or (gasp) $0.29 per gallon. Somehow, everyone found out about the prices because my parents always knew where to go to get the best price.

Gas Buddy used to be very helpful, but the current iteration is difficult to use and the price information is obtuse. You have to manipulate the data to get the best prices. Around here, Costco is almost always the best deal anyway.

 

[calmloki]

Costco is good enough for us - plus I remember the days of cruddy gas with water - Costco tanks are all nice and new. On the road the copilot Gal research shops for best prices close to the route.

 

[audreyh1]

Costco is good enough for us - plus I remember the days of cruddy gas with water - Costco tanks are all nice and new. On the road the copilot Gal research shops for best prices close to the route.

In our neighborhood occasionally the local prices will get to within 2 to 4 cents per gallon of the Costco price. Costco is further away, but we shop there every 1 to 2 weeks.

But sometimes the Costco prices are 20 cents a gallon cheaper! Often it's at least 10 cents a gallon cheaper.

So we usually fill up at Costco if our tank is down to 1/4 tank.

 

[RobbieB]

I couldn't care less about the price of gasoline.

 

[W2R]

I used to use Gas Buddy all the time, but I guess they changed the website somehow, or else it's me, but anyway I have an awful time using it now. It used to be so easy.

Besides, there is one Exxon station whose location is just unbelievably convenient to my dream home where I moved three years ago. Convenient is an understatement - - I mean, it's... it's right "there". So I stopped going to the cheaper station back by my old home (which is much more crowded anyway), and just go to this one right by the house. The cost is around 2 cents more per gallon, but I'm paying for convenience.

Blow That Dough!

 

[mystang52]

No. Life is to short to worry about pennies. Besides, I have a lifetime discount for a particular brand from a previous employer.

gas apps only work for regular gas. My car REQUIRES premium, and top shelf premium at that! Most stations add $.60 to regular, some 65 and independents normally $.50. I've seen $.95 added to regular on the interstate.

My car also requires premium, and recommended "Top Shelf" brand gas. So I avoid the discount gas stations. However, the requirement is for 91 Octane, and at least in my area premium is 93 Octane. I gotta confess if I'm close to my favorite gas station, and I have about a half tank, I'll top it off with mid level 89 octane. I figure over the course of a year I might save myself $9.32 give or take.

 

[Dtail]

My car also requires premium, and recommended "Top Shelf" brand gas. So I avoid the discount gas stations. However, the requirement is for 91 Octane, and at least in my area premium is 93 Octane. I gotta confess if I'm close to my favorite gas station, and I have about a half tank, I'll top it off with mid level 89 octane. I figure over the course of a year I might save myself $9.32 give or take.

Yeah the top shelf gas aspect comes into play for me.
BJ's gas is the cheapest around my area, but is not top shelf. Costco is the cheapest top shelf, but don't travel around those parts, so back to Shell.

 

[Midpack]

So those who use gas finder apps are outnumbered about 4:1. Though for those where gas prices only vary a few cents per gallon I can understand why, it usually a difference of 20 cents/gal where we are - and even then we save about $125-150/year, not a lot. I do agree GasBuddy is a lot less user friendly now, using the map feature makes it easier IME.

 

[flintnational]

In our area Costco has the lowest prices and is about 2 miles from the house. When we travel, we use Gas Buddy.