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302 comments on DrumBeat: May 16, 2008

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Consumer on May 16, 2008 - 11:51am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

How is the government going to figure out how to convert us to to an electrified non-oil transit system, when they can't even seem to figure out how to let people pump gas when the price part of the pump is broken. If you know how many gallons you pump, and what the price is, you can charge people correctly.

I think I just became a doomer.

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GreyZone on May 16, 2008 - 11:58am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

The problem is that this manual recalculation would require disabling pay at the pump mechanics for those stations unable to mark above $4. These stations would then lose business to stations with newer pumps and eventually go out of business.

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jokuhl on May 16, 2008 - 1:36pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Sounds like some new contracts for the Y2K programmers!

I just have to wonder what the conversations are going to be like around where to set the new bar? Or will they just let it have 'floating point' and be able to multiply like any of those $2.99 calculators?

It's kind of astonishing we have these issues. It's like the 'Paper Trail' for your voting machines. Heaven forbid an ATM system was as challenged about printing out reciepts. (For a ONE-DAY event)

Time to climb up on the roof and measure out some PV racks.. get some air.

Bob

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costa rica Johns on May 16, 2008 - 4:06pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

They need to convert the pumps to sell in liters like most of the rest of the world. That would probably solve the problem for 10 years or so.

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puhkawn on May 16, 2008 - 4:57pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I was a fuel & lube distributor during the Arab Oil Embargo and the problem with pumps not being able to reflect current prices happened then, too. Frankly is was a problem, an extra expense, but not the end of the world. I don't recall this putting anybody out of business in my part of the world. First of all the majors own a lot of stations and I am sure they are already ordering and updating stations with older pumps as they did then. Many pumps will not have to be changed. If a station was marginal then they might close it and remove the pumps and put the property for sale, in lieu of a complete renovation that also includes new pumps. Often these get sold or leased to a convenience store chain that they make a deal with to provide the gas. Many convenience stores own their own pumps and I am sure they are scrambling to replace older pumps, too. If they can't do it timely I am sure they will do what they did years before.For example gas @$4.00/gal. the pump price will reflect 1/2 of the retail price and all gas will be prepay. Want $40 worth of gas you pay the cashier $40 and they set the pump for $20. The pumps have a sign that says double pump price for your cost. It's not perfect, and will cost the store some business for the extra inconvenience but most customers hang in there till their favorite spot gets new pumps. Gas is the #1 money maker for these stores and new pumps last a long time so independents will grumble, spend the money, and try to markup gas a penny or two more when they install their new pumps.

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joemichaels on May 16, 2008 - 3:38pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Consumer - "I think I just became a doomer."

Oil Drum Watch Alert: Saturday and Sunday on CNN at 8 P.M. "We Were Warned: Out Of Gas"

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/CNN/Programs/siu/images/2008/siu.banner.warn...

Well...Doomers are about to get a big recruitment drive.

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Leanan on May 16, 2008 - 3:44pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

That's an old show. Made in 2005, I believe.

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joemichaels on May 16, 2008 - 7:39pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I guess so, but CNN is rushing it into prime time with a big advertizing blitz to take advantage of the hysteria over gas prices.

It might get an audience this time!

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Leanan on May 16, 2008 - 7:54pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

They do that every time there's a spike in gas prices.

Might be worth watching to see if they've edited it, though. They added new footage critical of ethanol about a year after it first aired.

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302 comments on DrumBeat: May 16, 2008

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