Comments on: Pay full price, get less service? Do you buy high and sell low, too? http://dossy.org/2006/11/pay-full-price-get-less-service-do-you-buy-high-and-sell-low-too/ Everything that comes out of Dossy, from the strange to the banal. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:30:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Dossy http://dossy.org/2006/11/pay-full-price-get-less-service-do-you-buy-high-and-sell-low-too/comment-page-1/#comment-567 Dossy Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:05:46 +0000 http://dossy.org/archives/000372.html#comment-567 Julio: 15-30 minutes? It might <em>feel</em> like it, but I've never had to wait that long. Do me a favor, next time actually clock how long it takes. If it's more than 5 actual minutes, I'd be surprised. But, I definitely know the feeling of sitting around waiting--two minutes can feel like 10. Julio: 15-30 minutes? It might feel like it, but I’ve never had to wait that long. Do me a favor, next time actually clock how long it takes. If it’s more than 5 actual minutes, I’d be surprised. But, I definitely know the feeling of sitting around waiting–two minutes can feel like 10.

]]> By: Julio Hernandez-Miyares http://dossy.org/2006/11/pay-full-price-get-less-service-do-you-buy-high-and-sell-low-too/comment-page-1/#comment-566 Julio Hernandez-Miyares Mon, 27 Nov 2006 16:33:28 +0000 http://dossy.org/archives/000372.html#comment-566 No whining going on here Dossy. Its the TIME. My time is worth more then a measy 10 cents or so that I save per gallon. Each time I get stuck in New Jersey and need to fill up its the same crap especially God forbid if i need to fill up on the New Jersey Turnpike. Easily consume between 15 to 30 minutes waiting especially at night when there is one harried soul trying to pump and charge a long line of cars. No whining going on here Dossy. Its the TIME. My time is worth more then a measy 10 cents or so that I save per gallon. Each time I get stuck in New Jersey and need to fill up its the same crap especially God forbid if i need to fill up on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Easily consume between 15 to 30 minutes waiting especially at night when there is one harried soul trying to pump and charge a long line of cars.

]]> By: Havard Havard http://dossy.org/2006/11/pay-full-price-get-less-service-do-you-buy-high-and-sell-low-too/comment-page-1/#comment-565 Havard Havard Mon, 27 Nov 2006 16:23:14 +0000 http://dossy.org/archives/000372.html#comment-565 There's this small chain of stations in my area that are full service. They don't charge any more than other stations, and are often cheaper. As gas stations typically need at least one attendant anyways, put them to work pumping gas! I've never seen any gas station cashier that's not bored out of his mind. It's always seemed like such a waste (human) resources. There’s this small chain of stations in my area that are full service. They don’t charge any more than other stations, and are often cheaper. As gas stations typically need at least one attendant anyways, put them to work pumping gas! I’ve never seen any gas station cashier that’s not bored out of his mind. It’s always seemed like such a waste (human) resources.

]]> By: Dossy http://dossy.org/2006/11/pay-full-price-get-less-service-do-you-buy-high-and-sell-low-too/comment-page-1/#comment-564 Dossy Sat, 25 Nov 2006 00:04:36 +0000 http://dossy.org/archives/000372.html#comment-564 It may be slower to wait for an attendant, but when it's raining or snowing it's convenient not to have to get out of my car. I can't imagine what kind of a rush I'd have to be in that waiting an extra few minutes would make a material difference in my life. Regarding absolute vs. relative value: I'd say "stop whining" because the reality is they can't do better--if they could, they would. Same goes for the gas situation in New Jersey: full-service gas prices are already cheaper than self-service gas prices elsewhere. Stop whining. It may be slower to wait for an attendant, but when it’s raining or snowing it’s convenient not to have to get out of my car. I can’t imagine what kind of a rush I’d have to be in that waiting an extra few minutes would make a material difference in my life.

Regarding absolute vs. relative value: I’d say “stop whining” because the reality is they can’t do better–if they could, they would. Same goes for the gas situation in New Jersey: full-service gas prices are already cheaper than self-service gas prices elsewhere. Stop whining.

]]> By: Joe Grossberg http://dossy.org/2006/11/pay-full-price-get-less-service-do-you-buy-high-and-sell-low-too/comment-page-1/#comment-563 Joe Grossberg Fri, 24 Nov 2006 22:09:13 +0000 http://dossy.org/archives/000372.html#comment-563 Three points: * Gas in NJ would be even cheaper if the stations had to spend less money on attendants; it's not absolute cost that matters, but relative cost. * A major reason why it's so "cheap" is that the gas subsidies are hidden in the sales and (high) property taxes. * Time is money and it's much slower when you have to wait for the attendant to pump and to pay -- two interactions that could be immediate instead of dependent upon human interaction and (worse) human availibility. When people are travelling, an extra 5-10 minutes to wait in line to gas up is irritating. I think the crux of it is that you're mixing up absolute value versus relative value. For example, if a programmer with ten years' experience is making $50k, would you say "stop whining; that's more than the average household" or "you're getting fucked over; you can do much better"? Three points:

* Gas in NJ would be even cheaper if the stations had to spend less money on attendants; it’s not absolute cost that matters, but relative cost.

* A major reason why it’s so “cheap” is that the gas subsidies are hidden in the sales and (high) property taxes.

* Time is money and it’s much slower when you have to wait for the attendant to pump and to pay — two interactions that could be immediate instead of dependent upon human interaction and (worse) human availibility. When people are travelling, an extra 5-10 minutes to wait in line to gas up is irritating.

I think the crux of it is that you’re mixing up absolute value versus relative value. For example, if a programmer with ten years’ experience is making $50k, would you say “stop whining; that’s more than the average household” or “you’re getting fucked over; you can do much better”?

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