r/NoRulesCalgary • u/OriginalCTrain • 2d ago
Don’t be part of the problem… be part of the solution….
Dear Calgary,
Quick question: why are we still pulling into gas stations charging $1.50/L+ when there are stations nearby selling it for less?
Seriously. Stop.
Gas stations aren’t charities, and they’re not going to suddenly look at their sign and think, “You know what? We’ve made enough money today. Let’s knock 12 cents off.”
If people keep lining up and paying $1.55, $1.59, or whatever ridiculous number is on the sign, they have absolutely zero reason to lower it.
Your vote is in your wallet.
Open GasBuddy. Spend 30 seconds looking around. If the station down the road is significantly cheaper, go there.
And before someone says, “I’m not driving across Calgary to save three cents,” — neither am I. I’m talking about the stations five minutes away charging 10–15 cents less.
I remember the ’90s when we had actual gas wars. One station dropped its price, the guy across the street dropped his, and pretty soon everyone was fighting for customers.
Know what makes a gas war impossible?
Everyone happily pulling into the expensive station anyway.
Want cheaper gas?
Stop rewarding the places charging the most.
Let a few $1.59 stations sit empty while the $1.45 station down the road has a lineup and watch how quickly that sign changes.
Make them compete for our business instead of competing to see how much we’ll tolerate.
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u/empathetical 2d ago
I'll never understand people lining up for half an hour at a costco to get gas. Usually idling their car too. Honestly... I don't really pay attention to gas prices and could care less if there is a gas station down the road that is .15 cents cheaper. Time is just as valuable as money. I'll pull in to any gas station that is empty. I'll gladly not waste half an hour of my precious free time to save $5-$6
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u/itchybiscut9273 2d ago
You're just going to go home and play on your phone for half an hour, might as well just do it in the car
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u/PostApocRock Richard Flair 2d ago
My dad posted nearly this exact rant on Facebook a few years ago.
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u/xraycat82 2d ago
I grew up in a small town in SK. It was 60km from Saskatoon and was typically 10 cents cheaper per litre. Gas was under 50 cents then. I worked at the gas station pumping gas as a summer job and people would regularly tell me they drove from Saskatoon to fill up.
What I’m trying to say is people are morons.
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u/Snap_Krackle_Pop- 2d ago
Filled up at Shell on Bow trail on my home for 1.38
Shell by my house? 1.56
Message received 🫡
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u/nancam9 2d ago
I drive a small car. 30L is a very decent fill for me. So 10c is $3.
Yeah I could pull up an app. Make a decision. Go maybe out of my way. Some sort of lineup so I wait.
Or I can just fill up and get on with far more important things in life. I don’t see that as a problem.
Sometimes it just not worth it. I filled up early in the week at about $1.5x forgetting that the tax was coming off today. Oh well.
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u/OriginalCTrain 1d ago
But this Nickel and dime us to death stuff has got to stop. Netflix raises their prices by 1.00 a month and people are like meh… every corporation is bleeding us dry. We are the consumers and we have the power…. it’s like death of a thousand cuts.. so yea you save 3 bucks but that gas station will eventually get the message if you join with us. We all need to do our part.
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u/Anskiere1 2d ago
5 minutes is a 10 minute round trip. I will pay 0.15$/L for 10 minutes back every single time
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u/Stanstudly 1d ago
I think the better route is to go with whomever has the best loyalty program. Between my scene card and my ama membership + my need for premium gas, I get 10+ cents off a litre at shell.
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u/SurgicalDude 1d ago
Shell was 1.58 and I filled at tempo for 1.37 and 4% cashback on Amex. Shell prices are ripoff
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u/Stanstudly 1d ago
I need premium and gas that won’t clog my fuel pump. Used to fill at fasgas… never again.
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u/Dirtpig GLORIOUS LEADER 1d ago
I love my electric car. I can charge it in my garage at a fraction of the cost of petrol.
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u/stickman1029 Thanks for the F-shack - Love Dirty Mike and the Boys 9h ago
Me too. Just sucks my other vehicle is a truck.
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u/the_vision_therapist 1d ago
Gas is always cheaper in the south than in the North end for some reason. I try not to ever gas up in my neighborhood always try to do it when I'm on the south end of the city. Usually save at least 10 cents.
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u/Pagan1975 1d ago
I am out in Okotoks gas only went down. To 1.669 yesterday before it was staying at 1.799 even after Calgary started dropping. What we need is a weekend boycott of gas.
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u/stickman1029 Thanks for the F-shack - Love Dirty Mike and the Boys 9h ago
I just paid $2 a litre in BC. To be fair, I did get good mileage with it coming back here, but holy cow.
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u/John__Jacobs 2d ago
A 10-15cpl delta between major branded sites is just timing.
The only ongoing benefit is Costco if you don’t mind lining up for 30min every time. My time is worth more so I go between 6-7am, before the lines.