Gas rant

[Gary DiPietroSr]

Heads up about car rentals in Florida. When you rent at the airport ( Orlando ), they will demand that you fill the car with gas within 10 miles of the airport. No problem, until you get gas near the airport. $4.89 a gal. $2.79 everywhere else. No price posted either. Luckily we filled up when left the hotel and we only needed 2 gals. Thanks for visiting our state, WHAM thank you very much!

 

[EddieS'04]

That stinks...:fire:

 

[Bo Loo]

FYI, there's been a new local law introduced that they have to post their prices by the roadside. It hasn't taken effect yet and the owner of the station is appealing. I've personally sent the owner a rather nasty letter and complained to the BBB, Chamber of Commerce and the other businesses that share space in the facility.



BTW, it's not price gouging. Those laws are only in effect during hurricanes, etc.



I fly in/out of Orlando quite a bit and use the 7-11 that's only about 1.5 miles further down the road. I usually gas up, and get a bit of food to go after the flight. You'd be surprised; 7-11 pizza is actually pretty good. :grin:



Even if he does ever lower his price to the average prices, I will never give him my business.



I actually posted a warning about this guy a few years ago on this site and other travel blogs.



Also, I never did pay the high price for the gas. I was about to - but then saw the price on the pump. :fire:

 

[Gary DiPietroSr]

We went to the Shell station down the road from him.

 

[Dan Long]

Gary, I got caught by that Shell station on Friday, it was $4.69 a gallon. I was flying out of Orlando and had to gas up my rental car, was in a hurry and didn't even bother to look at the price until it was too late. I was running late anyway and didn't have time to deal with it. $56 or so to put 3/4 of a tank in the Chrysler Sebring I was driving! I plan on writing to Shell, the BBB and others, if Shell doesn't respond adequately that'll be the last of my business any of their stations ever get.

 

[Mark K 2]

No price posting? Isn't that illegal? Most states I know of require the prices to be prominently displayed. In Wisconsin, a sign in the window of the station clearly visible from the pumps is also required.

 

[Gavin Allan]

How would they know it was filled up within 10 miles of the airport? Top it off <50 miles away whereever you want and they will never know the difference.

 

[Gary DiPietroSr]

Gavin, they asked for a receipt from the gas station you went to.

 

[Teri Reed]

When I have to deal with the "10 Mile" rule I fill up at a location that has reasonable prices and then top off when I'm within 10. Depending on how populated the area is and/or how well you know the area you may only need to get a gallon or two at the inflated price. (if that)



It's worth the extra 10-20 minutes. 10 if you're just getting gas/20 if you're getting gas and 7-11 pizza. lol I'm laughing with you Bo. I have loaded up on many a food product at the 7-11 outside Atlanta's airport.

 

[Les]

There are dozens of car rental businesses, use a different one.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Gary,



Any car rental company that asked for my receipt would have the right to do that, I suppose, but it would also be the last time I rented with them.



I'm ticked enough when they turn on the car and check the odometer and fuel guage rather than take my word (I know, who am I, right?)...but if I had to "show my papers" to show when I last fueled up, and how much I put in the tank, etc, then I would pretty much tell them to go "between E and G" themselves.



TJR

 

[Steven D]

I work just outside airport property. If you go to Narcoossee Road and fill up south of the SR 528 (Beachline) there are two 7 - 11's. They are competitive with their prices, today they are both at $2.63 / gal. You would also be well within the 10 mile radius. Also, instead of that shell station or the other gas station on SR 436 (the road that goes in/out of the airport), if you were to drive say 2 to 3 miles north on that road you would be back into normal gas prices.

 

[Richard L]

In Kona, Hawaii the car rental places at the airport will tell you that you must fill up witnin 5 miles of the Airport and there is only on gas station within that range, a Tasoro station (sp?). Fortunately, that station does not jack up the prices. Even locals get gas there and they are often very busy.



Actually, there are not many gas stations on the western side of the Big Island. Also, the gas in Hilo on the eastern side of the island is much, much cheaper. I guess it may be because Hilo has a bigger port and that's where the gas is shipped to on the Big Island so you don't have to pay to have the gas trucked over to the other side of the island which is about 100 miles.



...Rich

 

[Gavin Allan]

I'd tell them to "shove it" if they asked for a reciept. That is BS.



As long as consumers eat their "stuff" they will keep trying to feed it to us. I would tell them where to go. The gas guage shows full, so that is all they need to know.

 

[Gary DiPietroSr]

All good advice. We were with friends who had their own car, we were all running a little late as usual. The wife made all the rental arrangements. They throw all the details at you after you rented the car. Next time things will be different.

 

[Les]

I'd tell them to "shove it" if they asked for a reciept. That is BS.

Never that simple. It probably states in the contract thay can ask for the receipt, and if denied, there is a penalty.

 

[gary s]

gary,



still down here and when i picked up my rental at dollar at TPA they explained that policy.

it is kind of messed up but imo a poor business practice.

all the major rentals do it.

 

[Dan Long]

Enterprise has never asked me for a receipt before, nor even mentioned it. They have the best service I've found at every airport I've rented from, and its not often that I can find a cheaper rate elsewhere. I usually just pay for the full tank in advance anywasy, that way I don't have to worry about it, but I had forgotten on this last rental.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Gary S..."all the major rentals do it"...???



I've rented a National, Hertz, Avis and Enterprise and none have ever asked me to show a fill-up receipt. Is this JUST a Florida thing?



TJR

 

[Dan Long]

I recall either Hertz or Budget telling about it when I rented from them at the Milwaukee airport last year, so its not just in Florida. Like I said though, I normally just use the option to pay for a tank of gas (which is usually discounted) and that way I don't have to worry about how late I'm running or ever being hassled about the needle not being pegged on Full.