This runs on to big money. The local corner store even in a small town turns $3000 to $4000 a day in fuel and counter sales. Most of it is fuel at usually low margins. A few percent bump from dishonesty is a doubling of profit. I wonder how they reconcile or if they reconcile purchases with sales vs. revenue?
Same thing happened here at a Shell station run by a bunch of Pakistanis. I went to get diesel in a 6 gallon can and put over 7 gallons in it. I went in and told them their pumps were off and they said, no that they were just inspected bla, bla, bla. They came close to ridiculing me.
I called the Texas Dept of Agriculture number on the pump and reported them. TDoA asked if I wanted a call back when they inspected and I said I did. They called back to tell me the pumps had been sealed. Next day the station was back in business. I’ll never shop there again.
These people are as dishonest as they can get away with. I’d say it is common to all but I think dishonesty is a way of life with some society groups. Check. Check the first gallon is one way to look, check the price for a gallon is another. I believe I’ll carry the gas can as you suggest.
Another possible solution is to trade with a big chain and not mom and pop stores. Sorry mom and pop, you are known by the company you keep. Ditto for the major oil companies... you need to police your dealers better.
Another way to check, but after the fact, is to keep track of your fuel economy as an indicator.
I think the lesson to be learned here is...
Get your fuel at a well know ‘chain’ gas station instead of an independent station that sells houkas.
“I wonder how they reconcile or if they reconcile purchases with sales vs. revenue?”
Black market — when their friends come in for gas, it is under the table and discounted. Uses up the gas shorted from the regulars (us).
Back in the day, a friend of mine worked as a gas station attendant. He’d fill up someone’s car and after they left, he’d drain what was still in the hose into a gas can. The next customer would unwittingly pay to refill the hose before any fuel reached his tank. When he left, my friend would re-drain the hose. At the end of the day, he’d have enough ‘hose gas’ to fill his own car for free.
It is no different than grocery stores placing banners for discounts, but then ripping off the customer at the checkout at a higher price.