University City Mobile & Subway

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ***, and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below
[ I see that complaints were filed by others on this same issue on 5/12/and
8/18/There are gas stations on that cornerI should only have to glance at the large digital signs to compare pricesIf the business owner wishes to promote his new car wash, the price on the digital street sign should be the actual price and a printed sign next to it that says something like - ' Hey, save an extra cents per gallon by trying our car wash' As it stands, I will not return to that station to buy gas or anything elseThe way prices are posted is clearly confusingWhere there is confusion, the advertising method should be changed
]
Regards,
*** ***

I would like to respond to the complaint by mentioned individual Our customers have grown accustomed to and appreciate being able to save on their gasoline with the purchase of a car wash The complainant is not a customer of ours and is merely attempting to thwart our business She is not a professional regarding advertisement laws and should not render her opinion as such Our business has been inspected and deemed FULLY COMPLIANT OF ALL LAWSThis person is just trying to inject her opinion in a business she may drive by every so often

This is in regards to our signage at University City Mobil We recently installed a new carwash at our facility In order to encourage customers to try the new wash, we offer them a $per gallon discount on fuel should they choose to purchase a carwash Customers are in no way
forced to purchase a carwash but may elect to do so or a discount
We have signage all over the gas station that notify customers of this We have even been inspected by the Department of Weights and Measures that wrote a page long opinion as to how we had signs that indicated that the purchase of a carwash will get them a discount
Unfortunately, there are some customers that will only read what they want and not bother to look at appropriate signage While we try to make every customer happy, as we have been at this location for years, there will always be the fly-by-night person that is looking to save cents that we cannot please

We recently installed a new state-of-the-art touch free car wash. In order to bring awareness to this and allow our customers access to the new wash, we decided to sell our gas at cost price if the customer purchases a car wash.  This amounts to an approximately $.20 per gallon savings on gas...

for the customer.  Further, this allows the customer to experience the benefits of Mobil gasoline in their automobile.  This gasoline, although slightly more expensive than generic branded gasoline, has great benefits such as cleaning your injectors and even giving much better gas mileage.We have a sign above the price sign that indicates the price is with the purchase of a car wash.  Close to that sign, we have another very large price sign that indicates both the price with car wash purchase and without car wash purchase.  We further have 13 additional signs on the property indicating the prices.  The Department of Weights and Measures has inspected our facility and determined that we are fully compliant with all state and federal signage laws.We would like to continue to offer our loyal customers, as well as new customers, the above benefits and hope to resolve any issues in a fair and just manner.

Review: Prices posted at this gas station are only valid if a car wash is purchased. Difference in price is 20 cents per gallon.

Although there are printed signs next to the electric digital sign, I feel it is misleading to have prices posted on the digital sign which is not the real price if one buys only gas.

I was aware of the price difference only after I started pumping gas and was looking about waiting for my tank to fill.

Business

Response:

We recently installed a new state-of-the-art touch free car wash. In order to bring awareness to this and allow our customers access to the new wash, we decided to sell our gas at cost price if the customer purchases a car wash. This amounts to an approximately $.20 per gallon savings on gas for the customer. Further, this allows the customer to experience the benefits of Mobil gasoline in their automobile. This gasoline, although slightly more expensive than generic branded gasoline, has great benefits such as cleaning your injectors and even giving much better gas mileage.We have a sign above the price sign that indicates the price is with the purchase of a car wash. Close to that sign, we have another very large price sign that indicates both the price with car wash purchase and without car wash purchase. We further have 13 additional signs on the property indicating the prices. The Department of Weights and Measures has inspected our facility and determined that we are fully compliant with all state and federal signage laws.We would like to continue to offer our loyal customers, as well as new customers, the above benefits and hope to resolve any issues in a fair and just manner.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

[ I see that complaints were filed by others on this same issue on 5/12/2014 and

8/18/2014. There are 4 gas stations on that corner. I should only have to glance at the large digital signs to compare prices. If the business owner wishes to promote his new car wash, the price on the digital street sign should be the actual price and a printed sign next to it that says something like - ' Hey, save an extra 20 cents per gallon by trying our car wash. ' As it stands, I will not return to that station to buy gas or anything else. The way prices are posted is clearly confusing. Where there is confusion, the advertising method should be changed.

]

Regards,

Business

Response:

I would like to respond to the complaint by mentioned individual. Our customers have grown accustomed to and appreciate being able to save on their gasoline with the purchase of a car wash. The complainant is not a customer of ours and is merely attempting to thwart our business. She is not a professional regarding advertisement laws and should not render her opinion as such. Our business has been inspected and deemed FULLY COMPLIANT OF ALL LAWS. This person is just trying to inject her opinion in a business she may drive by every so often.

Review: This particular gas station is utilizing incredibly deceptive tactics in it's signage to con customers into paying more than intended for gas. The prices posted for regular, premium and super gas are underneath a sign stating that the listed prices are only available with the purchase of a car wash. The main issue with this is that no where on the sign are the actual prices for the gas by itself posted. Posting the dull, easy to miss message stating that the only way to get the posted prices is with an additional purchase is quite obviously a deceptive and immoral business strategy, but completely omitting the actual prices for the gas strikes me as possibly illegal and false advertising. In addition, if questioned about the prices, the employees communicate with guests in a belittling way which seems to me a tactic to demean them into dropping the point and accepting the deceitful way in which their money was stolen.Desired Settlement: I would like this business to be forced to change their signage to include both the cost of the gas itself and the cost of the gas with purchase of car-wash to prevent this location from obtaining future business from unsuspecting customers by means of deception and degradation. I would like to be notified of any action taken to remedy the situation.

Business

Response:

This is in regards to our signage at University City Mobil. We recently installed a new carwash at our facility. In order to encourage customers to try the new wash, we offer them a $.20 per gallon discount on fuel should they choose to purchase a carwash. Customers are in no way forced to purchase a carwash but may elect to do so or a discount.

Review: Gas price sign showed regular gas at $4.09 gallon. When I got to the the pump I saw it was actually $4.29. Irritated, I left and went to the station across the street to fill up instead where it was $4.13 gallon. I mentioned the price discrepancy to the attendant there and he said several people had mentioned the same thing to him. He said the $4.09 price is only if you get a car wash. Sure enough when I drive by the Mobil station right under the Mobil sign is another sign that says "price with car wash". It's very sneaky. I'm sure most people would not notice the car wash sign, just like I did. How many people have filled up there not realizing the price on the pump is actually higher than the low price on the big sign by the road? This gas station is being deceptive.Desired Settlement: This Mobil station should cease their sneaky and deceptive advertising.

Business

Response:

To Whom It May Concern:

This response is in reference to a price discrepancy complaint. We have recently upgraded our carwash to a state of the art touch free system. In order to promote our new carwash, we have implemented a program where a customer can save $.20 per gallon if they purchase any carwash. The price sign at the intersection indicates the discounted price with a large sign above it that states, "Price With Carwash Purchase." There is also a sign next to that sign, on Governor Drive, that states both prices, one with carwash purchase and the other without carwash purchase that states "Cash or Credit Price." Each pump also has a sign, clearly displayed above it, that indicates the availability of a $.20 per gallon discount if a carwash is purchased. Altogether, there are 18 signs on the property that indicate a customer may save $.20 per gallon with purchase of a carwash.

The County of San Diego Department of Weights and Measures visited our location on the second day of the promotion. They wrote a page long report indicating that ALL of our signs are in full compliance and there was no instance of deceptive advertising. We are merely trying to provide our customers with a discount should they choose to try our new carwash. Many new customers who are used to filling there cars with cheap, unbranded gasoline may get excited upon seeing a price sign lower than that of our competition. These customers usually fail to read anything but the discounted price and therefore, get upset when they realize that it is a carwash promotional price.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Thank you,

Owner