Forum menu
Apart from the obvious in trying to make diesel or petrol appear to cheaper than it really is, so why do petrol stations sell fuel at say £1.34.9.
It must be nearly 30 years since the half a penny was withdrawn from circulation and you can't buy anything at pence and a decimal point, so why fuel?
What exactly is the point?
so why fuel?
when was the last time you bought a single litre of fuel? I buy around 90 litres a time - adjusting the price per litre by whole pennies only would result in quite big increments for me.
you can't buy anything at pence and a decimal point
you haven't looked at your gas or electric bills recently then
I would assume its because oil is bought by the barrel. I'm not sure how many litres are in a barrel but I imagine that's why (can't be arsed looking at 12:45am with a 2 year old crying)
50litres of 134.9 petrol = £67.45
50litres of 134 petrol = £67.00
50litres of 135 petrol = £67.50
Fewer would pay the higher price of 135, retailer doesn't want to drop to 134. Retailer would rather use a figure slightly under to sound more attractive. Basic retail psychology same as £9.99 instead of £10.
Bearing in mind also that almost all places show the price in pence for this very reason. Pounds it looks silly and doesn't fit on the boards easily (£1.34.9) and the .9 attraction factor would mean having to go just under the nearest pound instead of pence (£1.99).
So fractions of a pence make a difference. Anything that actually comes up as a fraction result at the till just rounds up, 52litres = £70.148, i.e. you pay £70.15
Result is increased profits compared to rounded figures and whole pence.
As for half penny, well a penny is just as redundant though still in use. I mean, other than receiving a penny in some change and putting them in a jar or maybe charity box if they're generous, who uses them? Pain. I just hand over £10, or better still a credit card so I pay exactly £9.99 and don't end up with stupid penny change.
[img] 
[/img]
It's so people can trip themselves up by writing a number with two decimal points.
It's so people can trip themselves up by writing a number with two decimal points.
(£1.34.9)
😆
Australia doesn't have 1 or 2 cent pieces, the figure is rounded to the nearest 5, or if you pay on card then you pay the exact figure.
Imo you could get rid of the 5 cent coins too since they are pretty worthless.
adjusting the price per litre by whole pennies only would result in quite big increments for me.
the price only *ever* goes up a whole penny at a time. it's [b]always[/b] something [i]point nine[/i] round here.
It's designed purely to create an argument between me and the wife. 140.9 to her is 140 and I have to know about the .9. 140.9 to me is 141. Endless scope for a row!!!
what nbt says, its goes up by a penny and theyve used the .9 since forever. Same basic psychology as every other consumer item being priced at £X.99
Our local cheapo station has theirs at .8, which I used to think was just a Simpsons gag 'til I saw it.
Imo you could get rid of the 5 cent coins too since they are pretty worthless.
Agreed!
Coins in general are a pain. I rarely use them and frequently end up stuck because I forget to carry change for parking. Though some accept notes now but I've been caught out by them before. Damn things always nick my note and deny all knowledge that I've paid anything. Plus if they worked they'd just chuck more useless coins at me as change.
Bring on contactless payment. My credit/debit cards are enabled for this as is my phone. Just need places to pay with it!
We'd still have .9 at the petrol pump though even without cash.
What deadkenny said. It's all a marketing ploy.
When I were a lad.....
[img] 
[/img]
42.1p a litre.
apparently, as humans, we find whole numbers uncomfortable as they are less likely to be random, and therefore suspiciousl. decimal points make you think that it's a 'real' number.
there are huge marketing/psychology departments skipping your conscious mind and communicating with your id directly.