Full-service gas pains

On a recent trip from the County to Augusta, I stopped in Bangor for gas. The sign at the station said $2.59 a gallon for regular.

I pulled in at the full-service pump – some of us can’t or don’t pump our own gas. I asked for a fill-up of regular and when I asked what I paid a gallon I was told $2.79. The small sign on top of the pump stating this was blocked by something.

On my return trip I stopped at the same station and asked the man on duty if I paid $2.79 a gallon because I paid cash or that I’d used full service. He said, “Because you used full service.”

I asked if that is legal and his answer was, “It certainly is, this is a free enterprise, and we can charge whatever we want.”

Talk about sticking it to the consumer.

By the way, the full-service station I go to in Caribou charges the same as self-serve and I appreciate that.

Barbara Thompson

Caribou