Give It the Gas

My Sprint Instinct phone is amazing. It is one of those phone/internet/camera/TV/GPS combinations. Last year when we went to Illinois on vacation, the GPS function was invaluable for finding our hotel, local sights and our nearest favorite restaurant. Last week my husband, Marty, reminded me that it has a function to tell you the station with the cheapest gas nearby. Today on my way home from work, I decided to give it a try.

I stopped on the corner where I usually buy gas. I like this station because it is right on my way home. No detours to get there. I don’t even have to make a left turn. But today, I was going to be a smart gasoline shopper, so I pulled out my phone. I just punched the button for “Gas by Price.” It showed that 2 miles away, Kroger had gas for $1.91. I don’t usually go to Kroger. It’s a little out of the way. I looked over at my favorite station. Gas was $2.06 there. Wow! For 15¢ per gallon, it was worth the extra 2 miles.

I headed to Kroger. Should I go the North route or the South route? The North route is shorter, but it involves turning left into the gas station just as I enter the Kroger parking lot. There are usually cars lined up waiting to get out, so it is difficult to turn. If I went to the South, it was further, but I could slip in from the back side and not worry about those left turners clogging up my path. I chose the South route.

As I approached Kroger’s lot from the South, I noticed cars lined up toward me. Then I remembered from the previous night’s grocery shopping that construction was under way on the South route. No problem. I spotted an opening in the turn lane and I shot into the parking lot. After I arrived there, I realized that I had turned too soon. I was not in the Kroger lot, but the Avante Day Spa parking lot. Not desiring a makeover, I looked for an escape route. A cruise to the back of the lot revealed that it did not connect to Kroger’s lot. I drove back to the entrance and faced the prospect of turning left onto the street under construction which was backed up past my entrance. I decided to turn right.

I chose not to get upset. I would just retrace the two miles that I had veered off my path and take the Northern route instead of the Southern one. Yes, I was making the trip twice as long, but it would be worth it. I was going to save 15¢ a gallon. As I made the right turn onto the North route, my favorite station laid a tenth of a mile back to the left. I was not tempted. They were selling overpriced gas and I would have none of it.

I followed my route and found the clogged entrance to Kroger that I had expected. I just circled around and approached from the back. I noticed a lot of cars around the gas station. I guess I wasn’t the only one who got wind of their low gas prices. As I got closer, I saw that there were no available pumps. I circled looking for an opening. Finally, I spotted a lady pulling out on the other side.

I rushed around and was able to drive up to the available pump. I looked over and realized that the pump was on the right of my car and my gas tank was on the left. I tried the hose to see if it could reach over my car to the gas tank. It was about a foot too short. I re-entered my car, reversed it in a small circle and pulled back in. This time the gas tank and the pump were both on the left side of my car.

“Don’t forget,” I said to myself. To get the best gas price, “use your Kroger card.” I fished in my purse, found my debit card and my Kroger card. I scanned them both in. As I started to make my gas selection, I glanced at the price. “With an extra 3¢ off, this should be good.” The price was $2.02. I looked at the sign out by the street. Without the Kroger card discount, their price was $2.05, one penny different from my favorite station. My favorite station that is on my path home. My favorite station that only requires a right turn. My favorite station that never has a line at the pumps. My favorite station that I was next to 5 miles earlier on my odometer. I wonder if Sprint owns any stock in Kroger.