Gas prices are killing me.

[dgiles79]

Our local supermarket garage had closed for a refurbishment, so on Friday I went to the only other garage in out town. He had put his price up from 1.33 a litre to 1.49 a litre (robbing twat). I didn't have a choice as I was traveling down to Ipswich for the weekend and it needed filling up. Upon my return, and the supermarket garage re-opening, he has put his prices back down to 1.33 a litre. That is one garage I will be avoiding on principal

Just out of interest what is the average engine size in the US, I think over here in the UK it's about 1.8.

US engines are usually bigger than that. I'm from the UK originally, and I remember my first car was 1.0, then I upgraded to a 1.6 Ford Escort!. My current car has a 3.1 engine, which I think is mid range. My wife's car runs a 2.5, while cars like the mustang and GTO have 5.0 and 6.0 engines.

 

[marvinthemartian]

4 bucks here in Florida I believe they charge more near Disney World-- mioght find it closer to 5 or 6...

 

[BryanLee]

Regular unleaded here in Hawaii is $4.35. Luckily i get my gas at SAM's where it is "only" $4.05.

Makes me sick everytime i fill up my tank.

 

[allanc]

I am planning to deal with gas prices by instituting a call out fee. Also exploring raising my hourly rate for onsite work.

Likewise, but probably in two stages.

 

[minc3d]

I get around this in bad gas time by enforcing my travel rate ($20/hr) heavily and customers DO NOT generally complain.

IN good times of gas prices being low, Im more lenient about enforcing my travel rate for local clients.

For most clients that are at least 3-4 miles away I almost always charge travel. It's reasonable and it works. I'd suggest you look into it. You cannot put yourself in a hole just to uphold a marketing gimmick of yesteryear. You are not here to compete with the pizza techs. All professional IT firms charge travel and it's expected.

You need to make a living, and losing serious money on gas isn't making a living.

 

[joydivision]

Not sure what the average engine size is over here, but he have dumped push rod and even 8v engines decades ago My now 1 year old Panda is one of the last of the 8v engines but at least is overhead cam.

I would have thought the average in the UK is now less than 1.8 for petrol and about 1.8 for diesel.

Insurance in the UK is very expensive too, I pay £1032 a year to insure a 1.1 (54bhp) car!

The plus side is I don't need to travel far, a five mile journey is about as far as I would cover.

 

[redcorvette]

They beat me!
I just purchased a 30+ MPG hatchback--the costs in my Pacifica was just getting out of control and a lot of my contract work prices are staying put, meaning I have to either accept less money or reduce costs. I don't like smaller cars but the move from 18 MPG to 27 is a 50% reduction and will just about pay the car payment.
The warranty work is cash for me so I try to do as much as I can and the reduced vehicle cost helps.

 

[Frank]

<3 my bike. I calculated 56 MPG at my last refill.

 

[Paul Rodgers]

I just bought a 2005 Explorer. 13 mpg city. I'm going to have to do call out fees.

 

[TimJacobs]

<3 my bike. I calculated 56 MPG at my last refill.

Do you take it on service calls?

 

[Frank]

Do you take it on service calls?

Yup.

................

 

[TimJacobs]

Yup.

................

I thought about getting a nice Goldwing to do that with (so I have storage etc...) Just not really sure how the customers will take the service tech showing up on a Bike.

Do your customers ever tell you anything or make a comment?

 

[Frank]

I thought about getting a nice Goldwing to do that with (so I have storage etc...) Just not really sure how the customers will take the service tech showing up on a Bike.

Do your customers ever tell you anything or make a comment?

Almost all of my clients are business clients, and I sometimes help out a couple of other IT companies when needed. Their clients are also business clients.

I've never gotten any negative comments. My attire is professional (usually a button down), and my customer service and technical abilities speak for themselves.

I've gotten plenty of friendly/jokingly comments, and I've had some convos with clients who also ride themselves. And pretty much everyone tells me to stay safe.

I ride a 2007 Yamaha YZF600R. It's a sports bike with a more relaxed riding position.

 

[nesrinamb]

In my part of Californian the cheapest I've seen is $4.15 so I have started to push my remote support a lot more since having such gas prices is just ridiculous. If you haven't already invested in a remote support software application or hardware device like the ones from bomgar at this point in time its worth it especially since the majority of problems tend to be software. Yes I know remote support software is expensive but chances are that at this point it will more then pay for itself in gas and maintenance savings.

 

[JAbbott]

I have started to push my remote support a lot more since having such gas prices is just ridiculous

That is what we've been doing since most of our problems are software related. For the hardware I'd prefer the customer bring the computer into the shop anyhow.

I'm just wondering when gas prices are going to get better! I remember back a few years ago when this happened over the summer and everyone was complaining. I figure now people are just use to it or something?!?!?

 

[Martyn]

If it's anything like the UK they rarely go down and never to what they were from memory. The fact that the Inland Revenue has upped the business mileage from 40p to 45p per mile says it all

I remember not to long ago a full tank on my vehicle cost around £50 now it is well over £70.