National News Video
Science and Technology
Headlines | mouseover panels to open
World
Nation
State
Local
-
Spurrier continues mastery of Kentucky's Wildcats
10/11/2008 5:18 PM
-
Community members help South Aiken get on track
10/11/2008 5:17 PM
-
Diaz looks to lead Team Mexico in World Amateur Team Championship
10/11/2008 5:17 PM
-
The Great Debate: Cam Huffman's take on whether Will Korn or Stephen Garcia will be the better college QB
10/11/2008 2:49 PM
-
Great Debate: Mac Banks' take on whether Will Korn or Stephen Garcia will be the better college QB
10/11/2008 3:04 PM
-
Great Debate: Kenton Makin's take on whether Willy Korn or Stephen Garcia will be a better college QB
10/11/2008 4:03 PM
-
Pony Express wins
10/11/2008 7:29 PM
-
Palazzo's pupils shine
10/11/2008 7:29 PM
-
Saturday's scoreboard
10/11/2008 8:39 PM
-
Sunday's Sports on TV
10/11/2008 8:39 PM
-
Williston-Elko 64, Ridge Spring-Monetta 6
10/10/2008 9:19 PM
-
Predators win in 4 OTs
10/10/2008 9:58 PM
-
Friday's scoreboard
10/10/2008 10:14 PM
-
Saturday's Sports on TV
10/10/2008 10:15 PM
-
Friday's prep football scores
10/10/2008 9:58 PM
-
Derry Heir defeats Buckleigh in overtime of wild polo game
10/10/2008 7:22 PM
-
Aiken Fall Classic primed for weekend
10/10/2008 7:22 PM
-
Derry Heir defeats Buckleigh
in overtime of wild polo game
10/10/2008 7:26 PM
-
High school football previews
10/9/2008 7:18 PM
-
Goose Creek rolls past Brigadoon in Silver Cup
10/9/2008 7:11 PM
-
At the races
10/9/2008 9:02 PM
-
North Augusta games to be carried on the web
10/9/2008 7:17 PM
-
Local results
10/9/2008 9:02 PM
-
Wagener native part of Vandy's success
10/8/2008 8:50 PM
-
Sheriff's office investigating coach
10/8/2008 8:50 PM
Drive-offs decrease at prepay gas pumps
5/16/2008 12:13 AM
0 comments on this story 
E-mail this story to a friend
By KAREN DAILY
Staff writer
Skyrocketing crude oil prices have undoubtedly affected the price of gas and groceries, but they have also changed the way most convenience store owners are doing business.
Gas stations that at one-time allowed customers to pay after pumping a tank of gas have gone the way of the full-service station - they may still be out there, but they are few and far between.
Kent's Korner convenience stores owner Chad Ingram held out as long as he could before he began requiring customers pay before they pump, but a spike in gas thefts a few months ago forced his hand.
"We went from losing a couple thousand dollars a month to $10,000 to $12,000," Ingram said. "We didn't want to have to go to prepay because it's an inconvenience and we are a convenience store, but we had to," he said.
With an estimated 16 stores in the CSRA, the bills started adding up, and Ingram knew why.
"We knew we were the only ones not having them prepay," he added.
The change has, however, added a few new kinks.
"Inside sales are down and credit card fees are up," he said.
For every credit card transaction, the businesses pay a percentage to the credit card companies. More people are paying with a credit cards at the pump, which also means fewer customers are stopping in for a soda or cup of coffee.
The silver lining, however, is that gas drive-offs are down.
Aiken Public Safety Lt. David Turno said the decrease is significant.
In 2006, Aiken Public Safety responded to 365 gas drive-offs. The following year there were 252 reported in the City of Aiken.
So far this year there have been 16.
Aiken Public Safety, years ago, had begun monitoring cities like Mt. Pleasant, where there are ordinances in place requiring prepayment, but at that time the idea was met with some resistance because of the type of problems Ingram has had.
Turno said they were trying to figure out a way to curb the number of time consuming gas drive-offs without hurting businesses.
"Rarely could we locate them and make an arrest," Turno said. "The clerks were busy and not always able to get good tag or car description."
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com
5/16/2008 12:13 AM
0 comments on this story E-mail this story to a friendBy KAREN DAILY
Staff writer
Skyrocketing crude oil prices have undoubtedly affected the price of gas and groceries, but they have also changed the way most convenience store owners are doing business.
Gas stations that at one-time allowed customers to pay after pumping a tank of gas have gone the way of the full-service station - they may still be out there, but they are few and far between.
Kent's Korner convenience stores owner Chad Ingram held out as long as he could before he began requiring customers pay before they pump, but a spike in gas thefts a few months ago forced his hand.
"We went from losing a couple thousand dollars a month to $10,000 to $12,000," Ingram said. "We didn't want to have to go to prepay because it's an inconvenience and we are a convenience store, but we had to," he said.
With an estimated 16 stores in the CSRA, the bills started adding up, and Ingram knew why.
"We knew we were the only ones not having them prepay," he added.
The change has, however, added a few new kinks.
"Inside sales are down and credit card fees are up," he said.
For every credit card transaction, the businesses pay a percentage to the credit card companies. More people are paying with a credit cards at the pump, which also means fewer customers are stopping in for a soda or cup of coffee.
The silver lining, however, is that gas drive-offs are down.
Aiken Public Safety Lt. David Turno said the decrease is significant.
In 2006, Aiken Public Safety responded to 365 gas drive-offs. The following year there were 252 reported in the City of Aiken.
So far this year there have been 16.
Aiken Public Safety, years ago, had begun monitoring cities like Mt. Pleasant, where there are ordinances in place requiring prepayment, but at that time the idea was met with some resistance because of the type of problems Ingram has had.
Turno said they were trying to figure out a way to curb the number of time consuming gas drive-offs without hurting businesses.
"Rarely could we locate them and make an arrest," Turno said. "The clerks were busy and not always able to get good tag or car description."
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com
Share this story:
Comment on this story
0 comment(s) on this story
Just for Fun
- Sudoku
- BlogSpotter
- coming soon! - More stuff just for fun!
- Snopes.com - urban legends laid bare
Entertainment
Obituaries
-
Murray Gayle Tillman Sr.
10/11/2008 9:47 PM
-
Ruth Pearson
10/11/2008 9:47 PM
-
Ralph Haywood
10/11/2008 9:47 PM
-
Leslie Campbell Easterlin
10/11/2008 9:47 PM
-
Shirley Josephine Butera Hurt
10/11/2008 9:43 PM
-
Christopher John Baker
10/11/2008 9:43 PM
-
Christopher John Baker
10/11/2008 12:04 AM
-
Leon Louis Perre Sr.
10/11/2008 12:01 AM
-
Charles D. Warfield
10/11/2008 12:00 AM
-
Jennette Hadden Rine
10/11/2008 12:00 AM
Births
Science and Technology