Y2K kind of problem for gas pumps
No easy solutions for the little
guy.
Small service stations are running into a problem as gasoline marches toward $4 a gallon in the United States: Thousands of old-fashioned pumps can’t register more than $3.99 on their spinning mechanical dials.
The pumps, throwbacks to a bygone era on the American road, are difficult and expensive to upgrade, and replacing them is often out of the question for station owners who are still just scraping by.
Many of the same pumps can only count up to $99.99 for the total sale, preventing owners of some sport utility vehicles, vans, trucks and other gas-guzzlers to fill their tanks all the way…
“If gas is the profit driver and you are one of those guys with the old pumps, you’re either evolving or getting out.”
The local filling station owner continues to go the way of the passenger pigeon.
Posted: Tue - May 13, 2008 at 07:29 AM