Gas Rage: Customer Complaints About Gas Prices Get Uglier
An article on AOL.com says some people are unable to control their anger when filling up their vehicles with the high priced fuel at gas stations. Many are taking their anger out on the gas station owners. Some are yelling and/or driving away without paying for the gas.
"Everyone is suffering at the same time," said Sam Shirazie, a clerk at a Chevron station east of downtown Los Angeles. "If I could help to reduce that pain, I would."
No detailed statistics are kept on incidents of gas rage. But the National Association of Convenience Stores said anecdotal evidence indicates they have increased since prices began climbing in February.
Employees of Fleming Corp., which operates 14 gas stations in Kansas and Missouri, have heard everything from "just a mumble-grumble kind of thing to a cheap shot or blaming the clerk for world oil prices," owner Ed Roitz said.
Division manager Ron Davis hears complaints firsthand.
"Out of all our customers, probably 1 percent does the loudest squealing," he said. "I don't want to repeat some of it. They'll talk about the blankety-blank oil companies."
The article says that some gas station owners have tried to diffuse customer outrage by posting humorous signs or giving away free sodas to customers that buy over $20 in gas.
