Station workers urged to release gas prices over the telephone

www.mlive.com Thursday, March 6, 2003 BY ROBERT HARRISON KALAMAZOO GAZETTE

Residents calling gas stations to shop around for the lowest gas prices may have been told by store managers that it is against the law for the gas prices to be given over the phone.

A state official said those managers are mistaken.

"There is nothing that says they're forbidden from giving the prices over the phone," said Sage Eastman, spokeswoman for Attorney General Mike Cox.

Edward Weglarz, executive director of the Service Station Dealers Association, said he understands managers may be frustrated with getting up to 30 calls a day, but they should answer people's questions.

"It is bad customer service -- and a bad business practice -- for them not to give customers that information," Weglarz said.

Last week, Gov. Jennifer Granholm issued an executive order on the monitoring of gas prices that will require the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Public Service Commission to work together in that effort, said Sara Linsmeier-Wurfel, spokeswoman for the agriculture department.

The order is intended to protect consumers from price-gouging tied to the slowdown in oil imports from Venezuela and the uncertainty of possible war in Iraq.

"We will be putting together some kind of tool or mechanism to offer customers easy, convenient access to gas prices in their area," she said.

She said the mechanism may be a Web site or a hotline.

Brian Panter of Kalamazoo recently filled his gas tank at a local service station for $1.75 per gallon.

He said he would definitely use a hotline or Web site to find the lowest price in the area.

"Hopefully, it would be an incentive to the gas company to keep the prices down," Panter said.

Eastman said service station managers may be reluctant to give prices over the phone because they suspect other gas station owners may be calling around trying to fix their prices below their competitors.

But he urges customers to contact the attorney general's office if they suspect gas price gouging.