Rising fuel prices lead to shortage of 4's for price signs
By Tom AdamsCEDAR FLAT, Ore. - As the prices climb, we're seeing more 4's on local service station signs. Many of those stations with the old-style plastic numbers are running into a problem: Not enough 4's in stock. For market owner Dave Wing, it's a lot more than just sheets of plastic with numbers. Call it the higher cost of doing business. Wing has been the owner of Mathers Market for quite a while, but the gas pumps have been around even longer. Wing thinks they are 30 to 40 years old. The trouble is, a price above $3.99 per gallon doesn't compute. "We had to replace the whole computer. The whole computer has to be replaced," Wing said. Wing had to special order the new units two weeks ago. Guess how many he had to order? You've got it - four. The store had to replace four computer units in all three of the gas pumps, and if you think it was cheap, think again. At $700 per unit, times four, that's $2,800. Now what about all those 4's on the gas price signs? With a little foresight and forward thinking, Wing is buying enough yellow plastic to stay ahead. "It comes with a film on the side of it and you just cut out the four and spray paint it black," says Wing. He explains he can't find a company to make the digits the right size, to fit his sign. And if the price hits $4.44? "You need a lot more signs," Wing said. "Stay up late at night painting fours." Wing said the computer update was costly, but is still cheaper than buying all new electronic gas pumps. That would cost around $55,000. |
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