Dispatch from the front line

Here in Massachusetts, we have to get our cars inspected once a year. My car is scheduled for June inspection, so today when I saw an inspection station, I drove in and got it done.

When I went to pay, the owner--who had been talking away on his cel phone when I went in--said "when you drove in I was on the phone yelling at Sunoco." He then told me that the company is charging him $3.94 per gallon, and pointing out that the credit card fee he pays is $.10 per gallon for Visa and MasterCard, more for American Express. He said he's earning $.04 per gallon. Even if he's understating the figure by a bit, it's clear that he's not making any money pumping gas.