When gas prices are cheapest
Tired of paying so much for gas? Discover how geopolitical events, seasonal demand and crude oil prices affect your price at the pump.
Circle K’s promise to give loyalty program members 40 cents off a gallon of gas all day Thursday began with a glitch that wasn’t fixed until more than a quarter of the day later.
The company announced it would offer a 40 cent per gallon discount to members of its Inner Circle program.
The offer was advertised at the gas pumps on Tuesday. The advertisement said that the prices would automatically drop on the display.
But spot checks by Republic journalists at two petrol pumps showed that the discount was not granted.
At a pump in Tempe, the price dropped by only 5 cents per gallon, the normal discount given to loyalty club members. A manager at that store estimated the discount and paid the difference in cash.
An employee at a store in downtown Phoenix and one at another store in Tempe said prices at the pump are controlled by a computer and said the problem is likely due to a software glitch.
A journalist from the Republic managed to get the corresponding discount around 7 a.m. on Thursday.
A Circle K spokesperson said in an email that the issue preventing the discount from being applied had been resolved. The email said Circle K apologized and noted that customers had the rest of the day to claim the discount.
The company did not respond to inquiries about what the error was and how it was fixed. The company also remained categorical when asked what customers can do if they have already filled up without receiving the discount.
