Sunday, October 05, 2008

Happy Days Are Here Again!

Lucky customers pump 35-cent gas

PEKIN, IL—A day after a run on a gas station where an attendant incorrectly set the pump price at only 35 cents a gallon, the owner was looking beyond the lost revenue.

"We lost about 1,000 gallons of gas and about $3,500," Mimi Zidan, owner of the Lucky Mart on Derby Street, said Wednesday. "But I don't feel too bad because the people looked so happy when they were buying gas. If I can do this for them, that's all right."

Tuesday evening, the attendant on duty at Lucky Mart on Derby Street realized something was wrong when the customers' bills added up to no more than $5 or $6 each after topping off their gas tanks.

As he struggled to deal with the hordes pouring in, he called Zidan on her cell phone.

Earlier in the evening, the attendant had adjusted the gas price, which should have read $3.50 a gallon, to 35 cents. That was about 5:30 p.m. The gas pumps were not corrected until about 7:30 p.m.

During that time, people called others to tell them to rush over and buy at the phenomenally low price. The result was that the situation at Derby and South Fifth streets was totally chaotic, with traffic backed up in all directions when Zidan returned to the store.

"I thought it was an accident," Zidan said. "For the first 10 minutes I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to say you must stop, the price is wrong."

But once the police came in and restored some order, she felt better.

Her sister, Amy Habal, who helps run the store, said it would have been nice if someone had told them about the mistake instead of calling their friends.

11 comments:

Brian Mongold said...

Lucky Mart sounds like it's more than a name.

Brian

Stephanie said...

Awesome story Thomas! I love it when people actually look out for the little guy because it's the right thing to do; even if it was an accident! :)

I'm feeling a bit better and am going to catch up with you, PJ and B. Thanks for support; it's especially comforting coming from a stranger because you have nothing to gain! :)

Hope you are doing well and the weather is as beautiful there, as it is here.

Stephanie

Stephanie said...

BRIAN!!!! B-NICE! How you don'? You posted one minute before me! lol

Sarah said...

But I don't feel too bad because the people looked so happy when they were buying gas. If I can do this for them, that's all right.

nice lady. bad business owner.

Lauren Elizabeth said...

How come that never happens at the gas stations I go to?

Brian Mongold said...

B-NICE, very creative. I've been called much, much worse...I'll take it.

Too slow at the keyboard Stephanie, you may need to pick your game up to make up that 1 minute difference in the future. :)

I'm not too bad, how about you?

Stephanie said...

Lol B, I'm pretty sure it's from a rap song from the early nineties! BUT, I love giving people nicknames! :)

So you are now officially B-Nice! lmao

I'm okay, stressed but okay.

Since I'm not in the office typing like a mad man, day in and day out, I'm pretty slow. It's all gravy baby! I'm sure my day will come again where I can type you under the table. Or not...lol ;)

Anonymous said...

Shit, and i was ecstatic about paying $3.09 for gas in NJ yesterday...

www.silverneurotic.weebly.com

Rocketstar said...

What a great attitude

Unknown said...

Wow! You couldn't pick a better title for your business. The owner's reaction was great. First response: Oops!.

Timothy Smith said...

I feel sorry for the owners. They have such small profit margins on gas. I would have said something to them.

However, I might have filled my tank first!

lol