Not Logged In Log In   Sign Up   Points Leaders
Follow Us    11:30 AM

Message Forum - Read Message

Category: Talk back to us! > Topics Add to favorite topics   Post new topicPost New Topic
Author Topic: DAILY POINTS FOR REPORTING GAS PRICES Post a Reply Back to Topics
DecILTattleTale

Champion Author
Illinois

Posts:1,328
Points:199,320
Joined:Mar 2012
Message Posted: Apr 2, 2012 9:53:29 AM

Why limit us to 5 reports that earn points. I think that dissuades people from posting more gas prices. The more gas price reports, the more informed (we) the consumer's are. The point to this site is for people to find the lowest price for gas, the more information, the more (accurate the) information for gas prices.
REPLIES (newest first)
Profile Pic
gaspricepasser
Champion Author Miami

Posts:3,953
Points:508,990
Joined:Mar 2011
Message Posted: Apr 22, 2012 12:07:00 PM

If all you are concerned about is earning points, then you should go over to GPW. If you want truly informative and comprehensive information about gas prices, well then . . .
Profile Pic
scoutmaster
Champion Author Pittsburgh

Posts:81,371
Points:3,255,570
Joined:Mar 2003
Message Posted: Apr 22, 2012 12:03:15 PM

Compared to this site, GPW is garbage.
Profile Pic
2011370Z
Champion Author Phoenix

Posts:5,983
Points:684,280
Joined:Apr 2011
Message Posted: Apr 22, 2012 10:52:33 AM

I post for as many stations as I can. So what if I only get 750 points.
Profile Pic
TxJeans
Champion Author Tampa

Posts:3,555
Points:370,755
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 1:09:38 PM

I think the current limit makes sense.
I also think I should check out GPW. They may be small, but if enough start migrating...
Profile Pic
Gas_Buddy
Champion Author Maryland

Posts:25,984
Points:3,036,015
Joined:Aug 2004
Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 9:40:09 AM

bruin19MD:

You wrote: "I agree".

You agree with what? There was one perspective in the original post; there have been opinions and perspectives that take a different or dissenting position, and there has been discussion about alternative gas price websites.

What, exactly, are you saying you agree with?
Profile Pic
gaspricepasser
Champion Author Miami

Posts:3,953
Points:508,990
Joined:Mar 2011
Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 11:24:56 PM

I think that the current limit is sensible, in that it is reasonably attainable by most people, assuming that there are at least two gas stations somewhere near them, and it gets people to post a number of prices, without encouraging them to commit more fraud than exists right now. If you raised the limit to ten or twenty, I think that the percentage of fraudulent prices would increase dramatically.
Profile Pic
bruin19MD
Champion Author Maryland

Posts:1,064
Points:165,200
Joined:Feb 2011
Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 6:56:03 PM

I agree
Profile Pic
plastic
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:46,837
Points:2,840,845
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Apr 3, 2012 1:34:26 PM

I've been a member over there for many years. I joined this site in 2003 (wasn't very active and forgot my original login). I joined GPW in 2005 when GB started going downhill. TK (over there) is very responsive and very helpful. You really feel that you're a part of the team over there. Of course it's small and lacking in many ways. It sure isn't ready for something as big as Gasbuddy.
Profile Pic
Scrapheap
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:14,556
Points:2,360,780
Joined:Sep 2006
Message Posted: Apr 3, 2012 1:19:36 PM

How ironic! I just joined GPW within the last half hour. After almost 6 years as a spotter here, I joined them because I feel GasBuddy is losing its direction, is focusing more on money, is implementing games that produce fraud (app awards), not fixing the blatantly evident fraud these games produced, and no longer understands how to treat its volunteer spotters. I'm sure I am not the only long time member with these feelings.

After reporting my prices from my morning commute, I am already on their leader board for the month.
Profile Pic
plastic
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:46,837
Points:2,840,845
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Apr 3, 2012 1:14:28 PM

This one has got to be one of the cleanest sites around. Sure, no site is perfect but I'd put this one up against any other site out there.
Profile Pic
PD
Moderator
Message Posted: Apr 3, 2012 1:07:37 PM

What makes this great is our spotters who understand that while points and winning free gasoline are great, we can all win by helping each other regardless of points. For some people, the points are the only reason they post prices. For me, its to do my part to help. We're all here for slightly different reasons, but the reason points are capped is to prevent fraud or bad prices. Unfortunately, there are a few bad apples who force us to change the experience for everyone.

Our site is great because of our loyal spotters and their dedication. I believe other sites may lose concentration of that, and focus more on money, which is where additional fraud may come from, negating the additional data brought in. We're happy with our community as it is and don't have immediate plans to change the points system.
Profile Pic
plastic
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:46,837
Points:2,840,845
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Apr 3, 2012 12:43:34 PM

It seems that their live chat and their message forum are gone. There was pretty bad spam on the boards and no one used the live chat so it's just as well. Well my odds are better at winning over there than over here.
Profile Pic
plastic
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:46,837
Points:2,840,845
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Apr 3, 2012 12:28:53 PM

The prices are terrible there- very much an indicator of major fraud. They have fixed up the appearance though and now they are offering cash prize contests starting this month. The moderator is very responsive though.
Profile Pic
gaspricepasser
Champion Author Miami

Posts:3,953
Points:508,990
Joined:Mar 2011
Message Posted: Apr 3, 2012 12:21:59 PM

Since in another thread that I started, the consensus seems to be that you can and should routinely keep updating prices, even if they have just been reported, then offering more points for more reporting, would not really encourage the need to fraudulently report more prices. If you are already posting made up prices, then you might make up a few more, but as now, the greater number of posts will be made up of accurate figures.

In general, I think that the point structure now is fine. It does not really encourage wholesale fraud, and it gives people a little goal to reach each day.
Profile Pic
Scrapheap
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:14,556
Points:2,360,780
Joined:Sep 2006
Message Posted: Apr 3, 2012 12:19:45 PM

The problem with that site is it is practically worthless. I don't look at if very often but did yesterday and every price for every station in my area was wrong.

[Edited by: Scrapheap at 4/3/2012 1:20:13 PM EST]
Profile Pic
plastic
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:46,837
Points:2,840,845
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Apr 3, 2012 12:15:44 PM

How funny!
Profile Pic
plastic
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:46,837
Points:2,840,845
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Apr 3, 2012 12:15:26 PM

gas
-
price
-
watch
Profile Pic
plastic
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:46,837
Points:2,840,845
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Apr 3, 2012 12:14:50 PM

Ok, that's weird. I typed in www.gpw.com and the GB site changed it to www.gpw.com. Certainly they can't be afraid of that little competition.
Profile Pic
plastic
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:46,837
Points:2,840,845
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Apr 3, 2012 12:12:46 PM

www.gpw.com doesn't limit the points you get for posting stations. If they catch you reporting false prices, they'll get you but that's only if someone complains and reports you.
Profile Pic
Gas_Buddy
Champion Author Maryland

Posts:25,984
Points:3,036,015
Joined:Aug 2004
Message Posted: Apr 3, 2012 12:08:02 PM

Think of it this way: If you could earn points for 100 gas price posts, or for an unlimited number of gas price posts, some people would simply post the same price 100 times, or just do an automated price posting to "rack up points", further diminishing the points value.

For an example, there's more than one member who has automated his "message posting", and has posted 2,000 message posts a day, either one word, one number or a widgit. He's proud of both his consecutive streak (which is a result of his automated participation, and the quantity of his message posts, frequently bragging about how "involved" a member he's been.

With increased price posting opportunities, you'll have the same situation. And the value of the points (whatever value they may have) will be diminished.
Profile Pic
rumbleseat
Champion Author Winnipeg

Posts:22,937
Points:3,531,365
Joined:Oct 2002
Message Posted: Apr 2, 2012 6:05:24 PM

The limit is established at a level attainable by most members. Increasing the limit would encourage cheating, which we already have at this level, and would severely disadvantage members in small towns and rural areas.
We need more members posting prices, not members posting more prices. The rural areas are already poorly covered, if we disadvantage the members there, some will leave, and the site will become less valuable.
It ain't broke, it don't need fixin!
Profile Pic
buckeyecountry
Champion Author Ohio

Posts:8,034
Points:701,930
Joined:May 2011
Message Posted: Apr 2, 2012 5:14:59 PM

...just a side note....no need to yell(all caps) in topic headers
Profile Pic
seabrz7
Champion Author California

Posts:1,400
Points:224,810
Joined:Feb 2012
Message Posted: Apr 2, 2012 4:08:56 PM

I post all the stations I see while I'm out. Some days trip may only take me past 3 stations while other days I will post 11. It really depends on my errands.
Profile Pic
plastic
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:46,837
Points:2,840,845
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Apr 2, 2012 12:38:24 PM

lol
Profile Pic
ziyulu
Champion Author Oklahoma City

Posts:8,506
Points:1,604,040
Joined:Aug 2007
Message Posted: Apr 2, 2012 12:03:08 PM

I'm surprised bytebug didn't say "more evidence..."
Profile Pic
scoutmaster
Champion Author Pittsburgh

Posts:81,371
Points:3,255,570
Joined:Mar 2003
Message Posted: Apr 2, 2012 11:49:13 AM

I agree with bytebug. Eliminate the points and the site would be more accurate.
Profile Pic
bytebug
Champion Author Orange County

Posts:26,399
Points:4,125,580
Joined:Oct 2001
Message Posted: Apr 2, 2012 11:35:31 AM

As it is now, encouraging price posts with points only encourages lying and cheating by losers whose only interest is in winning the prize give-away. The site would be much better off (and more accurate) if we eliminated points completely.
Profile Pic
Scrapheap
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:14,556
Points:2,360,780
Joined:Sep 2006
Message Posted: Apr 2, 2012 9:59:49 AM

The purpose of the points is to encourage people to post. Many of us post far more than 5 just because it is easy to do and it might help others.

The abuse of the awards on the apps has amply demonstrated that the long standing limits on points are well justified. If more points, rank and drawing tickets were involved, you would have even more cheating.
Profile Pic
plastic
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:46,837
Points:2,840,845
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Apr 2, 2012 9:58:07 AM

As you know, there's no limit to how many prices you can post. Most people do post more than the five posts. GB has (and I agree) decided that if there's an opportunity to post more prices for points, this could lead to people posting false prices just to gain points.

Seems to be working pretty well. Welcome to Gasbuddy!
Post a reply Back to Topics