In the context of this discussion, that question is irrelevant. I provided the reference to that site because it addresses the question that was asked -- namely, what is the origin of 9/10 cent pricing for gasoline?
For the U.S., the author of the site uses the units that are currently in use and that were historically in use (as he goes into the history of the matter). For Canada, he uses the units that are currently in use (SI). If he had used SI for the U.S. narrative, his readers would not be able to relate it to what they actually see at the pump and he would be placing upon them the burden of conversion. The fact is that U.S. gas stations currently dispense in gallons, whether those of us on this list like it or not. The author also makes the point that a 0.1 cent per liter (in Canada) price difference is more significant than a 0.1 cent per gallon price difference. I don't see how he could have made that point if he had converted all the U.S. stuff to liters. In fact, such a conversion would have rendered most of his narrative meaningless, as he would have to have converted the prices, thus making it impossible to discuss the 9/10 cent component (the object of the discussion). Let's concentrate, Michael, on influencing the future (which starts tomorrow), not on trying to rewrite the past. Your occasional anger towards the rest of us here is very badly misplaced. Bill Potts, CMS Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Behalf Of Michael-O >Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2003 01:28 >To: U.S. Metric Association >Subject: [USMA:26465] RE: Fuel in the US > > >Are all NIST policies still in WOMBAT`? > >Bill Potts wrote: >> I see you're overreacting and using hyperbole again, Michael. >> >> What did you expect? He's talking mainly about past and current U.S. >> practice -- that is, historically factual stuff. He's not stating a >> preference, nor is he making a recommendation regarding units of >> measure. >> >> Note that, in his section on Canada, he quite appropriately uses SI. >> The only conversion he does (parenthetically) is with respect to >> percentage volume change by temperature. Providing the conversion is >> legitimate, in this case, in that it allows a comparison with U.S. >> industry standards. >> >> Bill Potts, CMS >> Roseville, CA >> http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] >> >> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> Behalf Of Michael-O >>> Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 10:39 >>> To: U.S. Metric Association >>> Subject: [USMA:26462] RE: Fuel in the US >>> >>> >>> oooohhh, plz not again >>> >>> so much WOMBAT on this page, I had to puke! >>> >>> bye >>> >>> >>> Bill Potts wrote: >>>> I just did a Google search with the following argument: 9/10 >>>> gasoline pricing. >>>> >>>> One of the hits, >>>> http://www.users.qwest.net/~taaaz/AZgas.html#A%20LITTLE%20HISTORY, >>>> is a very interesting discussion of this and many other aspects of >>>> gasoline pricing and dispensing. >>>> >>>> Bill Potts, CMS >>>> Roseville, CA >>>> http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: Brian White [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 09:40 >>>>> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; U.S. Metric Association >>>>> Subject: Re: [USMA:26457] RE: Fuel in the US >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Thanks Bill, but if I remember right there were specific reasons >>>>> for it related to taxes or something of the sort. It's definately >>>>> a legacy thing completely unrelated to the (very annoying) habit of >>>>> labelling >>>>> everything in >>>>> retail X.99. >>>>> >>>>> There's supposedly a real reason for it, which is what I'm curious >>>>> about. Anyone know? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ---------- Original Message ----------- >>>>> From: "Bill Potts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>>> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>>> Sent: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 09:34:49 -0700 >>>>> Subject: [USMA:26457] RE: Fuel in the US >>>>> >>>>>> Brian White wrote: >>>>>>> Speaking of that...does anyone know what the whole 9/10ths >>>>> thing is about >>>>>>> with fuel prices in the US? >>>>>> >>>>>> It's what I've always called the department store pricing >>>>>> syndrome. >>>>>> >>>>>> A department store will price something at $99.98 or $99.99, >>>>>> leading many people (including my wife) to think of the price as >>>>>> being "not much more than $90." >>>>>> >>>>>> If a competitor priced the same item at $100.00, and it was >>>>>> something I needed, I would buy from the competitor in >>>>>> appreciation of their honesty -- and I would let them know that. >>>>>> (Although if another competitor offered the same item for, say, >>>>>> $85.00 [or even $84.99], I'd do the rational thing and buy from >>>>>> them.) >>>>>> >>>>>> Gas stations are, of course, selling to the same people as the >>>>>> department stores. >>>>>> >>>>>> Bill Potts, CMS >>>>>> Roseville, CA >>>>>> http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] >>>>> ------- End of Original Message ------- >
