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Are those price-checker sites actually reliable?

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sophiepilot
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(@sophiepilot)
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I've had mixed luck with those apps too, but honestly, calling ahead hasn't always been much better for me. Last summer I called a gas station to confirm they had diesel—guy said yes, no problem. Got there 15 minutes later and the pump was out of order. So much for phone confirmations being reliable...

I guess my point is, even calling ahead isn't foolproof. Maybe the real trick is just accepting that sometimes things won't pan out and keeping expectations low. Backup plans are good, but at some point, you just gotta roll with it and embrace the occasional inconvenience as part of the adventure.

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jackr55
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Totally get your point about rolling with inconveniences—it's practically a road trip rite of passage, haha. But I gotta say, there's a middle ground between surrendering entirely to fate and relying blindly on apps or phone calls. Here's my tried-and-tested method that's saved me from more than a few headaches:

Step one: Check the app quickly for a general feel—prices, availability, etc.
Step two: Cross-reference with recent user comments or reviews (these are gold for spotting red flags).
Step three: If something seems sketchy or borderline, THEN call ahead—but don't just ask "do you have diesel?" Instead, ask specifics like "is pump #4 operational right now?" or "did the diesel truck come today?" People tend to answer more accurately when you get specific.
Step four: Always have a plan B that's not too far off route. Trust me, a 10-minute detour beats an hour of frustration.

Yeah, it's not foolproof either (nothing is...), but it definitely cuts down on those "you've gotta be kidding me" moments. Plus, it makes you feel like a road-trip ninja when it works out smoothly.

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(@culture_gandalf)
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Those are solid tips, especially about asking specific questions when calling ahead. Learned that lesson the hard way myself on a family trip last summer. We were headed through some rural areas, and I relied solely on one of those price-checker apps for fuel stops. Big mistake. Pulled into a station that was supposedly open and had decent prices, only to find out their diesel pump had been out of order for days. The attendant just shrugged and said, "Yeah, app's always wrong."

Since then, I've adopted a similar method—quick app check first, then verify with recent reviews or comments. But honestly, even those can be hit-or-miss sometimes. I've found that smaller stations rarely update their info online consistently. So yeah, your advice about having a nearby plan B is spot-on. Nothing beats being prepared when technology inevitably lets you down...

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wfurry72
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Totally agree with having a backup plan. Learned the hard way too—those apps are decent in bigger towns, but rural areas? Forget it. I've noticed smaller stations sometimes just don't bother updating their info online, period. Also, watch out for outdated reviews...some folks leave comments from months ago, and things change fast. Best bet is still calling ahead if you're really counting on a specific stop.

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collector904598
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Yeah, those price-checker sites can be handy, but relying solely on them is asking for trouble. Here's what I usually do: first, check the app or site just for a rough idea. Second, skim recent reviews—like within the past week or two max. Third, if I'm headed somewhere remote or unfamiliar, I always call ahead. Learned this after nearly getting stranded once because some small-town station closed early without updating their hours online...lesson learned the hard way.

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