I PAY HALF PRICE FOR GAS!!!!!. This is how. I go to the coinshop and buy Morgan silver dollars for around $8 each. Then I fill up my Van at about $18. I go to pay and lay $18 and a silver dollar on the counter. All I say......I can pay you $18 cash or trade you this 1927 silver dollar. Which do you want? Many times they are excited to get the silver dollar offer and go for it. I have done this many times!

-- Half price gas (halfpriceg@s.com), February 29, 2000

Answers

Brilliant. I have a pile of silver dollars stashed away for "the crisis"; never thought of using them now....

-- full (price@gas.here), February 29, 2000.

Quite the entrepreneur! You will do well when the artificial money system crumbles and we go back to barter like in the good old days.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), February 29, 2000.

...anxiously awaiting your "How to" book.

-- Hokie (Hokie_@hotmail.com), February 29, 2000.

Well...

I paid half of today's going price for gas, too. I stashed 200 gallons last year when I could get it for around $.77 a gallon.

I didn't intentionally scheme to rook anyone, either; just tried to be prudent.

Interesting scam, but it won't last for very long. Once word of the actual value of these coins gets around the gas stations in the areas of those who wish to participate(or are currently participating) in this sort of activity, folks will be asking for more than one, or the proper denomination in paper money.

Until of course, TSHTF. This might be next week, it might be next year. Until that time, this isn't decent barter nor even a fair purchase in hard currency. It is taking advantage of the ignorant, and contributing to the erosion of the infrastructure so that when TSHTF, all those nice gas stations(and grocery stores, hardware stores, etc) may have to close their doors because they took in less money than they should have when you and folks like you pulled in. When that happens, you won't get your goods, and as a result everyone involved in these dubious types of transactions suffers.

Save your silver and gold for times when you'll really need them. Walk a little more, use your bicycle a little more, drive a lot less, contribute to the ozone hole a whole lot less. Yeah, I stashed gas, and I'm gonna use it; will probably take me six months to a year to use it up, though. I don't have an SUV that is so thirsty that I have to dream up con games like this to feed my addiction to driving; give it up! You'll feel better, and those silver dollars can be used to buy medical supplies for when times get harder for you and your loved ones.

Then again, I could be wrong; After all, I'm

Justa Jizzmopper

-- Cleaning (stainedglass@thepeepshow.com), March 01, 2000.

Cleaning,

Think about it this way, Half price gas is getting those coins into the hands of people who otherwise would never go out and aquire them on their own, and because they're obviously "Special" probaly will always keep them which could possibly feed them and their families some day.

Also $18.00 for a Morgan is not that far out from reality. Several of the Dealers in my area still are getting between $12.00 to $14.00 apiece for them on a single coin basis and even AJPM is asking $9.00 each and they're one of the cheapest Dealers in the country.

Along that same line of thought, I know of a guy who sometimes tips waitresses with Junk Silver (Pre 65 Dimes & Quarters) knowing they will hang onto it, and the waitresses love it!

-- Zdude (zdude777@hotmail.com), March 01, 2000.

It's a nice idea and isn't "scamming" or playing on the "ignorant".

He's putting both the eighteen dollars in cash and the silver dollar on the table in front of them. They choose the silver dollar. I'd probably do the same.

In fact, the 18 dollars "worth" of gas probably cost more like 10 or 11 comming into the station, even less at the NY commodity market. I'm ignoring the taxes, cost of the building, benefits, electricity to run the pumps, salaries, etc.

I'm ignoring the cost of transporting the silver dollar to the gas station.

As far as the raw commodity price, it looks fair and quite even.

The gas station owner quite likely saves the silver dollar to give to his kids or grandkids and it becomes a special family heirloom.

-- cory (kiyoinc@ibm.XOUT.net), March 01, 2000.

Mr. Hamasaki,

As you say, it is a nice idea. As an idea and in practice, it is nice for the person passing the coin.

Unfortunately, I still feel it usurious to knowingly spend 8-9 bucks for something(a coin, can o' food, widget) and turn right around and grab 18 bucks worth of goods for it, justifying the purchase by saying to oneself, "well, it really is only worth X dollars once you take out '...the taxes, cost of the building, benefits, electricity to run the pumps, salaries, etc.'" If one doesn't want to pay for the supporting infrastructure, that is one's choice. I support going directly to the producer of goods and services and giving them a fair price for their work, instead of paying a pretty penny(or silver dollar) to some middleman who makes a tremendous profit for just being in the right place at the right time with the right thing. However, if the middleman is the only route you can take for the goods or services you need, you really need to pay them what they are asking for the service they are providing to you, if you truly want/need it. After all, they are getting goods and services into your hands when and where you need them, saving you the hassle of seeking out said goods and services.

Better still to take your other bit of advice, and pocket those silver dollars to "...give to his kids or grandkids and it becomes a special family heirloom."

Speaking of goods and services, I like my Swiss-style Army knife you sent me. Thanks, and thank you for all of your work on the Weather Reports. I enjoy reading them, and #100 was a real wake up call to me.

Justa Jizzmopper

-- Cleaning (stainedglass@thepeepshow.com), March 01, 2000.

Can't believe I'm agreeing with Cory, but when your right, you're right!

The basis of any deal is satisfaction on both sides of the arrangement. If the station owner or attendent is satisfied to get a Morgan in exchange for 15 or 18 bucks worth of gas, then that is a proper deal.

Or, put it this way. Would you be happier if I swapped them a matched pair of cut tiger eye earrings with 14k gold ear wires and gold filled sets? Would it make you unhappy when I told you the total cost to me of such a pair of earrings was about $4.00? Would it make you happy again if I told you the list price of the earrings was about $40?

Market value is a fictional average of the worth of a product to the 'average' person. It is actually a different value for everyone. Dealing in cash tends to obscure this fact.

Free advice - an American should never go into a souk without a keeper, unless you want to pay the rent money for a $3.00 pair of sandals.

-- TOO MANY TROLLS HERE (too.much.spam.here@noway.com), March 01, 2000.

Hey cleaning, You have no clue what retailing and commerce is all about!!!!

What happens when you buy a product and you know the seller paid half for that product. Do you call all retailers scam artists?

Cleaning, you have no clue about capitalism, free enterprice Etc. Etc. Every retailer marks their products up 50%.

Eve the guy buying gas with a silver dollar.

He even gives them a choice!!!!

-- ... (...@...com), March 01, 2000.