Raves, Rants & Roses

RESPONSE: I seldom have an opportunity to offer a "rave" for your editorials. Not because you never get it right, but mostly because the subject is usually of little interest to me. I have recently written letters on the subject of pricing gasoline at 9/10 of a penny, and I was pleased to read your editorial supporting elimination of this silly practice. ("Small Change Could Make Big Difference," Sunday, August 17, 2008.)

So raves to you for pointing out a practice that has outlived its usefulness ... if it ever was useful, even at 19 pennies a gallon. However, I would add eliminating 9/10 from the price display won't save the service station owner any time or expense. That has been painted on all the signs I've seen since the first gas crisis in the 70's.

It is interesting to note that USA Today recently had an editorial comment suggesting elimination of this practice. However, their front page still shows gas prices in tenths of a penny.

Now, I suggest you work on the equally silly practice of pricing merchandise at $1.99, for example, or pricing a vehicle at $19,995. If $2 or $20,000 scares a buyer away, they probably couldn't afford it anyway.

Norm Beavers
Tyler