The manager of a gas station in California was fired after he accidentally set the price of gasoline at 69 cents per gallon, instead of 6.99 US dollars.
John Szczecina simply says he put the comma in the wrong place. “I posted the three prices, except the diesel. The last one didn’t come out well,” he told American television network ABC News.
The news spread quickly in Rancho Cordova and on social media, causing motorists to suddenly parade past the Shell station. The clumsiness of the manager remained displayed for three hours.
It must be said that the sum was ridiculous for the inhabitants of a state where prices, higher than the national average, continue to reach records. On Wednesday, a gallon (3.785 liters) cost 6.435 US dollars in California, compared to 5.014 in the rest of the country, according to the AAA auto association.
The error will have caused the station to lose nearly 20,000 US dollars (about 26,000 Canadian dollars), according to the licensee’s sister, Paula Jackson.
Fearing that her brother could be sued by the multinational, Ms Jackson created a crowdfunding page Go Fund Me in order to help him reimburse the costs.
Over US$5,000 was raised in just 4 days. Among the donors, several criticize the residents of Rancho Cordova, who took advantage of the situation, at the expense of Mr. Szczecina.
“Now is the time for all those people who profited from the 69 cent gas to help this gentleman. They knew it was a mistake and took advantage of it instead of doing the right thing! wrote donor Scott Waldon.
If John Szczecina has drawn the wrath of his bosses, many today call him a “hero” on social networks.