JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Dozens of cars lined up at the Sam’s Club on Beach Boulevard on Monday, with drivers willing to wait - some for more than 30 minutes - to pay $3.89 a gallon for gas.
According to AAA, the average gas price in Jacksonville was $4.21 on Monday. That 32-cent difference was enough to keep the pump lines long all afternoon, right up until the station closed at 10 p.m.
Amanda Jefferson, who drives a car that requires premium fuel, said Monday was her third attempt to get gas at the location.
“I attempted on Saturday and Sunday and the lines were just too long,” Jefferson said.
When she committed to waiting Monday, she had been in line for 30 minutes. An attendant told her the delay was tied specifically to the premium pump.
“The attendant did come through and tell us that the premium was running a lot slower - that was the delay,” Jefferson said. “So I’m hoping everybody in front of me needs the regular gas so I can get up there quicker.”
Alisha Lewis was visiting Jacksonville and made a point to stop at the Sam’s Club station. She said she had been waiting about five minutes when we met her at the back of a line.
“I’m trying to still save a lot of money, but in this particular case, coming to the Sam’s Club is helping,” Lewis said. “But at the same time, these prices from a few weeks ago is different.”
Brandi Staley agrees, saying it’s worth it to save a little extra money to wait in the line.
“It means that my gas tank will get filled up a lot cheaper,” Staley said. “So with prices of everything right now, every little buck helps.”
News4Jax reached out to the corporate offices for Sam’s Club, Costco, and BJ’s Wholesale to see if they’re seeing an increase of customers at their gas stations and how they’re addressing the increase. We’re waiting to hear back from them at this time.