Ensuring gasoline pump accuracy and consumer confidence in a changing market

Author

Patrick Vanasse

Organization

Option consommateurs

Published

2004

Summary

The purpose of this policy paper is to express the position of Option consommateurs on the strategic direction of Measurement Canada in conjunction with the Retail Petroleum Trade Sector Review (RPTSR). In this sector review, Option consommateurs’ concern is to ensure that gas pump accuracy and consumer confidence are preserved through suitable regulation of the industry by Measurement Canada. Our focus group participants stated their belief that weights and measures accuracy is regulated in Canada, but very few of them could name the regulatory body responsible. When they learned that Measurement Canada is the body in question, most of the participants felt reassured, though some doubted Measurement Canada’s capacity to fulfil these functions. The results of the Canada-wide survey led to the following observations. Initially, consumers had high confidence in gas pump accuracy, but this was more intuitive than based on facts, since a non-negligible proportion did not believe that a government agency regulates these devices. When they learned that periodic inspection of gas pumps is not mandatory, the majority stated that this situation diminished their confidence in the pumps’ accuracy. Finally, consumers clearly expressed the need for companies selling, repairing, maintaining and calibrating gas pumps to be regulated by Measurement Canada.

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OCA Funded Research
This research received funding support through the Office of Consumer Affairs' Contributions Program.

Contact information

Source: Consumer Policy Research Database