Here in Nova Scotia there isn't much point in choosing between gas stations since our government has decided to guarantee gas stations high profits by setting a minimum price each week, implying that every gas station in all of Halifax charges that same minimum price. (Proof that the minimum price is always higher than market price.) With the official justification that this is necessary to preserve rural gas stations. It would be a lot cheaper to simply subsidize rural gas stations rather than force everybody in the whole province to pay more than market price for gas but I guess that's too complicated for them to understand. The environment can't be the reason either, since gas stations rather than the government benefit from minimum prices -- if the government wanted higher prices to make us use less gas then they should use higher fuel taxes to achieve that goal, since that would preserve competition between gas stations and would direct the money into its own pockets rather than in the pockets of BP, Esso, Shell, etc.
Nonetheless I have developed a bit of a liking for the Ultramar gas station on Inglis Street. What I like about it is that it is relatively small, implying that it has a more relaxed and less stressful atmosphere than the bigger gas stations where dozens of hectic people want to fill up as fast as possible. Its staff are very friendly and helpful. The only two downsides: first, like most other gas stations they charge you 50¢ for air; second, the pumps often don't print receipts even if you select "yes", so you have to go inside to ask for one. read more
