With gasoline costing nearly $4 per gallon in Georgia, drivers probably weren’t expecting to see prices from decades ago. Yet that’s exactly what happened in Powder Springs, where two neighboring gas stations started a price war that sent regular unleaded tumbling to just 97 cents per gallon.
The unlikely battle unfolded on Monday, October 12, at an Amoco and a Sunoco station on Marietta Street. As both businesses repeatedly lowered their prices, word spread quickly among local motorists.
Before long, drivers were lining up to take advantage of the extraordinary discounts. Some even called friends and relatives to make sure they didn’t miss out.
Unfortunately, the excitement created a traffic nightmare, forcing local police to intervene. Officers temporarily restricted access to the stations as vehicles clogged the surrounding roads.
How A Five-Cent Discount Started The Chaos
According to WSB-TV, the Amoco station had a policy of keeping its gasoline five cents cheaper than its neighboring competitor. Whenever Amoco lowered its price, Sunoco responded by matching it.
That prompted another reduction from Amoco, followed by another from Sunoco. The back-and-forth continued until regular gasoline reached an astonishing 97 cents per gallon.
One driver told WSB-TV that prices had fallen from $2.54 to $1.44 and then $1.39 during their visit. For motorists accustomed to paying several dollars per gallon, the opportunity was difficult to ignore.
Drivers Celebrated, Police Had Other Ideas
The savings were substantial for those fortunate enough to fill up. Local driver Wartanna Haywood, who normally spends around $90 filling her truck, reportedly paid just $15.
Other customers compared the excitement to Christmas, while some immediately contacted family members about the bargain. The crowds eventually became large enough to disrupt traffic around both stations.
Powder Springs police temporarily blocked entrances to the pumps until congestion eased. The department also reminded motorists not to obstruct intersections or ignore traffic laws in their rush to buy cheap fuel.
The Bargain Didn’t Last Long
By Tuesday morning, the price war was over, with regular gasoline back to $3.58 at Amoco and $3.63 at Sunoco. The extraordinary discounts had lasted only a matter of hours.
The incident came as American motorists were dealing with unusually high fuel costs. According to AAA figures, Georgia’s statewide average was around $3.80 per gallon, while the national average exceeded $4.30.
Police reportedly planned to speak with the station owners about coordinating with authorities if another price war occurs. For drivers who managed to fill their tanks at less than a dollar per gallon, however, it was certainly a memorable Monday.