Consumers Question Fuel Surcharge Amid Drop In Gas Prices
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – As fuel prices continue to plummet, many are wondering why they're still paying fuel surcharges.
A lot of the fuel surcharges started 8 to 10 years ago when gas was $4 a gallon.
It's 24 days until February 14th , and for florists, this is Christmas.
Ben White Florist in south Austin is already ready for the big day.
"We'll probably sell about between ten and eleven thousand roses," said Michael Martinez, one of the owners of Ben White Florist.
Martinez didn't charge extra for gas back when it was more than $4 a gallon
"It was hard. Our gas bill every month was $400 higher every month," said Martinez.
He says he doesn't tack on a fuel surcharge but Martinez says his suppliers aren't always so generous with him.
"They're still charging and they say that their carriers are still charging them," said Martinez.
Martinez later called some of his carriers about the charges.
"I did get relief from one company," he said.
As the cost of fuel plummets, Martinez isn't the only one questioning why fuel surcharges are still in place.
Places like FedEx still have a fuel surcharge. They bumped their fuel surcharge in November, but dropped it again. In an email, a spokeswoman declined to answer the question on whether gas - especially at current prices - shouldn't just be considered the cost of doing business.
Some international airlines have dropped the fuel surcharge.
Bloomberg is reporting that Japan airlines and ANA have dropped it, as has reportedly Virgin Atlantic. Domestically, a lot of airlines have started calling the fuel surcharge something else like carrier imposed charges, for instance or "all-in-one" pricing, rolling the surcharges into the base price.
