A service station that offered discounted gas to senior citizens and
people supporting youth sports has been ordered by the state to raise
its prices.

Center City BP owner Raj Bhandari has been offering senior citizens a 2
cent per gallon price break and discount cards that let sports boosters
pay 3 cents less per gallon.

But the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
says those deals violate Wisconsin's Unfair Sales Act, which requires
stations to sell gas for about 9.2 percent more than the wholesale
price.

Bhandari said he received a letter from the state auditor last month
saying the state would sue him if he did not raise his prices. The state
could penalize him for each discounted gallon he sold, with the fine
determined by a judge.

Bhandari, who bought the station a year ago, said he worries customers
will think he stopped the discounts because he wants to make more money.
About 10 percent of his customers had used the discount cards.

Dale Van Camp said he bought a $50 card to support the local youth
hockey program. It would have saved him about $100 per year on gas, he
said.

Wisconsin has an 'unfair sales act'. What the hell is that? I wonder
if my state has such a thing? I can't imagine, what business a state
has determining such a thing? Isn't price competition a marketing
strategy, isn't offering discount cards, and senior discounts, and other
local support disounts an incentive to attract customers? How confusing
is that - a state law that won't allow such thing?