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Author Topic: ZIP search should be based on ZIP codes and not city names. Post a Reply Back to Topics
CampKohler
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Sacramento

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Message Posted: Jul 26, 2012 4:49:56 PM
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Currently it appears that the Search Gas Prices ZIP Search finds all stations with the same postal city name regardless of the number of ZIP codes involved. This is useless when the majority of GB areas at a site have the same postal city names and only a few ZIPS have unique postal city names. Since the city name search is available, the ZIP search should not be based on the same technique.

1. The ZIP search should be based on station's ZIP codes. If search-time loading of the MSL is of concern, a per-site table should be built daily during off hours of all stations in a given ZIP. The table would be used to do searches.
2. Multiple ZIPS, separated by non-numeric characters (spaces, commas, slashes, etc.) should be allowed for those who live in one ZIP, but rely on stations of an adjacent ZIP(s).
3. City names + ZIPs should be allowed.
4. Multiple-ZIP and Name + ZIP searches should be allowed to be saved as Saved Searches.

Entered STL.

[Edited by: CampKohler at 7/26/2012 4:50:13 PM EST]
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terfar77
Champion Author Buffalo

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Message Posted: Aug 19, 2012 10:30:21 AM
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i agree
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CampKohler
Champion Author Sacramento

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Message Posted: Aug 19, 2012 2:45:30 AM
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Obviously this function is not for those who don't know the ZIP of the area they wish to search. But for those who DO know the ZIP, the function should give them what it says it will.

But now that youse guys mention it, why would someone want to do a ZIP search? Suppose the local yokels (as they did in Sacramento) decided not to divide the metropolitan area into quadrants, circles based on a given radii from points of intersecting lattitude and longitude or whatever whacky scheme most GB members use across this great land? Suppose (as they did in Sacramento) simply adopted whatever the USPS did: if the ZIP translates to a Sacramento address, then the station is said to be in Sacramento. So it is very simple for anyone to find out what city name is proper; simply check the address with USPS. Ah, but this simple plan has a fault.

The majority of the addresses are lumped together as Sacramento, so most of the stations are lumped together in an area that has a wide swath from east to west, and an even greater one from north to south. So, if you want just East Sacto., for example, you need to be able to indicate just that area in a search, which you should be able to do by choosing the correct ZIP(S). BUT because of the way a ZIP search currently works, stations in ALL Sacto. ZIPS will show. Thus you can't use ZIP to narrow your search of a major chunk of the populated area.

If the ZIP search worked properly, locals would soon learn the ZIPS to use for their area of town. Even a visitor could find this online or even in any Yellow Pages. As a matter of fact, if it actually worked, that would be a good reason to have GB-resident ZIP maps for every site, precluding any research elsewhere to find the desired ZIPS. Or even better, add the ZIP info to the maps.

For those in cities/towns/villages/wide-spots-in-the-road with only one ZIP, well, your ZIP search works just perfectly, doesn't it?
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kwzh
Champion Author San Jose

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Message Posted: Aug 19, 2012 12:57:01 AM
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I don't consider ZIP search important, for that same reason -- I almost never know what ZIP area I'm in, unless it's my home. However, if the site is going to offer it as a search option, it does seem reasonable that it should do it "right", as CK suggests.
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masonco
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Aug 18, 2012 8:54:58 PM
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Whoa

I don't know zip codes of most places I travel to
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