James Floyd

This receipt from a Shell station in Auburn, Wash. shows how at least one customer filled up for 41.9 cents a gallon on Friday, May 16, 2008. The average price for regular in Washington state this day was $3.84.

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – At least one gas customer, and perhaps many more, got a pleasant vacation from record gas prices Friday afternoon when an apparent error left him with a tank full of fuel that only cost him 42 cents a gallon.

It happened at the DDD Shell and Food Mart at 320th Street and Military Road S.

James Floyd was shocked to look at his receipt and discover that nearly 12 gallons only cost him $4.95. The receipt shows the price for a gallon was 41.9 cents.

KING 5 contacted the station at about 5:40 p.m. and spoke to a clerk who said she was unaware of the error. She said the price change had been keyed in between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. -- about three hours earlier.

It's likely that Floyd was not the only person benefiting, but because it's not clear how many people used that pump, it's unknown how many gallons were sold at the unexpected discount and or how much money the station may have lost as a result.