News 12 @ 6 o'clock -- September 15, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga. --- The high price and shortage of gas is causing some business owners to cut back on deliveries to make ends meet.

Since Friday afternoon, Deborah Partridge, owner of Martina's Flowers and Gifts, has had to cut back on deliveries in order to save gas.

"We're making fewer trips per day and making sure the vans are as full with orders as possible," Deborah said.

Having to fuel a fleet of seven trucks and vans every other day, Deborah says this crisis at the pump could be bad for her business.

"Hopefully, the gas increase in prices is temporary and we won't have to go up on our delivery cost to the customer. If it goes up and stays up, then that might have to be overturned," said Deborah.

But not all businesses say the gas crunch is a problem for deliveries. Domino's says the increase at the pump has increased their deliveries because no one wants to drive to get their food.

"It's just like crazy! I can't explain how crazy it gets here in the evening with everyone calling at once, " said Wes Hightower, manager at Domino's.

And because people aren't driving to get their food, they appear to be tipping drivers even more.

"I've been hearing a lot of good things about people being very generous with tips. They're feeling instead of being crunched, they can always have someone to deliver it for them, " said Wes.

But for Deborah, the price to deliver is costing her so much more.

"It affects us all, it affects everything we do," said Deborah.

The drivers at Domino's are reimbursed by the company for what they spend out of pocket for gas. So they'll get back most of what they've been spending during this crunch.