Yes I know Texas is getting hit with the hurricane and as a result refineries are going off line for a while...

I went to our range about 9:00 this morning to help set up tomorrow's cowboy action shoot...passed my local Shell station where I regularly buy my gas...price was $1.95 for regular (I was running a little late so I figured I would just stop going back home)...

After about four hours or so of setting up, bullshitting and shooting the AR and the Sig 522 (new Nikon .22 scope ) I headed home...

I pulled into my regular favorite gas station to fill up and the price of regular had jumped to $2.19 per gallon...an increase of 25 cents in 4 hours...same increase at the other stations I pass by...

I drove up the road a few minutes ago to buy some LED light bulbs at Home Depot for a new lamp...the one station I pass by has again raised the price another .20 cents to $2.39 and the lines were forming to buy gas ...

I know this storm is not good for those in it's path and precautions and safeguards are needed to protect the oil rigs, refineries and the workers and shutting them down is both prudent and necessary (no issues at all with this)...but it seems to me that the local gas stations/distributors are using this hurricane to shoot prices up and create a "panic" that will spread not only into the weekend, but into next week. I truthfully expect to see bagged pumps and more price increases...

Hope I'm wrong.

I put mid grade in because I couldn't swallow $3 a gallon for premium.

https://www.aei.org/publicatio...or-hurricane-harvey/

This will not help you, but those of us in path of Harvey will certainly fill that out. I remember when a local store price gouged on chain saws, after Hurricane Frederic in 1979. There were no laws against that at the time, but no one would shop there later. It closed within a year.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
https://www.aei.org/publicatio...or-hurricane-harvey/

This will not help you, but those of us in path of Harvey will certainly fill that out. I remember when a local store price gouged on chain saws, after Hurricane Frederic in 1979. There were no laws against that at the time, but no one would shop there later. It closed within a year.

Yeah.

It's just plain bad business.

We saw some of this bullshit in connection with the eclipse last Monday -- some gas stations in SE Idaho pushed their per gallon prices to over $3. Most locals will never let their shadows darken the doorway of those places again. Fuck the price-gouging bastards all to hell.

Some argued that they'd run out of gas so the increased price was just a rationing tool. Maybe so. But it was also a sure-fire way to piss off your local customers, who are far more likely to empathize with the store temporarily running out of a product than with the store robbing them just because they can.

There is a station here in Richmond that routinely charges 50 cents more per gallon, 50 cents! On the rare occasion that I see someone pumping gas there, I want to pull over and ask them why are you getting gas here, when you can pay so much less two blocks down the street? There used to be a motel out on the highway that would by junked cars and park them out front so that people would think other folks were staying there. I think this guy has employees park in front of some of the pumps to fool others into thinking there are people actually buying gas there without looking at the posted price .

quote:

Originally posted by SapperSteel:

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
https://www.aei.org/publicatio...or-hurricane-harvey/

This will not help you, but those of us in path of Harvey will certainly fill that out. I remember when a local store price gouged on chain saws, after Hurricane Frederic in 1979. There were no laws against that at the time, but no one would shop there later. It closed within a year.

Yeah.

It's just plain bad business.

We saw some of this bullshit in connection with the eclipse last Monday -- some gas stations in SE Idaho pushed their per gallon prices to over $3. Most locals will never let their shadows darken the doorway of those places again. Fuck the price-gouging bastards all to hell.

Some argued that they'd run out of gas so the increased price was just a rationing tool. Maybe so. But it was also a sure-fire way to piss off your local customers, who are far more likely to empathize with the store temporarily running out of a product than with the store robbing them just because they can.

That is the biggest bullshit excuse that there is... We are gouging you to prevent you from overconsuming.... Just call it what it is, we have a product you have to buy so we will charge what we damn well feel like

I fully expect another no / limited fuel availability in the mid state for the next couple weeks.

actually it is common practice,

when I was managing stores for a very large grocery chain, we would get direction to raise prices of gas (amount depending on situation) during events that threatened the supply,

reason was supposedly that even tho that tank in the ground was full and paid for, the stuff that it was going to be replaced with was gonna cost more, so get some $$ now

keep in mind I sold an avg of 75K gallons a week, one store would do 100K easy a week

of course this was sometimes done to 'check the market'
meaning we management types had to ride the road at least 2x
's a day to check competitors (usually on the way in, and one the way home for the 7-6 manager ,,,

so if I was directed to raise price 25cents a gallon, then wait a few hours and go for a ride, see if the competition adjusted and react accordingly,

the manhours tied up and mileage (never got paid for that ) add up during price spikes (and also when prices drop, but no one bitches about that)

Most stations I've seen charge more for gas just because are those stations in desolate areas of interstate. Think I-10 between San Antonio and El Paso. While it is desolate, there are a few stops such as Ozona and Ft. Stockton. However, not everyone knows that. They don't think to top off when they can and end up having to get fuel for $1.00 more a gallon. Not a big deal in the long term scheme of things but I wouldn't feel good about getting ripped.

When I drive long distance I typically bring a 5 gallon can with me to increase my range by 120 miles so I can bypass those wanting to charge more just because.

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
actually it is common practice,

when I was managing stores for a very large grocery chain, we would get direction to raise prices of gas (amount depending on situation) during events that threatened the supply,

reason was supposedly that even tho that tank in the ground was full and paid for, the stuff that it was going to be replaced with was gonna cost more, so get some $$ now

keep in mind I sold an avg of 75K gallons a week, one store would do 100K easy a week

of course this was sometimes done to 'check the market'
meaning we management types had to ride the road at least 2x
's a day to check competitors (usually on the way in, and one the way home for the 7-6 manager ,,,

so if I was directed to raise price 25cents a gallon, then wait a few hours and go for a ride, see if the competition adjusted and react accordingly,

the manhours tied up and mileage (never got paid for that ) add up during price spikes (and also when prices drop, but no one bitches about that)

The sales price is based on the vendors replacement cost of the product, not the original purchase price.

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:
There is a station here in Richmond that routinely charges 50 cents more per gallon, 50 cents! On the rare occasion that I see someone pumping gas there, I want to pull over and ask them why are you getting gas here, when you can pay so much less two blocks down the street? There used to be a motel out on the highway that would by junked cars and park them out front so that people would think other folks were staying there. I think this guy has employees park in front of some of the pumps to fool others into thinking there are people actually buying gas there without looking at the posted price .

Last year I went to Orlando and then went to Visit relatives in Savannah. I rented a car at the hotel kiosk, and found that it was cheaper to drop it off at the airport when I returned. So, after I returned to Orlando, I went to top off the car, and saw this just north of the airport entrance. Mind you, just a mile up the road the gas was $2.00/ gallon. I wonder how many foreign tourists are gouged thinking that the cost of gas in the US is just like Europe?
Yes that reads $5.95.9:

It is not gouging. It is standard practice since pricing is based on the spot market. As mentioned above, pricing is tied to replacement costs. I have a background in the wholesale and retail operations of the energy sector.

Anytime an event shuts down production, expect a price spike.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
Most stations I've seen charge more for gas just because are those stations in desolate areas of interstate. Think I-10 between San Antonio and El Paso. While it is desolate, there are a few stops such as Ozona and Ft. Stockton. However, not everyone knows that. They don't think to top off when they can and end up having to get fuel for $1.00 more a gallon. Not a big deal in the long term scheme of things but I wouldn't feel good about getting ripped.

When I drive long distance I typically bring a 5 gallon can with me to increase my range by 120 miles so I can bypass those wanting to charge more just because.

Hell, we drive to Ft Stockton to fill up when we go on a trip, because their gas is typically 15 cents cheaper compared to here 70 miles away in Jerkwater.

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:
There is a station here in Richmond that routinely charges 50 cents more per gallon, 50 cents! On the rare occasion that I see someone pumping gas there, I want to pull over and ask them why are you getting gas here, when you can pay so much less two blocks down the street? There used to be a motel out on the highway that would by junked cars and park them out front so that people would think other folks were staying there. I think this guy has employees park in front of some of the pumps to fool others into thinking there are people actually buying gas there without looking at the posted price .

Gas Buddy (for IPhone) is your friend

Prices here just jumped by 20 cents for 87 octane and 50 cents/gallon for 93 octane. Of course both my cars use the latter.

I work right next door to a Cumberland Farms... Monday $2.35 for regular ... fast forward to today and it jumped to $2.85 for regular

$2.29 on my way to work yesterday. Get off of work last night at 11:30 and the price was $2.59.
It's a sin to mark up bottled water but it's okay to raise gas prices. :/

quote:

Originally posted by Sgt Neutron:

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:
There is a station here in Richmond that routinely charges 50 cents more per gallon, 50 cents! On the rare occasion that I see someone pumping gas there, I want to pull over and ask them why are you getting gas here, when you can pay so much less two blocks down the street? There used to be a motel out on the highway that would by junked cars and park them out front so that people would think other folks were staying there. I think this guy has employees park in front of some of the pumps to fool others into thinking there are people actually buying gas there without looking at the posted price .

Last year I went to Orlando and then went to Visit relatives in Savannah. I rented a car at the hotel kiosk, and found that it was cheaper to drop it off at the airport when I returned. So, after I returned to Orlando, I went to top off the car, and saw this just north of the airport entrance. Mind you, just a mile up the road the gas was $2.00/ gallon. I wonder how many foreign tourists are gouged thinking that the cost of gas in the US is just like Europe?
Yes that reads $5.95.9:

We have that one too. Last station before the rental lot at IAH. 0.40-0.60 higher than the 2 stations on the outbound side of the main airport road.

our prices are hanging steady around $2.50ish. Have been for the last several months. I haven't seen it below 2 for quite some time.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:

quote:

Originally posted by Sgt Neutron:

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:
There is a station here in Richmond that routinely charges 50 cents more per gallon, 50 cents! On the rare occasion that I see someone pumping gas there, I want to pull over and ask them why are you getting gas here, when you can pay so much less two blocks down the street? There used to be a motel out on the highway that would by junked cars and park them out front so that people would think other folks were staying there. I think this guy has employees park in front of some of the pumps to fool others into thinking there are people actually buying gas there without looking at the posted price .

Last year I went to Orlando and then went to Visit relatives in Savannah. I rented a car at the hotel kiosk, and found that it was cheaper to drop it off at the airport when I returned. So, after I returned to Orlando, I went to top off the car, and saw this just north of the airport entrance. Mind you, just a mile up the road the gas was $2.00/ gallon. I wonder how many foreign tourists are gouged thinking that the cost of gas in the US is just like Europe?
Yes that reads $5.95.9:

We have that one too. Last station before the rental lot at IAH. 0.40-0.60 higher than the 2 stations on the outbound side of the main airport road.

But still cheaper than the rental car place.