Comments on: Pain at the Pump: Won't Someone Think of the Gas Station Owners?

By: ryanp

ryanp — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:58:09 +0000

And European's actually pay LESS for the fuel. What makes there price per gallon / liter cost more is they have tons of taxes levied on gas. So arguing that they pay more at the pump is really moot since they basically pay the same for the materials, but their government makes them pay more.

By: Justin Lynes

Justin Lynes — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:11:08 +0000

The comparison of European gas prices to American ones is really apples to oranges.
Our cities and daily commutes are set up, as a whole to be automobile based with entire neighborhoods set up as bedroom communities miles from where one works, goes the grocery store, and even where the kids go to school.
I blame Robert Moses and his followers. But I also grew up in suburban Atlanta without sidewalks so maybe I'm a little bit bitter.

By: Tempscire

Tempscire — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:36:13 +0000

"People see $4 gas, and they think these retailers are making a fortune," said Ben Brockwell

No, I tend to think the oil companies are making a fortune. I usually forget individual people sometimes own the stations.

By: andiscandis

andiscandis — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 13:15:28 +0000

I just got myself out of this industry. Consider the following: A gas station owner has to purchase fuel in large quantities, usually about 9000 gallons at a time. He's paying maybe $3.89 per gallon = $35,010. At best, he'll gross 10 cents per gallon on that 9000 = $900. Subtract out the credit card fees and he's at $630. Then take out for electricity to run the pumps and keep the canopy lit, payroll for cashiers, etc. If someone damages a pump or hose, he's down to $0 profit. And with $35k tied up in the investment. The "boycott the local gas station" mentality will succeed only in putting local business owners out of business and moving revenues to company-owned stores. Genius. And if you need someone to blame, look at yourself and your own "rapacious" use of a non-renewable, polluting resource.

By: JN

JN — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 11:07:45 +0000

I would be happy with that price because, where i live its over 1,55€ for just one litre. I love driving, but as a student its hard to keep a car.

By: DOJ

DOJ — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:52:39 +0000

in Canada prescription drugs are cheaper than in the US, mainly because government limits on the price (i think, can anyone confirm this?)
so could the inflated prices be fought using the same principal? cap the price at some level where it's profitable for producers/refiners, but speculation/inflated prices end at a preset point.

i hope that makes sense...

By: gazboz

gazboz — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:12:16 +0000

darelparker: that's another way poor people take it up the rear: often, there are no proper grocery stores in their neighborhoods, so they buy much of their daily needs from gas stations at these crazy markup prices

By: roger

roger — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:09:37 +0000

Yes but people need to blame SOMEONE. I mean, if concepts like peak oil and commodity speculation are too abstract for the common folk, let's blame the rapacious oil executives. And if the people are too confused by the ambiguous role of the executive, let's make blaming easier by funneling rage towards your local gas station owner. Just like those emails said, if we all boycott the local gas station, gas will be back to $2.00 in no time flat!!

By: darelparker

darelparker — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:22:22 +0000

I'm still having a hard time feeling any sympathy for an industry that charges $3.00 for two aspirin.

By: AJ

AJ — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:15:39 +0000

Yep, independent owners make their profit off snack foods, or they go out of business and get replaced by a station owned by the oil company. In my area, there are very few independent stations.

So in debating whether or not to feel sorry, you need to know who the owner is of a particular station. You can't tell by the name brand.

By: Dixon

Dixon — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:43:08 +0000

Independent petrol (gas) stations in the UK have been shutting at an alarming rate, in fact 600 a year since 2002, here's the report from the BBC website

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7306967.stm

By: prophet

prophet — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:49:43 +0000

Can anyone think on the kids????

By: the man

the man — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:04:33 +0000

Bullshit.

We all know this story is bull.

Every time there is a rainstorm the gas stations gouge you.

Every time a local soldier dies in Iraq the gas stations gouge you a few cents more.

Then Bush cut measurement enforce ment so in many areas you only get 7/8 of a gallon anyways.

Around my area a gas station owner was finally sued for having standard and "premium" when it was all the same gas. it is estimated he did this for 40 years.

By: Orjan Morjan

Orjan Morjan — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 12:20:20 +0000

Who in their right mind would think this is the gas station owners lifting the prices?

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 12:02:14 +0000

£6 ($12.00) a gallon here in uk (approx)

By: violet/riga

violet/riga — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:38:43 +0000

I can't be sympathetic to people in the US regarding 'gas' prices. In the UK it costs more than double that.

(but that's not the point of the entry, I know)

By: gazboz

gazboz — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 07:56:17 +0000

Don't they make most of their money on snacks, beer, soft drinks,and ciggies? There is probably also less spending on that stuff after people drop $80 to top off the tank