Author Topic: Gas Prices (Read 54370 times)

SlowModem · « **Reply #450 on:** October 07, 2017, 11:22:21 PM »

They make a lot on beer, too.

Quote from: Bushman on October 07, 2017, 06:43:41 PM

Wanna guess how the C-stores make money? Cigarettes. I've seen the numbers from one of the largest C-store/gas station operators in the US and smokes are THE biggest profit center. So much so, that they tried to create standalone smoke shops. Local legislation killed them though.

Intheswamp · « **Reply #451 on:** October 08, 2017, 01:04:20 PM »

Quote from: ocala on October 07, 2017, 06:12:22 PM

Quote from: Intheswamp on October 07, 2017, 09:45:36 AM
Was in Andalusia, AL, day before yesterday....2.179 at a Marathon (Wallyworld). Naturally I forgot to gas up, so here at home (~45 miles NE) we have *just dropped* down to 2.359.<sigh> We had a station in town that used to hold the other stations' feet to the fire...it was kind of the moderator of gas prices. It was recently bought out by some southern asians and it appears to be running with the pack, now.
When I had my Little Debbie route years ago the convenience store operators all said the same thing. They hardly made anything off gas. It was there just to get people to stop inside. It's true. You can get get a bottle of Gatorade at a dollar store for a buck but when you buy from from a C store it's like 1.60 and up. The chain stores like Circle K, 7-11 etc are even more expensive.
I don't know about your area but around here those C stores are becoming relics. They can't compete with the bigger chains. A lot of empty stores around here.

Yes, we refer to what your talking about as the "twinkie principle". C-stores used the gas prices to lure customers in to by the more profitable "twinkies". I think the trend is changing a bit, though, as there are some wide variations within a 20-40 mile range. Smaller, .05-.10 variations are common within our small town. Interestingly, the Marathon stations situated at Walmarts tend to have some of the best prices around, but some of them are nothing more than a window you deal with the clerk through to buy cigarettes, drinks, and a few other items while others are regular walk-in stores. But, yeah, if you walk in one of the c-stores and buy mostly anything then they've made a good profit.

chief-david · « **Reply #452 on:** October 08, 2017, 07:58:45 PM »

Quote from: Intheswamp on October 08, 2017, 01:04:20 PM

Quote from: ocala on October 07, 2017, 06:12:22 PM
Quote from: Intheswamp on October 07, 2017, 09:45:36 AM
Was in Andalusia, AL, day before yesterday....2.179 at a Marathon (Wallyworld). Naturally I forgot to gas up, so here at home (~45 miles NE) we have *just dropped* down to 2.359.<sigh> We had a station in town that used to hold the other stations' feet to the fire...it was kind of the moderator of gas prices. It was recently bought out by some southern asians and it appears to be running with the pack, now.
When I had my Little Debbie route years ago the convenience store operators all said the same thing. They hardly made anything off gas. It was there just to get people to stop inside. It's true. You can get get a bottle of Gatorade at a dollar store for a buck but when you buy from from a C store it's like 1.60 and up. The chain stores like Circle K, 7-11 etc are even more expensive.
I don't know about your area but around here those C stores are becoming relics. They can't compete with the bigger chains. A lot of empty stores around here.
Yes, we refer to what your talking about as the "twinkie principle". C-stores used the gas prices to lure customers in to by the more profitable "twinkies". I think the trend is changing a bit, though, as there are some wide variations within a 20-40 mile range. Smaller, .05-.10 variations are common within our small town. Interestingly, the Marathon stations situated at Walmarts tend to have some of the best prices around, but some of them are nothing more than a window you deal with the clerk through to buy cigarettes, drinks, and a few other items while others are regular walk-in stores. But, yeah, if you walk in one of the c-stores and buy mostly anything then they've made a good profit.

We say-"Thats the price of convenience."

stevebrtx · « **Reply #453 on:** April 26, 2018, 06:04:56 PM »

Well, it's not a new story, but an old one - rising gas prices. I paid $2.49 today, that's the most since 2015 and I have to go to CO and NE this year for reunion?

ocala · « **Reply #454 on:** April 26, 2018, 06:25:55 PM »

About $2.70 in central Florida.

SLOweather · « **Reply #455 on:** April 26, 2018, 06:56:45 PM »

$3.46 yesterday at Costco here in SLO.

ValentineWeather · « **Reply #456 on:** April 26, 2018, 10:13:39 PM »

Just made a 2,400 mile round trip. Further west I went the higher the prices. Gas was around $3.20 for 85 octane Utah and western Colorado, 87-88 octane was $3.35. Here its running about $2.75 for 87 octane.

Intheswamp · « **Reply #457 on:** April 27, 2018, 08:03:06 AM »

South Alabama varying around $2.60...it's the "summer tourist rip-off price increase season".

stevebrtx · « **Reply #458 on:** April 27, 2018, 09:11:35 AM »

Yeah, I'm heading to CO and NE for reunion this summer, I'm sure I'll find some discomfort along the way. I used to have a boat on the lake and the marina price was always at least 10-20 cents per gallon more, they had us by the throat, you can't carry 70 gallons of gas down to the boat.

stevebrtx · « **Reply #459 on:** April 27, 2018, 12:28:40 PM »

Actually Texas will rebate the tax on gas used off road, but I never remembered to keep receipts etc. It would have added up at $.20 per gallon and I used a whole lot of gallons, 70 gallons every time I filled up and that was pretty regular - ha.

Bunty · « **Reply #460 on:** May 01, 2018, 06:55:18 PM »

$2.34 at Wal-Mart here.

stevebrtx · « **Reply #461 on:** May 02, 2018, 12:39:38 PM »

$2.51 at Murphys/WalMart in Marble Falls today. HEB was their competition until they tore out the old store a few months ago, the new HEB is open and the new gas station will open soon, so hopefully it will bring it down a bit.

Intheswamp · « **Reply #462 on:** May 04, 2018, 08:29:22 AM »

I saw a news article the other day that mentioned something about how high gas prices will help the electric vehicle industry.<duhhh, really?> I wonder how much pull Elon-wasisname has with the oil companies....

stevebrtx · « **Reply #463 on:** May 04, 2018, 08:40:19 AM »

Ours came down a penny or two yesterday. I was watching Nova last night about batteries and I believe they quoted Bill Gates saying if you took all the batteries in the world they would only power the requirements for the world for 10 min, so I don't think the fossil fuel industry is concerned.

Farmtalk · « **Reply #464 on:** May 18, 2018, 04:02:01 AM »

Gas prices vary quite a bit where I live. They differ by as much as 25 cents within just a couple of miles.

West Virginia has always had a high gas tax, so when I travel to Virginia, it is nice paying almost 50 cents less.

Closest station to my house is $2.67, was $2.79 last week.

SLOweather · « **Reply #465 on:** May 18, 2018, 08:22:32 AM »

$3.539 yesterday at Costco here in SLO.

stevebrtx · « **Reply #466 on:** May 18, 2018, 08:27:55 AM »

I had to go into Austin yesterday and think I saw $2.69 so it's creeping.

PaulMy · « **Reply #467 on:** May 18, 2018, 09:03:39 AM »

I paid C$1.349/lr as expected coming to our May 2-4 weekend which I think is over $5/gal. That is from under $1.10 a couple of weeks ago, and within a couple of cents of the highest we've ever had - http://toronto.citynews.ca/2018/05/18/gas-prices-victoria-long-weekend/

Not enjoying!
Paul

jgillett · « **Reply #468 on:** May 18, 2018, 10:24:22 AM »

Arco $2.95, Costco $2.85.

ocala · « **Reply #469 on:** May 18, 2018, 02:26:56 PM »

Quote from: PaulMy on May 18, 2018, 09:03:39 AM

I paid C$1.349/lr as expected coming to our May 2-4 weekend which I think is over $5/gal. That is from under $1.10 a couple of weeks ago, and within a couple of cents of the highest we've ever had - http://toronto.citynews.ca/2018/05/18/gas-prices-victoria-long-weekend/

Not enjoying!
Paul

Why is it that when you cross the border the price nearly doubles?

Intheswamp · « **Reply #470 on:** May 19, 2018, 09:39:51 AM »

Thursday night, Troy, Alabama...2.49
Friday afternoon (yesterday), Luverne, Alabama...2.59

stevebrtx · « **Reply #471 on:** July 21, 2018, 04:19:57 PM »

We're down to $2.50 at Murphy's today. Hope it keeps going that way, I have to go to Colo and Neb next month for family reunion. Actually, I don't even care if the price is lower, if it's just cooler it will be worth it, we've already had 9 days 100+ this month plus 4 back in June, a real TX heat storm this year.

DRoberts · « **Reply #472 on:** July 21, 2018, 06:33:52 PM »

$2.75-2.80 in our area, which is rural NW Kansas

stevebrtx · « **Reply #473 on:** July 21, 2018, 06:41:56 PM »

How "NW"? My X was from just W of Oberlin, made many a trip out there, but long time ago now.

stevebrtx · « **Reply #474 on:** August 22, 2018, 11:42:04 AM »

Well, a 2,400 mile round trip, TX/NM/CO/NE/KS/OK/TX and I think the highest was $2.76, so not a bad year for travel. It was a family reunion in NE, but the roads were a trip back in memory like Raton Pass when it was a 2 lane goat trail. As a kid in the late 40's we did the NE to Denver trip in our '36 Plymouth on hot dangerous two lane roads with a canvas water bag hanging off the front bumper - things sure have changed. The worst this year was Oklahoma City, their roads are still in the goat trail era!

News:

Author Topic: Gas Prices (Read 54370 times)