Gas Prices and the Oil Situation

[Poorboy]

Interestingly enough, I don't know of any stations in my area that ever added a surcharge for credit cards.
The cheaper prices I noted are for cash or credit.

the cash discount was a recent addition since the prices went really high and filling a tank could cost as much as $100 ... the percentage being paid by the stations made it worthwhile to offer a discount for cash sales ..some have gone back to the old system with the dropping prices, others have not

 

[CharlesW]

the cash discount was a recent addition since the prices went really high and filling a tank could cost as much as $100 ... the percentage being paid by the stations made it worthwhile to offer a discount for cash sales ..some have gone back to the old system with the dropping prices, others have not

I understand the reasoning, but it didn't happen here.

When gas was $4+ a gallon the 2 to 4% credit card fees to the retailer were almost as much as their margin.
The petroleum retailers were trying to get a flat fee per transaction rather than the percentage. Their argument was that it doesn't cost anymore to handle a piece of paper, (electronically) for $50 than it does one for $25. The banks didn't buy into it, but there is some truth to that line of thinking.

As an aside, what did the unattended stations that are total self serve with CC payment do. I suppose they had to either raise their pump price or take the hit.

Also, the prices here have adjusted a little.
The cheapest went up from $2.03 to $2.05 (Guy probably got a threatening phone call ) and the highest is now down from $2.42 to $2.34. Still quite a spread.

 

[Mr. Clean]

$2.19!!! Man that's CHEAP!

Okay, okay. Just showing how well trained they have us.

EXACTLY! I can still remember the "shock and awe" when we topped the $2/gal mark, a milestone many of us never thought we wouldn't see. Now, they have us thinking that is cheap.

... but it is kind of interesting that it would go up 20 or 30 cents a day, but can only come down the 4 cents.
If I didn't have this blind trust in the people behind all this, I might think they were messing with me.

While I'm on the rant;
All the product price increases because of oil prices seem to be staying up. If they went up because oil went up, shouldn't they come down when oil comes down?

Don't think too hard about it Charles or you'll wind up like me. :crazy2:

 

[CharlesW]

Don't think too hard about it Charles or you'll wind up like me. :crazy2:

So.....
Where do you wind up when you start here?--> :crazy2:

FWIW, The gas price is now under $2 at dozens of stations in this area. Can $1 a gallon be getting closer? :rofl :rofl :rofl

 

[Poorboy]

Can $1 a gallon be getting closer? :rofl :rofl :rofl

right after the stock market completely crashes :yikes:

 

[Mr. Clean]

So.....
Where do you wind up when you start here?--> :crazy2:

FWIW, The gas price is now under $2 at dozens of stations in this area. Can $1 a gallon be getting closer? :rofl :rofl :rofl

We have had reports of a couple of competing NE Texas stations that were posting prices of $1.949 - $1.969, (kinda like the gas wars back in the days of yore ), but none in my immediate area. Filled up the Mrs.' car last night for $2.499/gal, but her vehicle requires premium fuel. Regular unleaded price was $2.199/gal.

$1/gal? Don't we wish. I wonder what the impact would be on oil company profits if the price settled at $1.50.

 

[Autogeek]

Wow, you guys are lucky with those gas prices! Cheapest I saw today was 2.73...but that's a helluva lot better than 4.43!

 

[CharlesW]

FWIW, The gas price is now under $2 at dozens of stations in this area. Can $1 a gallon be getting closer? :rofl :rofl :rofl

$1/gal? Don't we wish. I wonder what the impact would be on oil company profits if the price settled at $1.50.

Hey, we are working on it here.
$1.97 for a new low and $1.99 is pretty much the norm.
We do still have several stations at around the $2.20 mark and at least one at $2.32.
The spread kind of surprises me. Usually, every station in the metro area is the same price. I guess some of them are having a tough time giving up that extra margin.
In fairness to the higher priced stations, they might be locked in to a higher price from their supplier. The smaller independent probably can't afford to drop the price until he can buy at the lower price. I don't think it would be a good time to open a gas station.

 

[black bart]

Low here is 278 and high is 299 50 miles south it is 1.99 each local sets the price at what ever the rest agree on.
If some one goes down they all do and if some go up they all do.
It is a big rip off but what can you do other than drive as little as possible.