Gas stations 1/8 mile apart, one is 70 cents more a gallon than the other.

[Rebelrouser]

I owned a gas station back in the early 80's I remember first thing I had to do was install pumps that would read more than a dollar a gallon. The previous owner was selling gas by the 1/2 gallon. Even back then you just did not make much profit on gas. As I remember back then it took 3cents a gallon to get it out of the tanks, I paid an attendant, he even washed your windshield. 10 cents is the most I ever made a gallon. I didn't really care as the building had 4 repair bays and I made my money fixing cars. One thing did not make sense to me when I raised the price of gas so I could make a little more the traffic in the repair bays slowed down, so I just left it at cost and carried on.

Another thing to think about is all those independent owners keep fuel prices down. When they get a majority of electric cars on the road the cost of energy will be controlled by the big electric companies, and they will just charge what they want.

 

[toolmanmike]

Didn't I hear something about your governor pushing for a mileage tax on top of the gas tax? You guys really take it on the chin.

We were ok here until someone had to mention a politician.

 

[threewood]

We were ok here until someone had to mention a politician.

It was a pretty neutral and innocent comment!

 

[j-c-c-62]

Usually it's because:

One station is WAY easier to get into and/or out of
or is on a more heavily traveled road

One station has a good convenience store attached

One station is closer to a freeway (sometimes that works opposite, though)

One station is a major brand, and the other not

One station "hasn't got it's truck yet".

My company over decades consumed a lot of fuel with our trucks traveling on the road.
I often as attempt to gain insight on a new hire, I'd ask them to run an errand with one of our vehicles, toss them a credit card and mention to also fill up before returning, and be sure and get a receipt.
When they handed me the receipt, I'd nonchalantly ask them, "What was the cost per gallon?"

The answer I most often got answers the OP's question best IMO.

 

[Dennis H]

Same here in San Jose. Valeros are pulling out. Not allowed to say why.

 

[toolmanmike]

It was a pretty neutral and innocent comment!

It was. Did you notice I left it up or didn't move the thread to the N&P forum? The first comment is usually innocent. The second one is on purpose and then off we go. We have seen it happen hundreds of times.

 

[khryslerkid]

I owned a gas station back in the early 80's I remember first thing I had to do was install pumps that would read more than a dollar a gallon. The previous owner was selling gas by the 1/2 gallon. Even back then you just did not make much profit on gas. As I remember back then it took 3cents a gallon to get it out of the tanks, I paid an attendant, he even washed your windshield. 10 cents is the most I ever made a gallon. I didn't really care as the building had 4 repair bays and I made my money fixing cars. One thing did not make sense to me when I raised the price of gas so I could make a little more the traffic in the repair bays slowed down, so I just left it at cost and carried on.

Another thing to think about is all those independent owners keep fuel prices down. When they get a majority of electric cars on the road the cost of energy will be controlled by the big electric companies, and they will just charge what they want.

I worked at a Sunoco back in the day and in Maryland you weren't allowed to sell a gallon of gas for more than 6 cents profit. Sunoco had the five blends so you couldn't make anything off the mid grades. During that time I would see 30 cents or more difference from one town to the other.

Now days I've seen 70 cents difference around here especially with the higher prices being on the major routes and in the out of the way towns. Prices around here have been bouncing up and down for a couple of months now. 15 to 20 cents difference from one day to the next.

 

[SteveSS]

I notice the stations right off the interstate inflate their prices.

 

[cr8crshr]

"Why give away money for no difference?" Simple Kern...Why would anyone spend 5.00 plus for a simple cup of coffee when one can brew a much better cup at home??? The same holds true for fuel/gas, as those who think that using premium grade have been at times by manufacturers the recommended fuel grade when in fact regular or premium, they are the same, only by calling it premium grade, they squeeze some more $$$ out of the consumer filling up. I have even used regular in my collector cars without a single issue in overall performance. Just that I would make sure to tune the engine to do so properly. CA is so outta touch these days with their demands on the environment that it is no wonder the costs for residing there are through the roof, and it's no wonder that major companies and refiners are bailing out of doing business there!!! As a Nevada resident now, I can only grin and bear it. Thanks to CA, we pay pretty much the same for gas here as it is shipped from there to here. One of the many reasons I bailed out of there over 10 years ago...cr8crshr/Bill

 

[68-500]

I owned a gas station back in the early 80's I remember first thing I had to do was install pumps that would read more than a dollar a gallon. The previous owner was selling gas by the 1/2 gallon. Even back then you just did not make much profit on gas. As I remember back then it took 3cents a gallon to get it out of the tanks, I paid an attendant, he even washed your windshield. 10 cents is the most I ever made a gallon. I didn't really care as the building had 4 repair bays and I made my money fixing cars. One thing did not make sense to me when I raised the price of gas so I could make a little more the traffic in the repair bays slowed down, so I just left it at cost and carried on.

Another thing to think about is all those independent owners keep fuel prices down. When they get a majority of electric cars on the road the cost of energy will be controlled by the big electric companies, and they will just charge what they want.

Yip Dad and Uncle only charged a nickel over retail on gas. Im sure its way more today.

 

[Budnicks]

they all must have Charger money

 

[Budnicks]

The interesting part is that the tanker trucks fill up at the same facility. For this area, it's from Bakersfield. Very close to the place that did the thermal coating on the headers for my 65. When I've gone to Famosa to watch the races, there is a non branded station on the east side of 99 and 46. It's generally .20 cents or more less than what's on the west side of 99. If I don't fill up at Costco in SLO when driving the wagon, I look on Gas Buddy to see prices. I rarely fill up here at home in Osos as the two stations are usually .20 cents or more per gallon than Morro Bay. Gas Buddy is on my phone as an app which helps when not in my local area.

the specific end user gets the specific chemical additives,
like Chevron & Shell

but yes, it all come out of the same spigot otherwise

 

[Triplegreen500]

I’ve worked with people that would spend $5 in fuel driving way out of their way to save $.10 a gallon.

I actually do that math when it's time to fill up...

 

[Budnicks]

Facts

Old Shell refinery in Martinez Ca. (IIRC Benicia to a lessor extent too)
was sold to PBF another oil co., a smaller co. after 104 years
it is still in operation, 100%
they retained most all the former Shell employees that wanted to stay too

Chevron Refinery/s in Richmond & Benecia Ca.
unaware, from people I know in the buss.
& I have several family members still in the buss.,
in Dublin Ca. facility corporate offices...
(my granddad & uncle were Engineers/VPs for Shell & Chevron respectively, for 40+ years)
They're unaware of any shutdown plans for that Chevron/Standard Oil refinery
in Point Richmond Ca., we (family still alive) had this talk at Christmas & New Years too
Chevron it alone does 15% of all of Calif. fuel, oil & additives refinements

 

[sam dupont]

In my area, there's one pipe that brings in fuel. That pipe fills large tanks. They have to purge the line for different fuels. The purge of AV gas was put in its own tank. It would average at about 100 octane give or take and sell for 20 cents per gallon over the local pump price.
The different brand names pull their tankers up to the spigot and put the same gas as everyone else in their tanks. As a kid, I was at the. tank farm and I saw a trucker put what looked like a credit card in the machine before he filled. So I asked him if he had to pay for that huge tank of gas. He said all the gas was the same, and the card determined what additives were put in the fuel. He said every company had their own blends.

 

[QuickBpBp]

It's $2.83 a gallon here that’s the cheapest it's been FOR YEARS. I typically drive an extra 3-4 miles to the next town over from me as their gas has been averaging $.30 gallon cheaper than what I pass when I an heading to work. All our vehicles have big fuel tanks 2 Trucks with over 30 gallon tanks and my wife's Expedition is the same plus I normally fill cans for equipment. So filling one vehicle up and the cans are $9-12 cheaper so these prices are saving us easily $125-140 a month in our personal vehicles and work vehicles/equipment just driving a few miles more and more savings in the summer. Plus the diesel is cheaper there too by sometimes $.40 cents a gallon.

 

[Armyvet25]

I do the same thing when it comes to buying food, multiple stores plotted for best cost outcome, food, gas, etc, adds up to a tidy sum saved over a year.

 

[Kern Dog]

Living near a border where the fuel is a LOT cheaper on the other side makes sense.
As far as getting the information from people directly at the high priced stations....

Sure...why not? I have a history of being inquisitive, nosy and annoying so it isn't like it would be unusual for me.

 

[toolmanmike]

Click on "find gas" in the upper left. GasBuddy - Cheapest Gas Station Finder App with Money Saving Benefits

 

[33 IMP]

I will make a gas stop at our "cheap" station as a part of a trip to the very same area, for other purposes.
I can usually save 30 or 40 cents/gal of diesel, in a truck with 35 or 60 gallon capacity. It adds up pretty quick.

As for wide price discrepancy.....
I live in AZ near Needles california.
87,10% is well above $5/gal, Diesel is near $6 in Needless. Stations are just off Interstate 40.
If you get off 40, and drive a half mile into AZ, the first station is a buck cheaper than needless, but still screwing travelers,.... cause two miles into Arizona, 87 is about $2.75, and diesel is $3.25.
I find it astounding that anybody other than the poor innocent I-40 traveler that doesn't know better, ever buys gas in Needles.