gas price ripoff

nbking wrote:
I learned that lesson many years ago. I never stop in Emporia for anything.

and do not speed or break other laws.
bumpy

A little homework can save you some money beforehand.
To me, being ripped off implies being robbed. If you are willing to stop there and pay their price, or continue on down the road to another station, you would have made a willing choice. I don't see the ripoff.

p220sigman wrote:
What I love around here is the stations that change the price based on the day. Walmart (Murphy) is the most common one I see. On Friday, the price will go up 3 cents/gallon or so even though it has been steady the entire week and the price of oil didn't change. Sometime it will go back down on Saturday only to go up again on Sunday or sometimes it will stay the same all weekend and then go down Monday after the morning commute.

Again free enterprise it is called the law of supply and demand. Economics 101 as demand increases (more people want gas on weekends) so will price.

bucky wrote:
Unkle Odie's is always cheaper than the thieves at the interstate in Emporia. What, 5 miles east on 58? Also, the 2 truck stops just south on 95 are always way different in price from each other. And yes, it is a ripoff regardless of if you stop or not. Probably the same guy owns all the stations.

Again not a ripoff FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM makes it possible for a businessman to charge whatever he wants for his product! The alternative is price regulation where the price is set by the government. Which do you prefer.

This is the U.S. system of FREE ENTERPRISE working as it is supposed to work

jk31668 wrote:
avoid gas stations in emporia, va. on I95 at route 58. today was $3.57. went a few miles further and found $3.19.

We used to stop in Emporia years ago because their gas was usually cheapest. It has become a very popular town to stop in along I-95. Over the last few years gas prices have really gone up as a result. We drove through a few weeks ago and saw $3.17/gallon before Emporia and after Emporia. It was $3.59/gallon in Emporia then.

-Michael

Location matters.The guy at the 95/58 interstate does not need to be a discount seller to attract business. He is in a prime location with tons of traffic. His real estate cost maybe high. his drive off rate maybe high. He has to price accordingly.
The guy down the road does need to discount to attract business. Locals will gravitate to him. But intestate traffic will not. Interstate traffic needs the convenience the prime location provides.
There is no rip off just pure capitalism.

I do hate seeing that happen. got nailed a few times like that on trips but I let it go fast. if I dwelled on it, it would probably mean I need a therapist to get thru this lifetime! :) :)

costco yesterday $3.45 gal bakersifeld ca

We have 2 Shell stations on same intersection. NW corner is $3.63, SE corner is $3.44. Amazingly, people still go to NW corner.

When we were in Orlando taking my son to college, I needed gas. Saw a station that had it for $5.37/gal. I drove 1 mile further and got it for $3.19/gal. Never did figure out why there was that big of a price difference.

What I love around here is the stations that change the price based on the day. Walmart (Murphy) is the most common one I see. On Friday, the price will go up 3 cents/gallon or so even though it has been steady the entire week and the price of oil didn't change. Sometime it will go back down on Saturday only to go up again on Sunday or sometimes it will stay the same all weekend and then go down Monday after the morning commute.