Comments on: Pump closure makes national news

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:14:58 +0000

Looking at this now, remember when gas was almost $5 a gallon. I know we’ll get back to point in the not too distant future. I think everyone would agree that the world is running out of fossil fuels and we need to find alternatives.

By: flifla

flifla — Sat, 26 May 2007 17:00:06 +0000

My classic car gets about the same gas mileage that a Hummer gets: approx. 9 mpg. I wonder what ecological impact the new hybrids and efficient “egg shaped” cars have by their mere production. Call me a true environmentalist: I recycle to the extreme.

By: Anitra

Anitra — Fri, 25 May 2007 18:59:33 +0000

Chris, you’re exactly right. I have an uncle who used to run a full-service gas station & auto repair shop. When his state required all underground tanks of a certain age to be replaced, he gave up on the gasoline business. He just couldn’t make enough money to warrant the tank replacement that he’d need to stay in business.

Why do you think nearly every gas station has a convenience store attached? They’re hoping you’ll come inside and they’ll actually turn a profit.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 25 May 2007 13:31:50 +0000

I don’t think shutting down for a day in protest is going to do anything, but these two things caught my attention:

“he has not turned a profit in 30 months because gas margins are razor thin…the company usually makes 8 to 12 cents per gallon after suppliers’ prices and credit card fees.”

and the last paragraph “The protest came as several Wisconsin service stations announced they would no longer sell gas because they make little or no profit on it after they pay wholesalers, credit card fees and taxes. They said they would focus on auto repairs instead.”

A protest may not do anything, but the fact that many of these gas stations are making zilch on their gas sales is important. We already have gas stations on every corner, as gas prices go up (and their razer thin profits don’t) people are going to be buying less gas, conserving, etc, and these stations are going to go out of business.

At some point wouldn’t these stations give up on gas? Why put so much risk and effort into selling a product when someone else is making all the money off of it?

By: Tyler

Tyler — Fri, 25 May 2007 12:44:22 +0000

I predict the opposite happening. I think it will go back down to 2.00 range in the upcoming years because we’ll all change our habits like America did in the 70′s. Not to mention, we’ll have cars with much better fuel economy, people will use more public transportation, and we’ll recycle our plastics more. People are all so freaked out by this, and I have to admit, I am upset about it too, but because my wife and I budget, change our driving habits, carpool, etc, we save a lot of money. We also have no debt, we put a lot of $ into savings, we buy things responsibly, and increase our incomes year over year. If the consumer would stop buying the $4 cup of coffee at Starbucks everyday, they’d have plenty to use for gas. It’s all about opportunity costs. Stop buying stupid crap that is useless and realize that the important things like gas, food, homes, etc are more important than your stupid WANTS or MUST-HAVES.

By: Jon @ TheMoneyMythos

Jon @ TheMoneyMythos — Fri, 25 May 2007 12:20:46 +0000

“Schwartz called that “outrageous” and said even he can’t fill up his SUV at that price.”

I had a pretty good laugh at that line this morning!

Here’s hoping more viable means of alternative energy start arriving soon. I wouldn’t be surprised if we go through a several year period where oil is at outrageous prices while people rush to figure out better options.