Gas Prices Up
10-06-2012, 11:31 AM
#46
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Bay Area
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This is isn't directly specifically at you but the 'greed' argument I constantly hear people bring up is spurious. Everyone is greedy! People don't drive past 10 Mom & Pop stores on their way to WalMart because they love the Waltons. They go there for greedy reasons - they want the most product for the least amount of money. Everyone looks at businesses as vicious, uncaring monsters when they try to get the most money for the least amount of product/service but it is exactly the same as what consumers do. Greed fuels every transaction. When someone finds out they paid more for the same item at the same time as someone else they fume that they got ripped off, never chastising their friend that they were greedy. Everyone wants the most for the least. It's human nature.
So with that out of the way, if greed is all-pervasive (and I would argue not necessarily a bad thing), what exists to keep it in check? What keeps you from walking into your boss's office and demanding a 200% raise? What keeps McDonald's from getting greedy and charging $35 for a Happy Meal? Competition. Simple as that. And anytime you see anyone making "excessive" profits the answer why is simple - there's little or no competition.
So I wouldn't be so quick to blame any of the oil companies, the gas station owners, or the oil commodities traders. They are acting rationally in an uncompetitive market. The real question to ask is why the market is uncompetitive.
10-06-2012, 11:34 AM
#47
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The problem is carb and the "special" blends that are forced on california and the ca government and the taxes they charge on gas. Look at how much of the cost of a gallon of gas goes to not only the state but the fed in the form of taxes.
10-06-2012, 01:47 PM
#48
If in doubt, FLAT OUT
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The seasonal blends only cost more at the beginning of the summer and winter seasons because they have to switch the blend. Once in full production, the cost is the same.
10-07-2012, 08:21 PM
#56
Yes Woodside 76 I'm a regular lol. With all the gas prices shooting up it seems like some stations have bad batches of 91 so I've been logging like a mad man looking out for FBKC and FBKL. It was apparent in my last two fill ups so today I wanted to run some 100 to bring the ****ty octane up to a good rating. If anyone is tuned I suggest logging to make sure you aren't knocking bad when you get into boost with the latest batches of 91 floating around.
10-08-2012, 08:54 AM
#58
Yes Woodside 76 I'm a regular lol. With all the gas prices shooting up it seems like some stations have bad batches of 91 so I've been logging like a mad man looking out for FBKC and FBKL. It was apparent in my last two fill ups so today I wanted to run some 100 to bring the ****ty octane up to a good rating. If anyone is tuned I suggest logging to make sure you aren't knocking bad when you get into boost with the latest batches of 91 floating around.
10-08-2012, 09:06 AM
#60
So basically it's 3 oil companies squeezing out the CA consumer right now. Chevron with their Richmond refinery fire, Exxon with their Torrence refinery with "power outages", and Valero temporarily stopping supply to Costco and other unbranded stations, but supplying their own Valero gas stations.