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Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Follow Up On Gas Prices


Now here's something I think ALL of you will find interesting.

I just went by Sam's Club and spoke with one of the Managers there referencing their $3.93 price per gallon this morning. I explained how there are MANY local Gas Stations offering gas for much less than Sam's Club, why?

His response was, they're not cheaper than what's on the strip right here on Rt. 13. I said, what's that got to do with anything? I'm a Member at Sam's Club and I purchase 100% of my fuel from them for ALL of our vehicles. I would have expected that Sam's was the lowest price in Town and today I found out that's not only wrong, I found out why they're higher.

The Managers are required daily to contact the Corporate Office and give them the prices posted each day by other local Stations. Corporate then comes back to them and gives them their rate for the day and that's it. They are not required to go outside that STRIP area on Rt. 13, therefore it doesn't matter that they just paid 10 cents less per gallon. It only matters what everyone else if posting.

So is there price fixing going on? I'd have to say something doesn't smell right? ALL of you have seen the lower prices posted on our earlier Post this morning. Sam's is $3.93 per gallon, why are there Stations selling for 10 cents less per gallon even in rural areas? Because they're more honest than the rest of the people on the STRIP on Rt. 13, that's why.

I should state this in closing. I'm happy to see there are other Stations out there offering lower prices and for those of you who live in that direction and can easily access that fuel, you should do so. In my case, I like getting a bill from one place, once a month, so it's that convenience for me that I will continue to purchase from Sam's Club. However, it should also be noted that when Sam's made the arrangement to provide gas to their customers, the agreement with the City was to provide gas 5 cents less than anyone else around. Then Sam's told me that the reason their prices weren't 5 cents less a gallon than anyone else, (years ago) they claimed it was because they were keeping everyone else honest. NOT! If Sam's was being HONEST they would now be $3.80 a gallon and NOT taking advantage of their location, higher profits and more importantly, their Customers/Members!

The Manager also told me that if we wanted to see honest gas prices we should go to the old system of odd and even days, (back in the late 70's) to purchase gas and we'd see the price of gas drop immediately.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

corporate oil companies should take less profit, while at the same time the goverment should ease off on the tax on gas. this would drop the p/p/gallon a bit. we should all try to use a little less how ever we can.
p.s. this is not a communist point of view.

Anonymous said...

Joe, this will really piss ya off. There is a law about underselling, a few years ago when WaWa moved to west Ocean City, and dropped gas prices, Ed Ellis/Exon Wine Rack (another crook) threating to file suit, and the prices jumped to his. Everyday, not just one changes, they all do. And thats not price fixing, MFP Check that out.

Anonymous said...

At 4:00 pm on june 26, 2008 I paid 3.3899 at sams club. 3 to 5 cents less than the stations around them. Maybe they read your postings

Anonymous said...

why should any company take less profit because the cost of materials went up?

if your business was in a similar situation would you volunteer for a pay cut?
would you sell at half the profit and tick off your stockholders?
what percentage profit do you think is reasonable? i think @ 5-7% at the moment.
there are many issues causing the high prices. the falling dollar, oil speculation, some countries subsidize oil to keep costs down(ex mexico its 2:50 a gallon).

Anonymous said...

I am going to take advantage of really cheap gas.

2006 Black Limited Toyota Seqouia for sale. $24000.00.
Like New. Excellent condition.
One Owner. Price not negotiable.

410-726-7095

joe albero said...

ROTFLMAO Patty!

Way to go! That's one way to not only get a free ad, you'll probably get a ton of calls too! Good Luck, Joe

Anonymous said...

As to the last paragraph of your comments I would be surprised if the manager of Sams had a drivers license in the 70's.
A pray tell what buying gas on odd or even days has got to do with the price. That idiotic idea was conceived by some bueracrat to deal with gas SHORTAGES.
Now if ypu want to see angry people put some crazy stunt like that in practice at the current prices. You might want to alert law enforcement before you do it.

Anonymous said...

Same happened with WaWa in Sby. Legally they cant sell gas for less than the buy it for but thats what they were doing because of the volume of stores up and down the coast. Even selling for a few cents less than they buy, they still get customers in the store and can make up the difference there or any of their hundreds of other stores. But the mom & pop's dont have that kind of volume which is why they need to make a small profit on their gas.

Anonymous said...

I can go better than that Patty.

2001 Suburban Fully loaded, even has heated seats in case your butt gets cold.

Color is called Pewter, looks gold in some light then looks silver in other light.

It's sitting on Zion Road in the front yard on the right, just over the bridge.

Make me an offer I can't refuse. All reasonable offers considered. If you're looking for a steal, this is it.

410-860-1008

Anonymous said...

Anon 3:53..

How do you buy gas tomorrow, today?
Inquiring minds want to know!

Anonymous said...

The honest truth is this. I know a few people who own convenience stores that sell gasoline. They are not the ones getting rich, believe me. They only make 1 to 2 cents per gallon for the fuel they sell.(I did not believe them so they showed me tax receipts and records. They only have the pumps to attract people into their stores, which is where they make all their money. Not out at the pump

Anonymous said...

sorry donna...I have the better deal. Mine has heated seats too!
And Garage kept. Try the Pocomoke Tatter I think it is!

Anonymous said...

Price Gouging at its best!

Daddio said...

I rarely buy gas at Sam's these days, for the same reason you have recently discovered. They are NOT the best deal in town on many occasions.

Also, you Sam's does not have any windshield washing materials present for you to use. Other nearby stations selling for the same price or lower has the windshield washing stuff available.

You'd think that with all those membership fees I pay for the "privilege" to shop at Sam's they'd at least beat the other prices in town on a consistent basis.

I may be inclined to cancel that expensive membership if these trends continue ....

Anonymous said...

Patty, it looks like you may have me beat. My problem is I haven't figured out how to display it FOR SALE from inside the garage. LOL

Anonymous said...

Sam's gas station is not convenient at all. If you go there at 9pm the pumps are closed because the club is closed. But yet-- all the lights over the pumps and the pylon signs on the overhang that say WAL*MART & Sam's Club are lit up. Makes a person think the station is open-- most stations turn off their lights when it is closed. And half those ratty pumps are broke anyhow. It is possible to save money and live better BY not buying from that greedy corporate bastard....