[Adder]

The $6 guy can charge what he wants...its his gas.

And I as a consumer, can say I hope he chokes on it, every drop.

Because he raised the price so high, those who truly need it have access to it? Really? Maybe those who truly need it can no longer afford it!

The fuel in the tanks was purchased for far less than $6 per gallon. I am not even sure why gas jumped to $3.50. THAT I see as gouging. There is no "crisis" yet....just an anticipated one which may or may not materialize. People weren't clamoring for gas in a panic prior to the rise in prices.
The only reason there is a run on gas stations now is because the companies have taken it upon themselves to raise the price 2-3-5 times a day. If they had held the prices, there would have been no "run".

[babyface00]

The fuel in the tanks was purchased for far less than $6 per gallon. I am not even sure why gas jumped to $3.50. THAT I see as gouging

Where do you think the station owner is going to get the money for his next tankful of gas if it costs significantly more than the gas currently in his underground tank?

He has to sell the gas he has at his best guess at a replacement price for his next tankful (plus his miniscule per-gallon profit).

I don't know why this is so difficult for people to understand. If he thinks its going to cost him $3.50 a gallon next time that big truck pulls up to his station, then he's going to charge you $3.52 a gallon now. The gas currently in his tank was paid for when you filled up last week.

This is why all the stations raise prices at the same time - they all buy their gas from the same regional suppliers. They all read the market the same way, and they all set their prices so they can get enough cash from current sales to afford the next tank.

[Leroy S. Mort]

The fuel in the tanks was purchased for far less than $6 per gallon. I am not even sure why gas jumped to $3.50. THAT I see as gouging.

You might be interested in this explanation of simple gas station economics by a freeper who makes a living at it.

[Eska]

No. 2 diesel is 2.95 here along the yukon; been that for a year. I have a 1000 gal tank and I'm thinking about adding a second tank. I'm told that I can have fuel oil delivered for around 2.50 if I buy 2000 gallons.

I have been in several bush villages where fuel was 5 bucks out of 55 gallon drums; and that was a few years back; and that's from alaskan oil refined up here. Whatever the market will bear.

[webstersII]

"The only reason there is a run on gas stations now is because the companies have taken it upon themselves to raise the price 2-3-5 times a day. If they had held the prices, there would have been no "run"."

I think it's safe to say that you have never had a business of your own.

[pa mom]

The only reason there is a run on gas stations now is because the companies have taken it upon themselves to raise the price 2-3-5 times a day. If they had held the prices, there would have been no "run".

The "run" is caused by panic. There are rampant rumors that gas supplies are low.

[Trust but Verify]

It has nothing to do with the cost of the gas already in his tanks, it has to do with the ability of him to replace the gas in his tanks if he seels it out at the price he paid when it went into those tanks. Please, think about it. Find yourself an economics book and read it in your spare time. Keep it in the car to read while you wait in line to buy scarce gas.