Running on Empty(Independent Gas Stations)

Los Angeles Times ^ | June 4, 2006 | Elizabeth Douglass

[kellynla]

Lured by a discount of 6 cents a gallon, Erin Farrow drove past a Chevron station to pump $50 of no-name gas into her Ford Explorer one day last week.

She certainly wasn't drawn by the ambience at O'Brien Station in northern San Diego County. And two weeks earlier, the nurse from nearby San Marcos probably wouldn't have stopped at all because O'Brien's price was 20 cents a gallon higher than at the Chevron and an Exxon outlet not too far away.

"I drove this way on purpose," said Farrow, a dedicated bargain hunter who thinks nothing of laying out food ads, plotting a course and driving from supermarket to supermarket to get the best deals. "This station usually has the lower prices."

For the moment, station owner Barry O'Brien can afford to provide the savings. But red ink has been mounting since last year, when O'Brien left the branded market after 40 years with Mobil, then Arco. Starting out on his own, he installed matter-of-fact signs that read: "O'Brien Station. Snacks. Repairs. Gasoline."

"For the last two months, I have not made any money. I don't know how much I've lost," he said.

In the gasoline world, motorists typically fill up at one of the thousands of Chevron, Arco and other stations adorned with familiar brands. But there's also a hardy bunch of independent owners who sell fuel at discount prices under names such as Rotten Robbie, Magic Gas and Kwik Serv.

[Paladin2]

I'm 6 weeks into depleting my tactical oil reserve and expect to go another six weeks until I need to go to the gas station. Sure hope prices are lower then.

[Brilliant]

The media has been talking about the demise of independent gas stations for more than 35 years.

[kellynla]

well the Independents have dropped off here in Orange & L.A. counties in CA. We pretty much have to buy ARCO for the cheaper gas but COSTCO is giving the majors a run for their money.

[SierraWasp]

I quit Costco during the 2004 elections due to the two top executives each giving the Dems $100K soft money "to defeat George Bush!" I had been a member since the first "Price Club" opened in the Sacramento Region!!!

Now I use Sam's Club and have a credit card that gives me back 3% on all gasoline purchases. I do not like charging either gas or groceries, ever! I'm making an exception these days as it's an added incentive to keep paying off the balance on my card each and every month.

I had to add all that superflous explanation since I'm certain some dogooder will immediately offer some unsolicited advice about credit card gas costing more and how it's false economy, etc., yada, yada, yada...

[PAR35]

But red ink has been mounting since last year..."For the last two months, I have not made any money. I don't know how much I've lost,".

Sounds like a bad business plan compounded by weak management.

[soccer_maniac]

"For the last two months, I have not made any money. I don't know how much I've lost," he said.

That's a false statement. Everyone in business knows exactly how much they make or lose.

[PAR35]

Phillips 66 runs better in my car, but for 10 cents a gallon, I'll buy across the street at the Quick Trip. Besides, the Phillips station seems to have been taken over by Muslims that don't seem to want my business.

[speed_addiction]

Phillips 66 runs better in my car, but for 10 cents a gallon, I'll buy across the street at the Quick Trip. Besides, the Phillips station seems to have been taken over by Muslims that don't seem to want my business.

I own a Phillips 66. Though I have up their signs, take their credit cards, I am basically an independent since I buy fuel from whoever I want.

A couple of years ago I used to sell my gas at about 20 cents over my competition. This was because I had a lot of open credit accounts and the was the price of me carrying them for a month. Now gas prices jump all over the place and I can't carry anyone a month because prices may jump higher in that month than what my profit margin is.


What We Are About To Do Here Is What The Good Lord Would Call A Cleansing of the Wicked. I Call It A Good Old Fashioned Texas Ass Kicking.

[PAR35]

Before the Muslims took over, they used to be 1 or 2 cents a gallon more. I usually just pay at the pump, but occasionally go in to buy candy or a paper. After the Muslims took over, the few times I went in, they made it clear they didn't want to sell me anything. Lottery ticket? 'Machine broken'. Paper? 'No papers today'. Usually delivered with a glower and in a hostile tone. Perhaps they just think that I look Jewish. A couple of times, they just turned off the pumps for the day, although the store was open.

Now they charge well over the market rate for gas, and seem to have no customers, although they have no trouble staying in business.

I don't know what they are running out of the location, but it certainly isn't a gasoline/convenience store for profit.

[SamAdams76]

Has anybody noticed that gas stations have pretty much turned into convenience stores that "happen to have gas"?

I can remember when a gas station was a service station. The person pumping your gas (and they did pump gas for you in those days) opened the hood and checked all your fluids. If you were low on oil, needed new wiper blades or a headlight replaced, you could get it done on the spot. For more major repairs, you could just pull into the service bay - they all had them back then. It was very unusual for gas stations to have a convenience store inside. Usually it was just a couple of vending machines and maybe a rack of magazines and maps. The whole place smelled of motor oil.

[kylaka]

Well, hey, I'll take a whack. Do you know you are paying more for gas that you put on a credit card? Unless, of course it's sombody else's credit card, like a corporation that you might own. In that case, the taxes you avoid, far outweigh the credit card fees. John Kerry avails himself to those tax breaks every day especially when flying his Gulfstream V which sips fuel at the rate of 450 gallons per hour. Take heart though, every hour aloft, Kerry's fuel burn rate goes down, since he has to carry around less of that nasty stuff, to get from here to there and back again.

[tubebender]

No Sams club in Eureka. I buy at Costco with the 3% back Exc card. I also have a "Card Lock" account. Renner here but CVN most other places.

My wife's Riv takes 93 octane and it was $3.50 a gallon today.

[roadcat]

I can remember when a gas station was a service station.

I worked my way through college doing two jobs, one job as a gas station jockey. At a Texaco station I worked at, the owner instructed me to always try to open a customer's car hood. And not to take a refusal from the customer until he refused three times. Checked the oil and water. Then cleaned the windshield, and asked if they wanted the tires checked. Did all that as well as tending the cash register, mopping up the service bay, cleaning the restrooms, and assisting the mechanics with engine repairs. Good honest work, and work that's almost non-existent in California now. One station I worked at, the owner made me carry a gun in my pocket. Had to be careful when wiping windshields as my pocket would bump against a car fender. I miss the old days, sigh...

[2rightsleftcoast]

I have always wanted to ask someone in your business about all the Muslims running gas stations. Do they own them?
Do gas companies check these people out before leasing or selling to them? I know this may sound stupid, I just have always felt uneasy with almost every station being run by Muslims. Seems like an important part of our economy. I go to the only station in town that still pumps your gas for you, it's not Muslim owned either. Thanks for the info if you are so inclined.

[dk/coro]

That's an easy one:

Madrassas! **S**

Dam ragheads, anyhoo!

[Mia T]

;)

TIRE INFLATION, GAS STATIONS + THE NEED TO SEQUESTER HILLARY


hillary talks:
ON GANDHI & GAS STATIONS
(Why it DOES matter...)

[SierraWasp]

Well... I'll tell ya pilgrim... That barge gas is a bich!!!

Kinda makes ya grumpy all day long, right???

[tubebender]

Costco is one of the very few that truck their gas up from the Bay Area. That is a 12 to 14 hour round trip in the best of weather.

The Tuna boat operators are looking for help on their fuel costs. They take on up to 2000 gallons of diesel and stay out a month or more and the price paid to them go down every year because foreign countries sell cheaper and cheaper...