The Profiteers (Coming to a gas station near you)

Self | Sept 11, 2001 | Self

[ICE-FLYER]

Oft times I wonder how it is that some people do the things they do. Here we have the most serious and deadly attack on the US in its history with the largest single day/action loss of life and what do the gas vendors do? Raise prices on fuel. Not a single refinery hit, not a single supply line cut, but just because brokers for fuel and oil worked in the target they feel its time to multiply the price of gas per gallon by 5.

They only add to the hysteria. This will cause a glut if anything. I was at least glad to hear from my brother-in-law in Arkansas that the Attorney General there will prosicute for going over the 10% cap set by the state for just such emergencies.

Sound off folks, let them know they are wrong, bring them back to focus on the fact that they're only raising prices because they think you're going to agree with them out of the calamity.

In it all, and as an aside to the gas issue, I wonder how many freedoms we will yeild as a nation to gain security of which we will then get neither of?

[JRandomFreeper]

You talk about freedom. How about the freedom for the vendors to charge whatever price they want. I won't pay it. That's freedom. Government shouldn't set prices.

/john

[Fred Mertz]

I didn't see anything about this on FR as I read the news and comments all day long.

As I was getting ready to depart from work to home, someone said I might want to tank up my car on the way home because gas prices were going to $4 or $5 per gallon.

Since I had half a tank left and I get 30+ miles to the gallon, I didn't think it would matter. So I didn't top off.

On the ride home I passed the only gas station enroute and it was packed! $1.46 per gallon and all the country folk were topping off while the price was good and the rumor mill told them they were doing the right thing.

I chalked it up to small town/country rumor; but I haven't seen such a line for gasoline since the early '70s.

You make the call.

[Nature Leseul]

When there's a danger that the supply of something may become less available, the invisible hand of the market dictates that prices go up in order to ensure the most efficient allocation of the good to those in the greatest need.

We're likely to start seeing some difficulty importing oil sometime soon.

[Nature Leseul]

Government, Big Business Prevent Marketing of Super High Mileage Carburetors

Yeah... this is what happens when you give government the power to regulate the market. That power goes to the service of the highest bidder.

[reformedliberal]

On another thread someone said that the suppliers were freezing prices. There have been some regional individual retail gouging. Other FReepers said that in one place, the gougers were in trouble.

Sorry for being vague; I am still numb.

[shaggy eel]

BUMP

[breakem]

If we take strong military action, I'm betting the price of crude will go down and the oil will flow in our direction.

[wattsmag2]

I just went and filled my cars up at regular prices. Down the road in Albemarle, there is a station charging 5.oo per gallon. Hope the guy gets shunned by all customers and loses his business.

[Fred Mertz]

We'll know within a week whether the price gougers are out in force.

We had long gas lines today based on local yokel rumor...the price didn't increase. I just want to make that clear.

It's more psychological than economics at this point. I'm sure we'll have silver and gold price discussions here tomorrow.

[Fred Mertz]

Really? The guy was charging $5.00 per gallon? I do hope he goes out of bidness.

[birddog]

We have stations in St. Louis where they are charging 2.99 to 5.00 a gallon. Some guy filled up his truck for $100 buck!

It also seems that the same people filling up are also buying all the bread and milk from the grocery stores.

The sheeple are deffinatly fun to watch.......

[niteowl77]

Here, the prices went up about 20 cents a gallon over the course of the day, and the lines were pretty incredible. I filled up fairly early in the afternoon (I was running on fumes), and on the other side of the pump, some guy in a nice Jeep Cherokee was filling six very large plastic gas containers. He must have some very important driving to do... I hope he's not a smoker.

I had an aunt who continued to hoard toilet paper and cooking spices long after WWII ended, so I find the behavior to be somewhat amusing.

Ed

[Polybius]

Really? The guy was charging $5.00 per gallon? I do hope he goes out of bidness.

As I posted on another thread that first mentioned gougers:

Make a list of who tried to make a buck by gouging his neighbors during a time a fear in America. Next week, when the hysteria is over, organize a local boycott and drive them out of business.

[Don Myers]

"How about the freedom for the vendors to charge whatever price they want. I won't pay it. "

Well, you do have a choice. You can drive or you can not drive. When all of the gas stations charge the same rate, that is your only choice.

[DittoJed2]

A friend of mine heard it is going to $8.00 a gallon at a specific area in Ohio tomorrow. I have already heard of places that are charging $4.00-$5.00 a gallon right now. Tanked up tonight- line was long and had to go to two stations because the pumps were no longer working at one.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

We were told what to do about this after Hurricane Hugo. Yes it's illegal. If you use one of these profiteer's stations, get a receipt or log it a relevant info (price, time, date, place, witnesses, etc.). I think the state's AG takes these cases on, and the greedy b'stard will have to pay a huge fine. His goal is if nobody complains, he gets away with it.