Old Fashioned Gas War in Ohio Brings Old Fashioned Prices - Cost Hits a Dime a Gallon

AP ^ | AP-ES-12-01-01 0543EST | AP

[TheOtherOne]

Old Fashioned Gas War in Ohio Brings Old Fashioned Prices - Cost Hits a Dime a Gallon
The Associated Press
Published: Dec 1, 2001

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - Two competing grocery stores have been creating traffic jams with an old fashioned gas war - and old fashioned prices, as low as a dime a gallon.

Kroger, the nation's largest grocery chain, opened a new store Thursday about a quarter mile from a Meijer's store. Both stores, as part of a growing trend toward one-stop shopping, have gas pumps outside.

The price war began heating up within a few hours of the Kroger store's opening. As soon as one station dropped its price, the other countered with a lower price.

By 3 p.m., the price was 42 cents a gallon. By evening, gas was going for 10 cents a gallon.

"I've never seen people lined up to buy gas like this," said Sandra Ralph, 60, of Dayton, in line at Meijer's. "It's a fantastic publicity stunt."

Gerald Harris, 25, and his brother Matt, 19, of Dayton, headed to Kroger.

"You have to take advantage of it while you can," Matt Harris said. "Gas may never be this cheap again."

As lines grew longer, patience was short. Montgomery County Sheriff's deputies kept an eye out to break up fights and try to maintain traffic flow.

Brenda Bauer, manager of the Meijer station, estimated that more than 1,000 people bought the cheap fuel at the station.

"The longer you wait in line, the cheaper the gas gets," Bauer said. "There's a deal there."

On Friday morning, the price of gasoline at the Meijer was back up to $1.12 a gallon. But by noon, it was down to 71 cents a gallon, and it fell to 51 cents by early evening.

---

On the Net:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/

AP-ES-12-01-01 0543EST

[TheOtherOne]

Ah, the sweet smell of capitalism.

I love America.

[lowbridge]

bump

[pocat]

Our free market is the envy of the world.

Capitalism rocks!

[B4Ranch]

I recall gas at 14 cents and they gave you a six pack of Pepsi for a fill-up down in Florida in the mid 60's.

[snodog]

As lines grew longer, patience was short. Montgomery County Sheriff's deputies kept an eye out to break up fights and try to maintain traffic flow.

I'm sure there were fights if not complete lawlessness and mayhem. How many children were killed? Women raped? Do we have any number of casualities?

Were any fights reported or is this just another example of media hype?

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

I recall gas at 14 cents

Of course 14 cents then is about like 70 cents now, and we may get to 70.

[blondee123]

Must be nice in ohio, we in the chicago area are still being ripped off on gas prices, they just rose by 10 to 12 cents in the last 3 days. thanks a lot ILLINOIS for nothing!

[Deadeye Division]

Customers win as gas stations duel (10 cent gas!)

[ken5050]

Some years ago, there was a similar gas war in Long Island...the price had dropped to some ridiculous amoint, like 15 cents a gallon......a gas station owner in PA sent a tanker truck over..he bought 8000 gallons...said it was cheaper than he could buy it for from his distributor.....after that, they limited it to 30 gallons per fill up....

[B4Ranch]

Where's the Pepsi? LOL

[Brian Allen]

TheOtherOne I recall gas at 14 cents and they gave you a six pack of Pepsi for a fill-up down in Florida in the mid 60's.

Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ..........

[Fiddlstix]

I bought gas back in the '50's for 10 cents a gallon. Lots of it lol
They'd give away cokes, cigarettes, plates, towels, etc. to get you to buy at their station.
(ah, those were the days)

[B4Ranch]

It's $1.29 9/10 in Reno today. Diesel is $1.19 9/10. No Pepsi, tho.

[B Knotts]

I'd hate to tell you what the first thing that popped into my head was when I read "Old Fashioned Gas War."

[MissBaby]

Take a picture of the sign showing the price and mail it to the OPEC ministers

[Rodney King]

Where are all the freepers who say that gas prices are arbitrarily set by "big oil" companies?

[Brian Allen]

It was $0.82¢ in Atlanta the other day.

I LOVE AMERICA!

FReegards, Friend

Brian

[B4Ranch]

Those were the days. Yes Sir! I was young and dumb and having a great time!

[GuillermoX]

This is just another evil ploy (Backed by Oilmen Bush and Cheney) to get people hooked on cheap gas. Next time they come to the station, it won't be 10 cents, thus allowing the Oil Companies to make a huge profit.

[Tijeras_Slim]

This will really get the liberal euro-suckups in a knot. Gotta love it!