Gas Prices

[Papi]

I'm all for supporting our local businesses. However, $3.69 for gas in Fairfax and $3.52 in Essex....really?  I know math is hard, but my calculation show a difference of 17 cents a gallon.  Come on Fairfax businesses give us a break and stop the gouging...

[logical]

It's not just Fairfax - $3.69 in St. Albans & Swanton as well.

[ohhman]

I paid $3.53 at the Valero station at the bottom of the hill in Milton last night.  $3.69 is the cheaper station in Fairfax as some are more.  Ever notice how gas prices in general go UP very quickly but go down very slowly!

[Chris Santee]

"It's a Bush Cheney conspiracy, a Bush Cheney conspiracy"

Senator Bernie Sanders debating Rich Tarrant at Winooski High School
when gas was up to $1.85

[Papi]

Let's not confuse conspiracy for monopoly...

[Trekr]

It does seem to be that things don't change as long as you can lay the blame at someone else s feet.

[sdogallen]

GREED comes to mind

[mkr]

Unfortunately, many local gas stations get charged more up here and so their prices reflect it. I used to be a store assistant manager and they only make pennies on a gallon.

So blame the bigger guys who supply our local gas stations. They are the ones making the extra coin unfortunately...

[Papi]

Those "pennies on a gallon" add up...apparently to around 17 cents!  The "bigger guys" are the same ones supplying Essex, Milton, etc.   So why the discrepancy? 

[Travis]

Mary Kay is correct. The profit margin at any gas station or convenience store is literally pennies on the gallon, normally under 5 cents. When Steeple does their 5 cents off every Tuesday, they don't make any money on gas and may even be losing money. They sell gas as cheap as they can in the hopes that it will bring you into the store to buy something.

Papi, you are partially correct. Yes the "bigger guys" are the same ones that supply Essex, Milton, etc., but they charge much less to stores in populated locations and directly off the interstate. Each gas station in town is a different supplier, so for each supplier it is a trip 20-30 minutes out of their way to deliver smaller quantities to one store, and they jack up the price for doing it.

[mkr]

Absoulutely Correct Travis!

[Papi]

Travis, the basis of your argument seems logical.  However, there are plenty of less populated areas, off the interstates, etc in VT that are paying much less per gallon than us.  Take a look at a # of the towns in the Kingdom for instance.  They are no closer to the suppliers than us.  I'm not ready to drink the Kool-Aid yet....

[mkr]

I think the local economy of a town also plays a roll in the SB Collins and RL Vallee's and other gas suppliers "price" they give the private store owners as well Papi.

It is a racket but you really cannot blame the little guys seriously....

[al brodeur]

While volume would help reduce the dealers end price there is a question for you ,down here in Pa the county adds a tax to the fuel and they vary could this be a possablity for you too?

[nhibbard]

You'd need to see each places financials. Maybe they locked in prices, maybe they are still paying for old fuel deliveries at higher prices or maybe they're charginginv what people will pay until purchase volume drops. Right now it's 19 cents higher.