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YouTubeI have noticed a string of gasoline stations on the southwest side the routinely run 20 cents plus over other west side stations. These stations run along 3C/Harrisburg Pk between Columbus and Grove City. It used to be that just the Sunoco and Kroger at Eakin and 3C were the only two that were always higher. Now, the two Speedway stations on either side of the original two and the BP all stay at the same price, even when all other stations on the west side are much lower. I have a feeling that some price manipulation is going on with these stations. Being that this Kroger is the closest Kroger to Franklinton and 3C is the only way to get there, I think the stations are betting on the poor folks not having internet, etc to get other gas prices, so all stations along that route fix and set their prices at the same level, which is about 38 cents higher than other westside stations right now. Being that Kroger and Speedway are both major chains, I don't understand the price swing of stations that are less than two miles apart. I am somewhat baffled and open to thoughts others may have on this.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion
Gas Price Variations - Price Gouging
[9 posts] [8 contributors]
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kcrissinger
Brookshire
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Posted 9 months ago # -
Analogue Kid
5th by West-Northwest
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What you describe has been happening in the W. 5th Ave corridor as well. I don't think it's a vast conspiracy so much as the spot price of gasoline has jumped around so rapidly that a station might have filled their tanks with $3.65 gasoline in the morning and a different station filled up with $3.33 gasoline in the afternoon because the price of oil crashed that day.
Posted 9 months ago # -
sirlancelot
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Lots of wide gasoline price variations throughout Columbus. Clintonville prices have ranged (today) from $3.65 to $3.39, at stations within a mile or so from each other. Smae thing when traveling to Southern Ohio. Prices are based on oil futures speculation by the suppliers and local competition. Basically, the suppliers can set prices at will and for whatever they think they can get away with. Unless we want price-controls or oil industry nationalisation, we will have to put up with it.
Posted 9 months ago # -
kcrissinger
Brookshire
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sirlancelot said:
Lots of wide gasoline price variations throughout Columbus. Clintonville prices have ranged (today) from $3.65 to $3.39, at stations within a mile or so from each other. Smae thing when traveling to Southern Ohio. Prices are based on oil futures speculation by the suppliers and local competition. Basically, the suppliers can set prices at will and for whatever they think they can get away with. Unless we want price-controls or oil industry nationalisation, we will have to put up with it.Price controls would be a good thing. I work at AEP and they have to pray for a miracle to raise rates just a tiny bit. This is because they're a "monopoly." While no one oil company owns everything, the overall product is a monopoly and the individual players all work together for the most part. I think they should be treated as such.
It is kind of frustrating to watch everything AEP has to go through to raise rates when the State mandates these absurb things for them and gives them no opportunity to recover any of the costs involved with the sometimes ridiculous requests.
Back to gas prices. Oil has dropped quite a bit over the past month and prices have barely budged. Just think if oil had increased as much as it had dropped. I guarantee the effect would be steep and immediate on the prices. Some control is needed over this industry.
Posted 9 months ago #
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