[Winona Online Democracy]
I suppose it is possible that Winona uses a different set of distributors
than say, Stockton, Lewiston, St. Charles or Rochester, where I see and
notice gas prices on my daily commute to work. In Winona, Gordies and
KwikTrip are just next to each other on Huff St. Never, in my memory, has
there been even a fraction of a cent difference in their pricing. However,
on my commute to Rochester, I notice that the prices at the station in
Stockton (also a BP station) are sometimes higher, sometimes lower. Same
for prices at KwikTrips in other towns, and the more varied stations in
Rochester. Whenever possible, I make my gasoline purchases accordingly. I
also know that state imposed gasoline taxes have an impact on gas prices as
well. Hint: if you are driving through IL, my advice is to gas up before
you cross the border into IL, or try to make it on what you have until you
leave the state.
I also remember the days of gas wars, having your gas pumped, windshields
cleaned, oil checked, etc. for under 50 cents/ gallon--plus a premium such
as green stamps or tumblers. Of course, I also remember nickel candybars,
too.
I have no problem with any business making a decent profit. I've heard that
gas stations make little profit on the fuel they sell, but mostly get their
profits on the conenience items and services they sell as well. I am fairly
certain that there are people in the industry who are making out like
bandits right now.
I also agree that we'd all do well to carpool or use public transport when
possible, or even better, to walk where possible. More permanent solutions
to the gasoline (and energy) crisis include more efficient engines (and
homes/businesses), more and better affordable public transportation, and
even better community design, allowing for more walking and less driving.
We'd all be better off.
Terri Hyle
<BLOCKQUOTE style='PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #A0C6E5
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From: <i>"Schmidt, Tania M"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]></i><br>To: <i>"john finn"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[email protected]></i><br>Subject: <i>RE:
[Winona] Price of gas</i><br>Date: <i>Wed, 31 Aug 2005 08:11:52
-0500</i><br>>[Winona Online
Democracy]<br>><br>>John,<br>><br>>I predict it to get higher as
well. (I defend the decisions, but my<br>>pocket book does still fight me
tooth and nail) :)<br>><br>>As for minimum pricing:<br>>State laws
on minimum pricing, as in effect in Wisconsin, often have the<br>>same
effect as pricing regulation had during the Nixon Oil Embargo
days.<br>><br>>That is to say, the street price will almost always be
at the maximum<br>>allowable price. Currently, that means a margin of
about $0.17 per<br>>gallon, but it also means they're only earning about
$0.06 when the<br>>price is near $1.00.<br>><br>>There are several
station owners in Wisconsin using the currently<br>>inflated margins to
finally pay off some principle on their Line of<br>>Credit
loans.<br>><br>>Minimum pricing laws have traditionally been enacted
because the usually<br>>powerful lobbying of the retailers associations
brought to light the<br>>fact that the Wal Marts of the world were street
pricing at levels below<br>>the retailers' costs. Small businesses
couldn't compete.<br>><br>><br>><br>><br>>-----Original
Message-----<br>>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On<br>>Behalf Of john
finn<br>>Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 6:12 AM<br>>To:
[email protected]<br>>Subject: [Winona] Price of gas<br>>Importance:
Low<br>><br>>[Winona Online
Democracy]<br>><br>>_______________________________________________<br>>This
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