No gas? (Pineville, Woodlawn: park, paid, cheaper)

[wilmar13]

Originally Posted by BorisBulldog

Good article.

What they won't tell you in the media, is that the gasoline producers/wholesalers like BP, Shell, Texaco can get fuel delivered in rail cars from the north east and midwest refineries to the SE terminals but they won't do it because obviously pipeline shipping is much cheaper then rail shipping.

So in the mean time the quest for gasoline has turned the SE into a replay of the 1979 Mad Max movie.

No media conspiracy implications needed... they won't do that because they can't charge more to do so because "the man" tried to control pricing. If they could make $.05 more /gallon here without being fined for "excessive profits", you can bet each company would be lying awake at night trying to figure out how to get us gas through whatever creative means possible, including rail, diverting tankers, etc..., ironically we would end up with something cheaper than where we are today as they each try to increase their share of the respective profit pie by being cheaper than the next guy... take the free market away and all you are left with is an inefficient system run by incompetents... just like we have...

OK I am done beating this horse, but I really took issue with the guy wanting to vote in someone else to "solve the problem" when in reality it is that mentality and the politicians that pander to them that create the problem in the first place.

[SunnyKayak]

You know what would be funny least in my weird head it would be is to pull up to a pump with a bag on it, open my gas door and stand there then watch the lines form

Next I would check my oil and look over and laugh then roll up my windows, lock my door pull off and try to pull out of that station before they realize what is going on.....hehe

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

You know what would be funny least in my weird head it would be is to pull up to a pump with a bag on it, open my gas door and stand there then watch the lines form

Next I would check my oil and look over and laugh then roll up my windows, lock my door pull off and try to pull out of that station before they realize what is going on.....hehe

That would be great! You'll have to record it & post it on YT for us.

[mikealialex]

Just got gas for $3.73 at the CircleK at Prosperity and Dearmon near Highland Creek. No lines, just 1 car at every pump.

[BrusselsSprouts]

Originally Posted by wilmar13

I am sorry, but you are completely wrong and I have no idea how you can have the opinions you do and call yourself a conservative, the above seems like something out of the comunist manifesto.

Here is a quick economics lesson: if gas stations could raise prices, those resulting higher prices would both encourage more gasoline production and discourage frivolous gasoline consumption(i.e. hoarders, etc), causing any temporary shortage to subside. If prices are too high no one will buy, and of course everyone will go across the street if it is $.03 less, so the price will be constantly dynamically changing to match demand, just the way it has for the last +25 years after Regan removed pricing controls in the early 80's. But those ass warts gave in to the vocal (uninformed and unqualified) majority and passed legislation two years ago that made it illegal to make any more profit than a brief period pre-Katrina. The profit motive drives efficiency on both sides provided there is competition. Take that away, and what you get is what we have today higher prices (long term), poor service, and shortages. Why should any petro distributors jump through hoops to get you gas in Charlotte vs anywhere else? Because the government tells them to? Ahhh OK, Karl Marx...LOL Don't get me started on this windfall profit BS... that is a guarantee we will have high prices and poor availability long term... that is one step from a government owned petro company; and we know how much more efficient government entities are compared to private sector that have a profit motive right?

The only time the government should ever step in with regards to pricing is if there is collusion amongst competitors to set prices effectively ending competition... the irony is the government effectively set the prices in this situation to appease the masses, thereby causing the shortage and then the masses blame them for not having "effective planning"... the perversion of our country to the complete opposite of what our founding fathers intended is almost complete.

If you want to make the country better vote for the candidate that tells you what you need to hear, not what want to hear. Well if that was actually an option I mean

OK, I am going to try this one more time. I understand that raising prices MIGHT control the demand for gasoline in this area, and MIGHT bring more supply to the area. This is a short term fix, and doesn't address the real problem, lack of risk mitigation and contingency plans for Charlotte and surrounding areas for the provision of gasoline AT ANY PRICE.

It is now coming out that this area's supply is just-in-time from one pipe, there are too few pumps per person in this market, and the oil companies are not releasing as much fuel as promised (they are hoarding--imagine that, a lying oil company) A statement was made on CNN yesterday that the DOE has identified a problem in NC, specifically (a) lack of a stockpile of fuel and (b) only one source of fuel in some areas. DOE warned our leaders that they need to address this problem; they have not.

Just after Ike cleared out, many stations in the Charlotte area started raising their prices precipitously. Some companies started advertising that they were limiting fillups to 10 gallons. Contrary to your position that the market, if left to itself, will fix the problem, I submit the market STARTED THE BALL ROLLING AND CREATED THE PROBLEM.

I have spoken to people ad hoc about any problems they were having getting fuel, and I found that most times it wasn't recreational, rather it affected their ability to work, in some cases at places that provide essential services like hospitals, doctor and dentist offices. If they don't work, they don't get paid, and can't pay bills.

I'll end by syaing that I am a manager, and some people who work for me buy commodities that are included in products, or used for resale. If any of my employees came to me, told me there might be a shortage (which is OK), but they had no risk mitigation or contingency plan, resulting in a protracted interruption in supply that would affect sales, one of two things would happen (a) I would crucify them on their next performance evaluation or (b) I would fire them and get someone in who would do the proper planning.


I know my vote is just one little nail in the coffin of our leadership, but it is MY evaluation of their performance, which, again, I consider POOR.

[flyingscotsman]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

You know what would be funny least in my weird head it would be is to pull up to a pump with a bag on it, open my gas door and stand there then watch the lines form

Next I would check my oil and look over and laugh then roll up my windows, lock my door pull off and try to pull out of that station before they realize what is going on.....hehe

I always knew you were evil.


















I like it

[wilmar13]

Originally Posted by BrusselsSprouts

OK, I am going to try this one more time. I understand that raising prices MIGHT control the demand for gasoline in this area, and MIGHT bring more supply to the area. This is a short term fix, and doesn't address the real problem, lack of risk mitigation and contingency plans for Charlotte and surrounding areas for the provision of gasoline AT ANY PRICE.

There is no might about it... this is a rudimentary concept that every vendor in a third world street market understands, though clearly many folks don't have even a modicum of business sense, so we will just have to agree to disagree.

Originally Posted by BrusselsSprouts

It is now coming out that this area's supply is just-in-time from one pipe, there are too few pumps per person in this market, and the oil companies are not releasing as much fuel as promised (they are hoarding--imagine that, a lying oil company) A statement was made on CNN yesterday that the DOE has identified a problem in NC, specifically (a) lack of a stockpile of fuel and (b) only one source of fuel in some areas. DOE warned our leaders that they need to address this problem; they have not.

Again if there was a profit motive in the private sector to do so, there would be no need for government intervention. The fact that you think the problem that the government created is best for them to solve has me again scratching my head as to how you self-identify as a conservative...

Originally Posted by BrusselsSprouts

Just after Ike cleared out, many stations in the Charlotte area started raising their prices precipitously. Some companies started advertising that they were limiting fillups to 10 gallons. Contrary to your position that the market, if left to itself, will fix the problem, I submit the market STARTED THE BALL ROLLING AND CREATED THE PROBLEM.

I have spoken to people ad hoc about any problems they were having getting fuel, and I found that most times it wasn't recreational, rather it affected their ability to work, in some cases at places that provide essential services like hospitals, doctor and dentist offices. If they don't work, they don't get paid, and can't pay bills.

I am sorry, but again I don't think you have any understanding of how a free market works based on your interpretation of the chain of events. The fact that there are people that can't find gas to get to work has nothing to do with the factors that created that situation. The gas companies rationed gas because they fear getting fined if they raise prices... and it is quite odd how you can't see they raised prices (or tried to) after Ike because they anticipated the supply interruption, yet still think they should be punished for doing so. Price is not determined by seller's cost plus x%. I suggest your company provide you with a business basics course to augment the "risk mitigation and contingency planning" seminar you recently attended.

Originally Posted by BrusselsSprouts

I'll end by syaing that I am a manager, and some people who work for me buy commodities that are included in products, or used for resale. If any of my employees came to me, told me there might be a shortage (which is OK), but they had no risk mitigation or contingency plan, resulting in a protracted interruption in supply that would affect sales, one of two things would happen (a) I would crucify them on their next performance evaluation or (b) I would fire them and get someone in who would do the proper planning.

Oh wow, are you the real Micheal Scott? You equate individual responsibility with what the government should be doing for its citizens and you are conservative?

Originally Posted by BrusselsSprouts

I know my vote is just one little nail in the coffin of our leadership, but it is MY evaluation of their performance, which, again, I consider POOR.

OK, now here is some common ground for us; we can both agree your evaluation is poor.

Be careful what you ask for, you just may get it... as it is you (and the rest of the american voters) got what you asked for, not what you wanted. That is the flaw of democracy...it gives everyone a voice, even though 95% of those voices have no idea how to achieve what they want.

[Barkingowl]

Anderson Cooper 360: Blog Archive - Letter to Any Politician Who Gives a ‘You Know What’ « - Blogs from CNN.com

[MommyV]

This morning, I saw the gas station on Bryant Farms Road (Ballantyne Area) without any plastic covers over the pumps, they had the prices lit up and one car was filling up. That was it. Does anyone know if they really had gas or not? It seemed strange because it was about 7am and no lines.

[MommyV]

Originally Posted by saralee

Interesting. I had no idea. One advantage Jersey has over NC. Which is why I guess gas is always less expensive back home.

Sara

I always compare prices between Fort Mill and Central NJ with my family and FM is always less.