What's Up With This Gas Station?

james 14

It's been this way for a while.

There are 3 stations at this particular intersection. Two of the stations were selling 87 Octane for about 3.25. The other, a Petrol Express, is selling for 4.35! That's more than a dollar higher than anything else I've seen anywhere. What would be the reason for this and why the eff do I see people still getting gas there?

CaptTater

There's one here like that that's way high but sells to commercial accounts with a discount. I assumed they don't want individual buyers.

nick

Maybe the 3 fell off the sign and behind it was a 4

CaptTater

nick wrote: »

Maybe the 3 fell off the sign and behind it was a 4

That's too easy. Occam's razor says you may be right.
Maybe it's non ethanol?

Mackeral Snatcher

Is it selling 90 octane ethanol free gas??
The ethanol free gas in the keys last week was around seventy cents per gallon higher.

cadman

Is it an independent? Does he have a store with with?

It could be his business philosophy. $3.25 is right at cost depending on the county. Those guys are making 2c to 5c per gallon on gasoline at best. If they pump 250,000 at 5c per gallon they earn $12,500. The other guy only needs to pump 11,000 gallons to make the same money. But $4.35 seems a bit high even for that. My prices are typically 20c higher than the competition and I still get plenty of business. People shop here because the store is very clean and the employees are friendlier than you find at a Kangaroo and we speak english, which is rare in the independent stores. I have people tell me they shop here because of me and my employees. I also make more profit on my volume at my prices than the big chains do pumping 3 times as much. With my rent at $8000 per month, I need all the profit I can get.

My store is unique since we are near the college and a lot of our business is college kids. We are very competitive on beer prices (there isn't any place else you can buy 18packs of Bud at $11.99).

Edit: You can't sell ethanol free gas for use in vehicles. It is against the law. Only marine and equipment uses.

King_Me

cadman wrote: »

We are very competitive on beer prices (there isn't any place else you can buy 18packs of Bud at $11.99).

WHERE are you located?!?!?!?!? :willynilly

cadman

34th and University in Gainesville, Florida. Should be that price until the end of the year.

Idlewilde

The only way you will know for sure why Petrol Express's price is so much higher, will be to stop there and ask.

RRR

yeah, go in and ask them

Lucky7Team2

RRR wrote: »

yeah, go in and ask them

Buy some ice and take some extra while you're at it. Tell em its watered down...

GJBenn85

cadman wrote: »

Edit: You can't sell ethanol free gas for use in vehicles. It is against the law. Only marine and equipment uses.

Is this Federal or State law?

Pothole

cadman wrote: »

Edit: You can't sell ethanol free gas for use in vehicles. It is against the law. Only marine and equipment uses.

There are several stations around here that offer ethanol free gas.

navigator2

Pothole wrote: »

There are several stations around here that offer ethanol free gas.

Roger that, and not marinas.

dolfanjoey

Most stations in the upper keys sell ethanol free gas.

gatorrut

cadman wrote: »

Is it an independent? Does he have a store with with?

It could be his business philosophy. $3.25 is right at cost depending on the county. Those guys are making 2c to 5c per gallon on gasoline at best. If they pump 250,000 at 5c per gallon they earn $12,500. The other guy only needs to pump 11,000 gallons to make the same money. But $4.35 seems a bit high even for that. My prices are typically 20c higher than the competition and I still get plenty of business. People shop here because the store is very clean and the employees are friendlier than you find at a Kangaroo and we speak english, which is rare in the independent stores. I have people tell me they shop here because of me and my employees. I also make more profit on my volume at my prices than the big chains do pumping 3 times as much. With my rent at $8000 per month, I need all the profit I can get.

My store is unique since we are near the college and a lot of our business is college kids. We are very competitive on beer prices (there isn't any place else you can buy 18packs of Bud at $11.99).

Edit: You can't sell ethanol free gas for use in vehicles. It is against the law. Only marine and equipment uses.

I can buy ethanol free gas for my suburban here in melbourne. There are two stations that i know of and they are about .70 more

silverg

We have stations in NC selling ethanol free to automobiles.

Look Out Below

cadman wrote: »

With my rent at $8000 per month

:hairraiser

gatorrut wrote: »

I can buy ethanol free gas for my suburban here in melbourne. There are two stations that i know of and they are about .70 more

What he said the only problem I have is I have a diesel. :shrug

cadman

It is Florida law and if those stations get caught letting you put it in a vehicle they will be fined. I think the Dept of Ag. is just warning them now but the fines are coming. They can sell it, but is not allowed to be pumped into vehicles. They are supposed to require you to put it into cans or other approved uses. Here is the statute.

(2) FUEL STANDARD.—Beginning December 31, 2010, all gasoline sold or offered for sale in Florida by a terminal supplier, importer, blender, or wholesaler shall be blended gasoline.
(3) EXEMPTIONS.—The requirements of this act do not apply to the following:
(a) Fuel used in aircraft.
(b) Fuel sold for use in boats and similar watercraft.
(c) Fuel sold to a blender.
(d) Fuel sold for use in collector vehicles or vehicles eligible to be licensed as collector vehicles, off-road vehicles, motorcycles, or small engines.
(e) Fuel unable to comply due to requirements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
(f) Fuel transferred between terminals.
(g) Fuel exported from the state in accordance with s. 206.052.
(h) Fuel qualifying for any exemption in accordance with chapter 206.
(i) Fuel for a railroad locomotive.
(j) Fuel for equipment, including vehicle or vessel, covered by a warranty that would be voided, if explicitly stated in writing by the vehicle or vessel manufacturer, if the equipment were to be operated using fuel meeting the requirements of subsection

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0500-0599/0526/Sections/0526.203.html

pupraiser

cadman wrote: »

With my rent at $8000 per month, I need all the profit I can get.

Orange'n'Blue Snapper

cadman wrote: »

34th and University in Gainesville, Florida. Should be that price until the end of the year.

Good location but it's always a PIA to get out of your lot during busy traffic hours. I've bought beer there a couple times. Another reason you probably get away with a higher markup is because there isnt a station around your location for a couple blocks. Plus that area seems to have a higher population of students with more of there parents money then say the kids living in the apartment complexs near Waldo Rd. You probably make a killing on gamedays. I normally park at my buddies house near the golf course and walk to the stadium and University will be bumper to bumper for hours. From an investors stand point its a perfect location and it looks like $8k wouldnt be a bad rent rate for a spot like that. More power to you dude. Now that I know it's owned by a forum brethren I'll have to start buying my gas from your place. It's company money so the couple extra cents doesnt hurt my wallet and I know it's going to a better place then the big chain owed locations.

FYI though. I recently did the remodel of the City Line Station up the road from you so I could potentially be considered friend and foe.

cadman

I have heard good things about the mechanics at City line. They don't sell beer and cigs so they aren't really competition. I knew the rent would sound crazy to some, but they don't realize I sit on an expensive piece of property. When the Publix closes to remodel next year, business will go crazy.

This year game days sucked except Tennessee and FSU. I usually make about 75% of my profit for the year during the fall. This year was not good. I am hoping the basketball team does well. It will make for a good March.

If you see the older fat guy, that is me.

Orange'n'Blue Snapper

cadman wrote: »

If you see the older fat guy, that is me.

That doesnt give me much to work off of. You just discribed 99% of the forum guys. The other 1% consist of skinny guys, young fat guys and fat spanish dudes (HA). But I'll keep my eyes open for ya but around there the hot college chicks get most of my attention.

james 14

Normally non-ethanol is advertised as such so I don't that's it. The station also doesn't look to be a "high end" station and I doubt they're selling top tier. I've also noticed this for a while (years) so it's not like its a mistake of some sort.
Maybe I'll have to stop in one day and ask. Its at Parsons and Windhorst for anyone in the Brandon area.