They do this every year. This time it's an outrage.
Want to fight back against their price gouging?
We can beat this blatant ripoff!
They do this every year. This time it's an outrage.
The gasoline companies always jack up their prices just ahead of Easter break, and keep them high all summer. They don't come down until October, and then it's ever so slowly.
This most recent thing in March 1999 had nothing to do with what's going on in Kosovo. And even though OPEC said they wanted to curtail production to get the oil prices up, these gas stations all started raising their prices, simultaneously, just 3 days later. That is simply not long enough for these prices to filter down the production line to us. Notice that when world events have occasionally promised lower gas prices, they took their good old sweet time lowering the prices at the pump for you and me.
The oil companies are claiming these thin excuses for this:
Plain and simple. They're ripping us off, because they can.
This is something I've been hearing from a couple of different sources. Former San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock has been pushing this on his afternoon radio show on KOGO 600 in San Diego. Roger Hedgecock wants to try for every single Friday. Plan ahead. Do not purchase any gasoline on Fridays. Those who have no choice may be excused from this, but if you can, make your Friday a No-Gas Friday.
Buy only from those stations giving you the best price.
We have to get these companies where it hurts: their near term profit margin. Places that charge even 10% more cannot keep doing so if they lose 50% of their sales. Just keep a casual eye on the prices at various places so you'll know where to go on Saturday through Thursday for the best current price.
Arco used to have the best prices before this fiasco. Now they're just as high as all of the others (if not higher). And the price per gallon varies by as much as 20 cents between some of their stations that are as little as a mile apart. On a ten gallon purchase that's a $2.00 difference. This adds up. The stations near freeway onramps used to be higher than at stations a longer distance away; not so anymore, so you should keep an eye open.
Do Not Use Gasoline Company Credit Cards.
Pay cash only. If you want, cut up your gas credit cards and send them back to those companies with a good letter telling them why you're doing it.
Don't have a gas credit card? Apply for one, then cut it up as soon as you get it, and send it back to them!
Don't panic!
Gas lines like those of the 1970s need not happen if we all remain calm and let reason prevail.
Most people back then panicked, figuring the prices might double in just a few days. They felt they had to have a full tank of gas every time they went to the grocery store. Therefore, many people were needlessly buying just a couple of gallons at a time in a futile attempt to save a couple of dollars, in case prices were higher a few days later. This led to the "even/odd" days and minimum purchase rule (you had to be below half a tank to buy gas).
What ended the mess back then was the fact that people got wise to the oil companies faking the "shortage." Gasoline company trucks were caught on film, dumping gas out on remote desert roads; consumer advocates learned that storage tanks at petroleum depots were completely full. Oil drillers were ordered by these oil companies to cap off every new discovery. They orchestrated these false shortages on the public. People got smart, avoided buying at the higher priced places, and slowly brought these companies into line with the market.
Reduce your driving whenever possible.
This is just common sense. Combine several short trips. Carpool. Drive less, save on the gas. Help shrink their market.
Don't relent!
It's too easy to say, "Well, but my time is worth something, and I'm willing to pay for the convenience." Wrong attitude. It means that they've won. Unfortunately, there are people who would buy from anyone as long as it was convenient.
The April 30th Boycott
On April 30th 1999 there was a loosely organized boycott of gas stations. I received several emails about "joining in" but I have no idea who was organizing it. However: on Thursday night I saw some long lines at the cheaper gas stations. I also saw several stations actually lower their prices anywhere from 2 cents to 12 cents a gallon. The boycott made the local news; some protesters were asking people not to buy gas on Friday, but they seemed to stay nice about it. Because, not everyone had a choice in the matter, and, the prices were down noticably at some places.
It isn't over yet, but it's not as bad as it was. The prices have been stable for several weeks now, so I guess we're stuck this way for the rest of the summer.
We can make a difference!
Other sites of interest
Roger Hedgecock.
Listen in to his afternoon radio show on KOGO 600, which can be heard
over a very wide part of Southern California.
No-Gas Friday campaign.
Flying J Travel/Truck Plazas.
Also serving regular motorists, vacationers, and RVs ("Rich Vagrants").
(Truckers get to watch screenings of "Duel", "Convoy",
and "Smokey and the Bandit" in the back room!)
But it is here that you can take a look at their
posted fuel prices nationwide and see that California (especially
the Bay Area), and parts of Arizona and Idaho are getting scalped.
Look at the prices in places like sunny Georgia
and tell me we aren't getting soaked out here.
UCAN's Cheap Gas site.
San Diego County prices are sky-high too.
I will add related site links as I find out about them. Please check back from time to time.
Created March 31, 1999
Updated October 29, 1999
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