The Tulsa Premium

[Friendly Bear]

In observance of Labor Day honoring America's hard working men and women, our local gasoline marketers have boosted the price of gasoline from $2.72 to $2.89 per gallon.

On the other hand, if you happen to pass through Muskogee, you will find unleaded regular fuel there is miraculously still priced at $2.66 per gallon.  Still priced at $2.66 per gallon......

Like the Third-Penny "temporary" tax that Tulsans have been paying for the past 27 years, like the dearth of state funding for local roads and road maintenace, like the EMSA "fee", like the $6.00 extra monthly Trash Charge to service the Trash-to-Energy plant debt for the past 20 years, the local fuel price anomaly hereabouts is another:

"Tulsa Premium".  

A higher cost extracted for living in Tulsa.

Can anyone else recite other ripe Tulsa Premiums??

Does anyone suspect that QUIK-TRIP is the culprit of our higher fuel prices, as the dominant local gasoline retailer?  

Privately Owned by Tulsa's very own:

Chester [ahem] Cadieux:

Zealous backer of the $0.004 Kaiser River Tax.

Remember a few years back when Tulsa consistently had the LOWEST fuel prices of anywhere in the U.S., according to the Lundburg Survey?

It's the Tulsa Premium.

[!]

[RecycleMichael]

Please don't use this forum to mindlessly slander people and give them inappropriate nicknames.

[cannon_fodder]

While I do not share your QT conspiracy theories (QT does not have close to half the stores, let alone enough to factually set prices.  QT has no stores in OKC and their gas went up too), I am peeved at the cost of gas.  The purchasing agent for QT was on the radio this AM talking about how their model for predicting what gas prices should be is now basically worthless.  The market reacts to non-news items, doesnt seem to care about supply, and shifts wildly instead of in trends.

It's a market system, so there isnt ONE person... but I'd really like to ask SOMEONE why gas went up all over the midwest.
http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_gastemperaturemap.aspx

Oh well, the more expensive and erratic the fuel gets, the more people will desire to get rid of it.  If there was a reliable and affordable electric car, I'd be on board.  Especially if we get the electricity from wind, water, and/or nuclear sources.  And I'm not a hippy... just tired of getting jerked around.

[Ibanez]

$2.48 just outside St. Louis last night.

Hmmmm? Makes ya wonder.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

While I do not share your QT conspiracy theories (QT does not have close to half the stores, let alone enough to factually set prices.  QT has no stores in OKC and their gas went up too), I am peeved at the cost of gas.  The purchasing agent for QT was on the radio this AM talking about how their model for predicting what gas prices should be is now basically worthless.  The market reacts to non-news items, doesnt seem to care about supply, and shifts wildly instead of in trends.

It's a market system, so there isnt ONE person... but I'd really like to ask SOMEONE why gas went up all over the midwest.
http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_gastemperaturemap.aspx

Oh well, the more expensive and erratic the fuel gets, the more people will desire to get rid of it.  If there was a reliable and affordable electric car, I'd be on board.  Especially if we get the electricity from wind, water, and/or nuclear sources.  And I'm not a hippy... just tired of getting jerked around.

Not always true.  There have been several times over the last year I've driven through OKC and found the fuel prices to be .10 less.  Norman has been noted as having the lowest fuel prices in the nation with some consistency for several years.

The marketers and refiners keep claiming it's our special blended fuel which is responsible for keeping us higher than other parts of the state.

[Chicken Little]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

The marketers and refiners keep claiming it's our special blended fuel which is responsible for keeping us higher than other parts of the state.

Well, doesn't that make sense?  If you have a "special" blend, as we do because of previous ozone issues, then, all things being equal, this blend is going to cost more, right?

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

While I do not share your QT conspiracy theories (QT does not have close to half the stores, let alone enough to factually set prices.  QT has no stores in OKC and their gas went up too), I am peeved at the cost of gas.  The purchasing agent for QT was on the radio this AM talking about how their model for predicting what gas prices should be is now basically worthless.  The market reacts to non-news items, doesnt seem to care about supply, and shifts wildly instead of in trends.

It's a market system, so there isnt ONE person... but I'd really like to ask SOMEONE why gas went up all over the midwest.
http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_gastemperaturemap.aspx

Oh well, the more expensive and erratic the fuel gets, the more people will desire to get rid of it.  If there was a reliable and affordable electric car, I'd be on board.  Especially if we get the electricity from wind, water, and/or nuclear sources.  And I'm not a hippy... just tired of getting jerked around.

Not always true.  There have been several times over the last year I've driven through OKC and found the fuel prices to be .10 less.  Norman has been noted as having the lowest fuel prices in the nation with some consistency for several years.

The marketers and refiners keep claiming it's our special blended fuel which is responsible for keeping us higher than other parts of the state.

Dallas now has lower fuel prices than Tulsa, even with a several cents per gallon higher fuel tax.

For many years, I have regularly travelled to Dallas for work or recreation.  Until just a few years ago, Dallas CONSISTENTLY had higher gasoline prices.

Then, a few years ago, something changed...

The one variable I am aware of is that while Tulsa's retail fuel market is now dominated by Chester the Molester's Quik-Trip Stores, Dallas has a very difuse market, with NO dominant fuel retailer.

While there MIGHT be another plausible explanation, I'll apply Occam's Razor at this juncture:

To wit:  

"The simplest explanation tends to be the right one."

The issue of Tulsa's UNIQUE Boutique blend of re-oxygenated fuel unlike ANY other blend in ANY city in the U.S. could possibly explain a higher fuel price from May to Labor Day, when it is REQUIRED to be sold.  

But, how does that EXPLAIN the above average fuel price the other 9 months of the year........

[swake]

Bear, Stop with the name calling. Really. Now.

And here is the simple explanation:

Over the past few years the competitive climate in Tulsa has changed a lot.

Just a few years ago we used to have Quik Trip, Citgo, Git n Go (some of which were Citgo), Texaco and Phillips 66 stations all over.

Now we are down to Quik Trip, Shell and just a few Kum and Go's and Phillips stations. Texaco, Citgo and Git n Go are gone and Phillips has a lot fewer stations. Even Quik Trip has fewer stores, even if they are a lot larger. There's just a lot less competition than there used to be locally.

[Wilbur]

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

In observance of Labor Day honoring America's hard working men and women, our local gasoline marketers have boosted the price of gasoline from $2.72 to $2.89 per gallon.

On the other hand, if you happen to pass through Muskogee, you will find unleaded regular fuel there is miraculously still priced at $2.66 per gallon.  Still priced at $2.66 per gallon......

Like the Third-Penny "temporary" tax that Tulsans have been paying for the past 27 years, like the dearth of state funding for local roads and road maintenace, like the EMSA "fee", like the $6.00 extra monthly Trash Charge to service the Trash-to-Energy plant debt for the past 20 years, the local fuel price anomaly hereabouts is another:

"Tulsa Premium".  

A higher cost extracted for living in Tulsa.

Can anyone else recite other ripe Tulsa Premiums??

Does anyone suspect that QUIK-TRIP is the culprit of our higher fuel prices, as the dominant local gasoline retailer?  

Privately Owned by Tulsa's very own:

Chester "The Molester" Cadieux:

Zealous backer of the $0.004 Kaiser River Tax.

Remember a few years back when Tulsa consistently had the LOWEST fuel prices of anywhere in the U.S., according to the Lundburg Survey?

It's the Tulsa Premium.

[!]

I would suggest:

Stop buying gasoline, or

Buy your gas in Muskogee.

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

Please don't use this forum to mindlessly slander people and give them inappropriate nicknames.

Gee, I kind of like using his nickname.

We're personal friends, you know.  

It's my pet nick name for old Chester.  He gets quite a charge out of it.

Did I mention that Chester [ahem] is promoting the Kaiser River Tax?



[]

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by Chicken Little

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

The marketers and refiners keep claiming it's our special blended fuel which is responsible for keeping us higher than other parts of the state.

Well, doesn't that make sense?  If you have a "special" blend, as we do because of previous ozone issues, then, all things being equal, this blend is going to cost more, right?

Pretty much what I said, CL.

However, that is a "summertime" blend.  Still doesn't explain why gas was .10 cheaper in OKC last winter.

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by swake

Bear, Stop with the name calling. Really. Now.

And here is the simple explanation:

Over the past few years the competitive climate in Tulsa has changed a lot.

Just a few years ago we used to have Quik Trip, Citgo, Git n Go (some of which were Citgo), Texaco and Phillips 66 stations all over.

Now we are down to Quik Trip, Shell and just a few Kum and Go's and Phillips stations. Texaco, Citgo and Git n Go are gone and Phillips has a lot fewer stations. Even Quik Trip has fewer stores, even if they are a lot larger. There's just a lot less competition than there used to be locally.

Ah, am I perchance hearing that Chester the Molester's Quik-Trip is actually exerting a MONOPOLISTIC influence on our local retail fuel market?

Calling 1-800-FTC as I post......

Can't call the SEC because Chester the [COUGH]Quik Trip Corp. is NOT a publically-held firm.

[RecycleMichael]

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

Please don't use this forum to mindlessly slander people and give them inappropriate nicknames.

Gee, I kind of like using his nickname.
We're personal friends, you know.  
It's my pet nick name for old Chester.  He gets quite a charge out of it.[]

I wonder why I don't believe you...I find it hard to believe anyone would like being called [ahem].

Just stop the name-calling, please.

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

Please don't use this forum to mindlessly slander people and give them inappropriate nicknames.

Gee, I kind of like using his nickname.
We're personal friends, you know.  
It's my pet nick name for old Chester.  He gets quite a charge out of it.[]

I wonder why I don't believe you...I find it hard to believe anyone would like being called a [AHEM]

Just stop the name-calling, please.

Really, he LIKES it.

[AHEM].
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[AHEM].
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[AHEM].
[AHEM].
[AHEM].

Old Chester likes to [AHEM] our most helpless local citizens:  

Our local POOR who buy gasoline to get to work......

[AHEM].
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[AHEM].

[iplaw]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by Chicken Little

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

The marketers and refiners keep claiming it's our special blended fuel which is responsible for keeping us higher than other parts of the state.

Well, doesn't that make sense?  If you have a "special" blend, as we do because of previous ozone issues, then, all things being equal, this blend is going to cost more, right?

Pretty much what I said, CL.

However, that is a "summertime" blend.  Still doesn't explain why gas was .10 cheaper in OKC last winter.

Hmmm....

1.  Largest gasoline distributor in town...check.
2.  Can set prices as they see fit...check.
3.  Gas at QT in OKC is less...check.

Unless the gas they buy for Tulsa is more expensive then something is not right.