The Tulsa Premium

[izmophonik]

This thread needs to die a quick death.  Friendly Bear, you whine about .10 difference in price in another city a year ago.  What is that $1.60 per fill up on 16 gallons?  C'mon, I made enough money to fill your vehicle with gas in the time it took me to read and reply to this rediculous post.  Go do something constructive with your time...especially if you're going to spend hours on a forum whining about $1.60 in gas you lost because you pay the "Tulsa Premium".

[YoungTulsan]

quote:Originally posted by izmophonik

This thread needs to die a quick death.  Friendly Bear, you whine about .10 difference in price in another city a year ago.  What is that $1.60 per fill up on 16 gallons?  C'mon, I made enough money to fill your vehicle with gas in the time it took me to read and reply to this rediculous post.  Go do something constructive with your time...especially if you're going to spend hours on a forum whining about $1.60 in gas you lost because you pay the "Tulsa Premium".

Not everyone is doing as well as you, when I see people putting $3 of gas in their cars.

I think it is right to question the pricing scheme of gas, rather than to just accept it blindly.  Especially when we are doing silly things like paying MORE for some special gas blend that doesnt burn as clean as a more common one used in bigger cities.

Most places are in situations where polluting less would cost more.  Not us, the fine city of Tulsa, Oklahoma.  We pay more to pollute more.

[YoungTulsan]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelBates
[br
And it seems like I heard that Coffeyville is one of the refineries that made Tulsa's special blend.

I've also heard we dont get gas from there.  Thats a problem with this issue is that everyone has "heard" this or that, but I'd like to see some actuall hard facts on where our gas comes from and what events warrent legitimate prices increases versus manufactured phantom price increases.

[izmophonik]

I have a hard time being convinced that your anecdotal story about someone getting $3.00 worth in gas is related to this small price difference between cities.  So how much gas were they going to get if it was .10 cheaper?  $25.00? C'mon.  That person obviously is having a tough time with money aside from the .10 difference that they probably aren't aware of.  We're talking about $1.60 per tank on average people! It's always good to question things but $1.60 per tank difference isn't going to motivate many people.

[YoungTulsan]

quote:Originally posted by izmophonik

I have a hard time being convinced that your anecdotal story about someone getting $3.00 worth in gas is related to this small price difference between cities.  So how much gas were they going to get if it was .10 cheaper?  $25.00? C'mon.  That person obviously is having a tough time with money aside from the .10 difference that they probably aren't aware of.  We're talking about $1.60 per tank on average people! It's always good to question things but $1.60 per tank difference isn't going to motivate many people.

This particular thread may have pointed out a $1.60 per tank difference, but we're looking at about a $25 per tank difference in just a few years.  These little non-important price hikes add up REAL fast and REAL expensively.

Your last post was as if to say "hahaha, I make enough money so I could give a rats donkey about a measily increase in gas prices" - My anecdotal tale is simply saying that some people, irresponsible with money or not, are really struggling with prices up 100% in a few years.

[inteller]

the exponential curve in gas increases is total bull****.  I used to think it was all because of the foreign oil cartels, but really the man behind the curtains is actually a local fool ripping us off.

I think it is going to take some legal intervention at this point to get some real competition in this town and this state, because QT made a sweetheart deal with 7/11 years ago not to get into each other's turf.  They had a partner in crime with Git and Go and now Kum and Go (might as well call it **** You and Go).  Then we have that stupid little state law that says that all the gas retailers must stay within a certain price of one another which effectively kills any loss leading competition.

We need a gas retailer with some big muscle like BP or Exxon to come to town.  It is pretty eery that unlike other towns, we are dominated by a single gas retailer with some puppet competition.

[tulsascoot]

I put $3 of gas in my scooter, and I can go most of the week before I need more. haha

When will people stop buying huge cars? $4 a gallon, $5 gallon, $6 gallon?

[AMP]

Dude with the $3.00 purchase may be suffering from the same issues I and others face. That is the theft of gasoline in parked vehicles.  Three of our trucks have been hit several times over weekends and even on weeknights by gas theives.  

We only allow a maximum of $10 to be pumped in them now.  Locking caps are not much use as a simple filed down key opens most.  

Over the past two years I have consistently found Tulsa's fuel prices to be 20 to 30 cents higher than in Texas and the stations in OKC near the Fair Grounds are normally 15 to 20 cents lower than Tulsa.  

Since the invention of the digital fuel pump guage that replaced the Analog guage it became much eaiser for a business to make changes of the prices.  Now with wireless internet those same changes can be done from a laptop or hand held device for hundreds of pumps with the click of a button.  What used to take phone calls, and station owners a few hours to change is not done instantly.  Even the signage changes immediatly from master control.

Gasoline sold for less than 99.9 cents per gallon for more than 100 years after it was first marketed.  But it only took a few years after the invention of the digital gas guage for it to reach over $3.00 in the U.S.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by AMP

Dude with the $3.00 purchase may be suffering from the same issues I and others face. That is the theft of gasoline in parked vehicles.  Three of our trucks have been hit several times over weekends and even on weeknights by gas theives.  

We only allow a maximum of $10 to be pumped in them now.  Locking caps are not much use as a simple filed down key opens most.  

Over the past two years I have consistently found Tulsa's fuel prices to be 20 to 30 cents higher than in Texas and the stations in OKC near the Fair Grounds are normally 15 to 20 cents lower than Tulsa.  

Since the invention of the digital fuel pump guage that replaced the Analog guage it became much eaiser for a business to make changes of the prices.  Now with wireless internet those same changes can be done from a laptop or hand held device for hundreds of pumps with the click of a button.  What used to take phone calls, and station owners a few hours to change is not done instantly.  Even the signage changes immediatly from master control.

Gasoline sold for less than 99.9 cents per gallon for more than 100 years after it was first marketed.  But it only took a few years after the invention of the digital gas guage for it to reach over $3.00 in the U.S.

Yes, and nearly 99% of all murderers started out with milk in a bottle.

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by AMP

Dude with the $3.00 purchase may be suffering from the same issues I and others face. That is the theft of gasoline in parked vehicles.  Three of our trucks have been hit several times over weekends and even on weeknights by gas theives.  

We only allow a maximum of $10 to be pumped in them now.  Locking caps are not much use as a simple filed down key opens most.  

Over the past two years I have consistently found Tulsa's fuel prices to be 20 to 30 cents higher than in Texas and the stations in OKC near the Fair Grounds are normally 15 to 20 cents lower than Tulsa.  

Since the invention of the digital fuel pump guage that replaced the Analog guage it became much eaiser for a business to make changes of the prices.  Now with wireless internet those same changes can be done from a laptop or hand held device for hundreds of pumps with the click of a button.  What used to take phone calls, and station owners a few hours to change is not done instantly.  Even the signage changes immediatly from master control.

Gasoline sold for less than 99.9 cents per gallon for more than 100 years after it was first marketed.  But it only took a few years after the invention of the digital gas guage for it to reach over $3.00 in the U.S.

Hmmmh, I wonder if some innovative entrepreneur could HACK their wireless system, and LOWER the price to say, $0.99 per gallon??

[tim huntzinger]

quote:Originally posted by iplaw3.  Gas at QT in OKC is less...check.

Uncheck? Does QT operate in OKC?

[joiei]

gas price comparisons taken from www.gasbuddy.com.  
west Oklahoma City - I 40 & Morgan Road $2.77
Oklahoma City - NW 23rd at N Santa Fe  $2.89
Oklahoma City - I 44 at Penn  $2.89
Norman - all over town  $2.89
Dallas - Tom Thumb on Lovers Lane off 75  $2.61
Arlington - Fina next to ballpark  $2.75
Kansas City, MO - Main and 44th (near the plaza) $2.72
Destin, FL - Emerald Coast parkway  $2.79
Chicago, IL - Lake Park Ave at 52nd  $3.39
Lincoln, NE - $3.09
Blackwell, OK - $2.99
Joplin, MO - I 44 and Range Rd  $2.91
Springdale, AR - I 540 & 412  $2.79
Fayetteville, AR - I 540 & Weddington Rd  $2.95
Muskogee, OK - Shawnee & N 11th  $2.89
Antlers, OK - $2.84
Durant, OK - N Washington & US 69  $2.89
Ardmore, OK -  $2.95
Tulsa, OK - $2.89
Broken Arrow - $2.99

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by joiei

gas price comparisons taken from www.gasbuddy.com.  
west Oklahoma City - I 40 & Morgan Road $2.77
Oklahoma City - NW 23rd at N Santa Fe  $2.89
Oklahoma City - I 44 at Penn  $2.89
Norman - all over town  $2.89
Dallas - Tom Thumb on Lovers Lane off 75  $2.61
Arlington - Fina next to ballpark  $2.75
Kansas City, MO - Main and 44th (near the plaza) $2.72
Destin, FL - Emerald Coast parkway  $2.79
Chicago, IL - Lake Park Ave at 52nd  $3.39
Lincoln, NE - $3.09
Blackwell, OK - $2.99
Joplin, MO - I 44 and Range Rd  $2.91
Springdale, AR - I 540 & 412  $2.79
Fayetteville, AR - I 540 & Weddington Rd  $2.95
Muskogee, OK - Shawnee & N 11th  $2.89
Antlers, OK - $2.84
Durant, OK - N Washington & US 69  $2.89
Ardmore, OK -  $2.95
Tulsa, OK - $2.89
Broken Arrow - $2.99

The creative juices I was hoping to harvest on this topic of the Tulsa Premium are actually much broader than just the Premium that Tulsans pay for the privilege of Chester the Jester dominating the local retail fuel market.

I was also hoping to foster further discussion of the special Premiums that Tulsans pay for a variety of goods and services:

The extra EMSA Fee recently instituted with a minimal Opt-Out period;

tThe duplicative costs of having both an EMSA and the Tulsa FD serving as responders to medical emergencies;

The Itty Bitty "Temporary" 27-year old Third Penny Sales Tax in lieu of more state and federal funding for our roads and highways;

Using the Third Penny to fund the purchase of 800 police cars so that 800 police officers can take our police cars home to Bixby, Owasso, Broken Arrow, Sapulpa, Sands Springs, Jenks, etc., while burning our gasoline for commuting and for moon-lighting at second jobs;

And, also a possibility of discussion about the local Land Attorneys and their Eminence Grise who serve as the GATEKEEPERS for anyone who wants something significant done with the city, BOA or TMAPC concerning land use.

Even something as simple as an out-of-town bank building a branch at a major intersection, without the services of the Eminence Grise (a.k.a. The Prince of Darkness), it can take up to a year getting the permitting from the various city departments before ground is even broken on construction.

A Pryor banker had some interesting insights into the totally intentional, Who's-on-First FUBAR city permitting process when he tried to build a First Pryority branch here in Tulsa a few years ago on south Memorial.  His experience, as an educated and experienced businessman new to the Tulsa Premium, elicited a strongly worded Letter to the Editor of the Lorton's World from him.

His comments concerning Tulsa's land use and permitting process sort of kept resonating.......

Then, the resonance became a church bell on Sunday.  

I get It:  Does the Eminence Grise who actually wrote Tulsa's land use zoning codes collect a toll, if you will, on those who desire a zoning change, or even something which should be as simple as a building permit?

Unless you use one of a small cadre of local Land Attorneys, the city permitting and BOA variance process is intentionally designed to be OPAQUE.

Say, wasn't former Mayor Bill MisFortune, prior to his selection as Mayor, a LAND Attorney in the offices of the Eminence Grise?

And, it has made the Eminence Grise a very, very wealthy man in the past 40 years.......

There are many possible discussion threads to the Tulsa Premium.......

[}:)]

[RecycleMichael]

You started this thread making statements that Tulsans have to pay more for everything.Then it turns out it was just a temporary thing and Tulsans pay about the same as almost everybody around us.

Then you try to change the topic claiming there is some premium that must be paid to get a business started here. Your evidence is one person who once told you that he was unsuccessful. You then say that you have to hire an insider of ex-mayor to get things approved.

I think you need to go back to the woods next time you want to poop on Tulsa.

There are building permits and zoning changes and new businesses started here in Tulsa every month without insider permission. Yes, it helps to hire people who know all the rules and all the players, but that is probably true in most cities. Tulsa does not have any more problems or roadblocks than any similar sized city.

I know you really just wanted to bellow out loud. Bears do that.

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

You started this thread making statements that Tulsans have to pay more for everything.Then it turns out it was just a temporary thing and Tulsans pay about the same as almost everybody around us.

Then you try to change the topic claiming there is some premium that must be paid to get a business started here. Your evidence is one person who once told you that he was unsuccessful. You then say that you have to hire an insider of ex-mayor to get things approved.

I think you need to go back to the woods next time you want to poop on Tulsa.

There are building permits and zoning changes and new businesses started here in Tulsa every month without insider permission. Yes, it helps to hire people who know all the rules and all the players, but that is probably true in most cities. Tulsa does not have any more problems or roadblocks than any similar sized city.

I know you really just wanted to bellow out loud. Bears do that.

Before your aortic aneurysm kicks in, you might actually take a moment to go back and READ my first comment in this topic, concerning the Tulsa Premium.  

And I quote:

"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??"

Chester the Jester's extraction from Tulsa's poorest and most exploited is just ONE example of the Tulsa Premium.

As I noted THEN, and I REPEAT now in trying to keep this thread back centered on TOPIC, there are many TULSA PREMIUMS.

It was the banker's opinion about our permitting and zoning. He's an experienced businessman, and his letter was harshly critical of the local permitting and zoning process.  

If he'd just hired the Eminence Grise, the skids would have been suitably greased, and all obstacles effortlessly cleared.