most consistently expensive

[ceagle]

Sometimes I wonder how companies like Chevron even exist.

Sometimes I think many people *like* paying top dollar for gasoline.

I will say they usually have a restroom and air, water, window-washing equipment... but is it worth $1 a gallon more?

Comments

[sabotlours.livejournal.com]

There's a Chevron near me that's the same way. It's always WAY more expensive than any other gas station, and yet there always seems to be people in there filling up.

[murakozi.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of it has to do with the franchisee and the location. There's a station on my way home from work that's convenient, but I almost never go there, because it's 10-20 cents more per gallon. There's not another gas station for a few miles in any direction, so a lot of folks do fill up at it.

[hastka.livejournal.com]

I'm almost certain that Chevron is one of the cheaper brands around here, just above Speedway and Valero (though I think Valero got bought out) and supermarket gas. The expensive one around here is Shell.

But as mentioned it depends a lot on the owner's arrangements, the citywide deals they cut, various location & price war details, etc. There's about a 30-cent span in gas prices on my 5 mile drive to work, since I go toward major highways now.

Since you mention having bathrooms as some kind of upsell thing, I was a bit annoyed at how gas stations stopped having bathrooms over the years. I guess public restrooms get "abused" but nevertheless, shouldn't there be some kind of law about a public restroom every X miles or something? What is this, Seattle? :)

[gremy.livejournal.com]

If the oil companies want to give their regular employees payraises, that's fine by me, but if the execs just want to continue lining their pockets, that's definitely another matter.

[scruff-e-coyote.livejournal.com]

The reason the major gasoline brands (such as Chevron/Texaco, Exxon, Gulf, Mobil, Philips 66, Shell, and Union 76) are more expensive than the independent and lower cost retailers, is due to the detergent additive blends that the major brands add to their gasoline. Quite literally, these detergents are chemicals added to gasoline that clean the insides of fuel lines, fuel injector nozzles, cylinders, intake valves, and pistons of harmful carbon deposits that can build up, leading to poor performance, poor efficiency, and even damage to engines. These detergent blends are additional chemicals that go above and beyond what detergent chemicals the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) required starting in 1995. The major brands all have their secret proprietary blends they give names to, like Chevron's/Texico's blend is called "Techron". I have heard from some automotive owners, including a few who work on their own cars, claim they will only use one particular brand because it greatly increases the fuel economy and performance of their cars engines. I can say that I used to buy only the least expensive gasoline for my former automocar and later paid the price for that action by having to pay a mechanic to clean out carbon deposits from the smog hoses and replace damaged smog components in order to pass a required state smog certification test.

One does not need to patronize the above mentioned major brands to reap the benefits of great quality gasoline, howlever. Atlantic and Richfield Company (ARCO) and Costco gasolines are usually THE least expensive fuel found in any specific community YET are "TOP TIER" approved. "TOP TIER" approved fuels are higher standard fuels with detergents that meet the performance requirements of 10 of the top automakers. For more detailed information on "TOP TIER" fuels, visit their web site.

As far a fueling station franchisee's/owner's/proprietor's profits, they sadly only make pennies to the gallon of fuel sold, as the prices are dictated by the major brand corporations and/or the refineries. In addition, the price of fuel increases the further away from the refinery the gasoline station is located. These dismal profits of gasoline and diesel station franchisee's/owner's/proprietor's is why they sell snacks and alcohol in their convenience stores.

[allaboutweather.livejournal.com]

I usually just go to the nearest gas station so i never paid too much attention to gas prices. Given my shorter commute i only put gas in my car every week or so. XD