vision2020
Re: Fair Gas Prices
Should the Moscow Food Co-op consider selling gasoline in Moscow to
provide a source of reasonably-priced fuel here?
My answer to that question a few months ago was "maybe." The costs
associated with operating an environmentally-benign gas station are
high, but perhaps a station operated without a price-gouging motive
could prosper here, providing gasoline at a better price. Perhaps the
Co-op should take on that responsibility.
But the Co-op is settling into its new location, and that effort will
take the attention of the Co-op management for a year or so.
As Don Coombs notes, that does not mean that the topic can not be
discussed and evaluated now. My original offer still holds: if anyone
would like to do some research and writing on the economic
risks/benefits of the Co-op opening a gas station, I would be very glad
to print it in the Co-op's monthly newsletter (circulation 1,500). Of
course, it could also appear here on the 2020 list.
If the numbers work, and the idea seems sound, of course the Co-op (or
other community group) could make it happen.
BL
>From vision2020-request@moscow.com Thu Jan 21 15:03:57 1999
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>From: Don Coombs <dcoombs@uidaho.edu>
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>To: Steve Gill <hydrohead69@hotmail.com>
>cc: vision2020@moscow.com
>Subject: Re: Fair Gas Prices
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>The arithmetic seems conclusive; it won't pay to drive to Lewiston just
to
>buy gas.
>
>But the advice to just "Get over it!" -- get over worrying about high
gas
>prices in Moscow -- seems uncalled for. Left-wingers, right-wingers,
>middle-wingers -- just about everyone -- pays more than seems justified
>for gas in Moscow. It is indeed only pennies. But if it is unjustified,
it
>is still unjustified whether it is a big or small ripoff.
>
>There may be good reasons why gas always costs more in Moscow than in
>places which are more remote and which sell less of the product. I'd
like
>to hear them. If the six or eight or ten people who collect all those
>pennies (well, dimes -- at least a dime for every gallon) won't be
>responsive and explain those reasons, it's my nature to suspect that
>perhaps there AREN'T reasons.
>
>The obvious move is for customers to protect their own interests. If
the
>City of Moscow were to sell gasoline, that would be socialism, so let's
>forget that. But selling gasoline at a reasonable price is EXACTLY what
>the Co-op should be doing. Because it would 1) serve present members,
and
>2) greatly expand the membership.
>
>A month or so ago Bill London said now was no time for the Co-op to
>consider selling gas, because of the move to the new location etc. I
think
>he meant that now was no time for the Co-op to start selling gas. It
>strikes me that it is the absolutely perfect time for the Co-op to
start
>thinking about selling gas.
>
>Don H. Coombs
>
>On Thu, 21 Jan 1999, Steve Gill wrote:
>
>> Rick,
>>
>> Does it really make sense to drive a 60 mile round trip to save
>> 13 cents/gallon?
>> Since we in northern Idaho seem to be infatuated with the 4WD SUV:
>> Durango [EPA 13 mpg], Trooper [EPA 15 mpg], Blazer, Cherokee,
Explorer,
>> Jimmy, Pathfinder, Passport [EPA 16 mpg], FourRunner, [EPA 17 mpg],
and
>> the ubiquitous Subaru Outback [EPA 21 mpg] and Forester [EPA 24 mpg]
not
>> too mention the full-size pickups from Ford, Chevy, & Dodge[EPA 8-15
>> mpg] the fuel savings are either infinitesimal or flat out non
existent!
>> To even break even your automobile must average 30 mpg
>> [15 gallons at $1.139 = $ 17.09 vs 15 gallons @ $ 0.999 = $14.99 --a
>> whooping savings of $ 2.10 per fill-up. Calculating an average of 15
>> mpg one would spend $4.00 trying to save $ 2.10].
>> The likely scenario is that one will waste 4 gallons of gas, $ 2.10,
and
>> your TIME while further impacting air pollution and possible [not
>> proven] global warming by driving to Lewiston. This shows poor
>> judgement based on one's belief in a conspiracy perceived by pennies!
I
>> suggest we try and get over it!
>>
>> Regards,
>> Steve Gill
>>
>>
>>
>> >From: rgerrard@gte.net
>> >Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 22:09:25 -0700
>> >To: Ken Medlin <dev-plan@moscow.com>, vision2020@moscow.com
>> >Subject: Re: Fair Gas Prices
>> >
>> >Ken and visionaries,
>> > I have a suggestion: don't buy your gas from the gougers. The
gas
>> >station owners in Moscow obviously have no motivation to lower their
>> prices.
>> >So motivate them with something they understand. Make them compete
>> with
>> >prices outside Moscow.
>> > The weather and roads have been great lately. So, take a nice
ride
>> down
>> >to Lewiston and buy buy your gas for $.99.
>> >
>> >Rick Gerrard
>> >Moscow
>> >
>> >Ken Medlin wrote:
>> >
>> >> Dear Visionaries: You are no doubt aware that, a week or ten days
>> after
>> >> inquiries were made of a number of gaoline wholesalers and
retailers
>> in
>> >> this area, pump prices have dropped about 4-5%, to between l.l2
and
>> l.16
>> >> in Moscow. We don't believe it's an accident or due to "fate" or
just
>> >> goodwill. Our active stance and word-of-mouth in support of fair
>> >> treatment to consumers must have had some affect! Still, our
prices
>> range
>> >> between 20 - 25% above those in southern Idaho and SE Washington,
and
>> >> about 10 - 15% above Spokane. Why?
>> >> We also wrote to the Better Business Bureau "serving the Inland
>> >> Northwest", at the suggestion of the Moscow City Chamber of
Commerce,
>> >> giving details about the gasoline prices here and the results of
our
>> >> direct inquiries (quotations from industry spokespersons and names
of
>> >> companies). The B and B gave us a curt reply: "We do not get
>> involved
>> >> in these issues". Maybe if we could prove the gasoline is
"watered
>> down"
>> >> somehow they would investigate! If any of you have a suggestion
for
>> >> further action, we'll listen. Thanks for all your interest.
>> >> I do agree with some who say that higher prices tend to
discourage
>> >> excess or needless use of the automobile. You are no doubt right.
At
>> the
>> >> same time, those of us who are environmentally motivated would
still
>> >> substitute walking, biking and car-pooling whenever possible. As
>> economic
>> >> consumers, we have a right to what is fair in comparison to other
>> >> citizens in the Region. Comment?
>> >>
>> >> ------------------------
>> >> William K. Medlin
>> >> Dev-plan associates
>> >> 930 Kenneth Street
>> >> Moscow ID 83843
>> >> 208/892-0148
>> >> dev-plan@moscow.com
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
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