Gas Prices are ********

[BigAls87Z28]

Its amazing that we have just took it in the mouth.

FYI, price of oil has gone down to 125 a barrel, or 25 bucks in less then two weeks, yet I still see gas for 3.99?

Robbing us blind. And if someone is gunna say "well it takes time for the prices to come down." it sure as hell didnt take long for prices to jack themself up to astronomical levels.

**** the oil companies. We should be marching on Exxon HQ and burning the CEO's in effigy.

[LS1Hawk]

I agree. When the price of crude goes up, they get away with raising the price of what's currently in the tanks which they bought at a lower price. But when crude goes down, what's in the tanks magically stays at the same price. Fargin Iceholes! :mad:

[shortieee]

I dont know in the past few days I've seen gas prices come down. There's a place in Bayonne for 3.75 / gallon and the Getty is 3.89 ... I've also seen gas prices in Paramus area for 3.93 and 3.87

But I guess it all depends on where you are.
Forget Sunoco, the cheapest I've seen in 3.98 on the NJ Turnpike - Nd in local towns it's even worse. I stay away from there.

[WildBillyT]

Supply and demand. There is pretty much a set demand so they can constrict the supply and jack up prices. It's free market capitalism.

I really, really hate to say it but we need government intervention since gasoline really should be regulated like electricity and water.

[SteveR]

I agree, this is insane. Gas by me is still 4.11 - 4.17!

[79CamaroDiva]

I agree, this is insane. Gas by me is still 4.11 - 4.17!

what?! come by me, 3.81 if you're paying cash, 3.89 for credit.

[BigAls87Z28]

Well, I have seen a VAST range of prices, and some of the lower price places are dropping, while the big chains are higher.
I was on my way to see my gf in Red Bank last night, and prices went up 20 cents from where I was to the time I got into red bank.
Getty around my house was 3.79, Eatontown hess was 3.87, Exxon in front of the Fort was 3.94, and on Shrewsberry Ave, Shell and Exxon were 3.99.

Goverment intervention? I dont want to get political, but having certain people in high places helps a lot. And dont even try to tell me it doesnt. Drilling every square mile of America will only help oil companies, not every day people. In the mean time, the rockies will be excavated for its oil sands, ANWAR should be a barren waste land, and the eastern and western seaboards should look beautiful with oil rigs off the coast.
We have how many thousand troops in the middle east, and gas is still going up? If they are gunna go in there and fight for oil, at least drop the fuggin price.

Some goverment probe is giong to release its findings on oil commodities today, we shall see what the find, or better yet...what they dont.
Regulation is being handed down into the banks, expect to see more regulation across the board.
America, Going from one extreme to the other since 1776.

[r0nin89]

Went down 4 cents by me in the last week.

[sweetbmxrider]

it would be a whole different story if you were actually selling the gas....oh how different it would be. oh and gas last september was ~$2.50/gal. imagine that!

[mtnhopper1]

A probe starts into the effect of commodities speculation on gasoline prices, and all of a sudden the price of oil starts coming down... hmmm, seems like a no-brainer to me.

I wonder if the price of corn and wheat are next?

[BigAls87Z28]

price of corn and wheat are bs too. Yeah, cost of fuel goes up, but no one started eating more bread or corn on the cob?
And dont give me the ethanol bit either. Most ethanol in the world is now made using switchblade grass in the US, or sugar beets in other countires such as Brazil.

[JL8Jeff]

Oil is used to make everything nowadays and with China grabbing as much as they can it really won't go back down much. Corn is now being used to make plastic, go figure! Let's see, corn for food, corn for fuel, corn for plastic, hmmm, I bet the price of corn goes up. It's a global population problem that we don't have the resources for what we want. I just don't see prices coming down on anything any time soon. The demand is too high everywhere. And any interuption in supply(oil, gas, water, food) will cause immediate spikes. Katrina/Rita showed us how vulnerable we really are when supply interuptions occur. Lack of planning hasn't helped either. :|

-

[Frosty]

Yes, blame the oil companies when they're profit margins are 8.3-10%, the national average is 7%. Get off the Obama "we're gonna take your profits" nutsack and do some research, please. If gas is that profitable why is Mobil selling off the rest of their gas stations? If gas is that profitable then why is Exxon R&D'ing hybrid batteries? If gas is that profitable why is Shell helping GM build their hydrogen infrastructure? Also, these "oil" companies are also ENERGY companies. They don't even make all their money off of just oil. Furthermore do you know how many 401K and pensions are wrapped up in these companies? They're dividend based stocks too. You can blame Bush, you can blame all the Republicans blah blah blah, the fact is the ENTIRE government has done nothing for decades AGAINST the suggestion of expert.

Oh wait, I forgot, people like Obama and Pelosi are going to save us from the clutches of the evil companies, alternative energy is just a night's sleep away. :rofl:. Maybe if our ******* government did their job 20yrs ago we wouldn't be in this dilemma. This issue isn't a right vs left issue. It's the entire government's issue and neither side can agree on a damn thing. The right just wants to drill, the left thinks we're magically going to wake up tomorrow and have alternative energy resources and think drilling is evil. Both sides need to wake the hell up AND JUST DO SOMETHING! Do it all, drill, build refineries, go nuclear..or nu-clear as Bush says lol, conserve, fund wind and solar, just do it all. But for Christ sake stop the Ethanol BS, taking a food product to fill up our SUV's is, was and always will be a horrendous idea.

[SteveR]

Yes, blame the oil companies when they're profit margins are 8.3-10%, the national average is 7%. Get off the Obama "we're gonna take your profits" nutsack and do some research, please. If gas is that profitable why is Mobil selling off the rest of their gas stations? If gas is that profitable then why is Exxon R&D'ing hybrid batteries? If gas is that profitable why is Shell helping GM build their hydrogen infrastructure? Also, these "oil" companies are also ENERGY companies. They don't even make all their money off of just oil. Furthermore do you know how many 401K and pensions are wrapped up in these companies? They're dividend based stocks too. You can blame Bush, you can blame all the Republicans blah blah blah, the fact is the ENTIRE government has done nothing for decades AGAINST the suggestion of expert.

Oh wait, I forgot, people like Obama and Pelosi are going to save us from the clutches of the evil companies, alternative energy is just a night's sleep away. :rofl:. Maybe if our ******* government did their job 20yrs ago we wouldn't be in this dilemma. This issue isn't a right vs left issue. It's the entire government's issue and neither side can agree on a damn thing. The right just wants to drill, the left thinks we're magically going to wake up tomorrow and have alternative energy resources and think drilling is evil. Both sides need to wake the hell up AND JUST DO SOMETHING! Do it all, drill, build refineries, go nuclear..or nu-clear as Bush says lol, conserve, fund wind and solar, just do it all. But for Christ sake stop the Ethanol BS, taking a food product to fill up our SUV's is, was and always will be a horrendous idea.

First of all, oil companies report record profits every single quarter, exceeding 40 billion dollars. Saying that the oil companies are in dire straits is just crazy. Why is Exxon researching batteries? Because it's profitable. Thats what companies do, try and make more money. "They don't even make all their money off of just oil." You answered your own question right there. Companies diversify to adjust potential short, medium, and long term risks and invest in potential 'hot stocks' before they break. These companies recognize the potential for profit in other industries and invest in them, not because they believe in the moral or ethical values, or lack there of, of these endeavors, but for the money to be made if it all goes as their projectors claim. Andrew Carnegie saw the future in the rise of the Industrial Revolution and got into steel, John D Rockefeller saw the need for oil, and JP Morgan saw the development of a centralized government controlled financial system. All three made billions. These oil or 'energy' companies as they are, make incredible amounts of money. Not only are the people getting raped at the pump, but the Saudi's are pissed off that the speculators are driving up the domestic costs of oil and they aren't seeing a dime more than they were. The problem is that our laws allow oil companies to lobby Washington to buy influence and use their influence to sway political decisions in their favor, which is why it has gotten to this point. Nobody in Washington will say anything, because they know that to do so, will be the end of their career. It's an absolute shame that our so called democratic state has turned into a totalitarian capitalist system, and I'm in no way pointing fingers at republican or democrat, as like you said, this problem has been around for decades. One other thing to note while we're talking about energy companies and diversification, is that several companies have been investing in the Congo. Weapons investments that is. You see, there's a lot of things like diamond mines there, and a small little civil war too. What a convenience. What they have done is strategically arm both sides to fight each other, while building 'refineries' in the middle of the jungle, then raping the mines and selling the diamonds off and making millions. Monetary and political influence at its finest.

[Frosty]

I'm not saying the oil companies are in dire straits, however when you have a product that is at an all time high demand what do you expect? It's all about profit margin, they're making 8-10%. So because they have a product that's in high demand they should be demonized? I'm sure they're doing stuff to help contribute the rise in prices but for Christ sake every time gas prices come up it's always their fault. They're just one piece of a very big puzzle.

People should be looking at our government for the last few decades. Oh, people keep blaming Bush for this...hmmm....what has big mouth Pelosi and her Democrat Congress done to help change things? Nothing but whine.

[bubba428]

3.79 at sunoco here...South FTMFW!!!!!!

[SteveR]

I'm not saying the oil companies are in dire straits, however when you have a product that is at an all time high demand what do you expect? It's all about profit margin, they're making 8-10%. So because they have a product that's in high demand they should be demonized? I'm sure they're doing stuff to help contribute the rise in prices but for Christ sake every time gas prices come up it's always their fault. They're just one piece of a very big puzzle.

People should be looking at our government for the last few decades. Oh, people keep blaming Bush for this...hmmm....what has big mouth Pelosi and her Democrat Congress done to help change things? Nothing but whine.

Right, but even if profit margin is 10%, they're still PROFITING 40 billion dollars. I'm not demonizing them, well maybe. To say that because demand is high, the seller should charge whatever they want for their item. If our society were to follow that mentality we'd be back in the Dark Ages. I have bread and water, you don't. Because I have it and you dont I charge you your house for one meal, because demand is high. It's that level of unbalanced economy which lead to the major issues in the former Soviet Union, and ultimately it's downfall. People waiting in lines for six hours for a loaf of bread, meanwhile the rich buying up the countries infrastructure and selling its access back to the people at a premium. Is that what we want for this country? Supply and demand only works in a balanced and fair economy, not a free for all.

[BigAls87Z28]

Neither side is doing ****, but the reps sure as hell aint going to change status quo. Dems are coming up to the wrong answers of questions no one asked.
How do you stop us from using oil? I know, lets jack up the MPG ratings of cars so that people will be forced to drive small POS's that have 2 cyl engines. Good one!
Both sides are to blame, but the way that the oilcompanies have a way of doing what they want are 100% in the hands of the people that had oil ties.

[LS1Hawk]

Oh, people keep blaming Bush for this...hmmm....what has big mouth Pelosi and her Democrat Congress done to help change things? Nothing but whine.

The average price of gas between 2000 and 2006 went from $1.60 to around $2.50, $.90 increase over six years. From then on it's gone from $2.50 to $4.13, a $1.63 increase in only two years. Is it a coincidence that we've seen our largest increases since Pelosi and the Dems took control? At this point I don't care who it is, but someone needs to do something, because if it continues this way, we can be paying near $9.00/gal by 2010.

[sweetbmxrider]

last september was about $2.50/gal....

[SteveR]

Another thing to think about; isn't it a coincidence that the oil companies are reporting record profits at the same time gas is selling for record highs?

[qwikz28]

Another thing to think about; isn't it a coincidence that the oil companies are reporting record profits at the same time gas is selling for record highs?

supply and demand i say.

and i believe exxon is selling off all their stations because it is more profitable to focus their resources on refining.

[SteveR]

supply and demand i say.

and i believe exxon is selling off all their stations because it is more profitable to focus their resources on refining.

double the demand? What, did we all just decide over the last 12 months that we were going to commute to Alaska everyday?

[r0nin89]

3.79 at sunoco here...South FTMFW!!!!!!

**** YOU

ok sorry

<---- jealous. I just paid 3.91 and that was exciting.

[Frosty]

double the demand? What, did we all just decide over the last 12 months that we were going to commute to Alaska everyday?

Not us, he's talking world wide, which is true. These profits being discussed aren't just US profits, it's world wide.

You didn't hear anyone complaining when gas was less than a buck, that's the world of Capitalism.

[Tru2Chevy]

The price at the pump all boils down to the price of crude, which is rising like crazy thanks to (mostly) unchecked speculation. Stop the speculation, stop the crazy prices for crude, stop the crazy high price per gallon for fuel at the pump.

The reason that big oil is making record profits is because they work on a profit margin, which is a percentage. Anytime the price of something goes up, and a percentage of that price stays the same, the dollar value of that set percentage will go up.

After buying crude, paying for it to be refined, and then paying all the different federal and state taxes, the oil companies are seeing far less than $1.00 for each gallon of gas that is pumped. Without actually doing the math it's probably more like less than $.50 per gallon that they see.....

- Justin

[Frosty]

Neither side is doing ****, but the reps sure as hell aint going to change status quo. Dems are coming up to the wrong answers of questions no one asked.
How do you stop us from using oil? I know, lets jack up the MPG ratings of cars so that people will be forced to drive small POS's that have 2 cyl engines. Good one!
Both sides are to blame, but the way that the oilcompanies have a way of doing what they want are 100% in the hands of the people that had oil ties.

But Al, Congress has the power to help change that. Short of "taking over the oil companies" as the oh so bright Maxine Waters threatened to do what do you expect government to do? Tack on even more regulations? Our government regulates the **** out of everything as it is.

I think what burns me up the most is that both sides have ideas, some good, some horrendous. However, even the ideas like solar and wind are STILL being blocked by the environmentalists. They say we can't drill, we can't build refineries, we can't go nuclear, we can't build wind farms, we can't build solar panels...THEN WHAT THE F ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? Sure, the oil companies have lobbyists in Washington but so do these whack job environmentalists and let me tell you man, these psychos have some power. I care about this great planet and this great country but God damn...I think these people seriously want us to live in the stone ages...

Then of course Al Gore has to spew his BS. It's scary that people follow him, people with political influence too.

Another thing that is killing the price is our failing dollar. THAT I blame on Bush and the Fed. Inflation was going to happen no matter what yet they kept flooding the market with more $$$. The more money you print the less it's worth. I think a lot of people forget that price of oil is in the dollar. A lot of financial experts, including Forbes, says that a stronger dollar will make a lot of these price issues easier to swallow or go away. I don't see either candidate doing much for the dollar. McCain is a total idiot when it comes to the economy and Obama wants to raise taxes which I wouldn't have a problem with but it's going to be used to fund his social programs. STOP SPENDING MONEY! lol

Sorry for getting political mods, it's kind of tied into the subject though.

[bubba428]

YAY political discussion involving frosty and big al

:popcorn:

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

I agree, this is insane. Gas by me is still 4.11 - 4.17!

Da hell are you going in Budd Lake that has gas that price for regular?!

[SteveR]

Da hell are you going in Budd Lake that has gas that price for regular?!

Budd Lake is pretty low, but I'm out by Livingston and Caldwell. Average by my house is 4.13 or so.

[LS1Hawk]

Another thing to think about; isn't it a coincidence that the oil companies are reporting record profits at the same time gas is selling for record highs?

No doubt, but keep in mind back in the '90s when gas was under $1.00 the oil companies were still turning a profit. A lot of the price of gas that we pay at the pump are taxes. This is going back about a month or so, but I read somewhere that in NJ if you removed the tax, the price of gas would be around $2.00.

[JL8Jeff]

It's really not all that political when you look at global picture. China is really driving every industry out of whack with their sudden change. Oil, steel, wheat, corn, etc. They are willing to pay whatever they need to so they have the resources to continue their insane rate of growth. I think we are waiting to tap into the available oil under north america until we absolutely need to. I think we're using as much of the world's oil as we can and when that supply dramatically slows down, then we go after our own reserves! The price of gas was way behind the inflation rate of everything else so the fact that it has caught up is just throwing everyone off. People didn't realize the overall effect of gas prices going up. The cost of everything that gets transported goes up as well.

[SteveR]

The price of steel is going up because we dont make it here in the US anymore.

[JL8Jeff]

The price of steel is going up because we dont make it here in the US anymore.

China is buying all the scrap steel they can get so the price for any company here in the US that needs it to build stuff like exhaust systems has gone up. There's a major global change going on and nobody in this country is prepared to deal with it.

[SteveR]

China is buying all the scrap steel they can get so the price for any company here in the US that needs it to build stuff like exhaust systems has gone up. There's a major global change going on and nobody in this country is prepared to deal with it.

Yea, it all started about 15 years ago when China began making their own steel and literally over night the entire US steel industry went out of business, because companies would rather pay half price for crappy steel , than pay full price for quality US steel and support our own economy. My mother's entire side of the family going back six generations were all steel workers in the mill along the Ohio Valley, and every town there now is a ghost town. I went back two years ago and too ka bunch of pics. I'll find em and post em up. Very depressing to see such a marvel of engineering and physical sign of progress, lay dormant.

[NJ346]

I just checked out gasbuddy.com for a price chart and this is what I've found. Gas hasn't been this cheap($125 a drum) since the first week of June. The national average of gas was right about $3 a gallon, so wtf? Gas by me is $3.83 for regular and $4.21 for premium.

[JerzyIroc]

Ah *** everything. nothing is gonna change. gas is only gonna go up. they do this all the time. we get this period of gas prices shooting up week after week breaking record after record, like its been for the last few months. then we get what we're getting now. this sudden massive drop is gas prices. last week i paid 4.01 cash today i paid 3.69. so everyone gets all happy cuz gas got "cheap". then we get hit again. its a vicious cycle that we're never gonna get out of. there are so many things that can be done but because these damn politicians are idiots nothing will ever get done. drilling right now would do NOTHING in any way shape or form to our gas prices for years. however not drilling at all would do NOTHING EVER which is worse. The logical thing to do would be drill more where we already are drilling at. but again that would be the logical thing to do. there's tons of things we CAN do but nobody from the politicians to even the regular joe shmoes are gonna do anything because everyone thinks they're right. i dont even know why we even bother talking about it. all it does is start fights.


nipples..

[Frosty]

It's really not all that political when you look at global picture. China is really driving every industry out of whack with their sudden change. Oil, steel, wheat, corn, etc. They are willing to pay whatever they need to so they have the resources to continue their insane rate of growth. I think we are waiting to tap into the available oil under north america until we absolutely need to. I think we're using as much of the world's oil as we can and when that supply dramatically slows down, then we go after our own reserves! The price of gas was way behind the inflation rate of everything else so the fact that it has caught up is just throwing everyone off. People didn't realize the overall effect of gas prices going up. The cost of everything that gets transported goes up as well.

The anti-drilling people say we won't see any benefit for 10yrs. I beg to differ. However I certainly don't want hear people say "we should have drilled" 10yrs from now. I really don't understand why people are so against it. It's there, we have the technology, why not just drill? I really think that some people believe that these alternatives are going to be mainstream in 5 or so years which is ludicrous to think.

[SteveR]

The reason that big oil is making record profits is because they work on a profit margin, which is a percentage. Anytime the price of something goes up, and a percentage of that price stays the same, the dollar value of that set percentage will go up.

After buying crude, paying for it to be refined, and then paying all the different federal and state taxes, the oil companies are seeing far less than $1.00 for each gallon of gas that is pumped. Without actually doing the math it's probably more like less than $.50 per gallon that they see.....

- Justin

yea, but profits increase because costs either go down or stay the same while demand increases. If the price of crude goes up, then gas prices rise equally, and profits stay the same to adjust to current market trends. The only way profit increases in a level market is if profit margin remains the same, cost stays the same, and demand increases and supply can meet that demand without increasing percentage wise supply costs. I surely dont see people driving more, in fact, I see people driving less, so demand is down. Yet profits increase. And I understand it being globally influenced, but like I said, Saudi hasnt raised their prices to us, its our own speculators driving it up. On the news a few weeks ago, they had the story of the Saudi's from OPEC coming over here demanding to know why the speculators are increasing oil costs while they're not increasing theirs. Another little fact about the oil market, is that Saudi, Iran, and Iraq all used to trade oil using the dollar, and we would print the money to be used to purchase the oil with a guarantee for it not to recirculate. In 2000, Iran decided they didnt want to use the dollar anymore and converted its commodities trading to the Euro, eight months later, Iraq does the same thing. Now, the US is forced to buy Euros using circulated dollars to purchase oil. The Euro being much higher than the dollar, oil prices start to rise overnight. We tap into our stockpile to slow down the rate of inflation. Eighteen months after Iraq decides to change its oil trading standard, we bomb the crap out of them, and the first order of business is securing the oil fields. I'm not making this political, these are facts, right or wrong.

[SteveR]

The anti-drilling people say we won't see any benefit for 10yrs. I beg to differ. However I certainly don't want hear people say "we should have drilled" 10yrs from now. I really don't understand why people are so against it. It's there, we have the technology, why not just drill? I really think that some people believe that these alternatives are going to be mainstream in 5 or so years which is ludicrous to think.

The problem with the Alaskan drilling is that it'll exterminate thousands of species of animals.

[sweetbmxrider]

what about drilling off the j shore?

[SteveR]

what about drilling off the j shore?

drilling for what? Buried garbage? :rofl:

[Tru2Chevy]

what about drilling off the j shore?

Last I heard, as soon as the pres started talking about un-banning offshore drilling, Corzine was in talks with several other Atlantic Coast governors to join together and not allow drilling off the shores of their respective states.

- Justin

[BigAls87Z28]

But Al, Congress has the power to help change that. Short of "taking over the oil companies" as the oh so bright Maxine Waters threatened to do what do you expect government to do? Tack on even more regulations? Our government regulates the **** out of everything as it is.

I think what burns me up the most is that both sides have ideas, some good, some horrendous. However, even the ideas like solar and wind are STILL being blocked by the environmentalists. They say we can't drill, we can't build refineries, we can't go nuclear, we can't build wind farms, we can't build solar panels...THEN WHAT THE F ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? Sure, the oil companies have lobbyists in Washington but so do these whack job environmentalists and let me tell you man, these psychos have some power. I care about this great planet and this great country but God damn...I think these people seriously want us to live in the stone ages...

Then of course Al Gore has to spew his BS. It's scary that people follow him, people with political influence too.

Another thing that is killing the price is our failing dollar. THAT I blame on Bush and the Fed. Inflation was going to happen no matter what yet they kept flooding the market with more $$$. The more money you print the less it's worth. I think a lot of people forget that price of oil is in the dollar. A lot of financial experts, including Forbes, says that a stronger dollar will make a lot of these price issues easier to swallow or go away. I don't see either candidate doing much for the dollar. McCain is a total idiot when it comes to the economy and Obama wants to raise taxes which I wouldn't have a problem with but it's going to be used to fund his social programs. STOP SPENDING MONEY! lol

Sorry for getting political mods, it's kind of tied into the subject though.


I dont directly blame Bush for the current oil crisis. I think what happend was the perfect storm of economic destruction. Falling dollar = rising oil prices. I think if the dollar was equal to the Euro, we would be looking at under 100 bucks a barrel.

Regulation would not be with the oil companies, but with the trading and speculation. Everything goes from one extreme to the next, its part of our culture. We dont know when to stop, and then when something big happens, we snap up and go the other way. Doesnt matter if its gas prices or terrorisim, we are a nation of flipflopping gluttons.

Our country has really been in complete disaray since Sept 11th 2001 IMO. That day set all of us on a course of just absolute crazyness. Throw in two wars, a big hurricane, and morgage lending gone off the deep end, you get lots of people in debt, running out of gas, ready for something to happen. But we as Americans are more lazy now then ever. Im surprised that no one has tried to start taking a lead. Obama and McCain are just two of the same people we have seen for a while. I dont know who to listen to, or who to belive in. There is no strong leader in this country anymore, but even that wont do much with a goverment that has stopped working for the people.
No wonder people dont vote.

[Frosty]

The problem with the Alaskan drilling is that it'll exterminate thousands of species of animals.

You're kidding me right? Is that sarcasm or are you serious? We've been drilling in Prudhoe Bay for decades without issues. The part of ANWAR they want to tap is a tiny part of it which is on the coast, just like Prudhoe Bay. It's already a barren wasteland during the winter and it's a swampy wetlands area similar to the Everglades during the summer. If they wanted to drill inland or the entire ANWAR then I'd have an issue with it, they want a tiny part, on the coast.

The local wildlife has adapted just fine to the equipment in Prudhoe, why would this be any different?

[Frosty]

I dont directly blame Bush for the current oil crisis. I think what happend was the perfect storm of economic destruction. Falling dollar = rising oil prices. I think if the dollar was equal to the Euro, we would be looking at under 100 bucks a barrel.

Regulation would not be with the oil companies, but with the trading and speculation. Everything goes from one extreme to the next, its part of our culture. We dont know when to stop, and then when something big happens, we snap up and go the other way. Doesnt matter if its gas prices or terrorisim, we are a nation of flipflopping gluttons.

Our country has really been in complete disaray since Sept 11th 2001 IMO. That day set all of us on a course of just absolute crazyness. Throw in two wars, a big hurricane, and morgage lending gone off the deep end, you get lots of people in debt, running out of gas, ready for something to happen. But we as Americans are more lazy now then ever. Im surprised that no one has tried to start taking a lead. Obama and McCain are just two of the same people we have seen for a while. I dont know who to listen to, or who to belive in. There is no strong leader in this country anymore, but even that wont do much with a goverment that has stopped working for the people.
No wonder people dont vote.

Well said. Very well said.

[redbanditZ28]

$3.75 in Middlesex yesterday and up until a few days ago, it has been steady at $3.85 for the last month of so. I like living close to Middlesex.

[jims69camaro]

People should be looking at our government for the last few decades. Oh, people keep blaming Bush for this...hmmm....what has big mouth Pelosi and her Democrat Congress done to help change things? Nothing but whine.

It's a global population problem that we don't have the resources for what we want.-

tony, you nailed it, as usual.

jeff, you should've stopped your sentence after the word 'problem'. there is no supply problem, as i've pointed out time and again - we have actually had to cut back the refineries because of an over-production issue. we do have the resources. they just aren't being utilized properly.

[jims69camaro]

profits increase because costs either go down or stay the same while demand increases [and prices either stay the same or go up].

basic, fundamental economics. meet the demand with an adequate supply and you can name your price. which they have been doing in the speculation market, which is part of the reason why we're in the fix we are now. stopping the speculation will see an equalization in the cost/price, not the wild fluctuations upward that we have seen recently...

[wretched73]

**** the oil companies. We should be marching on Exxon HQ and burning the CEO's in effigy.

Uhm... give me about a 15 minute heads up and I'll be standing next to you

[firebirdcrazy]

3.75 in edison NJ

[Knipps]

I know someone who just got back from a cruise in Alaska and they said the locals are ALL FOR drilling up there. They were telling me they act like the Exxon/Valdeez incident was just a tiny area that was affected. Nature has done what it always has and recovered. The ocean floor up there leaks more oil in such and such a period than leaked from the crash.

[Frosty]

The reason we BOUGHT Alaska was for it's oil. The governor, the locals, just about everyone is ready for drilling. I think the caribou and polar bears even voted in favor for it. :rofl:

[bubba428]

3.75 here in atlantic city today

[Frosty]

4.28 for premium in Rio Grande today, hell that's as expensive as it is up here in PA.

[bubba428]

that not too bad for premium...4.25 here

[BigAls87Z28]

Uhhhh...wtf is NJ doing?
Im talking to my friend that lives out in Cali. Payed 3.55 for premium this morning.

[SteveR]

found this site today while looking on teh interwebs. you can search any place in NJ and it'll show you the current price of any grade of gas including diesel in the state. You can also submit a price for a certain station if you drive by one. Its a good way to see whose got the lowest prices around. Its noted that the highest prices by far in the state are at Exxon and Lukoil stations.

http://www.newjerseygasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=A

[slugger27nj]

Its noted that the highest prices by far in the state are at Exxon and Lukoil stations.
Yeah driving down Rt 9 last night most stations were in the 3.73-3.79 range, but the Lukoil was still at 3.95 for regular (no one at their pumps either).

[JL8Jeff]

$3.99 for premium yesterday.

[Tru2Chevy]

Uhhhh...wtf is NJ doing?
Im talking to my friend that lives out in Cali. Payed 3.55 for premium this morning.

Where in Cali? Gasbuddy still shows nothing under $4 / gallon for premium out there.

- Justin

[Frosty]

Yeah either your buddy was smoking crack or he was messing with you.

[BigAls87Z28]

Ill have to ask him for a picture, but he said 3.55 for premium in San Fran.

[JL8Jeff]

Ill have to ask him for a picture, but he said 3.55 for premium in San Fran.

That was probably 3.55 per liter! :lol:

-

[BigAls87Z28]

Nah...twas a gallon.

[Tsar]

Ill have to ask him for a picture, but he said 3.55 for premium in San Fran.

um...I predict a fail... http://www.sanfrangasprices.com/

[79CamaroDiva]

maybe he meant today... last year.

[BigAls87Z28]

Neg, he is laughing about it caues it was a one day special, 1 dollar off per gallon.
I still dont understand how its still 3.90 in some places. Gas dropped another 3 bucks yesterday, and right now, eh its up 2 and some change.

[BigAls87Z28]

Bush is going to veto the Anti-Speculation act that is going through congress and the senate.
******** that he has nothing to do with this.

[SteveR]

Bush is going to veto the Anti-Speculation act that is going through congress and the senate.
******** that he has nothing to do with this.

Is he really?!

[BigAls87Z28]

Yeah, just announced on cnbc. Im looking for it on the site. That could drive price of oil higher now that speculators are done laying low.
Goodbye 122 per barrell, hello 160. Bush now has it in his hands. If he decided to veto this bill, to stop speculation which is one of the main drivers of oil, he will be DIRECTLY involved in making oil more expensive as well as driving more money into the hands of his friends.
Dont tell me thats bs and he has no ties to it. It will be HIS signature on the veto line, an action that only HE can do.

[SteveR]

Yeah, just announced on cnbc. Im looking for it on the site. That could drive price of oil higher now that speculators are done laying low.
Goodbye 122 per barrell, hello 160. Bush now has it in his hands. If he decided to veto this bill, to stop speculation which is one of the main drivers of oil, he will be DIRECTLY involved in making oil more expensive as well as driving more money into the hands of his friends.
Dont tell me thats bs and he has no ties to it. It will be HIS signature on the veto line, an action that only HE can do.

Only further proof that its the politicians driving up the price of oil and nobody else.

[JL8Jeff]

Speculation really doesn't have much effect on gas prices, people are grasping at straws on that one. Look a the price of a barrel of oil after Katrina/Rita, it was in the $60-65 range and gas was $3.25 a gallon. Now oil was recently up at $144 a barrel and gas was around $4.25. Oil more than doubled but gas only went up around 30%.

-

[SteveR]

Speculation really doesn't have much effect on gas prices, people are grasping at straws on that one. Look a the price of a barrel of oil after Katrina/Rita, it was in the $60-65 range and gas was $3.25 a gallon. Now oil was recently up at $144 a barrel and gas was around $4.25. Oil more than doubled but gas only went up around 30%.

-

but oil is purchased from OPEC at a certain price, and the other percentage of our oil supply is also purchased at a certain price. It reaches the states. Then the speculators on Wall Street decide how much over that purchase price the oil companies obtain the oil for. So if we buy oil from OPEC for $35/barrel, then the speculators are setting the selling price $100/barrel over purchase. Thats a $65/barrel profit. At a rate of even just 10 mil barrels a day, thats a DAILY profit of 650 million dollars.

[BigAls87Z28]

Dollar is up...gold is down...Oil is up
They just announced that we are 3 million barrells short of what we thought we were.
Either 1) We slowed down importing barrells due to lower demand (yes)
2) demand went up since the last time we counted (no)

so reallly, this is speculation at its finest. Not cutting down on speculation is what is helping driving up the cost of oil.

[79CamaroDiva]

ugh. i was starting to doubt buying hhr for mileage was a good idea... now, im glad. i'm still on my first tank, and have gone back and forth to pompton lakes, pauls house, food shopping, cruises... yes, its a good thing.

[BigAls87Z28]

oil is over 4 bucks now on the new news....
GREAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!

[79CamaroDiva]

lol.. point the finger somewhere else...

http://www.cnbc.com/id/25933290/for/cnbc/

[SteveR]

what a scumbag.

[79CamaroDiva]

so.. instead of making existing oil cheaper, we're going to spend more money to drill protected waters and possibly kill of 100s of species of animals.. smart. real smart.

[BigAls87Z28]

But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has ignored calls by Republican leaders for a vote on lifting the drilling bans in Atlantic and Pacific waters, arguing that oil companies already have vast areas available for drilling but have chosen not to do so.

"The president has failed in his economic policy, and now he wants to say, `But for drilling in protected areas offshore, our economy would be thriving and the price of gas would be lower,'" Pelosi said Wednesday. "That hoax is unworthy of the serious debate we must have to relieve the pain of consumers at the pump and to promote energy independence."

[JL8Jeff]

The real blame is on Americans for buying gas guzzling oversize vehicles and driving them all over the place for no reason. You can only use so much gas before the supply can't keep up with demand. That controls the price of gas, not speculators. Don't try blaming one party or the other, both are to blame.

[Frosty]

so.. instead of making existing oil cheaper, we're going to spend more money to drill protected waters and possibly kill of 100s of species of animals.. smart. real smart.

...and how would you suggest doing that? How about lifting the ridiculous EPA laws, the 8+ different blends of gas that have to be made...how about lifting the federal gas tax just for a bit.

People can blame Bush for EVERYTHING which seems like the bandwagon however Congress and BOTH sides have accomplished NOTHING.

Also, as far as the killing 100's of species...drilling is more safe now than ever. Have you seen the spot in ANWR they want to drill at? It's a barren frozen tundra in the winter and a swampy Everglades type area in the summer. It's very similar to Prudhoe Bay. The wildlife just fine there. People keep saying drilling won't help now, probably right but do you want to put your faith in Ethanol? Do you want to be saying "we should have drilled" 10yrs in the future? We have enough energy sources to do our own thing for the next 60-100 years...but we might hurt a f'in caribou in the process. We BOUGHT Alaska for this very reason, OIL. The governor wants to do it, hell the citizens want it, who are we to say they can't do what they want, they live with the consequences up there, not us.

We did this to ourselves, we have no one to blame but us(sure, there other factors) but WE, as a country let this happen. Administration after administration dating back to Nixon's time ignore calls for us to do our own thing, to NOT rely on foreign oil, now we're paying for it. We're not going to wake up tomorrow and have renewable energy sources. It's going to take time and a ton of money...oh...and no red tape from the environmentalists(yes, even THEY have tried blocking solar and wind power).

The only real way to control gas prices is to do with China is doing, subsidize gas prices. Do we REALLY want to go down that road? Do we really want them involved in yet another aspect of business? No thanks.

We're actually lucky it's taken this long for prices to go up. Our dollar fell a lot in the last few years which directly relates to oil prices. Our dollar falling creates inflation, a lot of other stuff has gone up over the years, gas prices have lagged behind. It's finally caught up.

[Frosty]

But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has ignored calls by Republican leaders for a vote on lifting the drilling bans in Atlantic and Pacific waters, arguing that oil companies already have vast areas available for drilling but have chosen not to do so.

"The president has failed in his economic policy, and now he wants to say, `But for drilling in protected areas offshore, our economy would be thriving and the price of gas would be lower,'" Pelosi said Wednesday. "That hoax is unworthy of the serious debate we must have to relieve the pain of consumers at the pump and to promote energy independence."

Thank you. She's done nothing but whine and whine and whine. She's still patting herself on the back for the wind farm she help create in Texas. It's a shame a nuclear power plant would've been cheaper and produced more power. :rofl::rofl::rofl:

At least something got accomplished though.

[BigAls87Z28]

I actually quoted that in support of her.

What the Reps and Bush would love is to expand the already large lease they have on land off shore so that there IS more oil to pump, and at higher costs, means higher profits of said oil being pumped out.

And, it STILL doesnt make a single refinery get an upgrade. It still doesnt allow a new one to be built!
And we STILL will be stuck on OIL!! WHICH IS THE WHOLE ****ING REASON THAT WE ARE IN THIS MESS!! University of Georgia just discoverd how to increase ethanol yeild on switchblade and crabgrass 10 fold without using dangerious chemicals.
Where is the goverments interest in this? Why were Ethanol flex fuel vehicles left out of any CAFE requirements? Why is the goverment turning its back on a source of fuel that America could sell for PROFIT and be energy independant!!! What oil we pump from off the coast now, plus what we get from Mexico and Canada could help give us what little fuel we need to mix in with the Ethanol.
Costs to update cars to Ethanol would be a few hundred bucks compared to hybrid and diesel cars.

Lots of ideas out there, nothing being done. Repubs want to drill for more oil, Dems want to throw up wind towers. There is no middle ground.

[Frosty]

Dude we CAN'T build new refineries, the EPA laws don't allow it, hell the energy companies are still upgrading just to meet the new EPA standards(ExxonMobil just spent $450 million in Joliet, IL). There are other refineries that are in the same situation.

We are NOT in the mess because we're stuck on oil, we're stuck on FOREIGN oil.

To just snap a finger and switch to a different fuel is suicide. It's something that needs to gradually happen. We have an abundant amount of fossil energy here, why not use it?

Like I said a million other times though, there's NO reason why we can't do it ALL. Drill, build refineries, go nuclear, invest in renewable sources. To be on one side of the fence on either side is flat out ignorant(not saying you are_.

How about the Dems being dead set against pausing the fed gas tax yet not a single one of them will be paying it in Denver at the DNC? Pretty f'in ignorant, none of these politicians care, they get their gas cards and their 6 figure salaries, they're not impacted by these prices. They'd rather push whatever agenda they won't not matter how ridiculous it is. There so much red tape that even the alternative idea will take DECADES to become mainstream. There is no magic wand that will drop these prices tomorrow. However giving up on oil is ludicrous. It's worked for decades, we just handled it wrong.

[SteveR]

We are NOT in the mess because we're stuck on oil, we're stuck on FOREIGN oil.



It has nothing to do with foreign oil, OPEC is selling the oil to us at a low price, its the speculators that are driving it up $100 a barrel.

[Frosty]

...our **** dollar isn't helping either. ;)

Expecting Bush or Congress to address this would be a pipe dream. :rofl:

[SteveR]

yea no kidding. Its hard as a nation to compete with the Euro which consists of multiple nations.

[SteveR]

Speaking of gas prices, saw the first signs of it coming down here in E County. Drove by two places by my house on the way home, one at 3.69, the other at 3.67.

[Frosty]

yea no kidding. Its hard as a nation to compete with the Euro which consists of multiple nations.

True but we kinda did this to ourselves too. The Fed was out of control for a while flooding the market with a ton of money. I know it was in the idea of trying to slow or stop inflation but it didn't work.

You watch, if SOMEONE(whether it be McCain or Barock YoMamma) can get the dollar on track the price of oil will dramatically drop.

[Jam]

yeah. the gas stations are robbing us. It should be like $3.50 a gallon but instead they like taking their time and slowly dropping the prices. They really didn't make that much during the recession.... so now they're trying to make like $50,000 + a month!!!

I have an idea. SteveR why don't you gather an army of sheep, dye them black, and march across AMERICA!!!!!!
:fluffy::fluffy::fluffy::fluffy::fluffy:

[Frosty]

Actually the gas stations don't make jack **** on gas, that's why a lot of them aren't taking credit cards any more, any profits they see are eaten up but the CC fees. Now, on the food and beverages...that's another story.

[Jam]

Actually the gas stations don't make jack **** on gas, that's why a lot of them aren't taking credit cards any more, any profits they see are eaten up but the CC fees. Now, on the food and beverages...that's another story.

they are now making like 30 - 40cents a gallon. ......

[SteveR]

I have an idea. SteveR why don't you gather an army of sheep, dye them black, and march across AMERICA!!!!!!
:fluffy::fluffy::fluffy::fluffy::fluffy:

now theres a movie idea :lol:

[79CamaroDiva]

Speaking of gas prices, saw the first signs of it coming down here in E County. Drove by two places by my house on the way home, one at 3.69, the other at 3.67.

really? fill up there before you come here.. still 3.75 here

[Tru2Chevy]

they are now making like 30 - 40cents a gallon. ......

Not even close....more like 3-4 cents a gallon.

- Justin

[Jam]

i just worked at a gas station ....but okay...

[Frosty]

Maybe your gas station makes that much but national average is NOWHERE near that man.

[chemicalstylez]

I blame the EPA. No more refineries is killing us. We don't even pollute the world all that much anymore. Damn tree huggin democrats killing us.

The Sunoco in Pitman is $3.69 for regular and $3.91 for super. And the REAL Sewell has a US Gas also thats $3.69 for regular and $3.91 for super. Both are on Woodbury-Glassboro Rd.

Gas stations are taking advantage, the guy I know with a shop and station purposely is rasing his prices on CC charges to 7 cents a gallon and since last year has jumped all his gas 4 cents a gallon no matter what. Just sits back and counts his money all day, he isn't losing anything on gas.

Edit: Plus you think since our country used 10 billion less gallons of gas that we did in the previous year it would also help lower prices too....were seriously getting screwed.

[SteveR]

I think I heard yesterday that approval went through for a new refinery to be built in the US. Not sure where I heard it though.

[Tru2Chevy]

i just worked at a gas station ....but okay...

If the owner / manager said he/she was making that much they were either price gouging horribly or were flat out lying to you.

My dad has been managing service stations for almost 30 years, and I've worked with him on and off for the last ten or so years, and trust me - the margin has never been anywhere near that much.

Typical gas stations make ~90-95% of their income from convenience sales and the service bays.

- Justin

[Tsar]

I think I heard yesterday that approval went through for a new refinery to be built in the US. Not sure where I heard it though.

One was approved to be build in South Dakota. We will see what happens.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/15/sd.refinery/

[Jam]

If the owner / manager said he/she was making that much they were either price gouging horribly or were flat out lying to you.

My dad has been managing service stations for almost 30 years, and I've worked with him on and off for the last ten or so years, and trust me - the margin has never been anywhere near that much.

Typical gas stations make ~90-95% of their income from convenience sales and the service bays.

- Justin

i've had suspicions that the manager was price gouging.

[SteveR]

i've had suspicions that the manager was price gouging.

Im sure it happens all over NJ. Most gas stations near my house are somewhere around 3.70- 3.85 now. But theres a Shell station on the corner of Passaic Ave and Bloomfield Ave in West Caldwell that is charging 4.12/gal. for regular still.

[Jam]

If the owner / manager said he/she was making that much they were either price gouging horribly or were flat out lying to you.

My dad has been managing service stations for almost 30 years, and I've worked with him on and off for the last ten or so years, and trust me - the margin has never been anywhere near that much.

Typical gas stations make ~90-95% of their income from convenience sales and the service bays.

- Justin

BTW Justin, I'm referring to the independent gas stations not the corporate owners like EXXON or w/e. They definitely are making around 40-50cents a gallon at this moment. typically yea you are right they make around 5-7cents, but in this situation it's true.

[slugger27nj]

Both Exxon and Shell posted record-breaking profits today....go figure :roll:

[Jam]

Question: since we are on the gas station topic... Does anyone know which gas station uses what dyes (pigment alteration), additives, or who's the best when it comes to healthy gas for your car. I am referring to only Pump Gas NOT Race Gas. Just wondering...

[Tsar]

BTW Justin, I'm referring to the independent gas stations not the corporate owners like EXXON or w/e. They definitely are making around 40-50cents a gallon at this moment. typically yea you are right they make around 5-7cents, but in this situation it's true.No one is making 40 to 50 cents of a gallon, independent or corporate, stop being an idiot.

Both Exxon and Shell posted record-breaking profits today....go figure :roll:
They are a business, what do you expect them to do. Cap their profit and give the rest away to the regular public so they look "honorable" in the eyes of the public?
In case you forgot: Business - 1.the purchase and sale of goods in an attempt to make a profit.
2. a person, partnership, or corporation engaged in commerce, manufacturing, or a service; profit-seeking enterprise or concern.


What do you want them to do, go out of business?

[Jam]

you're a sack of ****. my dad who worked for an independent gas station for 30 yrs as a mechanic would know and having friends who own independent gas stations. And if you read my comment from b4 it shows that I said corporations make 5-7 cents .

[slugger27nj]

They are a business, what do you expect them to do. Cap their profit and give the rest away to the regular public so they look "honorable" in the eyes of the public?
In case you forgot: Business - 1.the purchase and sale of goods in an attempt to make a profit.
2. a person, partnership, or corporation engaged in commerce, manufacturing, or a service; profit-seeking enterprise or concern.


What do you want them to do, go out of business?
Making a profit is all well and good, especially being an American-owned company, but the way they go about doing it in a virtually unregulated market is questionable. I'm sorry, but continually driving up the prices on unwarranted, cooked-up, false hysteria is not an honorable business practice.

[Tsar]

you're a sack of ****. my dad who worked for an independent gas station for 30 yrs as a mechanic would know and having friends who own independent gas stations. And if you read my comment from b4 it shows that I said corporations make 5-7 cents .

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003812418_gasretailers30.html

gross profit on gasoline is roughly 3 cents a gallon after paying for supplies and credit-card fees, but he earns 30 cents on the soft drink.

Retailers last year earned an average of 2 to 3 cents per gallon before taxes

http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneursmanagement/2008/07/24/gas-station-recession-ent-manage-cx-mf_0724retailsurvival.html

"At the pump, it's not about breaking even," says Jeff Lenard, spokesman for the National Association of Convenience Stores, which represents 115,000 gas and convenience stores that sell about 80% of the petrol in the U.S. "It's about trying to lose as little as you can."

Gas has long been the loss leader in the gas-station business, where a majority of the profits come from selling snacks, soda and smokes. Lately, though, the economics have gotten decidedly worse.

When gas sold for more like $2 a gallon, they were able to clear about 1.5 cents per gallon.

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/byauthor/88656

As gas tops $4 a gallon, that pushes fees toward 10 cents a gallon. Now stations, which typically mark up gasoline by 11 to 12 cents a gallon, are seeing profits shrink or even reverse.

In a good month, Randolph's small operation would yield a $60 profit on gasoline sales.


Check & mate.

[Frosty]

Making a profit is all well and good, especially being an American-owned company, but the way they go about doing it in a virtually unregulated market is questionable. I'm sorry, but continually driving up the prices on unwarranted, cooked-up, false hysteria is not an honorable business practice.

Their profit margins are 8-10%, that's not much more than the national average. They have one of the most in-demand products in history.

[Tsar]

Making a profit is all well and good, especially being an American-owned company, but the way they go about doing it in a virtually unregulated market is questionable. I'm sorry, but continually driving up the prices on unwarranted, cooked-up, false hysteria is not an honorable business practice.

Weak dollar is driving the prices up among a few other things such as speculators, although they are working in reverse right now. How about credit card companies profit?

http://www.bcsalliance.com/creditcard_profits.html
The credit card industry is the most profitable one in the United States with annual earnings in the $30 billion range. No one ever talks about their outrageous profits, should they be capped too?

Wal-mart earned more than they expected too, are they next to be on the "evil block" of companies? Who is after that? US government for making profit on the arms trade? Businesses make money, people need to get over that. If they were breaking the law that would be another thing, but they are not. Just blame yourself for not buying their stock in time.

With all this record profit talk, you haven't offered a solution. Go ahead.

[79CamaroDiva]

I think its great that some stations are finally charging more for credit, or giving the cash paying customers a break, whichever way you look at it. The credit card companies charge RIDICULOUS fees, and I'd just as soon pay cash. With all the reliance that we have on banks, (the ease of using debit cards, online payments, credit cards, etc) is what I think is part of the weak dollar problem. How often do you SEE your money anymore? A lot of people, probably never. You get a pay check that gets direct deposited, and swipe the debit card wherever you go, make payments with online payments, and all of a sudden, your bank account is just like monopoly money. Some people might argue with me, but all this ease of use, lazy american bs can't be good for the economy.

[Tru2Chevy]

Check & mate.

Thanks for doing the legwork to prove a point..... :)

- Justin

[Tsar]

I think its great that some stations are finally charging more for credit, or giving the cash paying customers a break, whichever way you look at it. The credit card companies charge RIDICULOUS fees, and I'd just as soon pay cash. With all the reliance that we have on banks, (the ease of using debit cards, online payments, credit cards, etc) is what I think is part of the weak dollar problem. How often do you SEE your money anymore? A lot of people, probably never. You get a pay check that gets direct deposited, and swipe the debit card wherever you go, make payments with online payments, and all of a sudden, your bank account is just like monopoly money. Some people might argue with me, but all this ease of use, lazy american bs can't be good for the economy.
I see your point and I partially agree. But in MY OPINION (that's so no one get but hurt later on) CC's are way more secure than cash. If you remember a while back my CC was stolen by a Valet attendant and he treated himself to a nice sum of 2k of expenses for his gf, baby and himself. Well, if I had cash who would return it to me? NO ONE!

I pay for everything with my AMEX, everything. If I need gas I buy gas, If I want a piece of gum I buy it with my CC too, If the drives side cat in my fbody goes bad I pay with AMEX too. However unlike most people I pay the card off at the end of the month, so I do not have to pay the APR. As far as the gas station go, I skip the ones that charge more for the CC, I would rather go to the station that charges me MORE but has one set price. It's the principal not the 10 cents that I care about.

I used to carry cash all the time, and my bank account was at <100; however when you wallet gets stolen the cash rarely comes back... I have reversed the trend, I only carry a few dollars of cash now, and my CC. Cash is for tolls to visit my gf, because parkway doesn't take CC's.

[WildBillyT]

I see your point and I partially agree. But in MY OPINION (that's so no one get but hurt later on) CC's are way more secure than cash. If you remember a while back my CC was stolen by a Valet attendant and he treated himself to a nice sum of 2k of expenses for his gf, baby and himself. Well, if I had cash who would return it to me? NO ONE!

I pay for everything with my AMEX, everything. If I need gas I buy gas, If I want a piece of gum I buy it with my CC too, If the drives side cat in my fbody goes bad I pay with AMEX too. However unlike most people I pay the card off at the end of the month, so I do not have to pay the APR. As far as the gas station go, I skip the ones that charge more for the CC, I would rather go to the station that charges me MORE but has one set price. It's the principal not the 10 cents that I care about.

I used to carry cash all the time, and my bank account was at <100; however when you wallet gets stolen the cash rarely comes back... I have reversed the trend, I only carry a few dollars of cash now, and my CC. Cash is for tolls to visit my gf, because parkway doesn't take CC's.

Would you be carrying $2000 cash with you at a time? If not, then that doesn't really apply. People usually carry a lot less cash then their credit limit.

That said, I am the same way with my AMEX card. I've had one ever since I was of age and I use it for damn near everything I buy. The whole under-$25 no sign thing works great too. One swipe and I'm out the door.

[Tsar]

You are not very familiar with the Russian culture, are you? :lol:

We as a society do NOT trust in banks, it is US banks fault, it is the old Russian banks fault - they used to go bankrupt and all your money would disappear. People would keep all their money with them or at their house. I would carry several paycheck worth with me, 1k+ when I first started working construction at the age of 16. Even when 500 bucks disappears out of your waller, because someone STOLE IT its simply disappointing. With CC's though, they give it back to you. That's why I use them. :shrug:

If someone robs my house, they will not get any cash, which is really uncharacteristic of Russian people. When we bought our house the Realtor thought my mother was going to pay in cash, because his previous Russian customers did so... now think about losing that much money if you are robbed. CC > cash :)

[79CamaroDiva]

you know, the US is much different than mother russia... our banks are federally insured :lol: you're money will always be your money.

I like to keep a certain amount of cash on hand only because I don't want ALL of my money going into a bank. Not all of my money is recorded as income, so all my food shopping, gas, and whatever else I can pay in cash with, I do.

[Tsar]

you know, the US is much different than mother russia... our banks are federally insured :lol: you're money will always be your money.

I like to keep a certain amount of cash on hand only because I don't want ALL of my money going into a bank. Not all of my money is recorded as income, so all my food shopping, gas, and whatever else I can pay in cash with, I do.
I know all about banks operations, my mom is the senior manager of one of the local Sovereign branches. :) I also said that If our house was robbed there would be no cash found in here, and if someone would take my CC - well it doesn't take long to call. :lol:

And its your money not you're :lol:

Oh, and a little FDIC funny http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25719584/

[JL8Jeff]

Here's a great piece about ANWR. It might take a while to load all the pictures, but it's worth the wait.

ANWR real scenario (http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/anwr.asp)

-

[WildBillyT]

You are not very familiar with the Russian culture, are you? :lol:

We as a society do NOT trust in banks, it is US banks fault, it is the old Russian banks fault - they used to go bankrupt and all your money would disappear. People would keep all their money with them or at their house. I would carry several paycheck worth with me, 1k+ when I first started working construction at the age of 16. Even when 500 bucks disappears out of your waller, because someone STOLE IT its simply disappointing. With CC's though, they give it back to you. That's why I use them. :shrug:

If someone robs my house, they will not get any cash, which is really uncharacteristic of Russian people. When we bought our house the Realtor thought my mother was going to pay in cash, because his previous Russian customers did so... now think about losing that much money if you are robbed. CC > cash :)

So, would you say, In Soviet Russia, Bank robs YOU?

I get your point with the cultural differences, though. I was unaware of the situation in Russia. However I think rolling with that much cash at once in the US is pretty rare. CC >> cash for sure.

[Jam]

independent gas stations are making 30-50 cents a gallon END OF STORY. I just heard from my dad's friend who owns one and he is raking in the cash now.

[BigAls87Z28]

Then he is rippin people out of a lot of money.
I assume that big stations that are still near 4 bucks a gallon are raking it in.
I am also questioning the cost of high octane. I have seen as much as a .50 price difference from one station that carried 93 to another.

And I noticed that the Jersey shore right now is the highest in the state. Coming back from Seaside, outside of Wawa, everyone is 3.85+
Coming back from Point tonight, gas was 3.83-3.85.

[misterjuice]

i filled up with 93 octane in my brand new ML350......let's just say it was a tick above $110 hehe yes I carry my own bottle of KY Personal Lubricant.

[Jam]

Then he is rippin people out of a lot of money.
I assume that big stations that are still near 4 bucks a gallon are raking it in.
I am also questioning the cost of high octane. I have seen as much as a .50 price difference from one station that carried 93 to another.

And I noticed that the Jersey shore right now is the highest in the state. Coming back from Seaside, outside of Wawa, everyone is 3.85+
Coming back from Point tonight, gas was 3.83-3.85.

dear god yes

[79CamaroDiva]

i filled up with 93 octane in my brand new ML350......let's just say it was a tick above $110 hehe yes I carry my own bottle of KY Personal Lubricant.

if you can afford the car, i'm sure that 110 doesn't hurt all that much. probably somewhere around 300 grit, not 150 ;)

[misterjuice]

if you can afford the car, i'm sure that 110 doesn't hurt all that much. probably somewhere around 300 grit, not 150 ;)

young lady...your logic is tremendous.

[79CamaroDiva]

thank you sir.

[chemicalstylez]

At my parents stores credit card companies generally charge anywhere from 2%-3.5% a transaction. Its pretty frigin insane. Discover and American Express take the highest of the major cards from my stores profits. So I can see gas stations charging an extra 5-9 cents a gallon...but I know they are pumpin prices for their own benefit...

....mostly all the gas around here comes from Valero refinery in Gibbstown/Paulsboro. Every carrier(and middle-man delivery company) gets charged the same delivery flat rate as a station in Gibbstown or one in Cherry Hill. Like I said before, an owner I personally know is taking full advantage of the situation and purposely jacks up his prices way over what he's paying....and 85% of the stations are doing it. Thats why some are $3.64 (Sunoco in Pitman) for regular right now and others are $3.88 (BP off of 295 in Paulsboro). I'm sure theres honest station owners...but the majority are sticking it to you. If I had a station I'd do it too....

[SteveR]

This just in:


Exxon reports 11.7 BILLION dollars in PROFIT.... for just the second quarter this year alone.

[WildBillyT]

This just in:


Exxon reports 11.7 BILLION dollars in PROFIT.... for just the second quarter this year alone.

Yeah. NOT REVENUE, but profit.

[SteveR]

and Carl Rove was on Bill O'Reilly last night defending the oil company's intentions to keep increasing profits and screw over the public.

[SteveR]

interesting read on the impact of speculators and oil contracts

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/06/gas_prices265.html

[BigAls87Z28]

Some other forum said "well since there is X amount of inflation, thats only like...7 billion dollars."
I said "oh...well that changes EVERYTHING."

Gas went down to 118 today. Tomorrow they come out with the weekly reserve and supply numbers.
Market was up 311 pts

[bubba428]

exxon is way to expensive....I got sunoco for 3.60 today

[BigAls87Z28]

Sunoco is up there, 3.85.

No name's and Hess are 3.7x's.

[SteveR]

Raceway and Delta seem to always have the lowest, at least that I've seen.

[WildBillyT]

Raceway and Delta seem to always have the lowest, at least that I've seen.

Yeah, but aren't they lower tier crap gas?

[BonzoHansen]

Yeah, but aren't they lower tier crap gas?

If you don't hear that ping it don't mean no thing....:-P



Now why is this: In PA yesterday I saw regular range from 3.69 (near Hershey) to 4.19 (Lahaska). WTH?

[ar0ck]

Filled the Z up today on 93 Premium from BP. From dead empty it cost... $59.80

[Knipps]

I got to watch someone fill their H3 today with $70 worth of regular :lol: