Gas Hilarity Ensues

[dr_phil_physics]

It's Been A While...

... since I've carped about gasoline prices. After the debacle of over-four-dollar gas this summer, we made it through Labor Day without much change in prices -- proof to me that they are high enough / too high. (grin) However, this carp-free period comes to an end today.

Decision Point

Normally I get gas every two days. But since the last fill was on the weekend, I could've opted for filling this morning. However, running a bit late I decided to either get gas this evening or eke it out until tomorrow morning.

Executive Decision

But around 9:09am EDT, Scott Winters on WOOD-AM radio said that they'd heard gas was going to be jumping by about thirty cents a gallon -- supposedly due to uncertainty about where Hurricane Ike was heading after it finished shredding Cuba from end to end. Nice. Anyway, the next "big" exit on US-131 south was Exit 64 -- Wayland. There the new Shell station was running $3.68.9/gal for regular... about what it was in Allendale and Kalamazoo yesterday. As I started filling, I mentioned to the woman filling on the other side of the pump what I'd heard on the radio and she motioned behind me. "The gas station over there is already at $3.95." And indeed it was.


Unbelievable.

Dr. Phil

Comments

Pavlov's dog was right...

[wendyb-09.livejournal.com]

and it works for gas prices too! If you say something - ding - the reality shifts to meet the mob expectations.

The really scarry part is OPEC is meeting this week because oil prices are returning to normal after it hit record highs this summer. Guess they need new cars...

[kizmet-42.livejournal.com]

In my parents' town - about 40 miles from me - gas is $.20 CHEAPER.

[jeffsoesbe.livejournal.com]

I wish I had a business like that. Where I could make prices whatever I wanted them to be, with only the most minimal justification ("there *might* be issues with oil shipments because of hurricanes"). And people *have* to buy my product! Just mind-blowing...

- yeff

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but there's no self-correcting spring. When the crisis du jour is over, the prices never seem to return (a) to normal or (b) go down with the speed they went up. (evil grin)

Dr. Phil

Re: Pavlov's dog was right...

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and around here Speedway is particularly adept at jumping the gun. All the more worse because they bought up a lot of Crystal Flash's stations -- and Crystal Flash was an awfully customer oriented business. (sigh)

Dr. Phil

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

In a lot of places, gas is cheaper than in West Michigan.

Dr. Phil

[jeffsoesbe.livejournal.com]

You have successfully deduced the plan. And now, you must be eliminated.

"Smithers, release the hounds."

- yeff

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Pthhhhbt!

Dr. Phil

Ike-Spike has hit Atlanta

[wendyb-09.livejournal.com]

Well, the rumor mill went crazy this afternoon...there was a frenzy of calls and emails telling people to fill up because the prices will be over $5/gallon by Saturday night...this after the stations here bumped prices up 15-33 cents last night...Rome, GA gas stations are limiting customers to 10-gallons each, they've been told they may not get resupplied until next week some time.

One of the TV stations was telling people THIS MORNING during rush hour to take cell phone photos and send them in if they found a line at a station.

However, the local NPR affiliate was their usual calm self...saying prices will only jump to about 4th of July levels, which was $4.11 or so.