At the intersection of US 101 and Highway 20 in Willits there are three gas stations, one owned by Safeway, another by AM/PM and one by Chevron. Usually the Safeway brand is cheapest. Today it was 382 per gallon. If you have the Safeway card, you subtract three cents bringing the price to $3.79. But today AM/PM actually offered up gas at $3.77. But Chevron’s price was $4.12 per gallon.
Somewhat surprising, but most fascinating of all – people were buying gas from Chevron.
It explains a lot of election results.
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April 24, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Matt
“Somewhat surprising, but most fascinating of all – people were buying gas from Chevron.”
…and then probably going to home to complain about how gas prices are so high!
Meanwhile, gas is $4.39/gal everywhere in Eureka
April 25, 2011 at 12:48 am
WTF
No Eric, again it means you don’t have no clue and don’t use a Chevron gas card. It has no annual fee, rewards program per gallon and they are currently offering $0.10 back on your first 500 gallons purchased, along with 50% off lodging expenses at select establishments world wide, cash back on airline tickets and car rentals, free American Express traveler’s cheques, and high-level security services. Customers with the Premium card also have access to Chevron’s Travel Club, which affords members rewards and additional savings while on vacation or traveling for business.
“It explains a lot of election results”. What does this explain?
I think the problem is, you had too many marshmallow peeps, Reeses Eggs and chocolate bunnies for the last couple of days and are having what’s known as ECW’s, Easter Candy Withdraws, you need to get help. A good french roast enema works wonders………..
April 25, 2011 at 5:49 am
Plain Jane
They probably have Chevron credit cards and all their other cards are maxed out.
April 25, 2011 at 5:50 am
Noble
As the market, as in politics, brand recognition and other irrational unconscious factors trump all.
April 25, 2011 at 7:26 am
Ernie's Place
With some people it’s worth a few coins to not have to wait in line. In fact, with me, sometimes it’s the price of sanity. The longer that I wait in line the more annoyed I get with the idiots in front on me, the coupons, the people that wash their windshields, check their tire pressure, go inside to pay cash, go to the restroom, get in a conversation with the other customers while my watch ticks my life away.
April 25, 2011 at 7:40 am
Anonymous
On a recent trip, in my 1996 Mazda Protoge, I burned gas purchased at Costco in Eureka, Safeway in Willits, and a Chevron in Davis.
All mileage is based on mostly highway driving. Costco gas use yielded 33 MPG. Safeway gas yielded 35 MPG. Chevron yielded 39.5.
The tankful of Safeway gas saw the most town driving, as it included a trip in and out of SF. Both the Costco and the Chevron gas was burned almost entirely on freeways. I’m flummoxed by the results, but I might try another tankful of the Chevron to see if it’s a trend.
April 25, 2011 at 8:06 am
Anonymous
Quality variables in gas just like everything else. Do ya think the AM-PM has the same quality gas as Chevron? The older the gas is, the cheaper it is to purchase. And as Ernie has stated, the price of sanity. Do all of the stations offer diesel, or maybe only the Chevron? Does the Chevron offer propane and no one else does? Buying expensive gas cause you don’t want your neighbors to know that you are in financial difficulty? Does the Chevron have a better looking gas station attendant?
April 25, 2011 at 8:49 am
Anonymous
You are ignoring other market forces, such as the one Ernie describes – the driver’s time. I buy gas at that intersection often, and I go to the station that is easiest for me to get into and pump my gas. Going south I would never go to one of the two stations on the eastern side of 101 because to do it I would have to cross 101 twice. If I were at the Safeway buying lunch, which also happens I might use the Safeway station (although I never have, and I have a Safeway card). I think that you’ll find that people’s price consciousness with gasoline requires a more serious price differential than you describe – otherwise everyone wouid be at the AM/PM saving 5 cents a gallon over Safeway’s price. I admit that the $3.50 increase in 10 gallons at Chevron would be enough to make me change stations- if I thought about it in advance. But who does that?
April 25, 2011 at 8:53 am
Anonymous
I don’t think market forces operate in cases of small price differentials, and certainly not if you add in the Ernie factor’s of time and convenience. I buy gas at that intersection and never really looked at the prices at the stations, just pulling into the one most convenient where I thought I could get in and out most quickly. Were I to be aware that my 10 gallons would cost $3.50 more at the Chevron, before I got to the intersection, I probably would go to one of the other stations. After all that’s two tacos and a big coke. (But if you eat in the car, it’s probably also the trouble of washing your shirt after the tacos spill over – there are many things to consider in the conundrum you pose.)
April 25, 2011 at 10:16 am
Fred
I’ve always wondered why those folks buy gas across the street, myself. I figured it was along the lines of what Ernie wrote and they were just avoiding the crowd. Then again, sometimes Chevron seems more crowded and plugged up than Safeway.
Along that same line, I’ve always wondered why so many people buy gas at the Patriot station in Henderson Center, Eureka? I’m guessing it’s mostly just a convenient location?
April 25, 2011 at 10:34 am
WTF
You also need to know that Arco does not take credit cards to pay for fuel. Only the Arco Discover debit card. You can used other debit cards with a $0.45 fee per transaction.
http://www.arco.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=16002950&contentId=7023062
April 25, 2011 at 11:39 am
Not A Native
Well, Eric why do you eat organic food(I assume you do) and patronize restaurants other than McDonalds? Do you drive the least expensive automobile and wear the least expensive clothing? Oh, you say, those are different because my choices are higher quaity or simply my personal (not subject to rationality) preferences? Just what is it that makes your choices ‘market correct’ and others’ ‘market incorrect’?
Since u like r&r lyrics, how about: ‘fore you ‘cuse me, take a look at yourself. Keep this up and you’ll be finding a lot more in common with Fred.
April 25, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Anonymous
I buy gas at that Willits intersection often. Usually when going north, so the station on the west side of 101 is not convenient to get into and I ignore it. Likewise the Safeway station requires making maneuvers through the parking lot. I don’t consciously avoid it for that reason, but I’ve only bought gas there once. It is so easy to cross Rt 20 and pull right up to the pump. I never gave a thought to price, to tell the truth. It changes so often, and like Ernie, I value my time. I don’t know if I value it at $3.50 for 10 gallons, however. That’s 2 tacos and a large coke. Of course I’d have to factor in the cost of cleaning the taco spillage off my shirt, too. These market analyses are more complex than they first appear.
April 25, 2011 at 12:04 pm
ED Denson
I buy gas at that Willits intersection often. Usually when going north, so the station on the west side of 101 is not convenient to get into and I ignore it. Likewise the Safeway station requires making maneuvers through the parking lot. I don’t consciously avoid it for that reason, but I’ve only bought gas there once. It is so easy to cross Rt 20 and pull right up to the pump. I never gave a thought to price, to tell the truth. It changes so often, and like Ernie, I value my time. I don’t know if I value it at $3.50 for 10 gallons, however. That’s 2 tacos and a large coke. Of course I’d have to factor in the cost of cleaning the taco spillage off my shirt, too. These market analyses are more complex than they first appear.
April 25, 2011 at 12:04 pm
ED Denson
NAN- thanks for the Bo Diddley quote. It brought the record immediately to mind, a nice brief treat.
April 25, 2011 at 12:54 pm
Anon
The AM/PM station was cheaper at the end of March also. Lines were long at Safeway and Chevron. I get gas in Santa Rosa at Costco which is very easy to get to and then get back on 101 from either south or north. AM/PM was about a cent cheaper than Costco in March though but I was very low on gas when in Santa Rosa and after stopping at Trader Joe’s went to Costco for gas.
April 25, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Anonymous
Cheveron has additives that are recommended by several manufacturers to keep an engine clean. I’m not saying they work or are worth it but I do know on my previous car they recommended Chevron gas.
April 25, 2011 at 5:44 pm
Former resident of your Hard drug friendly town
Down here near, Los Angeles there is absolutely no where gas can be bought for under $4.00 a Gal .
We should be so lucky………
April 25, 2011 at 5:49 pm
ED Denson
Sorry for so many more or less identical posts. Computer glitch, coupled with very slow posting on this blog making me think the post had gone into space. Eric why not just pull my anonymous posts? Ok with me.
April 25, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Former Resident
The reason why i said ” hard drug friendly town ” is because Eureka freely passes out, cookers, straps & syringes to tweakers & then gives them money, so they can buy more drugs ( cigarettes ) and houses, feeds them & puts them into anyone of a hundred Drug rehabb houses .
April 29, 2011 at 8:30 am
BIG Al
Hey, C’mon everybody . Nobody has made any comments lately . Speak to me .