Large Scale Central

Thought For a Day

General Discussion
#21

Oil companies gouge consumers to make outsized profits: Unsurprisingly, given the outrageously high cost of gas and the Left’s penchant for pointing the fickle finger of blame at big corporations, we’ve heard a lot about how big oil is gouging consumers.

However, when you take a look at the actual numbers in California, for example, you find that the “Distribution Costs, Marketing Costs and Profits” for the oil companies make up only 8 cents per gallon of gas.

That doesn’t sound like gouging, does it? But if you believe it does, what would you say about the 70 cents per gallon in taxes that’s paid by California consumers?

Oil companies make about 8.3 cents in gross profit per dollar of sales....Electronics make 14.5 cents per dollar and computer equipment makers take in 13.7 cents per dollar, according to the Census Bureau. Microsoft's margin is 27.5 cents per dollar of sales.

Sure, these oil companies are huge and therefore, even an 8.3% profit adds up to billions of dollars, but when you look at the relatively small percentage that they’re putting in their pockets as compared to the humongous share that the government is raking in, it’s pretty clear that it’s the government, not the oil companies, that is gouging consumers.

John Hawkins

#22

Who makes the most profit from a gallon of gas?

The government!

#23

But… but… they NEED it. How do you think the potholes get filled once each decade?

#24

It is the futures and commodity brokers driving up the prices as well as the US government’s poor fiscal policy driving the value of the US dollar down.
What I would like to know is why the oil companies seem to be exempt from price fixing investigations. Used to be you could find stations as few cents per gallon cheaper. Today, every station in a geographic area will have the exact same price.
Furthermore, those of us who pay cash for gas are paying up to 12 cents a gallon more to subsidize credit card users.
Ralph

#25

Ralph,

Within 15 blocks of our house there are 3 different stations, none of the prices are the same. As you said a few cents a gallon cheaper or higher depending on your preference.

#26
Ric Golding said:
Ralph,

Within 15 blocks of our house there are 3 different stations, none of the prices are the same. As you said a few cents a gallon cheaper or higher depending on your preference.


That surprises me. Here in NC. I find every station in an area to have the exact same price. You may go to the next town and find gas 10 cents cheaper,but it will be 10 cents cheaper at all the stations.
Most stations in my area today have the price controlled by the oil companies. The station receives around 14 cents a gallon for each gallon sold. The distributor calls every morning and tells them what todays price will be.
Ralph

#27
Jerry Bowers said:
BTW, I am working on the development of a car called the Phart Cart (Reg. TM). It uses simple seat probes that attach to an appropriate source of methane, extracts said gas and compresses it for use in the single cylinder 10cc engine. It does require that one only eat beans and some other limited gassy vegetables, but taco wagons are ubiquitous in California, so range shouldn't be a problem. Perhaps a little slow in traffic, but really economical and way GREEN. It even helps clean the air of what would be considered smelly contamination. Potential investors should email me for a prospectus.

Happy RRing,

Jerry


You’re sh—ing us aren’t you? :wink: :slight_smile: :o :smiley:

#28

LMAO!!!

Richard - Been trying to contact you. Send me an email. :slight_smile:

#29
Richard Smith said:
Jerry Bowers said:
BTW, I am working on the development of a car called the Phart Cart (Reg. TM). It uses simple seat probes that attach to an appropriate source of methane, extracts said gas and compresses it for use in the single cylinder 10cc engine. It does require that one only eat beans and some other limited gassy vegetables, but taco wagons are ubiquitous in California, so range shouldn't be a problem. Perhaps a little slow in traffic, but really economical and way GREEN. It even helps clean the air of what would be considered smelly contamination. Potential investors should email me for a prospectus.

Happy RRing,

Jerry


You’re sh—ing us aren’t you? :wink: :slight_smile: :o :smiley:

Richard :lol:

No he isn’t, there wasn’t a word about using solid fuel in that contraption of his! :wink:

#30
Ralph Berg said:
Furthermore, those of us who pay cash for gas are paying up to 12 cents a gallon more to subsidize credit card users. Ralph
Just waded through the small novella, aka my credit card merchant agreement. It says right there in black and white that I CANNOT charge more for credit card sales (OR give a discount for cash)... I imagine that most other's merchant agreements are probably the same.

Time was that gas stations and other places DID charge a few cents more for CCs, but the cardholders complained THEY were being shafted and thus the rule. So now if you take cards, you have to accept them for ALL purchases-- Even if the transaction fee is MORE than the total purchase. (I’ve had people want to charge 87c at my day job)

I saw recently that Exxon is going to sell off all their remaining stations and franchises to distributors…the reason? They complain that THEY can’t make any money at the retail level either.

#31
Craig Sheline said:
LMAO!!!

Richard - Been trying to contact you. Send me an email. :slight_smile:


Email sent…

#32

“I CANNOT charge more for credit card sales”
Exactly right. Just as costs for shoplifting and theft are spread to everyone-so are the credit card costs.
And I agree, retailers are not the problem. In fact ,they are also being squeezed by the percentage collected by the CC companies. The CC companies collect a percentage, so now they collect twice as much money for the same gallon of gas the retailer is making 14 cents on.
Ralph

#33
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Richard Smith said:
Jerry Bowers said:
BTW, I am working on the development of a car called the Phart Cart (Reg. TM). It uses simple seat probes that attach to an appropriate source of methane, extracts said gas and compresses it for use in the single cylinder 10cc engine. It does require that one only eat beans and some other limited gassy vegetables, but taco wagons are ubiquitous in California, so range shouldn't be a problem. Perhaps a little slow in traffic, but really economical and way GREEN. It even helps clean the air of what would be considered smelly contamination. Potential investors should email me for a prospectus.

Happy RRing,

Jerry


You’re sh—ing us aren’t you? :wink: :slight_smile: :o :smiley:

Richard :lol:

No he isn’t, there wasn’t a word about using solid fuel in that contraption of his! :wink:


Bi-products HJ! Bi-products! :slight_smile: :wink:

#34
Richard Smith said:
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Richard :lol:

No he isn’t, there wasn’t a word about using solid fuel in that contraption of his! :wink:


Bi-products HJ! Bi-products! :slight_smile: :wink:

That will be a very fouled-up combustion chamber, not to mention the potential backfiring effect. :smiley: :wink: A “Ventilator” balloon explosion will be zilch compared to that. :lol:

PS I better get to work in the garden, the Spamiards whipped the Eyetalians, time to do some work.