Mississippi Vs. Alabama, Gas Prices

quote:

Originally posted by bluesman blues:
Just got back from Memphis and along hwy.72 even in Burnsville, Ms., Olive Branch, Southhaven, Hornlake, i.e. gas is between $3.43 and $3.59 drive into Alabama and its' $3.81 plus per gallon, can someone tell me what the hell is going on, why is their gas prices cheaper than ours.

Not only are the gas prices high, but I think there is a shortage of lube as well

Michael

I'm not sure what they call it, but Alabama has some type of law that is designed to keep gas prices high.
In Mississippi, and Florida, you can go to WalMart and get a gift card and use it to buy gas at 3cents below the advertised price. There is some kind of law, put in for the whiner-gas station owners, that won't let something like that happen here. Check it out next time you are in Corinth, or Pensacola. Then try to do the same at WalMart in Muscle Shoals, or even Foley.

Yep, Alabama has a law that prevents gas stations from selling gas under the wholesale price (I believe). It is designed to prevent large stations from starting a price war to drive the small stations out of business. However, what it does, is prevent the free market from working. Look at the states around us, none of them have these laws in place and the mom and pop gas stations are still around. Setting a 'floor' on a price is as bad as setting a 'ceiling', it does not allow the free market to work.

It is horrible when a gas station tries to lower their price and gets a letter from the state saying they are going to be fined because their price is too low. It happens. It happened to a station between Florence and Athens recently.

Michael

thursday, in corinth, it was $3.35

that halfway paid for our meal.

I just came through the same area and the gas in Corinth is now $3.29 - What's up with that???

quote:

Originally posted by dragnldy53:
I just came through the same area and the gas in Corinth is now $3.29 - What's up with that???

I don't know, but another nickel drop and it'll be worth the drive over to fill up...

Link

Go to this website on gas taxes that show each state and tell me why Alabama is higher than MS?

quote:

Originally posted by dragnldy53:
Link

Go to this website on gas taxes that show each state and tell me why Alabama is higher than MS?

There is not much difference in the two (couple of pennies). It sure does not make up the difference in their price and ours.

2 cent inspection fee ?!?!? You gotta be kidding me. They inspect those pumps once a year! How much do we pay those inspectors, anyway??? Geez.....

I'm sure glad we don't live in Chicago.

Michael

quote:

Originally posted by excelman:
I'm not sure what they call it, but Alabama has some type of law that is designed to keep gas prices high.
In Mississippi, and Florida, you can go to WalMart and get a gift card and use it to buy gas at 3cents below the advertised price. There is some kind of law, put in for the whiner-gas station owners, that won't let something like that happen here. Check it out next time you are in Corinth, or Pensacola. Then try to do the same at WalMart in Muscle Shoals, or even Foley.

The Walmart is Muscle Shoals used to let people buy gas 3 cents cheaper but all the other gas stations complained and the plan was dropped about 3 years ago. I used to do that.

quote:

Originally posted by LMM:

The Walmart is Muscle Shoals used to let people buy gas 3 cents cheaper but all the other gas stations complained and the plan was dropped about 3 years ago. I used to do that.

Yep, they got one of those letters from the state slapping them on the wrist. I remember when it happened.

Michael

I could be wrong about this but wholesale price is not what it is based on. I understand we have a local opec type group or board that dictate the price. When wall mart in MS started selling gas cheaper than they wanted, they sued them and won. Any one else remember this?