Comments on: Gas Pump Vaccine From Idaho AG

By: Q Poe

Q Poe — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 22:52:20 +0000

I’m betting that gas will still be more expensive next year. Even with these credits.

By: JJ

JJ — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 03:58:43 +0000

@ David G. Thanks and agree.

When another retailer down the street has gas for 10% less there is not illegal gouging, rather the free market at work and consumers should make an educated purchase and not cry for the government to save themselves from their own purchasing decisions.

Free market works well when there is competition, and you are right the wholesale gas situation lacks competition, not the retail part.

Government’s role should be to ensure competition exists (via anti-trust acts) and otherwise not interfere in the free market and consumer decisions.

The AG is at its basic level a politician who must appeal to the masses for re-election, thus the emphasis on consumer retail where the voter has their experience.

Some gas prices are retailers trying to distinguish themselves with “valuable” fuel additives, or non-ethanol fuel for a premium. Real or perceived, they try to obtain a premium for the “benefit”, not price gouging.

By: David Gustafson

David Gustafson — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 08:08:03 +0000

This action by the AG is harmful meddling in the free market. Anti-gouging laws hinder valuable pricing signals that improves emergency response – pricing that prevents hoarding. “Gouging” ensures limited resources are distributed the in most valuable manner. It ensures generators in a hurricane are used for hospitals and schools, not beach houses. Imagine if stores could raise the price toilet paper according to demand; it may prevent the mindless hoarding we’ve seen this year. This fuel case makes no sense as gas consumption dropped dramatically this spring, resulting in large drops of wholesale prices to record lows. Most stations are always slow to change prices, taking advantage of the lack of awareness of typically shoppers on the drop, but suffering on the rise to prevent losing customers. This accounts for the large gap between wholesale and retail pricing. In any case, these retailers could not effectively manipulate the market as there are many other retailers who use a different pricing model, including Walmart, Costco, and Fred Meyer. Gas is a true commodity, making it difficult to manipulate the market. Wasden should focus on the Idaho wholesale prices, which ARE impacted by a pipeline monopoly, and leave the retailers alone.

By: erico49

erico49 — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 17:11:45 +0000

Blast from the past. Jim Jones used to periodically look into gas prices when he was AG. As I remember, that action alone got us a break. That said, my memory is faulty at times.

By: Bieter IS Gone, but we’re stuck with McLean

Bieter IS Gone, but we’re stuck with McLean — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 15:15:50 +0000

We did nothing wrong, and we promise not to do it again.

Walmart on overland has gas for $1.99.99. 1/2 mile west, Jackson’s is 2.27.99. No gouging there. And they won’t do it again – until next time.

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 21:34:30 +0000

Haven’t the three mentioned fuel retailers been price fixing forever?
Jackson and Sinclair keep pricing the same in the same area of the city. How do you think Jackson’s is affording the extra mile arena name and Sinclair, Sun Valley? From their 32oz drinks?