🚀 go-pugleaf

> is "a good idea" because of promised lower prices.  Funny thing is that in
> self-serve states the self-serve pump price is pretty close to the
> full serve price in NJ.  If self-serve is so much cheaper, why is there not
> more of a difference?  Try asking that of a oil company's district rep and
> see if he gives you a straight answer.

I have previously posted on this topic and have stated my views that
essentially disagrees with yours.  However, neither of us can PROVE our
points; only the market can decide.

However, you have asked a question about which I can answer.  The
question is on the price of self-serve vs. full serve gas.

If you compare prices of gasoline between states, you are really
comparing the price of wallets and oranges.  Because of the effect of
taxes, the comparison is impossible.  Athough the federal tax on gas
is constant, the size of the state tax varies tremendously from state
to state.

My belief is that the oil companies want self-serve; they want to
reduce the cost of providing the commodity with NO EFFORT AT ALL.
When that happens, supply and demand take over and I say the demand
will rise when the price goes down.

BTW, my father was a contractor for service stations for also 30+
years.  I'm not really sure this is relevant though; the market has
changed quite a bit now.

Steve Zubatkin
Morristown, NJ

I speak for myself.