Easy Money!! Exploit the difference in gas prices!

[MacMagus]

I travel up and down the East coast quite a bit. Typically, there's no more than 10-20 cents difference in gas prices from Florida up to Maine. That's no longer the case. I just figured out that it's actually more economical for me to drive two hours away to fill up my tank than it is to fill up locally (excepting the value of my time). I can't recall that this has ever been the case before.

But that's not all. It didn't take long for me to realize that there's more than just saving money on the line. This could be a profitable enterprise for the right person.

Gas costs $2.46 for regular near DC.

It costs $2.02 just 90 miles south near Richmond.

A gas truck holds between 3500 and 8500 gallons of gasoline. The difference in price means that a 3500 gallon trailer filled in Richmond will be worth $1540 more in the vicinity of DC. An 8500 gallon trailer is worth $3740 more. At least that much -- with that kind of volume, there should be some sort of discount on the purchase.

'Anybody got a couple of spare gas trucks they could loan me for awhile?

[Carm]

Where's Kramer and Newman when you need them? Seinfeld reference. http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/TheBottleDeposit1.html

Newman finishes his soda and drops the bottle in Jerry's bin.
KRAMER: What're you doing. (fetching the bottle from the trash) Don't throw that away.
NEWMAN: Well, I'm not paying the five cents for that stupid recycling thing.
KRAMER: You don't pay five cents, you get five cents back. Here, read the label here. (reads from bottle) Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York. Refund, (brings bottle up close to Newman's eyes) vrrup, five cents.
NEWMAN: (taking bottle) Refund?
KRAMER: Yes.
JERRY: Well, what d'you think the hoboes are doing?
NEWMAN: I don't know, they're deranged.
Kramer and Newman sit on Jerry's couch. Kramer has TV Guide, Newman
Still reading the bottle.
.....SNIP.....
NEWMAN: (peering at bottle label) What is this 'MI, ten cents'?
KRAMER: That's Michigan. In Michigan you get ten cents.
NEWMAN: Ten cents!?
KRAMER: Yeah.
NEWMAN: Wait a minute. You mean you get five cents here, and ten cents there. You could round up bottles here and run 'em out to Michigan for the difference.
KRAMER: No, it doesn't work.
NEWMAN: What d'you mean it doesn't work? You get enough bottles together...
KRAMER: Yeah, you overload your inventory and you blow your margins on gasoline. Trust me, it doesn't work.
JERRY: (re-entering) Hey, you're not talking that Michigan deposit bottle scam again, are you?
KRAMER: No, no, I'm off that.
NEWMAN: You tried it?
KRAMER: Oh yeah. Every which way. Couldn't crunch the numbers. It drove me crazy.
JERRY: (leaving) You two keep an eye on each other?
NEWMAN/KRAMER: (simultaneous) No problem. You bet.
Jerry exits, shaking his head.

[Grateful11]

Remember they're only making 3-4¢ per gallon on gas at the station. They still lay claim to
this nonsense. I've heard them actually say this in the papers and on TV news. So I guess
the guy 30 miles away from my house selling it 30¢ a gallon is losing money, right.

[New.Dad]

[quote MacMagus]I just figured out that it's actually more economical for me to drive two hours away to fill up my tank than it is to fill up locally (excepting the value of my time).
"excepting the value of my time", here is the problem.

[The UnDoug]

I've thought it through a number of times, myself. Here in Philadelphia, even at the cheapest stations (and there can be a 20 cent or more difference between stations within a mile or two of each other), the price is still about 30 cents more than it is in New Jersey, right across the bridge over the Delaware River. It'd only take a few minutes to drive to Jersey and get fill up, *but*, there's a three dollar toll to cross the bridge back to Philadelphia. So for my car's 16 gallon tank, I figure it'd have to be at least a thirty cent difference (about $4.80 total difference) to cover the toll and my time. :-)

Plus, in Jersey, you're not allowed to pump your own gas. They always do it for you, so I guess that's an added bonus. One thing I've always wondered about that practice, though, is whether or not you're supposed to tip the pumpers. It *is* their job, so I figure you don't have to.

[mjgkramer]

The thing that baffles me is the almost daily price changes. I would think the price would change only when the bulk truck comes to fill the tanks at a different price than before. I know the truck does not come as often as the price changes. And surely the tanks aren't always empty when the truck refills them. Does anyone understand this?

I noticed in the San Antonio Express yesterday that HEB, the big SA-based grocery chain, is now selling 87 octane for $1.879 a gallon.

[spearmint]

In 1979 you could buy diesel in Tijuana for 15¢ a gallon. My brother in law had a diesel Peugeut with excellent mileage and a super sized tank. If he lived in San Diego he could have driven to Seattle and back for almost free. Crppy car though.

[ztirffritz]

On Friday I drove back from Portland to Yakima. I saw a $.60-.80 difference in gas prices between the two cities. What I don't understand is how it can possibly be cheaper in Portland. They are legally obligated to have someone pump the gas for you. They are only a few hours away, yet they pay nearly 30% less for gas and have someone pump it?!?

[Grateful11]

[quote ztirffritz]On Friday I drove back from Portland to Yakima. I saw a $.60-.80 difference in gas prices between the two cities. What I don't understand is how it can possibly be cheaper in Portland. They are legally obligated to have someone pump the gas for you. They are only a few hours away, yet they pay nearly 30% less for gas and have someone pump it?!?
The reason is: because they can.

The cheapest gas around here is out in the boonies where it cost more to transport it to, go figure.

[MacMagus]

Stirring the pot a little bit: I just saw a tv news blurb about a price war between gas stations that got the price below $2 dollars a gallon. One of the station managers admitted that he's paying less than $1.30 per gallon PREMIUM so he's still making good money.

Nice profit margins.


> "excepting the value of my time", here is the problem.

So I could make a run at night when I don't have billables and my time is practically worthless.


Seriously, I bet somebody is doing this already. They could be selling cheap gas under overpasses like they did in Soviet Russia. There's just too much of a price discrepancy for it not to be exploited.

Meanwhile, WTF is going on that there's this much of a price difference to begin with? A couple of months ago there was a 12 cent difference in price between Richmond and DC. Now it's 44 cents!!