Gas Prices Rise Again Overnight in California

Originally Posted by BLT

No CA requires the gas stations to sell "special" blends of gas that are only made in CA. So when there is a refinery fire or something else that shuts down a couple of refineries there is a supply shortage... and the prices shoot up.

Are there any actual shortages there, as in stations not having any fuel to sell?

Not yet, with these prices there has not been a rush to buy.

Originally Posted by elistan

Are there any actual shortages there, as in stations not having any fuel to sell?

Originally Posted by BLT

Not yet, with these prices there has not been a rush to buy.

I read about lines somewhere due to shortages, but like you, I haven't seen any.

Originally Posted by 1Dreamer

No, we don't move threads because some people can't contain themselves. Feel free to start a new thread there though if you want to take the conversation there.

I'll pass, thanks.

And I think you may have missed a few political references when you were in edit mode.

Originally Posted by BeemerMikeTX

Actually, it does mean a damned thing. The price/cost of the crudes that California refineries process is almost certainly based on the market price of WTI or Brent. That is just how the contracts are structured.

For the most part, Californian refineries process Alaskan North Slope, Siberian, and South American crude, all of which trade at a basis to Brent. +15-20 over WTI.

For you budding commodities traders out there, the forward Brent price curve has been in backwardation for quite some time, suggesting that on a global basis, demand is strong. In contrast, WTI is in contango, meaning the market doesn't need it, and is telling suppliers to put it in storage.

Originally Posted by elistan

Are there any actual shortages there, as in stations not having any fuel to sell?

Yes, because the refineries aren't primarily blending for summer any longer, they've moved over to the winter blend.

I'm shopping for a V8 4Runner right now, anyone driven to sell theirs because of this?

Originally Posted by Coconutpete

I'm shopping for a V8 4Runner right now, anyone driven to sell theirs because of this?

Wifey is wanting something more sporty, check this out. You'll like it

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/3328378958.html

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Originally Posted by Coconutpete

I'm shopping for a V8 4Runner right now, anyone driven to sell theirs because of this?

that thing is ugly and thirsty, like 12 mpg LOL

Originally Posted by 1Dreamer

I read about lines somewhere due to shortages, but like you, I haven't seen any.

I was at a PMI conference yesterday and attended a session that an oil and gas engineer spoke at. She said the shortages were caused by a refinery being offline in Torrance and one other location in Northern California (I can't remember exactly where). IIRC she said the Torrance refinery just came back online, but the two offline refineries, the switch to winter gas and the issue that California can't ship in gas refined elsewhere contributed to the shortage causing prices to rise.

Sounds like a great strategy for the oil companies, just keep one or two refineries off line at all times to keep gas prices artificially inflated!

Originally Posted by Elias

Sounds like a great strategy for the oil companies, just keep one or two refineries off line at all times to keep gas prices artificially inflated!

Yeah, they just love it when there is no way to refine and sell their product.

glad i only live 5 miles from work!

Originally Posted by salesman

glad i only live 5 miles from work!

5 miles is pretty good for the US. You can save quite a bit on fuel and car maintenance. I'm 2-3 minutes walking distance

Originally Posted by 1Dreamer

I read about lines somewhere due to shortages, but like you, I haven't seen any.

I see lines at costco and wonder how their times isn't worth more than the 10 cents a gallon they save to get gas there. Then again these are same people who line up like cattle for free samples...guess saving $1.20 on a fill up and getting a chunk of free bagel dog is worth it to them...

Originally Posted by brkf

I see lines at costco and wonder how their times isn't worth more than the 10 cents a gallon they save to get gas there. Then again these are same people who line up like cattle for free samples...guess saving $1.20 on a fill up and getting a chunk of free bagel dog is worth it to them...

I think you miss the true beauty of Costco.

For one, there old electronic return policies were great.

TV bulb blown out? Return it.
Computer outdated? Return it.
Not to mention the automatic 1 year extension of warranties.

As for the gas, it's being able to pay via credit card and not cash or debit. Definitely a big help when you are traveling long distance with only a set amount of gas. As for the long Costco gas lines, from my experience, that's in California only. The lines weren't that bad traveling through Canada or the Pacific Northwest.

Edit: And before forum trolls ridicule me for knowing all this, no I do not fill my Ultimate Driving Machine at Costco.

Originally Posted by harkirath

I think you miss the true beauty of Costco.

For one, there old electronic return policies were great.

TV bulb blown out? Return it.
Computer outdated? Return it.
Not to mention the automatic 1 year extension of warranties.

As for the gas, it's being able to pay via credit card and not cash or debit. Definitely a big help when you are traveling long distance with only a set amount of gas. As for the long Costco gas lines, from my experience, that's in California only. The lines weren't that bad traveling through Canada or the Pacific Northwest.

Edit: And before forum trolls ridicule me for knowing all this, no I do not fill my Ultimate Driving Machine at Costco.

Who doesn't accept credit cards? I've never had a problem at Chevron or 76.


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$3.46 for premium in TX, 10/12/12. Credit card same price as cash and accepted everywhere.

Originally Posted by Dave 330i

$3.46 for premium in TX, 10/12/12. Credit card same price as cash and accepted everywhere.

Yes, but then you'd actually have to live in Texas, and who wants to do that?

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Originally Posted by brkf

I see lines at costco and wonder how their times isn't worth more than the 10 cents a gallon they save to get gas there. Then again these are same people who line up like cattle for free samples...guess saving $1.20 on a fill up and getting a chunk of free bagel dog is worth it to them...

Good points. I have seen those lines for gas at Costco, but they are always there. I suspect they spend more waiting with their engines running than they save. I also suspect they probably bought something they don't need in Costo because it was "such a good deal," but they will still spend 15 minutes waiting to save 5 cents a gallon . . . . with their engines running.

Originally Posted by harkirath

I think you miss the true beauty of Costco.

For one, there old electronic return policies were great.

TV bulb blown out? Return it.
Computer outdated? Return it.
Not to mention the automatic 1 year extension of warranties.

As for the gas, it's being able to pay via credit card and not cash or debit. Definitely a big help when you are traveling long distance with only a set amount of gas. As for the long Costco gas lines, from my experience, that's in California only. The lines weren't that bad traveling through Canada or the Pacific Northwest.

Edit: And before forum trolls ridicule me for knowing all this, no I do not fill my Ultimate Driving Machine at Costco.

I don't think he's knocking Costco. We all go there, and even I buy stuff I don't always need because it's a good deal. But Costco isn't exactly like Walmart. They carry quality merchandise for a discount, not junk, and you pay $50 membership fee. How often does anyone walk out of there without spending a minimum of $100 to $200? Look in the carts and it's not stuff people need to survive. You don't need fresh Salmon and Grey Goose, or a 60 inch wide-screen to survive. So it's just kind of odd to see people lining up for bites of food and sitting in long lines with their engines running trying to save a buck on a fill-up.

Originally Posted by stylinexpat

5 miles is pretty good for the US. You can save quite a bit on fuel and car maintenance. I'm 2-3 minutes walking distance

2-3 minutes walking is good for Taiwan. You can save quite a bit on food, water, and shoes.

Originally Posted by harkirath

I think you miss the true beauty of Costco.

For one, there old electronic return policies were great.

TV bulb blown out? Return it.
Computer outdated? Return it.
Not to mention the automatic 1 year extension of warranties.

As for the gas, it's being able to pay via credit card and not cash or debit. Definitely a big help when you are traveling long distance with only a set amount of gas. As for the long Costco gas lines, from my experience, that's in California only. The lines weren't that bad traveling through Canada or the Pacific Northwest.

Edit: And before forum trolls ridicule me for knowing all this, no I do not fill my Ultimate Driving Machine at Costco.

Um... not knocking Costco. Just getting gas there (or standing in line for a free sample as if you're at a soup kitchen) amounts to banging one's head on a wall. We spend an obscene amount there almost weekly (we go through fruit, fresh fish and veggies super fast). My son always wants to know why people are hovering around the sample tables like vultures. I have no rational explanation for why these people clog the aisles waiting for a tiny taste of some food. Sad really.

A long line to me at a gas station is waiting for any car to fill up. So any time waiting is not gonna happen. And any place that doesn't take credit...doesn't exist to me. If I'm supposed to interact with an attendant, I'm moving on.

Originally Posted by MatWiz

2-3 minutes walking is good for Taiwan. You can save quite a bit on food, water, and shoes.

I used to wonder why the Chinese had so much money when I was young living back in California lol.. Now I know lol.. Walk,bicycle or bus to work lol.. Eat rice and noodles everyday. Save money on soft drinks by getting lunches and dinners with soups The rest I won't get into or mention lol..

When it comes to food,water and shoes I probably easily over spend.

Originally Posted by brkf

Um... not knocking Costco. Just getting gas there (or standing in line for a free sample as if you're at a soup kitchen) amounts to banging one's head on a wall. We spend an obscene amount there almost weekly (we go through fruit, fresh fish and veggies super fast). My son always wants to know why people are hovering around the sample tables like vultures. I have no rational explanation for why these people clog the aisles waiting for a tiny taste of some food. Sad really.

A long line to me at a gas station is waiting for any car to fill up. So any time waiting is not gonna happen. And any place that doesn't take credit...doesn't exist to me. If I'm supposed to interact with an attendant, I'm moving on.

You should see the Chinese lining up in Taiwan at Costco for free sampling lol..