Minnesota gas prices keep falling : La Crosse Tribune

what_that_too wrote on Nov 11, 2008 6:47 PM:

" As of approximately 6:00 pm tuesday, this story disappeared from the current on-line news list.

I forgot about it, and that I had previously posted, until I saw that someone wrote in "commments" in another story, that this had vanished.

Not that it matters; it seems that all comments are deleted after an unknown period, on all old stories. "

Foo Fighter wrote on Nov 11, 2008 3:17 PM:

" I'm sitting here eating a glazer and wondering what all the fighting is about? After all, gas prices are going DOWN! "

truth be told wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:41 PM:

" and then call the Tribune, ask for the publisher and ask him, why the Tribune won't run an opinion about the high price of gas in LaCrosse.

Do you know why? because he is AFRAID of Kwik Trip and the loss of ad revenue..

What ever happened " to find the truth and fearlessly print it.."

this went out when Kwik Trip came to town.. "

what_that_too wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:40 PM:

" That's "Meter", not "Neter".

Is it my fingers, or eyes, or both?

IDK, but, if I was buying gas in the 1960s, it could be any factor. "

truth be told wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:38 PM:

" when ever you shop at kwik trip, you might as well have a cigarette, because the reason they "love LaCrosse so much," is because they screw us everyday..

ask them why they spent a million dollars to close the gas station on the causeway between LaCrosse and LaCrescent.. go head, call the corporate office.

ask them if they ever called another station and told them to RAISE THEIR PRICE.. or else..

and watch the tap dance.. "

what_that_too wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:31 PM:

" Why does the "Trib-O-Neter" tell me I have 150 words, but when I submit the post, it's "too long"

You coun't 'em:

Add the two parts. I'm to busy

(part zwei):

On the other hand, just to be neutral, we need to develope alternative power systems and fuels. "

what_that_too wrote on Nov 11, 2008 2:28 PM:

" How much further away from Minneapolis is Prairie du Chein, than is La Crosse?

Yesterday, on my way back to this un-fair City, the price (at K-T stations in or around PdC), was $2.19 & 9/10 / gallon. Explain that one, anyone?

Years ago, we had all the major brands here (including several flavors of what was once Standard Oil), Socony-Mobil-Vacumn (sp?), Texaco, Sinclair, Phillips 66, Shell, ad nauseum,

We also had huge tanks on the La Crosse River (I recall one painted as a "pumpkin" one Halloween, or maybe that was in another city - not that important). That oil and gas came by barge, and La Crosse was the regional distribution point. Back then (1960s), I bought gas, wholesale, for $0.24 & 1/2. No, I don't expect it will ever return to that. Sob. "

enuffalready wrote on Nov 11, 2008 1:27 PM:

" Big E wrote:

" Enough: ...........So are they really screwing us? Keeping on hating..... "

************

Okay, BigE, since you obviously don't get it, I will speak real s-l-o-w for you!

It doesn't cost Kwik Trip $.22 a gallon to ship gas from the Koch Refinery (your location) to La Crosse. The gas price in La Crosse is higher due to the fact Kwik Trip has no viable competition in the area.

If it did cost Kwik Trip $.22 a gallon to ship gas 135 miles, the price of gas would, out of necessity, be higher due to the incremental cost of shipping the fuel to the Koch refinery near Apple Valley from wherever it originated.

Please explain to me why gas prices in Winona are $.10 a gallon cheaper than La Crescent?

That eliminates the state gas tax differential. "

Big E wrote on Nov 11, 2008 1:11 PM:

" Truth: You forgot that paying for the real estate, equipment, shipping, etc. comes out of the final price of gas.

Even if KT only pays $1.95 per gallon they are making far less then $0.35 per gallon profit. Gas stations literally make a few pennies in net income per gallon. Nearly 100% of the profit comes from the goods sold in the store. If you don't think I'm right ask anyone who owns a gas station....I did! "

babwa wrote on Nov 11, 2008 11:34 AM:

" Do any of you who are complaining about gas prices ever leave La Crosse? I live 40 miles away, the closest KT is 20 miles away and gas here is the same as it is in La Crosse. It has nothing to do with gas stations not lowering their prices to compete. You'll notice in La Crosse that every gas station charges the same, give or take a cent or two. Leave La Crosse and lo and behold, gas prices are the same, regardless of whether or not there's a KT. Sparta has many gas stations and only one KT in the city limits and KT doesn't cause the prices to be driven down -- they're the same. "

truth be told wrote on Nov 11, 2008 11:28 AM:

" of course Kwik Trip is "community orientated" because you are paying 35 cents a gallon in extra profit..

current wholesale cost of gas is 1.45 plus .50 cents in taxes.. that puts gas at 1.95.

anything above that is profit. "

shoeymis wrote on Nov 11, 2008 10:56 AM:

" Kwik Trip could charge less for gas in LaCrosse but they do not have competition (except for stores on Rose, Cass, and Jackson)so they can charge pretty much what they want within reason. Complain all you want about it or praise Kwik Trip for all the good things they offer the area but without viable competition Kwik Trip will never lower their gas prices to match Minnesota plus the 7 cent higher Minnesota tax.

When there was some competition that Kwik Trip wanted to drive out (just across bridge on way to La Crescent) Kwik Trip lowered the price to Minnesota levels. "

Moderate Republican wrote on Nov 11, 2008 10:55 AM:

" If you think KT is screwing us then you are dead wrong. Let try and remember that its a commodity. You have cost of transportation, federal, state and local taxes that are tacked onto the final product. Sure Minnesota has cheap gas, but have you seen their roads and highways? Gas prices vary from state to state, county to county. "

Big E wrote on Nov 11, 2008 10:15 AM:

" Enough you can complain about KT screwing everyone when you sign paychecks and pay health insurance for several hundred people, invest millions in real estate and equipment every year, pay millions in real estate taxes, donate millions to charitable causes around the country, or offer $2.69 milk and $0.99 bread to people who can't afford much on groceries to feed families. When you do all of these things you have earned the right to say who's screwing who! "

Big E wrote on Nov 11, 2008 10:00 AM:

" Enough: not sure exactly what it cost KT to ship gas. I don't work in the accounting department. But you proved my point...."Based on that cost per mile rate gas would be much more expensive than it is now based on the distance that particular refinery is from the source point" So you are saying they are not passing back enough of the shipping costs? So are they really screwing us? Keeping on hating..... "

enuffalready wrote on Nov 11, 2008 9:38 AM:

" Mack wrote on Nov 11, 2008 9:33 AM:

" This is a good time to implement a gas tax to encourage alternatives and inhibit consumption. "

**********

Spoken like a true liberal. Encourage the action you want by taxing.

Mack:

I agree that we need to reduce consumption. I just don't agree that is how we should go about it. "

Think of That wrote on Nov 11, 2008 9:36 AM:

" The last time I looked, Kwik Trip was not the dominant gas station in the Twin Cities..And think about it, with a differnet brand on every corner, why wouldn't there be compition and lower prices. Kwik Trip in La Crosse made it convenient in La Crosse to buy gas,so the people in the area stopped going to their competitors,the same competitors that may have kept the pricing down if they were still in biusiness "

Mack wrote on Nov 11, 2008 9:33 AM:

" This is a good time to implement a gas tax to encourage alternatives and inhibit consumption. "

enuffalready wrote on Nov 11, 2008 9:33 AM:

" It would be easier, faster, and less painful, if you just admitted now that Kwik Trip is screwing us because they have no competition, to speak of, in this area. "

longarmer wrote on Nov 11, 2008 9:32 AM:

" Kwik Trip has the same price as any other station in Lax. They are a large Corp and have many outlets. And if you notice they do ALOT for the community. They donate so much for us, the "little guys". Thank you Kwik Trip.
If you don't like their prices, and want to drive 30 plus miles out of your way, what do you save. "

enuffalready wrote on Nov 11, 2008 9:31 AM:

" Big E wrote on Nov 11, 2008 8:56 AM:

" Enough: .... You might notice the large refinery near the cities. That might have something to do with lower gas prices in that area. It's cheaper for KT to buy fuel near the Cities, thus the lower prices...hmmmm...it's best you freshen up on your economics. "

***********

@ BigE:

So what you're saying is that it costs Kwik Trip $.22 a gallon to transport the refined gas from the refinery to Minneapolis to La Crosse??

Perhaps you should freshen up on your math!!

Based on that cost per mile rate gas would be much more expensive than it is now based on the distance that particular refinery is from the source point.

So explain that one away Big E. "

enough already wrote on Nov 11, 2008 9:24 AM:

" Why do you all have to begrudge Kwik Trip, probably one the best employers in the area. They provide job security, benefits, good wages, retirement. Things you all complain that are gone from here, and no I don't work there. "

truth be told wrote on Nov 11, 2008 9:17 AM:

" don't buy gas in LaCrescent.. Go to Winona and save another 12 to 15 cents a gallon.. why? because it must cost Kwik Trip that much to get gas from La Crosse to Winona and then back to La Crescent to sell at the stations there..

brought to you by your good friends (LOL) at Kwik Trip.. the local robber barrons.. "

Big E wrote on Nov 11, 2008 8:56 AM:

" Enough: I would encourage you to get in your car and drive from Rochester to Minneapolis. You might notice the large refinery near the cities. That might have something to do with lower gas prices in that area. It's cheaper for KT to buy fuel near the Cities, thus the lower prices...hmmmm...it's best you freshen up on your economics. "

fortwith bolgar wrote on Nov 11, 2008 8:33 AM:

" La Crescent is about 5 miles away. Go over there, buy some apples and gas, it's all good. Why support the higher prices here when over the river and through the woods to lower gas prices we go!! "

jpb wrote on Nov 11, 2008 8:19 AM:

" Supply and demand. You need gas, they have it. They will charge what they think is appropriate. "

enuffalready wrote on Nov 11, 2008 8:13 AM:

" Gas prices:

Minneapolis $1.939
La Crosse $2.229

Since the differential in motor fuel tax is $.073 per gallon between Minnesota and Wisconsin, what makes up the difference in price??

Can you say, "thanks Kwik Trip!!"

Any Kwik Trip readers out there that would like to take a shot at explaining this????

I doubt it. "

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