Oil Prices

[Kung Wu]

Thanks guys. Sounds like an opportunity for a larger competitor to move in and take advantage of Dillons and QTs pricing strategies.

[1979Shocker]

Because MANY gas stations around the area adjust gas prices strictly based on what QT does.

They make little to no money on gas, and sometimes lose money.

That doesn't seem to work for Valero, Jump Start, etc., which have prices around 5 cents lower than Dillons and QuikTrip.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

That doesn't seem to work for Valero, Jump Start, etc., which have prices around 5 cents lower than Dillons and QuikTrip.

Apparently capitalizing MANY didn't work either.

[shox1989]

That doesn't seem to work for Valero, Jump Start, etc., which have prices around 5 cents lower than Dillons and QuikTrip.

There do appear to be several stations around town that are always 2 to 5 cents cheaper than Dillons/QT. But again they seem to be following QT/Dillons. Every time QT/Dillons change their price, these stations change too but always stay a few cents cheaper. They never go out on a limb and try charging 20 or 30 cents less. As long as you belong to Dillons or QT's loyalty program you probably come out slightly ahead. It seems like most of the time I end up getting 30 cents off at Dillons and sometimes it is a little better (40 or 50c). I have gotten as much as a dollar off at QT (but I don't get it as much, I let it build up something Dillons doesn't really let you do).

It is the people that don't belong to one of the loyalty programs that is probably paying on average a little over 20c more gallon than they probably should be. And I should probably thank them because they are probably paying for the loyalty programs that are giving me the extra discount.

[shocka khan]

Valero buys a lot of their oil from Venezuela and refines it in Corpus Christi. Most of it is high in sulphur, which leaves deposits in your engine.

I buy most of my gas at HEB. Since I don't know where it comes from, I have been buying up to 40 percent from Chevron or Shell.

However, they have started pricing their premium (which I need) and diesel around a dollar a gallon more (instead of the usual fifty cents). If this trend continues, I'll have to put a gas treatment in my tank every two weeks or so to keep my engine clean.

[Kung Wu]

There do appear to be several stations around town that are always 2 to 5 cents cheaper than Dillons/QT. But again they seem to be following QT/Dillons. Every time QT/Dillons change their price, these stations change too but always stay a few cents cheaper. They never go out on a limb and try charging 20 or 30 cents less. As long as you belong to Dillons or QT's loyalty program you probably come out slightly ahead. It seems like most of the time I end up getting 30 cents off at Dillons and sometimes it is a little better (40 or 50c). I have gotten as much as a dollar off at QT (but I don't get it as much, I let it build up something Dillons doesn't really let you do).

It is the people that don't belong to one of the loyalty programs that is probably paying on average a little over 20c more gallon than they probably should be. And I should probably thank them because they are probably paying for the loyalty programs that are giving me the extra discount.

The price difference on most groceries that I have directly compared between Target and Dillons way more than compensate for the comparitively small discount you get at the pump. Going Target plus a non-loyalty discount store will most assuredly put you ahead, and probably by a lot. Target was even beating Walmart on most groceries that my family consumes, the last time I compared. Target and Walmart were quite close in comparison with Dillons being quite a bit more. In fact, on some products it was eyebrow raising.

[shox1989]

The price difference on most groceries that I have directly compared between Target and Dillons way more than compensate for the comparitively small discount you get at the pump. Going Target plus a non-loyalty discount store will most assuredly put you ahead, and probably by a lot. Target was even beating Walmart on most groceries that my family consumes, the last time I compared. Target and Walmart were quite close in comparison with Dillons being quite a bit more. In fact, on some products it was eyebrow raising.

Thanks for the heads up about Target. I have never been inside of a Target store. I didn't even realize they sold groceries. My wife and I have always shopped at Dillons. We have visited other stores over the years, but have just liked Dillons better. Dillon stores are clean, the customer service is good, the check out lanes are fast and the selection is usually pretty good. I have occasionally run into a Walmart to pick something up but my experiences there have quite often been bad. One of the things that really strikes me about Walmart (besides the dirty stores) is how often the price rings up higher at the cash register than it was posted on the shelf. I don't shop there that much and it has happened to me several times. Maybe most people just don't look that closely at the actual price that rings up, otherwise I don't really understand how people put up with that. It has also happened to me a few times at Dillons over the years, but it has been pretty rare and Dillons has always quickly changed the price (it is not always so easy at walmart).

[1979Shocker]

The price difference on most groceries that I have directly compared between Target and Dillons way more than compensate for the comparitively small discount you get at the pump. Going Target plus a non-loyalty discount store will most assuredly put you ahead, and probably by a lot. Target was even beating Walmart on most groceries that my family consumes, the last time I compared. Target and Walmart were quite close in comparison with Dillons being quite a bit more. In fact, on some products it was eyebrow raising.

If you use Price Catcher at Walmart, they'll match any advertised prices from other stores. I usually buy Great Value products, so those won't match.

[JJClamdip]

If you use Price Catcher at Walmart, they'll match any advertised prices from other stores. I usually buy Great Value products, so those won't match.

I hate these price matching programs, give me your best price the first time and if someone beats you that's your tough luck. Anyone can match or beat you when they know your price.

The weasel cars dealers are a good example.

[RoyalShock]

Thanks for the heads up about Target. I have never been inside of a Target store. I didn't even realize they sold groceries. My wife and I have always shopped at Dillons. We have visited other stores over the years, but have just liked Dillons better. Dillon stores are clean, the customer service is good, the check out lanes are fast and the selection is usually pretty good. I have occasionally run into a Walmart to pick something up but my experiences there have quite often been bad. One of the things that really strikes me about Walmart (besides the dirty stores) is how often the price rings up higher at the cash register than it was posted on the shelf. I don't shop there that much and it has happened to me several times. Maybe most people just don't look that closely at the actual price that rings up, otherwise I don't really understand how people put up with that. It has also happened to me a few times at Dillons over the years, but it has been pretty rare and Dillons has always quickly changed the price (it is not always so easy at walmart).

About 15 years ago I switched from Dillons to WalMart for price reasons. About 5 years ago I switched back after my threshold for putting up with inconsiderate customers, parents who don't control their kids, low-quality meat and produce, long and slow checkout lanes and incompetent employees I switched back to Dillons. I'll gladly pay the extra $5/wk on my bill to not put up with WalMart. At Dillons I can also load a gift card and every time I use it on gas or groceries a small percentage goes into my son's band trip account at school. In less than six months that account was up to $100.

If their gas is slightly higher due to the loyalty program it probably adds up to maybe $30 a year for me. Again, small price to pay.

[shocker3]

For what it is worth, all of the gas prices I saw between Wichita and Des Moines were between 1.82 and 1.99, with most of them being over 1.85. The most common price in Wichita is 1.76. So at least right now we don't seem to be paying extra to cover the cost of the
local loyalty programs.

[wsushox1]

Been hearing 30 dollar a barrel oil is going to be the basement for this thing.

[1979Shocker]

I heard gas prices will start going back up in the spring. But does anyone really know?

[shocka khan]

Latest forecasts are that oil will remain at less than $80 per barrel for the remainder of this year and next year. Experts were saying @ $60 it would take 6 months to recover back into the $70's. Now that it's below $50, probably longer.

I thought that $50 would be some sort of a floor, but it doesn't appear to be the case.

How quick it goes back up will depend on how long it takes to bottom out, but I'd say that gas will be no more than $2.50/gallon for regular for the rest of the year.

Too bad if you're a diesel/premium user, the prices for those two varieties are not dropping as quickly. Premium is maintaining a hefty spread over regular and diesel is even worse.

[pinstripers]

Many in the Oil Patch going on unemployment.