Oil Prices

[Shocker85]

I'm really not interested in working this debate to death or anything, but Dillons/Kroger/Kwik Shop is present in Salina just like Wichita, and since QT is an OK company I've got to guess their market penetration in OKC isn't much different than Wichita.

As an aside, the new QT at 37th & Rock has 100% gasoline/no ethanol available. THAT makes my day. Freaking ethanol... the (utterly boring) stories I could tell about that craptastic product and the government overreach into the free market that brought it to life.

No. There is nowhere near the penetration of QT in OKC vs. Wichita. OKC is a 7Eleven city. It is strange. I heard a story about QT founder committing to a level of non-compete in OKC. I have no way of knowing if the story is true.

It appears no-one knows if it is true, but there are, in fact, few or zero QuikTrips in OKC proper:

http://newsok.com/quiktrip-sets-its-sights-on-...-not-oklahoma-city/article/2886697

I can' say I have ever seen a QT in OKC.

[rrshock]

Gas in newton was at $2.03 today. Wichita has been a quarter or more higher for a long time now.

The oil from the Baekken region has to be flooding the market right now as well.

[RoyalShock]

For the past few months gas in Buhler has been 10-20 cents cheaper per gallon than Hutch, which is 90% Dillons/KwikShop. We have no QT, a couple of Pik Quiks and a maybe a couple of other small-time convenience stores.

[1979Shocker]

I don't understand what is keeping up gas prices in Wichita. Driving through Salina this weekend and their prices were about $.30-$.40 below Wichita. It looks like OKC is seeing prices $.40-$.50 below Wichita. What's the story?

Part of it is taxes. Oklahoma has one of the lower tax rates on gasoline.

http://www.gasbuddy.com/USA_Tax_Map.aspx

[1979Shocker]

No. There is nowhere near the penetration of QT in OKC vs. Wichita. OKC is a 7Eleven city. It is strange. I heard a story about QT founder committing to a level of non-compete in OKC. I have no way of knowing if the story is true.

It appears no-one knows if it is true, but there are, in fact, few or zero QuikTrips in OKC proper:

http://newsok.com/quiktrip-sets-its-sights-on-...-not-oklahoma-city/article/2886697

I can' say I have ever seen a QT in OKC.

You would think with QT headquarters in Tulsa, they could penetrate a little into Oklahoma City, even if it's only the suburbs. Unless they're just not allowed to.

[wu_shizzle]

You would think with QT headquarters in Tulsa, they could penetrate a little into Oklahoma City, even if it's only the suburbs. Unless they're just not allowed to.

It's a gentleman's agreement: http://rjyoungblogs.com/2014/11/12/t...oklahoma-city/

[Dave Stalwart]

It's a gentleman's agreement: http://rjyoungblogs.com/2014/11/12/t...oklahoma-city/

I am offended by "gentlemen's agreements." The insensitive name implies that women can't make the same kind of agreement. Are ladies not able to keep their word as well as gentlemen without some kind of written agreement?

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

I am offended by "gentlemen's agreements." The insensitive name implies that women can't make the same kind of agreement. Are ladies not able to keep their word as well as gentlemen without some kind of written agreement?

Yes, until one buys the same shoes the other had. Then all bets are off.

[wu_shizzle]

Are ladies not able to keep their word as well as gentlemen without some kind of written agreement?

[SHOCKvalue]

It would suck to live somewhere without QT's. They are such a breath of fresh air, in a generally uninspired and scuzzy market segment. And they're so consistent across the board, unlike Kwik Shop who has some locations that are similar to QT's, and others that make you feel like you need a tetanus shot before setting foot on the premises. There's a reason QT is the big dog in basically every geographic market they are in.

It is a bit infuriating though to realize you might be paying more at the pump so that gas retailers can compete in loyalty point shell games. Seems like maybe some anti-trust undertones could be in play. I've always basically ignored the loyalty point game (other than the no-brainer $.02 off at Kwik Shop with the Plus card), but it looks like all Wichita residents need to play the game in order to simply get true market pricing on gas.

[Dave Stalwart]

I am willing to pay a little more for gas to have my convenience store look like a QT. Sometimes being the absolute bottom on the cheapness scale isn't the best thing. Look at it like you are going to the nice gas station the same way Dillon's is nicer than Wal-Mart. And remember that a .10 to .20 cent difference per gallon amounts to a few bucks. How many other things do we waste our money on. I just don't care that much about chasing gas prices.

I want a nice soda fountain, a clean bathroom, non-sketchy staff how are paid like human beings with families and a safe premises. I will pay extra for that. It's a no brainer for me. QT is revolutionizing the "gas station." If that costs a little extra, then so be it because it's BETTER.

[SHOCKvalue]

$.20/gallon amounts to about $500/year between my wife and I. That's not insignificant.

I'm not going to dig up articles, but I believe gas only customers at convenience stores just help the business to break even. It's the people that go inside who are making them money. That's why QT is so focused on drawing the customer in to the store, rather than just splash and dash.

[Dave Stalwart]

$.20/gallon amounts to about $500/year between my wife and I. That's not insignificant.

I'm not going to dig up articles, but I believe gas only customers at convenience stores just help the business to break even. It's the people that go inside who are making them money. That's why QT is so focused on drawing the customer in to the store, rather than just splash and dash.

I think .20 is also an outlier though. I kind of doubt it is always that bad. Most of the time it's about the same.

[ShockTalk]

It's a gentleman's agreement: http://rjyoungblogs.com/2014/11/12/t...oklahoma-city/

Please read the last (and long) post at the end of the comments section for the real poop, if you will. Makes sense (and keeps you out of trouble).

[wu_shizzle]

Please read the last (and long) post at the end of the comments section for the real poop, if you will. Makes sense (and keeps you out of trouble).

That can't be completely true, you can't buy full strength beer at QT in Kansas, no?