Fuel retailers allege illegal prices at pump (local petition against Sam's Club)

[Maine-ah]

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/142442.html

ust about any local corner store owner with pumps out front will tell you the same thing: They’re not getting rich selling gas.

Now, a group of independent gasoline retailers has petitioned Maine’s attorney general to investigate what they claim is unfair gasoline pricing in the Bangor area.

The petition circulated by James Swett, owner of Swett’s Tire and Auto on Hogan Road in Bangor, was sent last week to the attorney general’s office in Augusta. It specifically cites Sam’s Club in Bangor for consistently selling gasoline below cost.

“Sam’s Club ... is selling gasoline below cost for intent to control the market by pricing out the independent fuel dealer,” the petition reads.

Kate Simmons, spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office, confirmed Friday that her office has received the petition but said it is their policy not to comment on whether or not an investigation is under way.

Maine does not regulate gasoline prices, but state law prohibits anyone from selling merchandise at less than their cost with the intent to injure competitors or destroy competition.

[crim son]

1. No doubt

Sam's Club is going to claim it sells gas at below cost because it loves it's fellow man. :eyes:

[GodlessBiker]

3. Or they'll say it's a loss leader.

[Robb]

2. We recently went through this with grocery stores in CO

...You get a discount at the store-owned pump if you build up points with grocery purchases. Non-grocers who sold gas complained.

It ultimately went nowhere. The "free" market is a cruel mistress. :(

[madmom]

7. Our local Kroger just built a brand new gas station, it does this as well.

[ima_sinnic]

4. as a Bangor-area Maine resident, I wouldn't buy from Sam's Club no matter how cheap they price it

my boycott of the cancer known as Walmart continues ...

in addition, I once calculated the money I'd save by driving several miles to a "special" on gas and getting a fill-up--it amounted to something like a quarter (without figuring in the cost of gas to get to the gas station).

[Ilsa]

5. "Competition helps the consumer" is Big Box's credo until they can establish

their monopoly and drive Mom & Pop out of business.. Then it is all about the "free market."

[Bitwit1234]

6. The state of Minnesota has a law

that the gas price is set..don't know by whom..but no body can sell it lower. So what some stations do is give you a 3 cent discount for cash or the gas station near WalMart gives you a 3 cent discount for using a WalMart gift card.