Started By
Message

re: Explain to me how Walmart gas in a city that has 5 locations can have 5 different prices?

Posted on 9/23/26 at 12:36 pm to
Posted by thejudge
Westlake, LA
Member since Sep 2009
15286 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 12:36 pm to
quote:

Always cheaper toward the hood


I always bought my kids toys for Christmas when they were little at the HWY 14 WalMart in LC. Always substantially cheaper.

The other day in Houston searching for Cleats online from Academy while at Methodist I found a pair for $30 on sale. I bought them. When I got home I asked my other son if he wanted a pair and said sure. I got back on the same page and they were $20 more expensive.

Only thing changed was my location.
Posted by OU Guy
Member since Feb 2022
36205 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 12:38 pm to
Another point not mentioned. Everyone has heard of gouging laws to prevent massive increases during disasters.

Well there are other laws put in place in states and cities and counties (and might be federally) to prevent monster chains from undercutting the mom and pop stores and gas stations. Meaning they have to be within a set price range based on local averages. This prevents monster chains from killing the smaller places by moving prices way cheaper.

There is usually a radius of x miles from store used to verify. So each of the cities Walmart stores will have a different radius to verify prices to make sure they don’t undercut locals.
This post was edited on 9/23/26 at 12:40 pm
Posted by ragincajun03
Member since Nov 2007
30351 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 1:08 pm to
Location
Location
Location
Posted by the_truman_shitshow
Member since Aug 2021
2800 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 1:10 pm to
You serious Clark?
Posted by ragincajun03
Member since Nov 2007
30351 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 1:11 pm to
quote:

Just imagine gas prices if the government controlled the gas stations


Last couple months here folks have started sounding like Maxine Waters in 2008 when she told everyone in a Congressional hearing she’d be in favor of taking over the entire industry and government running it.

:I feel like I’m taking crazy pills: gif over here.
This post was edited on 9/23/26 at 1:13 pm
Posted by Timeoday
Easter Island
Member since Aug 2020
28459 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 1:15 pm to
A smart person would just use the low price Wal-Mart guarantee, right?
Posted by Wolfwireless
Member since Aug 2024
6875 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 2:07 pm to
quote:

Its all the same company in the same general vicinity. Why can't the price over here be the same as over there?

I know the answer. I just think its BS.


It's called competitive pricing, some call it competitive marketing.
Essentially most gas stations, regardless of who owns them have an employee that drives the main drag and surrounding area, marking competitor's advertised gas prices.
Keep in mind that the actual store profit on gas is marginal, so what they can't make in price they (try to) make up for in volume sales.
So they have employees that drive around to see if they can price their gas for less than other gas stations
Posted by AUVet21
Member since Sep 2022
424 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 2:21 pm to
I can beat that. Yesterday went to zaxbys and ordered my sandwich on the app. Checked the 2 locations closest to me to see who was closest. They are 3.5 miles away from each other and one had the sandwich meal for 8.99 and the other was 9.99
Could have just been a glitch on the app I guess but still doesn’t make any sense
Posted by Tigergreg
Metairie
Member since Feb 2005
27918 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 2:46 pm to
Priced competitively with other stations in the general vicinity.
Posted by Rip Torner
Member since Jul 2023
4621 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 2:49 pm to
Because gas prices aren’t driven by market forces, if they were it would be much cheaper in the US and would skyrocket in Eastern Asia, Europe, and Africa; Japan and China would be fuel deserts
Posted by Nosevens
Member since Apr 2019
21333 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 2:51 pm to
Market spot pricing
Posted by sidewalkside
rent free in yo head
Member since Sep 2021
5061 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 3:03 pm to
quote:

Explain to me how Walmart gas in a city that has 5 locations can have 5 different prices?
So you literally have no idea how a business works huh?
Posted by Blizzard of Chizz
Member since Apr 2012
21847 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 3:10 pm to
I knew someone who once owned a bunch of gas stations. They explained it to me like this. As the business you’re not paying the cost of the current fuel going into the ground/ tank. You’re paying for the next one. Not all stations/ areas sell the same volume of fuel in the same timeframe, thus a station whose time frame between fuel trucks is larger will generally have a higher price.. You also have to factor in that fuel sales are generally a loss for the business which is why they try to get you inside to purchase items with higher margins.
Posted by Ag Zwin
Member since Mar 2016
27201 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 3:18 pm to
Posted by Csmims
A sandy beach in paradise
Member since Jan 2019
4463 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 4:02 pm to
There are plenty of cities that have five or more Walmarts
Posted by colbycovington
Ruston
Member since Jan 2020
2099 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 7:19 pm to
quote:

Bull f'ing shite. The supplier buys millions of gallons at a determined price. So a couple days delivery is till being pulled form the same supply/price tanks. Market fluctuations doesnt effect pre bought fuel supplies. Basically, its an "accidental oversight" that is corrected when asked about it...or explained by erroneous statements like yours.


Unfortunately you couldn’t be more wrong. I could probably tell you who Murphy USA (not Wal Mart btw) buys from based on the city you live in.

The price they pay for 87e10 is most likely formula based that looks something like 90% Todays Argus Price + 10% Todays Ethanol Price - a percentage of Todays RIN price + a differential adder of usually somewhere around 5-10 cents.

The differential added is the only part of the price that stays consistent, the rest is dependent on the market.
Posted by Hateradedrink
Member since May 2023
4755 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 7:23 pm to
There is a 0% chance you’re an American after asking this question.

Hope you find some “warm water ports”
Posted by Powerman
Member since Jan 2004
177104 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 7:25 pm to
quote:


I know the answer. I just think its BS.

Sounds like you don't in fact know the answer
Posted by LSUtoBOOT
Member since Aug 2012
22056 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 7:26 pm to
The same reason you have to enter your zip code to get a health insurance quote, because the price is what you can afford and be willing to pay, not the actual cost with markup.
Posted by TigerintheNO
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2004
45622 posts
Posted on 9/23/26 at 7:31 pm to
Orleans Parish (New Orleans) has 4 Wal Marts, Jefferson Parish has 7
first pageprev pagePage 2 of 3Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

Facebook•X•Instagram