Gas prices

July 31, 2004 11:07 PM

Most of us are whiners, blaming circumstances for our failings; a precious few function in a self-sufficient bubble and able to shape their circumstances, never accepting the role of being a victim. Inder Parmar is such a man.
posted by semmi (9 comments total)

while others fail to understand the real circumstances they are working in and make futile gestures of resistence instead of adjusting to the situation ... no one makes money on gas in the convenience store business ... you only make money when they walk inside the store and buy something else and it's not going to be a lot

inder parmar should have known that ... most c store owners get by on pretty small earnings and cash in when they sell the franchise
posted by pyramid termite at 3:44 AM on August 1, 2004

I'd be able to sell things for a lot less if I didn't pay my rent, too.

I think he's an idiot, albeit a funny one! And I'm a self-employed cashier/clerk/retailer/manager/technician myself.

Rules of being a retailer:

#0. Pay the government
#1. Pay your rent
#2. Pay your suppliers
#3. Pay your bills
#4. Pay yourself

Raise prices as necessary until 0-4 are accomplishable, in that order.

Ohm, here's #5 for free:

#5. Bash anyone you like, but remember, their lawyers have stronger lawyer-fu than you. Always give yourself an exit.
posted by shepd at 3:47 AM on August 1, 2004

More power to him! If he's being put over the barrel by Getty/Lukoil, making four cents to their sixty cents for each sale, then what's he got to lose? He's gonna be a broke man whether or not he fights back, so he might as well fight.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:30 AM on August 1, 2004

I think all that prospecting, drilling, shipping, refining, and delivery cost a little more than just pumping. Or so I've heard. Unless Getty is also hiring neighborhood kids.
posted by dhartung at 1:45 PM on August 1, 2004

Yes. Yes. I know it isn't the point, and I know I'm being very parochial, but we're paying the UK equivalent of $7.30 per gallon over here in ye olde englande, so Mr Parmar would be very well received if he opens up a franchise in the UK...
posted by apocalypse miaow at 3:27 PM on August 1, 2004

I think all that prospecting, drilling, shipping, refining, and delivery cost a little more than just pumping. Or so I've heard. Unless Getty is also hiring neighborhood kids.


If the company was open about its costs and margins then we wouldn't be having this discussion.
posted by Space Coyote at 4:21 PM on August 1, 2004

If the company was open about its costs and margins then we wouldn't be having this discussion.

::rolls eyes::

Yeah, then we'd have the discussion about giving away trade secrets and the morons who believe in "openness".

If you're attempting to make a broad generalization regarding oil companies' gouging their customers, link to something. Otherwise, quit throwing around straw men. Ooooh, corporations ba-aa-aa-ad, says the sheep.
posted by BlueTrain at 5:33 PM on August 1, 2004

Since I'm in here, more on-topic, what he did was "noble", if it weren't for the fact that he bought into a franchise. Now, buying gasoline from a private wholesaler, selling it for below market prices, and creating a buzz is a great idea. In fact, if the gasoline is respectable, he could tap into a great market of people driving Hyundai's, Kia's, Daewoo's, et al, who don't give a shit about their gas. (I used to drive a Hyundai) That way, those same people could spend their money on C2 and the newest flavor of Doritos.
posted by BlueTrain at 5:37 PM on August 1, 2004

Well, going by what we do know, we see that new company buys old company and decides a good way to make a quick buck is to squeeze the franchise owners. Some big trade secret there.
posted by Space Coyote at 6:10 PM on August 1, 2004