Gas Rage!

[lectrobyte]

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_087165414.html

(CBS) WEST HEMPSTEAD A new citizen from Turkey, now proudly managing his first gasoline station, is recovering from fuel price sticker shock outrage following a shocking incident on Wednesday. A customer refused to pay and sped off with the manager dangling from the door.

"It was like a James Bond movie, hanging in the window-fighting with the guy, punching him in the face, he's trying to grab the money," Nick Koseoglu said.

Koseoglu showed CBS 2 his injuries on Wednesday after being treated for abrasions, bruises and asphalt burns. He was dragged a quarter mile by a customer apparently enraged over the price of gasoline.

[NightWatcher]

1. Incidents like these will only rise as we get close to and above $3 gal

In protest of the high gas prices, I'm staying home to watch baseball this afternoon.

[Der Blaue Engel]

7. San Francisco is already up to $4.00 in some places n/t

[windbreeze]

11. Close to and above $3 a gallon....LOL....hah...

it's been over $3 a gallon for weeks in WASH STATE...
wb

[raccoon]

2. What a dickhead of a customer. nt

[magellan]

3. People still don't understand

Gas stations make very little profit from gasoline sales. It's the oil companies who are reaping the profits. The guy who runs our local Hess is undercharging for gas and eating the loss to keep customers coming into his convenience shop where, like most gas station owners, his money is made.

He's from Pakistan. And I suspect some customers find it easier to blame the middle eastern immigrant for high gas prices than those they should really be holding accountable.

[Skink]

4. the guy selling the gas is the same guy moving the liquer

and scratch off tickets and cigarrettes. A veritable orgy of profit.

[magellan]

8. It wouldn't be an orgy of profit if he was only selling gasoline.

People have a right to be angry but they should take the time to educate themselves first so their anger isn't misdirected. Stiffing the gas station won't do a damn thing to lower prices; the station still has to pay the supplier for it, and the bulk of the profit is going to the oil execs.

[gravity]

9. They are just making a living

Gas station and convenience store owners aren't making obscene profits.

[AndyA]

5. It shouldn't be long before the oil companies release their latest earnings.

For the last quarter, I'd guess they've probably earned a couple BILLION profit EACH.

But they aren't gouging us, it costs them more as well.

So, if it costs more, and they just pass on that increase to their consumers, why is it that their earnings have skyrocketed? It would seem the profit margin would remain fairly stable if they're just passing on the increased cost to the consumer.

To make BILLIONS in profits in 3 months, you have to be charging your customers A LOT MORE THAN IT COSTS TO BUY OIL.

[ComerPerro]

15. well, not when you look at percentages

as prices go up, the amount of money they make on their profit margins (based on percentage, not fixed dollar amount) also goes up. So instead of just keeping 15 cents of every gallon, they keep 15 percent (just an example, not real numbers. So in that instance, if gas goes from 1 dollar to 2 dollars, they go from making 15 cents to 30 cents.

But that's not to defend them, I think they are slime. And while oil company apologists will quickly point out that gasoline has lower profit margins than other products, I might add that most Americans aren't compelled to buy any other product with the frequency that they purchase gasoline. For some, conserve as hard as they might, using gas is a way of life. Especially in the midwest, where public transportation is not as widely availible.

[maxsolomon]

6. not enraged. STEALING gas.

that's a pretty normal story.

dear mr. new immigrant business owner: americans steal stuff all the time. that's why your video cameras record their license plate numbers. don't get killed, let the cops put them in jail. we have so many jails that need to be filled up or the GDP goes down!

[Lil Missy]

10. Stealing from the gas station is not the way to deal with high gas prices.

That's just stealing.

Should he get FREE gas? I don't think so.

[Selatius]

12. I support nationalizing oil wholesalers like Exxon-Mobil and Chevron-Texaco.

Nationalize them all and take all the profit to fund research and development of alternative sources of energy and more fuel efficient ways of living.

[nebula]

13. Better yet

Nationalize the oil companies and use the income to vastly expand public rail systems, electric street cars, subway systems. etc.

This will put help put much less pressure on our overcrowded streets and highways.

[hogwyld]

14. Wait until Peak Oil hits

If you think there's rage now, see what happens when gas is $8 a gallon or more.