Gas Station Owner Hikes Prices As Protest

San Francisco Man Charging $4.33 Per Gallon To Fill Up On Economy Grade

(AP)  As gasoline prices reach new highs ahead of Memorial Day weekend, one station owner is charging rates that are shocking city drivers accustomed to some of the nation's priciest pumps.

Oyster's gas station in San Francisco charges $4.33 per gallon for economy grade and a $4.53 for premium — about 44 cents more than the next highest station tracked by SanFranciscoGasPrices.com.

Station owner Bob Oyster says the prices are meant to raise eyebrows. He set his prices far above competitors to protest onerous franchise rules imposed by Royal Dutch Shell PLC.

"It doesn't necessarily reflect market prices, though I'm sure they'll get there really quick," said Oyster, who owns numerous stations and Redwood City-based Oyster Petroleum. "We just took up the price because I wanted to bring attention to what's really going on: The oil companies are making billions but putting the little guys out of business."

Oyster isn't concerned that high prices will put him out of business. After 22 years at the station at Sixth and Harrison, he's vacating at the end of the month. He says he can't afford to keep operating on razor-thin margins.

Shell spokeswoman Anne Peebles said Wednesday that the multinational corporation wanted to raise Oyster's base rent from $8,154 per month to $10,228 over three years. Those rates were the result of a third-party audit of commercial real estate in the bustling zone surrounding Oyster's shop, she said.

Peebles acknowledged that Oyster's campaign to taint Shell's image has caused the company some pain — particularly amid a run-up in gas prices in California and the rest of the country.

"We're certainly disappointed by Mr. Oyster's actions — it's inconvenient for consumers, and it's not in line with the rest of the Shell retailers who are trying to provide good service," she said.

On Wednesday, the average economy-grade gasoline nationwide was $3.103 per gallon, according to a daily tracking service from the American Automobile Association. California had the nation's most expensive gas, with economy-grade averaging $3.474 per gallon and premium averaging $3.759.

[prairiefox1]

Isn't America a wonderful place to live?
Only in America can you cheat and steal and be protected by the law of the land!
Other countries would hang the thieves and be done with it!
But we are too civilized to do such harsh acts as that!

GOD SAVE AMERICA!

[cbse3]

Wonder how much Fed taxes have been collected, due to the outrageous energy prices and when the war goes away, the oil and gas prices are gonna come down, Gonzalas will resign, Bill Jefferson will be convicted, a comprehensive immagration policy will be enacted, Iran and Korea dump their nuke ambitions......Let's face it our government, along with ALL of we the peoples elected representivies ....have forgotten us, have,are and will continue to s*c*r*e*w* us till the cows come home moo,moo buckaroo...can I please have somemore

[raina41]

All I know is before Bush took office gas was $1.46, look it up it's true....But hey we gotta pay for this war right!!

[mandylou4u]

People! Do not go on vacation this year. Take this year and stay at home and do things that need to be done at your home. Don't let them win! This is terrorism on our soil. Do you know how much the bad guys pay for the same fuel? This is ridiculous. It won't take long until our government starts telling us what to do. Kinda like communism.....we are still free, let's act that way while we can. VOTE!

[rhs648]

Although painful for many people, higher gas prices could provide some unintended benefits. Fewer cars on the road may result in safer highways, less congestion, less time spent commuting to and from work, and less pollution. Of course, this may mean making adjustments in our lifestyles. For example, it may require us to spend less for other things. Perhaps, the planned vacation has to be cancelled. Some of us will have to make choices and become more responsible consumers to make ends meet.

[cbse3]

"We're certainly disappointed by Mr. Oyster's actions %u2014 it's inconvenient for consumers, and it's not in line with the rest of the Shell retailers who are trying to provide good service,"

AN INCOVENIENT MISTRUTH,....OR HOW I GIVE SERVICE WITH A SMILE WITHOUT A TUBE OF K-Y, OR HA, HA, HA, YOU CAN'T CATCH ME, I'M THE GINGER OIL MAN OR NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY HUFFED AND PUFFED, THE PEOPLE COULDN'T BLOW THE DOOR DOWN

[cbse3]

"We're certainly disappointed by Mr. Oyster's actions %u2014 it's inconvenient for consumers, and it's not in line with the rest of the Shell retailers who are trying to provide good service,"

AN INCOVENIENT MISTRUTH,....OR HOW I GIVE SERVICE WITH A SMILE WITHOUT A TUBE OF K-Y, OR HA, HA, HA, YOU CAN'T CATCH ME, I'M THE GINGER OIL MAN OR NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY HUFFED AND PUFFED, THE PEOPLE COULDN'T BLOW THE DOOR DOWN

[bitslip]

The oil companies know they can **** down the back of the US people and Congress and say its raining and every one will believe them. The problem is Oil companies make more money for miss management and not keeping equipment up to date and good running condition. If a refinery has a fire or built in a high risk area or has equipment failure then it should be the oil companies loosing the money and not them raising prices because of their stupidity. Why should we pay when they are the one messing up. Oil should not be on the free market when OPEC has the ability to cut prodution to raise prices. If OPEC pumps less they should get less if they pump more they should earn more. That is a free market. We been sold out by our politicans from top to bottom. I myself wonder just how many of the lobbiest who used the DC Madem was buying the service for our politicians who want no paper trail leading to them.

[morninjogger]

I live in St Joseph, Michigan. We are currently paying 3.40+ per gallon. It was higher the first of the week. We are running right along with California. I wonder if that means we're running the extra clean fuel in our cars since we are paying the same amount as Californians? Yeh, right. If we are paying the same for the non cleaner fuel, then technically we paying more for our fuel than they are. In the end we will all pay more.... literally in the end.

[cbse3]

Just think about it folks, remember all of the excuses used to justify fossel based energy from mining to refining..........Now get ready for round 2.......... when the same excuses come back around for the nuclear energy generation ........ and what happens when the uranium runs out .........Will it be back to the horse and buggy, sailing ships, steam engines and a much slower pace of life? So, does anyone, in one of the many forward looking Think Tanks have a handle on what kind of time frame that this will occur.

[cbse3]

So, it's all about supply and demand........what happens when all the US domestic auto manfs meet and or exceedes the 30 mpg fleet avg, we drive less, we replace all of our tungstun light bulbs with flores or led technology which all combined saves 25% oil consumption yearly............and then what............the oil companies, hedgers and the rest of the who evers of the prices minipulators world, will then raise the prices, which will effectively erase the 25% margin.They have already proven that they can raise their prices on a whim and will continue to do so in the future regardless of what anyone says or does. Is there Anyone out there that with a plan, a solution.....at present, NO

[jetranger7]

THIS IS SOMETHING EVERYBODY SHOULD DO, PASS THE WORD AROUND, FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MAY AND JUNE, EVERYBODY WHO GETS GAS OR DIESEL,,, GET A RECIEPT,,, AND MAIL THEM TO THE WHITE HOUSE INCARE OF BUSH AND CHENEY,,, LET THEM FOOT THE BILL FOR THEIR OWN CORRUPT SCANDAL,, THEY CAN AFFORD IT, WE CAN'T !!!!!! DON'T FORGET TO GET A RECIEPT AND MAIL IT TO THE WHITE HOUSE IN CARE OF OL' GEORGY BOY AND CORRUPT VP-CHENEY NOW,,, THE ENTIRE MONTHS OF MAY -JUNE-, AND MAYBE THE REST OF THE YEAR TOO !!!!!! PASS THE WORD !!!!!!!!

[toldyouso21]

It is 9.00/gallon in Holland right now. Not that it matters to us in the US. And just think, in Clinton's last year in office, gas ranged from .99/gallon in the midwest (exclusing Chicago) to 1.64 at the highest.

In Iowa, Texas and Indiana, it was around 1.27/gal at the highest. Then came the Bush years.........LOL. I'm buying a bike.

[lastdance2]

Remember :
Pres. Bush : Bought all that land.
In South America - Last month ? ? ?

Pres. Bush - VP Cheney :
Need money for a new : Business venture.

It's not the first time, the American People
have picked up the tab. For a :
Bush family business - Fiasco

Remember :
During the "Reagan - Bush" Administration :
The Savings and Loan Scandal ? ?

Research :
The Bush family and the S&L Scandal
(copy and paste - Google)

Pres. Bush - VP Cheney :
Need money for a new : Business venture
Your the one - who is going to pay for it.

Now ! ! ! That should be understandable.

There is "No" Supply and Demand - in a business venture ! ! !


Lastdance

[rushman71]

"We're certainly disappointed by Mr. Oyster's actions %u2014 it's inconvenient for consumers, and it's not in line with the rest of the Shell retailers who are trying to provide good service," she said.
Good service?!?!?!? The only thing that would be good in service would be to bring the price back down to $1.29 or lower.

[rhs648]

"Sorry folks - I do not feel your pain - I'm an American living in Ireland where with the currency conversion I'm paying about $6 a gallon here. We have a pretty good system of mass transit - and I use it versus the car whenever possible. Especially when headed into Dublin where a city laid out over the past 1000 years doesn't grow well in the automotive age. I take the train or a bus. Much better. And I work from home too. Good luck..."

Posted by j_flood


Why should Americans be gouged by our government in the form of high and excessive taxes on gas. As my mother would say to me as a child, just because everyone else is doing something, you are not going to do it, too. In many other countries, you have both the oil companies and the goverments gouging the citizens. Lets not join that crowd.

[rhs648]

Thats why so many Generals, and employees of Gov agencies are coming out and speaking out against what the Administration and its cronies have done over the past 7 years. This only after they are safely out of the area where they can be set upon by *** Cheney and Karl Rove's Revenge machine, like they did against the CIA agent and the ambassador husband.

Posted by ov442

Perhaps the generals did a poor job with the war and need to be held accountable. It is very natural to blame others for ones failures. By shifting their failures to the administration, the generals are placing blame on others, not themselves. So typical of many Americans.

[jetranger7]

ITS ALL ABOUT "SUPPLY & DEMAND" FOLKS, YES, I'D LIKE TO "SUPPLY" A GOOD SWIFT KICK IN THE *** TO THE OIL COMPANY EXECUTIVES AND CORRUPT POLITICIANS,,,, BECAUSE,,,,,, THE "PUBLIC",,,,,, "DEMANDS" IT !!!!!!!!!!!! THERES YOUR "SUPPLY AND DEMAND" !!!!!

[jetranger7]

IN WICHITA-KANSAS, GAS WAS $3.20- GALLON, IN KANSAS CITY MISSOURI, ITS $3.19-GALLON,SOON I HOPE TO MAKE A TRIP TO TEXAS, PROBABLY THE HOUSTON AREA,, FIND ME AN OIL COMPANY EXECUTIVE WITH ONE OF THE BIG OIL COMPANIES,,, AND "PUNCH" HIM RIGHT IN THE MOUTH !!!!!!

[vmcneal2]

The rich get richer and the rest of us get the shaft.