Gas Station Owner Hikes Prices As Protest

(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.