Why are gas prices so high in Ames?

[cyfanatic13]

For years the big stations on rural interstates kept prices 10 to 20 cents high. There was a time where the K&G by the interstate in Story City was 12 cents higher than the K&G in town that was less than a half mile away. When my son was at Cedar Falls, gas prices were often 30 cents lower than where we live.

I work in Cedar Falls and it’s typically lower than everywhere else by 15 cents or so

 

[cstrunk]

$3.89 still where my parents live in SWI. They're getting face raked.

I just drove from Texas to Omaha and back this weekend. Price varied from $3.79 to $3.17. My average fill up price was probably $3.30. I planned my next stops ahead based on who had the cheapest prices.

 

[Cycsk]

The consistency of the higher prices in Ames is what intrigues me. We've had a few address the issue of control by a distributor, but aren't there multiple distributors they could use. And are K&G and HyVee really that controlled in terms of price.

 

[t-noah]

Just an FYI, the price of oil last Monday through Friday also increased as well. Looks like to start today, oil is trading at a price similar to last Monday.

What's oil have to do with it, do with it?

Ha, just a little, very little Tina Turner joke.

 

[4cy16]

In the last week, gas has gone up 30 cents in FD. They must be raising prices for the returning Iowa Central students.

 

[BigTurk]

I was in Marquette Iowa this weekend - 3.69 per gallon. As we made our way back to Ankeny we saw the prices slowly drop: 3.59 in Elkader, etc., with Ankeny at 3.14.

 

[RealisticCy]

$3.89 still where my parents live in SWI. They're getting face raked.

I just drove from Texas to Omaha and back this weekend. Price varied from $3.79 to $3.17. My average fill up price was probably $3.30. I planned my next stops ahead based on who had the cheapest prices.

Early last week Boone was at 3.55, Ames 3.69.......this week is move in week for ISU, so late last week Ames prices went up 20 cents overnight while Boone is still at 3.55.

They pull the same **** around graduation in the spring every single year.

 

[cyclone87]

Early last week Boone was at 3.55, Ames 3.69.......this week is move in week for ISU, so late last week Ames prices went up 20 cents overnight while Boone is still at 3.55.

They pull the same **** around graduation in the spring every single year.

Ames hasn’t been below 3.89 yet, not sure where you saw 3.69. Story City, Nevada, and Ames are all high. Nevada was still 3.99 last time I went by there. I work in Boone and seems like they used to always be the same as Ames, but they’ve been a bit lower as of a couple months ago.

 

[RealisticCy]

Ames hasn’t been below 3.89 yet, not sure where you saw 3.69. Story City, Nevada, and Ames are all high. Nevada was still 3.99 last time I went by there. I work in Boone and seems like they used to always be the same as Ames, but they’ve been a bit lower as of a couple months ago.

3.69 was for about 2 weeks in late July/early August.....multiple places. West Hy-Vee gas, the Filling Station south of 30.

 

[cycfan1]

I was in Marquette Iowa this weekend - 3.69 per gallon. As we made our way back to Ankeny we saw the prices slowly drop: 3.59 in Elkader, etc., with Ankeny at 3.14.

Ankeny is really 314?
Feel like here in KC we've been consistently 15-25c below IA, but we are still stuck at 340 levels.

 

[isufbcurt]

$3.13 this morning in Des Moines after being $3.18 most of last week.

 

[CycloneBob]

It's the Gary Thompson effect. He owns the distribution company (Gary Thompson Oil) for most fuel in and around Ames.

Do you have facts to back this up? Likely 80% + of the gas stations in Ames in and around are either Casey's or Kum & Go (with Sam's as exception). Prove me wrong - Casey's has their own in house distribution. I assume Kum & Go also buy direct. Thompson will service the Philips 66 and a very few others ??

 

[Cycsk]

Do you have facts to back this up? Likely 80% + of the gas stations in Ames in and around are either Casey's or Kum & Go (with Sam's as exception). Prove me wrong - Casey's has their own in house distribution. I assume Kum & Go also buy direct. Thompson will service the Philips 66 and a very few others ??

This is why I started thread. Not another comparison of prices in various locations, but to find out why all Ames stations always have the same price and why it is so much higher than nearby towns.

 

[JP4CY]

Do you have facts to back this up? Likely 80% + of the gas stations in Ames in and around are either Casey's or Kum & Go (with Sam's as exception). Prove me wrong - Casey's has their own in house distribution. I assume Kum & Go also buy direct. Thompson will service the Philips 66 and a very few others ??

Does Thompson even distribute to the gas stations he isn't affiliated with?
He doesn't own the 66 in front of Lowes.

 

[alarson]

Ames hasn’t been below 3.89 yet, not sure where you saw 3.69. Story City, Nevada, and Ames are all high. Nevada was still 3.99 last time I went by there. I work in Boone and seems like they used to always be the same as Ames, but they’ve been a bit lower as of a couple months ago.

At least according to here UNL88 is 3.14 in Ames at the kwik star

 

[alarson]

Ankeny is really 314?
Feel like here in KC we've been consistently 15-25c below IA, but we are still stuck at 340 levels.

3.02 at the station by me, and there's one in ankeny selling it for 2.97 right now

 

[isufbcurt]

3.02 at the station by me.

 

[alarson]

View attachment 101734

I mean, i get it, but lets not cave this thread.

 

[t-noah]

3.02 at the station by me, and there's one in ankeny selling it for 2.97 right now

...and Ames is going at about 3.95. That about summarize?

 

[t-noah]

...and Ames is going at about 3.95. That about summarize?

Now why I know why Ames has fairly slow growth and is still a pretty small town.