Mike says:
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I would be happy if I could go to station "B" if I didn't like the price at station"A".Since the price is exactly the same,that isn't an option and that is the whole problem.
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Sounds like a valid statement. But in your example, Mike - virtually everyone would go to station "B" - the good folk at station "A" might just as well lock their doors. Everyone thinks exactly like you when it comes to buying "necessities". They are going to get the cheapest price - come hell or high water. Not because we can't afford to pay more - it's just that the product is non-proprietary so why would anyone buy from "A" when "B" sells the same thing for less?
I would argue the opposite of your position regarding gasoline prices that are exactly the same. If station "A" could afford to stay in business with a higher price than station "B" - station "A" must be making one hell of a good profit margin on the small amount that he does sell. In that case, the bastards ARE gouging.
And Mike, in Alberta you have the Alberta Advantage don't forget. All those royalties on crude and natural gas and taxes at the pump that increase with every rise in crude/gas prices go to help everyone with great new roads, schools, universities and hospitals. Yeah, sure. That's where your gripes should be aimed - at Ralph. We would probably mind less about the price of gas at the pump if we could see the benefit in some of that money coming back to us in other ways.