Comments on: Gouged at the gas pump in Dawson?

By: Del

Del — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:54:22 +0000

The tank truck makes almost $100.00 per mile? Not bad.

By: sebastian

sebastian — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:41:31 +0000

One wonders why Dawsonites do not vote with their engines and idle their vehicles less; even during the recent warm spell, many people leave their vehicles idling outside the stores, while the retailers that are accused of gouging rub their hands.
I would be interested in hearing from a gas retailer here.

By: ken wilson

ken wilson — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:15:38 +0000

it costs 6 cents a litre to truck from whitehorse to here. everyone should demand an explanation from our suppliers as to why they can charge more than that for our gas. take a tape recorder with you because the excusses they offer are just hilarious. we really need to do something!!

By: mayor

mayor — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:22:06 +0000

Yes, kudos to the pumps out at Callison. $1.05 is certainly much more in line with reality than the $1.31 in town. Let’s hope people vote with their dollars and support the business that stays competitive.

Your idea of a local gasbuddy.com is worth pursuing for sure.

By: Dawson Activist

Dawson Activist — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:45:12 +0000

Actually I was just told gas was posted in Callison at 1.05 today.

I don’t know much of websites so maybe you could set something up and get us on gasbuddy.com then we’d all be able to spot prices and hot things up competition-wise a little.

our visitors could see it too.

By: Dawson Activist

Dawson Activist — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:49:47 +0000

Additionally, wholesale suppliers to the liquor corp are free to charge whatever they wish if you can get them to buy, it is only the liquor store mark-up percentage that is regulated.

Equalisation of prices by effective cross-subsidy may work in a govt monopoly situation like the liquor corp or hydro but you can’t apply the same to a private enterprise. A group of people (shareholders) should be free to invest their money and offer a product for sale to make a profit at whatever price they like. These companies should be free to compete on price and service. This is not a monopoly situation. There’s one gas station for about every 300 people between here and the Dempster Corner. And if there’s a 16 cent difference around the corner I think one would find it very hard to demonstrate price collusion.

Go shop there and make sure all our visitors know about it too I say.

If you want to control gas prices, fine, but you’ll need to take over the local industry first to make it work. Like I said, raise the funds and build a community gas station and we can charge whatever we think is necessary. Alternatively, and easier, attract some competition. If it’s really easy money, they’ll come.

By: mayor

mayor — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:03:39 +0000

Okay Justmyopinion, I stand corrected.

What I meant to point out is that government equalizes the prices in all the Liquor Stores throughout the Territory.

By: justmyopinion

justmyopinion — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:40:35 +0000

Actually the price of alcohol by retailers is not regulated by government except for the sale of “Off-sales”. Every licenced establishment may set their own prices based however they like. “Off-sales” are restricted on the markup to supposedly protect the consumer.

Retailers of liquor are no different than retailers of any other product with regards to trying to make a profit and will often have a higher markup on what is popular.

On another note – government also does not regulate the price of alcohol purchased by licenced establishments for resale. They pay the exact same price from the liquor store for their bottle that you do (whatever that bottle may be). Now can you say corporate greed?

By: mayor

mayor — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:55:41 +0000

Dawson Activist, here’s a curiosity for you. The price of alcohol is regulated by government causing it to be equal everywhere in the Territory, so why shouldn’t fuel and other commodities be subject to the same control?

By: mayor

mayor — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:48:35 +0000

I do have to say that the outlet in Callison is doing its best to be competitive. Earlier I said their price for regular gas was 1.21, actually it’s 1.15.