MSE News: Service stations could have to show rivals' petrol prices

cepheus

It begs the question why market competition doesn't bring prices down naturally? Perhaps

a) market forces don't work and businesses monopolise, or

b) some people have too much money so they can afford to blow it on overinflated fuel prices, or

c) too many people don't pay anything and pass it on to their business and ultimately the consumer?

either way I think Businesses have had it to easy for too long and pay salespeople and execs too much.

DJ_Mike

Honestly, why are the government picking on petrol prices at service stations like this? Everything in a service station is overpriced, but that's what you pay for convenience. Nobody is forcing you to stop at them - that's why they're called conveniences. I wouldn't object to being able to see the prices before I pull in but I can pretty well guarantee that they're going to be higher regardless.

And at the end of the day, is the added price of 7p a litre really so bad when you just need some more petrol to get you home? If I'm 80 miles from home and need a top-up, just 10 litres will see me there. At 7p extra per litre, that's a paltry 70p for the convenience of stopping on the motorway. Not much to ask, is it?

colino

More distraction politics. No one fills up on the motorway for a laugh, they haven't taken the kids a run 60 miles down the motorway for a treat, it's because they have to.
No point complaining about the difference in fuel price either if your then going to fill your boots on over priced snacks and chocolate.

anotherbaldrick

"Motorway service stations could be forced to display the prices of cheaper rivals, Number 10 has revealed..."

Well, that's not going to work is it ! another potty scheme from the potty party.

Timay

I'm not too bothered about paying for Motorway fuel at service stations, as I don't do that many motorway miles any more so once and a while paying slightly over the odds for fuel isn't that bad an certainly not worth planning ahead or searching for another petrol station.

Ultrasonic

This is pathetic. Nobody in 10 Downing Street should be wasting time on nonsense like this. There are far more important issues they should be working on.

The price of fuel in motorway service areas could be double what it is elsewhere for all I care, it still wouldn't warrant government legislation wasted on it as far as I'm concerned.

callum9999

DJ_Mike wrote: »

Honestly, why are the government picking on petrol prices at service stations like this? Everything in a service station is overpriced, but that's what you pay for convenience. Nobody is forcing you to stop at them - that's why they're called conveniences. I wouldn't object to being able to see the prices before I pull in but I can pretty well guarantee that they're going to be higher regardless.

And at the end of the day, is the added price of 7p a litre really so bad when you just need some more petrol to get you home? If I'm 80 miles from home and need a top-up, just 10 litres will see me there. At 7p extra per litre, that's a paltry 70p for the convenience of stopping on the motorway. Not much to ask, is it?

Because people have an irrational obsession with fuel prices, so they are attempting to do this as a vote winner.

Just look at the hysteria you get every time one of the supermarkets reduce their prices by 3p! It makes no logical sense.

redux

Why is fuel on motorways more expensive, people are asking?

To begin with, motorway service areas were owned by the state and rented out. Later companies were allowed to purchase them, but even then the cost of financing that purchase has to be covered, like at any site.

So if the rents or freeholds were and are expensive maybe it's not only the operators that are responsible.

John_Pierpoint

Anyone know the rent paid to the government per motorway service area.
Anyone know why there are so few service areas in the UK, when compared to say France where the traffic density is a lot lower.
Anyone know why we are rationed to an hour or two in a motorway service car park, when on the continent you find motorists shaking out their sleeping bags at 07:00.

I'll have a pot and kettle moment coming on unless I get a chance to stop at Tebay.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tebay_Services

The government has no money left, it is dependent on big business to get anything actually done.

vikingaero

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Anyone know the rent paid to the government per motorway service area.

Can be a couple of million for the lease itself, let alone any rental.

Anyone know why there are so few service areas in the UK, when compared to say France where the traffic density is a lot lower.

Land area, cost of land, further distances travelled in France (when we travel in the UK on the mway we are closer to towns where facilities exist), more tolling where rest areas (not full services) are provided as a condition of autoroute construction.

Anyone know why we are rationed to an hour or two in a motorway service car park, when on the continent you find motorists shaking out their sleeping bags at 07:00.

Money making scam for the operator, money making scam for the PPC, weird get orf my land rationale in the UK, different laws in France re: squatting/gypsy encampments etc.