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'Price-gouging' investigations equal nothing but hype

GasBuddy Blog -- There are few sure-fire ways for State Attorney Generals and other public officials to garner consumer and media attention that could be any better than an investigation of 'price gouging.'

And unfortunately, for all the noise and hubbub that can be generated over gasoline prices and the prospect of 'price gouging' the rhetoric rarely ever yields any instances where retailers are found guilty and prosecuted.

That's right. It's much ado about nothing. More often than not the politicos issue terrific-sounding press releases and reporters chase after them for fresh quotes and sound-bites and that's the end of that. Who is ever convicted for price-gouging? Nobody.

The latest state to join the list of those investigating...

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Submitted Jul 06, 2012 By: PD

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epf Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:6,349 Points:1,894,280 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 8, 2012 3:22:07 AM Ignore epf Report Abuse Headline says it all.
qwerty17 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,660 Points:1,120,375 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:49:28 PM Ignore qwerty17 Report Abuse caveat emptor. if you don't know the price or it's too high, move on.
puinsai808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,559 Points:730,230 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 10:24:56 AM Ignore puinsai808 Report Abuse Agreed
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:6,980 Points:2,120,455 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 9:15:30 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse It never ceases to amaze me when the price at one station is 30-50 cents different than another one of the same brand just a mile away on the same road!
ObieDog Champion Author Maryland Posts:1,976 Points:854,595 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 8:25:26 AM Ignore ObieDog Report Abuse Use GB and don't patronize unethical stores.
bigmoo63 Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:1,275 Points:83,105 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 6:53:05 AM Ignore bigmoo63 Report Abuse Amazing what a couple bucks under the table does. It all goes away.
rippertoo Champion Author Tacoma Posts:5,770 Points:1,144,760 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 2:01:15 AM Ignore rippertoo Report Abuse They've never gone anywhere.
amteb All-Star Author Toledo Posts:513 Points:102,865 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:57:29 AM Ignore amteb Report Abuse Been going on for a long time
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,088 Points:2,348,435 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:53:02 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse We know price gouging is going on because we see it in front of our face, close up. Investigations will never find any wrong doing because Big oil and the refineries have been doing it for such a long time, they know what to do and how to cover it up. In an emergency situation, retailers will charge what they want and you will pay for it. It does not matter if an emergency situation has been declared or not. And nothing ever comes of these investigations and nothing will! Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. Consider using other forms of less expensive transportation to lower your cost. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! 12/22/2012!
OaklandInvaders Champion Author San Jose Posts:2,366 Points:571,180 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:52:24 AM Ignore OaklandInvaders Report Abuse Get the criminals. Lol. Tax em up
Blismo Champion Author Arizona Posts:2,154 Points:407,160 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:51:59 AM Ignore Blismo Report Abuse figures
BigDogOH Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:8,518 Points:1,810,745 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:45:19 AM Ignore BigDogOH Report Abuse Sounds like payoffs to me
animal63 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:950 Points:1,032,800 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:42:32 AM Ignore animal63 Report Abuse what if you are not a business?
quasar502 Champion Author Lansing Posts:3,598 Points:804,275 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:38:27 AM Ignore quasar502 Report Abuse The states really should nail some of these guys.
bby Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:5,739 Points:1,024,845 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:35:19 AM Ignore bby Report Abuse Ok
DozenSpeed Champion Author St. Louis Posts:1,293 Points:391,550 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:35:09 AM Ignore DozenSpeed Report Abuse Equal votes...
JSX515 Champion Author St. Louis Posts:3,729 Points:804,520 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:30:54 AM Ignore JSX515 Report Abuse Whats new?
1heatguy Veteran Author Wisconsin Posts:311 Points:154,845 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:20:07 AM Ignore 1heatguy Report Abuse OK
twobroke61 Champion Author Michigan Posts:8,395 Points:1,592,185 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:18:10 AM Ignore twobroke61 Report Abuse interesting
gasandgoAL Champion Author Alabama Posts:7,166 Points:1,592,590 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:18:07 AM Ignore gasandgoAL Report Abuse the attention sometimes works
MopedTime All-Star Author Michigan Posts:771 Points:362,950 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:14:17 AM Ignore MopedTime Report Abuse Just limit the price increase per day or so.
ftsgt Champion Author Illinois Posts:13,062 Points:2,486,470 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:10:43 AM Ignore ftsgt Report Abuse very true
JBL2 Champion Author Little Rock Posts:2,551 Points:1,065,905 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:10:39 AM Ignore JBL2 Report Abuse Hard to "gouge" around here when prices are around $3
ED6 Champion Author Riverside Posts:9,494 Points:1,853,080 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:09:35 AM Ignore ED6 Report Abuse Sounds familiar.
BANKIS2 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:4,285 Points:917,455 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:07:30 AM Ignore BANKIS2 Report Abuse hm
lenasdude All-Star Author Alaska Posts:970 Points:1,014,855 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:04:17 AM Ignore lenasdude Report Abuse Create a problem so you can fix it and get reelected.....
otherdave Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,408 Points:1,272,085 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:04:11 AM Ignore otherdave Report Abuse This has been going on for 25 years that I know of and NOTHING GETS DONE!
DblChek Champion Author San Antonio Posts:2,345 Points:616,120 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 1:01:54 AM Ignore DblChek Report Abuse earlier
NavyEOD Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:10,021 Points:2,024,075 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:58:47 AM Ignore NavyEOD Report Abuse Sad...
hybridaholic Champion Author Appleton Posts:8,380 Points:1,559,490 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:57:04 AM Ignore hybridaholic Report Abuse Taken to the cleaners again.
feldagast All-Star Author Toledo Posts:897 Points:104,560 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:56:54 AM Ignore feldagast Report Abuse Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution: "Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ."
chuckwthompson Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,770 Points:580,110 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:56:12 AM Ignore chuckwthompson Report Abuse Knowing about price gouging and proving it are two entirely different things.
SparkieMi Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:3,277 Points:591,330 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:54:43 AM Ignore SparkieMi Report Abuse Interesting....
wegman Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:7,822 Points:2,091,475 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:49:53 AM Ignore wegman Report Abuse 95 times out of 100 (if not more), the market knows better than politicians. (And VERY often the politicians set barriers to competition distorting the market). And often the event that triggered the emergency also screws up the supply chain giving retailers economic reasons to raise prices. What you need are more folks like Rudy Gulliani, NYC's mayor at the time of 9/11. Word went out - if you jack up prices, expect the city inspectors to show up - and they will do a VERY thorough job. How many complaints about price gouging did you hear in NYC around 9/11?
Tehbob Champion Author California Posts:2,311 Points:460,530 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:48:05 AM Ignore Tehbob Report Abuse thats nice
greshams Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:2,024 Points:378,575 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:46:33 AM Ignore greshams Report Abuse general public is at the mercy of the billionaires, where puppets on a string to them.
djgunrunner Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:10,114 Points:2,351,530 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:42:24 AM Ignore djgunrunner Report Abuse Sometimes you know there is a crime. You know who did it but you cannot get the evidence to convict. That does not mean there was no gouging.
lgwhitlock Champion Author Chico Posts:7,400 Points:1,688,420 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:36:55 AM Ignore lgwhitlock Report Abuse That falls on us the voters. If we held our law makers accountable then this could change...
Beaveronparade Champion Author Hartford Posts:2,109 Points:637,605 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:30:11 AM Ignore Beaveronparade Report Abuse I'm also not surprised by this. I do find it sad though. They shouldn't get away with it.
Gasazhunter Champion Author Phoenix Posts:4,220 Points:1,029,670 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:27:41 AM Ignore Gasazhunter Report Abuse Alright.
96EASYRIDER Sophomore Author Dayton Posts:169 Points:8,045 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:22:46 AM Ignore 96EASYRIDER Report Abuse I'm not surprised. What else is new?
Pozole Champion Author Portland Posts:9,614 Points:1,597,445 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:22:06 AM Ignore Pozole Report Abuse ...oh, look at us...we're REALLY watching out for you...honest...
sehonda Champion Author Honolulu Posts:2,048 Points:917,960 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:17:48 AM Ignore sehonda Report Abuse government is profiting from the high prices
honkerman Champion Author San Jose Posts:44,381 Points:2,400,020 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:17:20 AM Ignore honkerman Report Abuse Much writing about nothing.
ziyulu Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:8,514 Points:1,605,800 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:17:05 AM Ignore ziyulu Report Abuse It also costs us taxpayers to pay for these investigations.
zachlCA Champion Author California Posts:3,511 Points:655,535 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:14:59 AM Ignore zachlCA Report Abuse Wait your saying government doesn't do its job?!?! I am shocked!
runner74 Champion Author Washington Posts:2,720 Points:571,165 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:14:10 AM Ignore runner74 Report Abuse waste of time and tax dollars
Thomtec Champion Author Nashville Posts:2,484 Points:611,070 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:12:51 AM Ignore Thomtec Report Abuse Ok
goalie1950 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:6,425 Points:1,299,345 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:11:06 AM Ignore goalie1950 Report Abuse ok
JagXKR Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,169 Points:1,094,080 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:08:43 AM Ignore JagXKR Report Abuse Politicians up here also do the sabre rattling about prices with no penalties ever being handed out.