OK..so who was it that said this will NEVER happen???

[Carolina Cutter]

Well you were wrong!

Gas prices here hit $3.01 a gallon for the cheap stuff this am. Things are getting bad. We are headed into a downward spiral if somebody doesn't do something.

I was thinking of raising prices of my customers but have hesitated due to the fact of knowing my customers are having just as hard of a time and may not continue service because the "expendable" funds are gone. Actually I am glad the season is almost over for this year as my profit margins are being cut AGAIN by the governmnet with the high gas prices.

So anyway, to whoever said it was all a scare tactic and it would never happen.......I think CROW is being served for din-din tonight. :realmad:

[LB1234]

yyaaaaaawwwwwnnnnnnn :sleeping:

[MBDiagMan]

Maybe you should move to Europe. There, they only pay about $8 per gallon for gas. That way you could get away from the government that raises the gas prices.

Come on now. Please explain to me how the government is cutting your margin by raising gas prices. The US economy runs on free enterprise.

I don't know how old you are, but I am 56. I am old enough to remember very well the early eighties. At that time, adjusted for inflation, gas prices were much higher. Why is it that groceries, real estate, cars and everything else go up in price for 25 years and there is noone panicing, but then gas prices start to catch up and it's mayhem?

Even in the LCO business, gas is not a MAJOR expense. If you think that the end of the world is near due to rising gas prices, I think you need to reevaluate a little bit.

Good luck,
Doc

[wbw]

Steak lately. What has our govenment done? This is crazy. GW raised our beef prices, he must own cattle. Damn, cars cost more than they used to. Cheney must have friends at GM and Ford. WTF does our government have to do with the price of gas? The government wants it low. GW made his money in major league baseball. His investments are in a blind trust. Most wealthy presidents leave office in worse financial shape than they entered. GET REAL.

[C&KLawnCare]

Maybe you should move to Europe. There, they only pay about $8 per gallon for gas. That way you could get away from the government that raises the gas prices.

Stick this europe crap in your ear , WE AND IN USA NOT EUROPE DAMN i get sick of hearing that line of crap when 4-5bucks of that is taxes for europe.



Even in the LCO business, gas is not a MAJOR expense. If you think that the end of the world is near due to rising gas prices, I think you need to reevaluate a little bit.

Oh really since when was gas not a major expence ya fool.

take just a 15 gallon tank on a pickup truck (yes i know alot are bigger) But

15GX 1.25 agallon= 18.75
15gx 1.75 = 26.25
15g x 2.25= 33.75
15X 2.50= 37.50
15gx3.00= 45.00

Now when ya have to buy alot of gas per week tell me its not a major expence and i will tell you , You dont even do lawn care for a living or ya would not make such a idiotic statment

[Lake Claire Lawn Ranger]

Just filled up both tanks on my pickup yesterday before the prices jump up again.

$71.00 :eek:

I've never spent that much for gas before, and I'm worried that I'll will never be able to do it that cheap again.

[C&KLawnCare]

I know how ya feel gas has shot up past 3.09 a gallon in parts of WV, I got firewood orders to fill and taking on more ,

Plus the yards for the rest of the year danged if this is not getting tough on the wallet.

[topsites]

Just filled up both tanks on my pickup yesterday before the prices jump up again.

$71.00 :eek:

I've never spent that much for gas before, and I'm worried that I'll will never be able to do it that cheap again.

$110 here, but now I can get 109 octane racing fuel for $5/gallon the only question I have is if it's safe to run leaded fuel in a mower?

As far as who said it, *I* said fuel would be 3/gallon by end of summer.

[AlleganyLawnCare]

People kill me. So do hurricanes. I find it amazing, that right now millions of people are being affected (directly or indirectly) about what has happen down South. being a Southerner (from deep South Alabama), I take it personally what is going on. People have lost theirs lives, love ones, houses, friends, family, personal belongings, and grass (not the smoking type either - well maybe that too). You might have found humor in that last part, but my point is, you complain about gas prices. That is a fact of business. Most of you will pass it along to your customer (whether you tell them or not) LCOs in the affective areas have no business, probably don't have any equipment or house either. I am sure they are not saying, "Geez, I lost my wife, my son, my house, every frigging thing I own, but you know what really pisses me off? Is that gas is up to $3 a gallon! I want the govt to bring down the gas, so my life can be backunder control."

For all of you screaming about gas prices - it sucks - but get over it! Your going to make your customer pay for it anyways. There are more important things in life, than stressing out over the cost of gas. Like your life for one. My dad use to tell me back in the 70s when we had that gas crisis. "Your going to complain till your blue in the face, but guess what? You will still pay for it, because you need it." Deal with it!

If you want to help, try Red Cross or somebody. Or start a donation for all of our board buddies from that area, so thay can go out buy a Murray lawn mower, so at least they have something to mow that all of that grass that is under 5 feet of water.

[Squizzy246B]

By my math we are paying $3.56/Gallon (US/USG) in the Metro areas of Perth. I run a skid steer, 5 tonne excavator, 9 tonne truck and various blowers, chainsaws etc. A year ago my weekly fuel bill was less than $500 (AUD), now its over $1000.00 :dizzy:

In rural areas of West Australia its up to (more math) $4.40/Gallon (US/USG).

Don't know many operators who haven't put their rates up..

For the imperial vs metric minded (we are into metric down here) fuel (diesel) is currently around $1.26 (AUD) per litre with 3.7 litres to the US Gallon. Petrol (Gas/Unleaded) is around $1.16 per litre. The current exchange rate is around 76 cents US to the Aussie dollar. Hope I'm not boring you guys :rolleyes:

Cheers

[daveintoledo]

i think its appalling that they used the hurricane as an excuse to raise prices of anything, be it plywood or gas....if anything, things in general should be cheaper so people can afford to contribute to releife effort.....but no it doesnt work that way, they see and opening for price gouging and they take it , who is going to stop them, people needed the plywood, or bottled water or whatever to try and survive the storm...

[CutNLawns]

$66 for one tank on mine!

[DRM Ventures]

I have yet to buy gas at the >$3 mark yet.....but........

- I didn't lose my home, to wind and floods
- I didn't lose any family members
- I didn't lose all my belonging

So I will pay $3 a gallon, and thank God that that the important people and less important stuff in my life are unaffected. At the same time I will do what I can to help my fellow Americans in their time of need. Rather than sitting around whining about how "bad" I have it.

If you are going to complain about the prices you should probably stop buying it, or be quiet.

[C&KLawnCare]

should probably stop buying it,


Gladly ill park it all , save me money spent on gasoline, Now if the rest of the world would park em and show these money hungary mongrals we aint taking this sheep dip no longer ,

[daveintoledo]

is supposed to be the day to shut it down, your not supposed to by any gas tommorow, if EVERYONE did that , it woud change things, but you cant get people together on anything.....''

[daveintoledo]

I have yet to buy gas at the >$3 mark yet.....but........

- I didn't lose my home, to wind and floods
- I didn't lose any family members
- I didn't lose all my belonging

So I will pay $3 a gallon, and thank God that that the important people and less important stuff in my life are unaffected. At the same time I will do what I can to help my fellow Americans in their time of need. Rather than sitting around whining about how "bad" I have it.

If you are going to complain about the prices you should probably stop buying it, or be quiet.

they hope people feel this way, its way easyer to pick somones pocket if they are distracted..

[DRM Ventures]

Not buying gas for one day is not going to show/prove anything. You will probably still use it.......and buy the next day...... Big deal.......

The only way to lower prices is to cut use in a long term sustained change......

Derek

[DAPSJH]

The price per gallon does not concern me as much as a shortage. I don't know how true it is but one of my co-workers went to two different gas stations last night that were out of regular unleaded (This was in Indian Trail NC, just east of Charlotte) and claim there was going to be a shortage on the east coast due to the hurricane. The price per gallon will not effect a side show like me like you guys who do this all the time, but my personal vehicle is a 2000 V10 4x4 Excursion with a 6" lift and 35" mud terrains 7.3 avg mpg (44 gal fuel tank) so I feel the effects of day to day as much as most people. I do agree that as everything else goes up so should the price of gas, I just don't agree with a 20% jump in price overnight, or almost 60% over the last five months (appox. 5 months ago I could go to one of many Petro Express stations around here and fill up for 1.89 p/g). If inflation is avg. of 4% and gas was consistent yearly people would be able to deal with that easier. Everyone can say to plan ahead, but you find me someone who can "accuratly" predict it and I will be the first to start saving (if I have any left to save) an adequate amount. You can blame the oil companies, or the government or who ever, but I feel like your car manufacturers are in bed with the oil companies. With the advancement of technology over the past 15 years there is no excuse for a 1990 4x4 V-8 pick up and a new one of comparable specs to get the same mpg. With these newer modular SOHC and DOHC computer controlled engines and light weight metals, stronger plastics, they can't do any better than an old Ford 302 or Chevy 350? And just one more rant (hope I don't piss off anyone) Why in the H**L are these cops riding around in heavy V8 cars all day (at least around here) at tax payers expense. They can't chase anyone anymore so why not trade in all of these gas guzzling crown vics for a Focus. Heres one more, the town where I work, Stallings, just bought a Navigator and an 05 Mustang GT for the police dept. JMO, had to get it out there.

Stevan

[daveintoledo]

Not buying gas for one day is not going to show/prove anything. You will probably still use it.......and buy the next day...... Big deal.......

The only way to lower prices is to cut use in a long term sustained change......

Derek

if NOBODY bought gas in the usa for one day, they would loose billions.....

[Carolina Cutter]

if NOBODY bought gas in the usa for one day, they would loose billions.....


You are right...they would lose billions.....BUT....they would just mark it up AGAIN to make up for the lost profit!

[Carolina Cutter]

Maybe you should move to Europe. There, they only pay about $8 per gallon for gas. That way you could get away from the government that raises the gas prices.

Come on now. Please explain to me how the government is cutting your margin by raising gas prices. The US economy runs on free enterprise.

I don't know how old you are, but I am 56. I am old enough to remember very well the early eighties. At that time, adjusted for inflation, gas prices were much higher. Why is it that groceries, real estate, cars and everything else go up in price for 25 years and there is noone panicing, but then gas prices start to catch up and it's mayhem?

Even in the LCO business, gas is not a MAJOR expense. If you think that the end of the world is near due to rising gas prices, I think you need to reevaluate a little bit.

Good luck,
Doc

If gas is not a major expense for you in this business its CLEAR that you are not doing much business!

[betterlawn]

if NOBODY bought gas in the usa for one day, they would loose billions.....

And they would make twice as much the next day. How many times does this stupid thing need to be shot down. :rolleyes:

The only thing that will "show them" is reducing consumption.

As far as the original topic...

Anyone who has not increased their prices to accomodate the fuel costs deserves to go out of business anyway. EVERY single industry affected by fuel costs has raised its prices - why shouldn't you?

So if its hurting your margins then you are doing something wrong.

[QualityLawnCare4u]

Yesterday morning it was 2.47, this morining it is 3.07! Sixty dam cents in 24 hours, I have never seen it jump like that, ever.

[Carolina Cutter]

Yesterday morning it was 2.47, this morining it is 3.07! Sixty dam cents in 24 hours, I have never seen it jump like that, ever.


Exactly what I am getting at!

[DAPSJH]

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but is there not a huge amount of products that are petroleum based? How about plastics or just plain ol engine oil? If this is all based on the supply of a barrel of oil which varies day to day which is why our oil prices supposedly vary from day to day, why do these products remain near the same price all the time? I bet if you go to Auto Zone a quart of oil or a can of fuel injector cleaner is the same price today as it was yesterday. Make sense? Does this not mean they are just charging this because they can?

Stevan

[Carolina Cutter]

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but is there not a huge amount of products that are petroleum based? How about plastics or just plain ol engine oil? If this is all based on the supply of a barrel of oil which varies day to day which is why our oil prices supposedly vary from day to day, why do these products remain near the same price all the time? I bet if you go to Auto Zone a quart of oil or a can of fuel injector cleaner is the same price today as it was yesterday. Make sense? Does this not mean they are just charging this because they can?

Stevan

DING DING DING!!!!! WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!

THis is EXACTLY my point.

[Woody82986]

I have paid the same amount for a quart of oil for over a year now. I never really thought about it until right now.

[Richard Martin]

Well you were wrong!

So anyway, to whoever said it was all a scare tactic and it would never happen.......I think CROW is being served for din-din tonight. :realmad:

That would be me so pass the plate.

I had no idea that a hurricane would be the final excuse to jack prices up through the ceiling. How long will it be before the states turn gasoline into a required public need (like electrciity) and prosecute when gouging occurs.

In any case I am jacking prices up generally next year so I should have the price of gas covered.

[C&KLawnCare]

How long will it be before the states turn gasoline into a required public need (like electrciity) and prosecute when gouging occurs.

They could start anytime now.

I been thinking all day on this by paying attention to the local gas stations . I generaly see that every 2-3 day's they get a tanker load of gas. OK

They Claim they only make 2-3 cents profit off of the gas , and the rest comes from the food soda tobacco , Now someone is telling us lies after lies here

Ill use 8,500 gallon of gas for this . Ok they say 2-3 cents profit ok then lets say at todays price of 3.09 a gallon their getting it for 3.05 a gallon

8,500 gallons of gas would be a bill of $ 25,925 bucks . Now i have seen with in 3 days another tanker load . Now your not going to sit their and make me belive you sold 25 grand of soda, tobacco,and other items ,In 2.5 days plus being able to pay the distruibuters of those items , Now Damnit someone is lieing and covering up a big fat lie of what they actulay get a tanker load for .

[QualityLawnCare4u]

I saw something today I have never seen before, every store had cars lined up at every store and gas station. Rumors were we were fixing to be out of gas so everyone panicked and ran out to get gas. It shot up to 3.18. Heard on the local news that the rumor was made up and there was no shortage. However, was going up another .50 cents tonight. That will be 3.68 a gallon tomorrow! Un freakin believable! I dont even know what I am going to charge day to day on my surcharge, will it be 2.50 or 5.00? Greedy SOB oil companies! :angry:

[Toy2]

Just saw on CNN where a station in Atlanta was charging $5.00 plus for a gallon....see they will rip you off in a heart beat....better break out the old reel mowers and sharpen the blades....

[PROCUT1]

if NOBODY bought gas in the usa for one day, they would loose billions.....


And instead of filling up that day half a tank....... Everyone will need to fill up a full tank the next day??????

Where is the logic with you people to keep bring this idea up?

[bigjeeping]

i think its appalling that they used the hurricane as an excuse to raise prices of anything, be it plywood or gas....if anything, things in general should be cheaper so people can afford to contribute to releife effort.....but no it doesnt work that way, they see and opening for price gouging and they take it , who is going to stop them, people needed the plywood, or bottled water or whatever to try and survive the storm...


Well thankfully, some of us LCO's have some college education behind us! Supply and Demand.. Economics!
If everybody in the US started buying plywood, of course the prices would increase. The more scarce something is, the more expensive. If the lakes and oceans dried up we would all need water! But it wouldn't be cheap just because we need it to survive.

Besides all the B.S. in Iraq, etc. gas is skyrocketing because many oil refinererys in the south east on/off shore were shut down, and some were damaged, due to Katrina. Therefore, less gasoline being produced, less quantity availible, higher price! THE GOVERNMENT ISNT RAISING PRICES ON GAS, WATER, PLYWOOD. THE ECONOMY IS!

If W would tap into our nation's oil reserves he could flood the market, and drive prices down... but who knows if that will happen???????

[lqmustang]

Guess I'll put my 2 or 3 cents in here.

First, for everyone worring about the cost of gasoline as it related to your business, do you really know how much gasoline you consume per lawn on average? If you know this number, then you should be able to easily come up with how much you might need to increase your rates to compensate. For me, I use roughly 1 gallon per lawn. With the cost of fuel now about $1 more than the beginning of the season, I know with a $1 increase to my current customers I will be able to cover myself. Some earlier said something about increasing prices 15%? That sounds a bit rough if you are only basing the increase on fuel.

Second, regarding the supply and demand stuff, and everyone running out to get fuel. That is one of the worst things you can do. I can understand going to the cheap station in town to fill up, but don't join all the people panicking and frenzying over filling up. Back when I was running a service station, we had a couple of these situations arise. When this happened, we kept raising the price to get everyone to stop buying the damn stuff. Had nothing to do with trying to make more profit, but everything to do with trying to control our own supply, and not run out.

Finally, regarding how much the stations are making on fuel. Generally, the goal on the retail end is about 10 cents/gallon. Somtimes they get lucky and might get a bit more, sometimes they will be below cost just to stay competitive with the local market. The price the stations pay for a tanker of fuel include the fuel, transportation, and all taxes. If the station's cost for an 8500 gallon tanker is say 2.99/gal, and they get their goal of 10cents/gal gross profit, they make a whopping $850 off sales off that load. They don't need to sell 25 grand on inside sales, they made $850 off the load for themselves, and took in another $25,415 to get in another tanker of fuel. Hope that makes sense.

[dvmcmrhp52]

I have yet to buy gas at the >$3 mark yet.....but........

- I didn't lose my home, to wind and floods
- I didn't lose any family members
- I didn't lose all my belonging

So I will pay $3 a gallon, and thank God that that the important people and less important stuff in my life are unaffected. At the same time I will do what I can to help my fellow Americans in their time of need. Rather than sitting around whining about how "bad" I have it.

If you are going to complain about the prices you should probably stop buying it, or be quiet.




Exactly my feelings on the subject.

Yes, three bucks a gallon sucks.
NO, it is NOT a MAJOR percentage of costs contrary to what was said here by some.

[Carolina Cutter]

Guess I'll put my 2 or 3 cents in here.

First, for everyone worring about the cost of gasoline as it related to your business, do you really know how much gasoline you consume per lawn on average? If you know this number, then you should be able to easily come up with how much you might need to increase your rates to compensate. For me, I use roughly 1 gallon per lawn. With the cost of fuel now about $1 more than the beginning of the season, I know with a $1 increase to my current customers I will be able to cover myself. Some earlier said something about increasing prices 15%? That sounds a bit rough if you are only basing the increase on fuel.



Hey buddy.....you are forgetting one REALLY important figure in that paragraph.....

Getting to your accounts. Sure you might just use 1 gallon per yard but you also have to figure the amount it took you to get to that yard.

People seem to forget the basics.......for every dollar you spend on business expenses......if you have set prices that began when the prices were low....equal one dollar less in your profit margin.

[tinman]

Maybe you should move to Europe. There, they only pay about $8 per gallon for gas. That way you could get away from the government that raises the gas prices.

Come on now. Please explain to me how the government is cutting your margin by raising gas prices. The US economy runs on free enterprise.

I don't know how old you are, but I am 56. I am old enough to remember very well the early eighties. At that time, adjusted for inflation, gas prices were much higher. Why is it that groceries, real estate, cars and everything else go up in price for 25 years and there is noone panicing, but then gas prices start to catch up and it's mayhem?

Even in the LCO business, gas is not a MAJOR expense. If you think that the end of the world is near due to rising gas prices, I think you need to reevaluate a little bit.

Good luck,
Doc
Wrong... allowing for inflation...$ 3 and change is very close to the gas crisis you speak of in the 70's

[DRM Ventures]

Well thankfully, some of us LCO's have some college education behind us! Supply and Demand.. Economics!
If everybody in the US started buying plywood, of course the prices would increase. The more scarce something is, the more expensive. If the lakes and oceans dried up we would all need water! But it wouldn't be cheap just because we need it to survive.

Besides all the B.S. in Iraq, etc. gas is skyrocketing because many oil refinererys in the south east on/off shore were shut down, and some were damaged, due to Katrina. Therefore, less gasoline being produced, less quantity availible, higher price! THE GOVERNMENT ISNT RAISING PRICES ON GAS, WATER, PLYWOOD. THE ECONOMY IS!

If W would tap into our nation's oil reserves he could flood the market, and drive prices down... but who knows if that will happen???????

ah....a voice of reason.....thank you...

The problem right now is not the availablity of crude oil. It is the availability of processed gasoline due to the reduction in refinery operations and the inability to truck the stuff out of the south due to the storm damage. So as of yesterday more crude oil is not going to completely help.

Derek

[betterlawn]

If W would tap into our nation's oil reserves he could flood the market, and drive prices down... but who knows if that will happen???????

That would be true if the reserves were already refined products, but they are not. The shortage is in refinery capacity, not oil. Flooding the market with oil won't help that much.

Sorry - I just saw Derek's post - looks like he said the same thing...

[daveintoledo]

[QUOTE=bigjeeping]Well thankfully, some of us LCO's have some college education behind us! Supply and Demand.. Economics!
If everybody in the US started buying plywood, of course the prices would increase. The more scarce something is, the more expensive. If the lakes and oceans dried up we would all need water! But it wouldn't be cheap just because we need it to survive.

i have a ba and and mba, lets se you got out of high school at 18, and in one year you have a college education....i hope the rest of you post are more honest then this one. kind of challenges your credibility

[freddyc]

people in the northeast USA should really start thinking about heating oil.

It was locking in at $2.40/gallon last week at the few places you could get it.

I don't doubt that it will be in the $3--- $3.25 range by early winter. That makes it about $3500 to heat an average home.

Next to transportation cost (gas) thats a small sum but on top of it---that REALLY hurts. Most people complained heavily last winter about it and it should be 3x this winter. Thats if you can get it... wood stove??

[bigjeeping]

i have a ba and and mba, lets se you got out of high school at 18, and in one year you have a college education....i hope the rest of you post are more honest then this one. kind of challenges your credibility

Dave,
I graduated HS at 17 and as of Monday I am in my 3rd year of college. God if you talk to people in person how you talk on this forum - I hope you've been socked in the teeth a good number of times.

BTW - how many times have I proven your posts wrong now?

[daveintoledo]

well you dont get people lieing as much face to face... and im not sayng you lied, but being in school and haveing a college education arent the same thing, you have proven me wrong zero times, ive never said you where wrong about anything..... ive only asked if you where legal....you answered, thats not being proven wrong....and im in ann arbor every home football game