| Gas stations on the same corner (or almost the same) in fact frequently have different prices, often quite different. A few examples. https://maps.app.goo.gl/AeRZsAeGQAHoYvd36 https://maps.app.goo.gl/cdcbxQuEYLBFVECc7 https://maps.app.goo.gl/k8zAVMrwxkKYsoA8A https://maps.app.goo.gl/nrQmyShTk9P8YEmo9 Too many consumers think that there are enough differences in additives and detergents between the brands for it to make a significant different in mpg and in maintenance costs, so buy from "their" brand even if there is a cheaper brand nearby. At one time those consumers would have been right, but first the EPA established certain minimal standards that all brands had to meet. The better brands were still better for your car than the ones just meeting the minimum, but it would take longer for it to make a significant difference. Then BMW, GM, Honda, and Toyota made a spec for what makes a good detergents and additive mix, and most other major automakers joined. They created a certification, "TOP TIER", that gas companies that met that standard could use. Nowadays most gas in the US is certified TOP TIER. Generally you will only find non-TOP TIER gas at stations not part of a major chain, at some gas brands owned by grocery chains (Safeway for example), and at some gas brands owned by convenience stores (7-Eleven for example). Most independent tests have found that and detergents and additives beyond those required for TOP TIER certification do not make a significant difference, even cumulative over 300+k miles. Nowadays then in the US just buy from any TOP TIER brand and that will be good enough. But consumers don't seem to know that and so for a large number of consumers different brands on the same corner aren't actually in competition. |
The whole US gas station market has gotten less competitive over the last 40 years I've been observing prices and big coastal cities are a lot worse than anywhere else.