Very little 'no-name' gas in Canada........

[addyguy]

I guess it's a good thing, but one thing I've noticed is that in Canada in the last 10-15 years or so is that small gas staions have disappeared.

You used to have 'mom n'pop' stations with just a couple of pumps ('River Road Gas' a buddy of mine worked at for a few years); or you would have a small chain (Mr. Gas); or you would have gas pumps at convinience stores (Beckers in some towns sold gas).

Now, they are all gone. all our gas station in both big and little cities are almost all big-name stations - Petro-Can, Esso, Shell; or they are large store chain stations (Canadian Tire Gas Bar, 'No Frills' grocery store stations). All the stations are big and bright with lots of pumps and stores that sell stuff.

It seems that in the US, the small corner gas station is still alive and well. I'm assuming it has to do with harsher environmental regs. in Canada that make it hard and expensive to operate a station, so unless you have massive volume; it isn't worth it.

It's probably a good thing; as quality and consistency is probably better with a large volume chain, but it's sad to lose the 'variety'.

Just suprised to see SUCH a difference.

 

[sir1900]

I am wondering whether such no-name gas stations have the same quality of gasoline as the big chains.

Here we have a four discount gas stations. They each offer gas at 5-7 cents a litre less than the others with no strings attached. Lineups of at least 6 or 7 cars are not uncommon at these sites. Some people drive 3-4 miles out of town just to save a few cents a litre.

I figured for the $2 a tank more at Shell or Esso, I would be sure to get good quality gasoline in my cars.

 

[addyguy]

Originally Posted By: sir1900
I am wondering whether such no-name gas stations have the same quality of gasoline as the big chains.

Here we have a four discount gas stations. They each offer gas at 5-7 cents a litre less than the others with no strings attached. Lineups of at least 6 or 7 cars are not uncommon at these sites. Some people drive 3-4 miles out of town just to save a few cents a litre.

I figured for the $2 a tank more at Shell or Esso, I would be sure to get good quality gasoline in my cars.


BUT, one way to look at it is that a station that has high product turnover has fresher gas!

 

[ueberooo]

It must be that in a country as large geographically and (sparsely populated in many areas) as Canada, the limited size of the distribution system, allows for only a few participants.

So, about how many gas station brands do you have?

There are maybe a handful of medium to large integrated oil companies in Canada?

Are there any small integrated oil companies that might only have a local distribution?

 

[Steve S]

No names don't like litres

 

[ryan2022]

I think its harder for the "little" guys to compete.

there were a few stations out our way, that couldnt keep up with the bigger stations.

They would try and lower their price to attract customers, and BAM!, the sunoco or Esso, or Shell, beats them into submission.

 

[mechtech2]

We are going towards a centralized bank, credit card, gov't., fuel company, etc..

 

[JHZR2]

We have been seeing the opposite - previous brand name gas turning no name. The one exception is that our no-name "garden state fuel" has changed to gulf.

Ive read that stations dont make money on gas - they need you to come in and buy high-profit stuff like beverages. Branded stations may also have more assured pricing structure and delivery structures. It is also my impression that sometimes going to a "name brand" gets you an upgrade package for the station to make it nice.

have there been stringent quality standards put on, which perhaps the mom and pop cannot meet easily?

 

[crinkles]

i don't see it as a good thing when family businesses and small businesses go out of business because of global corporations who concentrate their profit onto a few people.

i try to make a point of only buying from small retailers and independently owned shops.

 

[Drew2000]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
....
It seems that in the US, the small corner gas station is still alive and well. I'm assuming it has to do with harsher environmental regs. in Canada that make it hard and expensive to operate a station, so unless you have massive volume; it isn't worth it.

....


Most of the small mom n'pop gas stations are disapearing fast in the North East. States generally require storage tanks to be replaced at 15-20 year intervals (which usually is combined with a full pump/fore court replacement, paving etc.) and it's just not worth investing a minimum of a $125k for the marginal returns on gas sales.

The big operators make their money from the C-store, not the pumps. Around LI, probably 50% of the small stations have had their tanks pulled. Some with a decent-size shop still do repairs, most sit fenced in awaiting re-development.