in MOST cases, people are wrong

to be angry at station owners. they have to make a living too. they're charging what big bid-nez (in this case OIL which is one of THE big big big 'uns) says they MUST charge. from thursday to friday in connecticut, gas went up AT LEAST $.10 a gallon (but i saw one that went up $.20). i didn't check the prices yesterday. i was out and about, but i had other things on my mind. GROCERIES for one (and THAT too wasn't pretty).

i know the people who work for big oil have to eat as well. but billions and billions and billions for the big boys while the rest of us are let to have cake? no

they're evil soul-less bastards

Peeved at Prices? Don't Blame the Dealer

Awash in Profit, Exxon Fights for Pennies While Raising the Rent

By Steven Mufson

Washington Post Staff Writer

Every time Sohaila Rezazadeh rings up a sale at her Exxon station on Chain Bridge Road in Oakton, her cash register sends the information to Exxon Mobil's central computers. If she raises the price of gasoline a couple of pennies, chances are that Exxon will raise the wholesale price she pays by the same amount.

Through a password-protected Web portal, Exxon notifies Rezazadeh of wholesale price changes daily. That way the oil giant, which is earning about $3.3 billion a month, fine-tunes the pump prices at the franchise Rezazadeh has owned for 12 years.

Now, however, Rezazadeh says she cannot stay in business. Credit-card fees are eating her profit margins. Exxon, which owns the station land, last week handed Rezazadeh a new lease raising her rent about 30 percent over the next three years. She stuck a copy on the window of her station to show customers who are angry about soaring pump prices. Rezazadeh has told Exxon that she cannot make money with the rent that high. Her territory manager's reply, she said, was simple: When you go, leave us the keys.............