What's happening to all the petrol stations?

[pete376403]

In Upper Hutt, of the 14 or so gas stations that I can recall between Rimutaka and Silverstream, only six are still trading.

[jim.cox]

In Upper Hutt, of the 14 or so gas stations that I can recall between Rimutaka and Silverstream, only six are still trading.

State Highway 1 through Dunedin is now down to about four stations

And its not just the small operators being forced out

The big companies seem to have an active policy of closing stations

I'm sure its part of a long term strategy of maximising profit - the service part of the equation went out the door years ago...

[vifferman]

It's even the case in D'Auckland - our nearest station (Caltex) shut a couple of years back, and I noticed the BP over by the Whenuapai turnoff has closed, and another one on the North Shore too.

It's not really surprising, if the comments are true about most of the profits being from sales of things other than petrol.

[davereid]

Its actually due to taxation.

Petrol is what is called a vertical market - the same supplier(s) control the product from the hole in the ground in the gulf, to the hole in the side of your car or bike.

So, they operate the business at a loss, or close to a loss in high tax countries, and only make a profit in low tax countries.

So, NZ is a high tax country, compared to say Singapore.

So the oil company will buy the gulf fuel from itself in singapore, mark it up and sell it to themselves in NZ, where it will be sold at cost.

Or at least the cost of buying it from themselves in Singapore.

[Ocean1]

So, they operate the business at a loss, or close to a loss in high tax countries, and only make a profit in low tax countries.

Yes. If you're making a profit in NZ you're an idiot.

Drop the corperate rate 2% and all the Aus-based multi-nationals would start contributing to NZ coffers instead of siphoning cash back to Sydnee.

[cowpatz]

More than the tanks - also all the contaminated ground around the tanks.Last site I was at where the tanks were replaced,there were chemists on site taking soil samples all the time.When an oil company vacates a site,they have to replace all comtaminated soil.

So where does the contaminated soil go....underground???
Word is BP is on the way out.

[Motu]

It's taken away to be stored and monitored.The regulations are crazy - at my site when the tanks were done (I worked out of one door (of 3) for 6 weeks,it killed my business),the holes had to be filled overnight.So they would dig a hole for the tank,fill it in,dig it out the next day,lay pipe work,fill it in,dig it out the next day,drop in the tank,fill it in,dig it out the next day,do the pipe work,fill it in,dig it out.......

[Ocean1]

So where does the contaminated soil go....underground???

SOP for fuel contaminated soil is to spread it out and let the contaminants oxidise. Need to turn it over occasionally. It's checked for heavy metals and other contaminants that won't effectively be dealt with this way and eventually pronounced safe.

SOP for dioxin contamination from old wood treatment plants is to pass the buck until it's not your fault.

they would dig a hole for the tank,fill it in,dig it out the next day,lay pipe work,fill it in,dig it out the next day,drop in the tank,fill it in,dig it out the next day,do the pipe work,fill it in,dig it out.......

I despair, I really do...

[Zuki lover]

No money in petrol, unless you are the big boys..... little service stations have been dying for many years now - sad but true

[EJK]

Time to go electric

[Pedrostt500]

there are 4 that have closed in the Petone / Alice Town area in the last 18 months that I can think of.

[Little Smurf]

The Caltex in Sanson SH1 is closing it's doors this Friday, the locals use this one alot and prefer it to the Shell the employment for 6 of the locals is no longer also so it is quite sad, Sanson isn't a big place and having the pub and now the Servo close it doesn't look to good for us!!

The Caltex in Marton closed a couple of weeks back it's so sad that the little towns/villages get hit the hardest. Now for poeple who have a star card now have to go to either Feilding or Palmy, doesn't make much sense!!!!!

Boo boo the big coporate's