When Will Low leaves his James Bay home each morning for work, he has come to expect the price of gas at his local station wonB次元官网网址檛 be the same when he returns at the end of the day.
The recent bout of ever-fluctuating gas prices B次元官网网址渋s really hard to get a handle on,B次元官网网址� said Low, who teaches business and sustainability at Royal Roads University. B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 follow the usual way that gas price wars work.
B次元官网网址淲here it came from and how long it will last is a mystery.B次元官网网址�
Typically, the rise and fall of prices are dictated by market conditions, and reflect the value of crude oil, which is on the rise, said Low.
The yo-yo effect is sometimes influenced by one gas company looking to increase its customer base B次元官网网址� which may be what is happening in Greater Victoria, said Jason Toews, co-founder of GasBuddy.com.
His Regina-based company relies on a network of volunteer watchers who post what theyB次元官网网址檙e seeing at gas pumps in Canada and the U.S.
The information is posted online so consumers can find the cheapest gas nearest them. Greater Victoria prices at the pump can be found at VictoriaGasPrices.com.
B次元官网网址淐ostco seems to be the one whoB次元官网网址檚 leading this, going up and down,B次元官网网址� Toews said, adding that the strategy is meant to attract customers, who can only purchase the gas if they have a Costco membership.
That prompts competing gas companies to follow suit, though there is a profit loss.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a sustainable way of doing business,B次元官网网址� said Toews. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 more of a temporary thing to try to drum up business and gain loyalty with the gas stations.B次元官网网址�
But Low isnB次元官网网址檛 convinced Costco is driving this recent stint of yo-yoing prices.
B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 tend to see such low prices or daily fluctuations,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that some prices have fluctuated by as much as 12 cents a litre within a few hours at the same gas station.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l have a bit of fun with it,B次元官网网址� said Low. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 just a matter of enjoying it while it lasts because we know it wonB次元官网网址檛 last.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
