Why are all the petrol stations closing

[Nosha123]

Why is it all the petrol stations are closing down??? I see more and more of them disappearing and turning into car washes until such a time they get developed into something else.... Does anyone know???

[ChuckFickens]

one word

Supermarkets

[Ethel]

They can't compete with Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda.

[Nosha123]

so where are we all supposed to buy petrol from... when we have a boot full of supermarket shopping???

[johnny.5]

i suspect the ones you see closing are mainly independant ones .
that is because the supermarkets open locally and under price them out of business.
then when they are out of business the supermarkets raise their prices to compensate for any loss

[naomi24]

Sorry, Nosha, I'm not with you. What does having a boot full of shopping have to do with buying petrol?

Incidentally, on a fairly long drive last week, I was looking at prices in various petrol stations along the way - and surprisingly Tesco was the most expensive, so it's worth checking out the non-supermarket garages before you fill up.

[Nosha123]

Because its all very well having a car boot full of shopping from going to these new supermarkets - but if I have no bleedin petrol in my car - how am I supposed to get it home???
Personally I think there are enough supermarkets already and now there are not enough petrol stations!!! I can think of 3 that have closed within a 2 mile radius of my house!!! So will now have to go further (while my lights on red.. cos I leave it til the last minute) and queue for longer cos thats where everyone else is having to get their petrol too!!!

[jno]

well in theory nosha the supermarkets will have petrol stations themselves. Many do but perhaps yours doesn't?

At the moment their price seems the same as everyone else's.

[Nosha123]

I cant imagine that the plot for an ex-petrol station is big enough to build an entire supermarket WITH petrol service... so can only assume that if the supermarkets are snapping up these plots - they wont be building petrol stations on them as well... otherwise why would they remove the pumps and the building...

[redcrx]

the supermarkets cheap fuel is reason they are closing, not what the developed land will be!

[Nosha123]

maybe we should start up a campaign to abolish the Supermarket petrol stations.. as once all the Independents have gone out of business.. they have total control of the market and can increase prices as they see fit.... There have already been rumours of them fixing dairy and wheat pricing

[chas2008]

i believe one of the reasons is there is a time/age limit on the storage tanks, they have to be replaced or filled in and the cost is astronomical, they would never recover this in fuel sales..So either sell out to the big boys or do something else with the property

[Ethel]

Nosha - believe it or not the supermarkets have fixed the prices to keep them DOWN, not up.

[dustypuss]

redcrx supermarkets ( CHEEP) fuel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UH

[naomi24]

You say that Ethel, and I think most people believe it (I did), but on my mini-survey, Tesco was definitely the most expensive.

[Panic Button]

Tesco used to be the cheapest round here - now they all charge virtually the same. Perhaps Tesco are upping the profit now they have killed so many.

[ChuckFickens]

tesco aren't the cheapest within a mile of me, but they always have the biggest Q, I think a ,lot of people now just think we will go to the supermarket and get the cheapest petrol, and it's just not anymore.

[merejeans]

We owned a petrol station for many years, fortunately in a good position, and eventually sold it to a petrol co. when we retired. It is super markets that are the cause of small independent stations closing. Their buying power is massive, and so they can get fuel much cheaper. If you want to keep your local station, then use, or lose it. Same with any other independent business.

Once a filling station closes, it is very expensive then to get change of use for anything other than something like car sales or car wash, as it is contaminated land. Also the petrol tanks, which are embedded in concrete, have to be dug out, a mammoth task. A few years ago they just had to be filled with concrete, much cheaper, and then something else could be built on them

[Nosha123]

Ethel.. the reason the supermarkets try to keep prices down is for a limited time until all the competition are out of business.. then the prices will be put up again! They are trying to monopolise everything!!! Look at all the independent shops and butchers and grocers put out of business because S/Markets are cheaper (but obviously less quality!!!) and offer more variety.... We really should support the local and independents more - from Petrol stations right down to grocers and butchers and bakers!

[Panic Button]

People have short memories, since Tesco rubbish petrol damaged thousands of cars not long ago.