The Economics of Everyday Things

1. Gas Stations

31 snips
Jan 23, 2023
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Jitandar P. Seti's Gas Station Journey

  • Jitandar P. Seti, originally from India, bought his first gas station in San Jose in 1980 for $80,000.
  • Despite long hours and a challenging location, he persevered and has since owned over 40 stations.
INSIGHT

Thin Margins on Gas

  • Gas stations profit very little from gas sales due to the complex supply chain and numerous intermediary costs.
  • The bulk of the cost covers crude oil extraction, refining, distribution, and taxes, leaving minimal profit for the station owner.
INSIGHT

Price Wars and Competition

  • Gas station owners face intense competition, often engaging in price wars that minimize profits.
  • They are limited in their ability to increase prices independently due to market forces and competitor actions.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app