Gas prices are hurting everyone across the country right now. Based on AAA, the average nationwide gas price as of March 23 was $4.23. You can try Catch the break by breaking through the long lines in Costco or Sam’s Clubfor gas – oyou can try find a station that is still “cheap”. Not everyone can sell gas cheaply or allow other stations to sell their gas cheaply, like Asset reports that two gas stations in Wisconsin are suing their competitors because their prices are too low.
Two stations, one Shell and one BP, is suing the station of a local grocery chain called Woodman’s. In the lawsuit, the broadcasters allege that Woodman’s price violates Wisconsi .of ns Unfair Sales Act. This law prohibits companies from selling goods below cost. For vehicle fuel, the law provides:
For motor vehicle fuel, the definition of “cost” is based on “average quoted terminal price” or invoice cost (whichever is greater) plus business markup costs.
Woodman claims that the company has an exemption that allows it to sell the fuel for as cheap as it is now. Per Fortune:
Woodman’s said it was allowed to sell at that price, due to an exemption from the Unfair Sales Act, which requires the company to notify the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Commerce and Consumer Protection of the price reduction, This allows them to match competitor prices. .
The competitor in question is the local Costco, just over six miles from Woodman’s station. Local news station WISN ABC 12 reported on March 18 that Woodman station had a line of cars waiting to fill up while BP and Shell stations were very little in business. You would think that BP and Shell would just drop their prices to fight back.
Unfortunately, the difference in prices that the stations are suing is not much. Broadcasters want $80,000 in damages but only have $0.20 to $0.26 difference in the price of the station. As of March 21, Woodman’s price is at $3.60 a gallon; Shell at $3.86 and BP at $3.80
Woodman’s attorneys say the pricing is subject to state law and the lawsuit is “no.” n: Worthy.”
