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Pumps run dry at gas stations in Britain

reuters.com

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Re: Pumps run dry at gas stations in Britain

#241

Post by humps »

hogFeast wrote: post #239
listless wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So the trucker shortage is a false conclusion? Cause this article states that’s the definitive cause. It reads to me like an axe to grind with Brexit and trying to tie this crisis to that political football.

In terms of the trucker shortage: the govt said today that the fuel driver shortage is small (150-300, tanker drivers make more than HGV drivers so probably true). BP said they were having no problems hiring but experiencing high levels of attrition (likely due to competitors offering pay increases) BP met with the govt on Thursday, they said that supply levels were roughly at the level they had been since the start…

thank you for the additional information

Re: Pumps run dry at gas stations in Britain

#242

Post by dan-robertson »

chrononaut wrote: post #133
TomGullen wrote: post #17

Unlike the toilet paper panic buying there is limited capacity people can buy, so I would expect this to naturally end short term when people don’t have capacity to buy any more. What concerns me is government planning to address this looks a lot more forward looking than a few days/a week, so I can see it getting worse. Interesting how the government say it’s not a shortage, if the refineries were running low you wo…

> ..as I think most people are just filling up to the top instead of half way.. Perhaps I am missing something here, but are you referring to vehicles in this context? Is it not common to always fill your tank to the top?

I’ve seen some people keep the tank only partially full because it improves performance (the car will be more efficient if it is lighter and might eg handle better too, especially if it is a small car) though I don’t really buy that argument.

But if you supposed that everyone drove normally until their tank was 1/8 full then refuelled to the top, the average tank would be 7/16 full so if lots of people refuel all at once that is 9/16 times a lot of fuel tanks.

Re: Pumps run dry at gas stations in Britain

#243

Post by caeril »

joeberon wrote: post #72
TomGullen wrote: post #17

Unlike the toilet paper panic buying there is limited capacity people can buy, so I would expect this to naturally end short term when people don’t have capacity to buy any more. What concerns me is government planning to address this looks a lot more forward looking than a few days/a week, so I can see it getting worse. Interesting how the government say it’s not a shortage, if the refineries were running low you wo…

> when people don’t have capacity to buy any more. I'm confused, can't they just fill up jerry cans, or if garages aren't allowing this, just siphon the fuel out of the car at home?

Most people don't even possess jerry cans, let alone keep them filled and stabilized. Allocating time and resources to common-sense supply chain shock preparedness gets in the way of important things like football, porn, and social media.

Daddy Government will always provide, of course.

Re: Pumps run dry at gas stations in Britain

#245

Post by dev_tty01 »

Ajedi32 wrote: post #216
petercooper wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always fill up myself because I hate filling up any more than I have to, but when it costs the equivalent of $70 to fill even a tiny car or $140 for a large car, no, it's pretty common to just buy "what you need" for the next few days or whatever.

Still seems odd to me. Whether it's $70 a week or $140 every two weeks the total is the same. Only difference is how many stops you have to make, and maybe a 1% difference to the average weight of the vehicle.

It is odd to you because you have never had to live paycheck to paycheck. Many people are barely getting to the next pay day so that extra $70 the first week means less food that week.

Re: Pumps run dry at gas stations in Britain

#246

Post by owenversteeg »

chrononaut wrote: post #133
TomGullen wrote: post #17

Unlike the toilet paper panic buying there is limited capacity people can buy, so I would expect this to naturally end short term when people don’t have capacity to buy any more. What concerns me is government planning to address this looks a lot more forward looking than a few days/a week, so I can see it getting worse. Interesting how the government say it’s not a shortage, if the refineries were running low you wo…

> ..as I think most people are just filling up to the top instead of half way.. Perhaps I am missing something here, but are you referring to vehicles in this context? Is it not common to always fill your tank to the top?

Keeping extra gas in the tank (aka filling up all the way) is like keeping a savings account - many people can't afford it. Depending on the country, the tank size and the price of gas, you can easily be looking at $100 for a tank vs. just keeping a bit in there to get around.

Re: Pumps run dry at gas stations in Britain

#247

Post by rebuilder »

Ajedi32 wrote: post #216
petercooper wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always fill up myself because I hate filling up any more than I have to, but when it costs the equivalent of $70 to fill even a tiny car or $140 for a large car, no, it's pretty common to just buy "what you need" for the next few days or whatever.

Still seems odd to me. Whether it's $70 a week or $140 every two weeks the total is the same. Only difference is how many stops you have to make, and maybe a 1% difference to the average weight of the vehicle.

If you’ve spent your money on gas, you can no longer choose to use it on surprise expenses and forgo driving. Money is more liquid than gas, it turns out.

Re: Pumps run dry at gas stations in Britain

#248

Post by [deleted] »

sgt wrote: post #21

TBH I still think Brexit is a good choice for Britain. The EU is a terribly inefficient and hopeless organization (but perhaps I am a bit biased, I've always been opposed to the EU because it's far too heavy weight). Of course, they will suffer economically for a while, but that was part of the game with Brexit. The voters however - were slightly lied to regarding the immediate downsides. It's probably important to k…

[deleted]

Re: Pumps run dry at gas stations in Britain

#249

Post by tokamak-teapot »

davzie wrote: post #79
joeberon wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a Brit, I think "slightly lied to" is a huge under-exaggeration. Literally everyone I spoke to who voted for Brexit did so entirely on the lies, for example the NHS money thing, specific claims about removing "foreigners", and promises of rebuilding of British-only enterprises.

I'm sorry but you can't know that. The vast majority of people had probably made their decision before the messaging kicked in. Also you can claim the same the other way. The only reason people voted to remain is because of the scare of no drinking water, no medicines, fear of an instant market crash etc. Both sides can and were manipulated to some extent by false messaging that never came to be, but certainly not ev…

You’re replying to someone stating what others have told them, not making an assertion based on something they ‘know’. Did you reply to the wrong comment perhaps?

Re: Pumps run dry at gas stations in Britain

#250

Post by Ajedi32 »

dev_tty01 wrote: post #245
Ajedi32 wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Still seems odd to me. Whether it's $70 a week or $140 every two weeks the total is the same. Only difference is how many stops you have to make, and maybe a 1% difference to the average weight of the vehicle.

It is odd to you because you have never had to live paycheck to paycheck. Many people are barely getting to the next pay day so that extra $70 the first week means less food that week.

True, if you have literally $0 cash on hand then it could make sense. If you ever get your hands on $70 though that seems like a worthwhile investment to spend ~50% less time at the gas station for the remainder of your life. Probably one of the more cost efficient quality-of-life purchases you could make in my opinion, which is why I find it odd that it's not more common (apparently).
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