I am somewhat amused by the Malibu Chamber of Commerce’s “Buy Malibu” campaign. Let’s take a look at our local gasoline pricing (from late August): 76: $3.99; Exxon: $3.99; Standard: $3.99.
These stations are owned by their independent operators. I am sure they don’t talk to each other about their “in lock-step pricing.”
Now let’s look at the pricing for the same gas in Santa Monica and the Valley, $3.75 for the same gasoline, octane and additives. I don’t really understand why the chamber feels we should drop an additional five bucks to the Malibu operators for the privilege of filling our auto tanks in Malibu.
For those of us who are disabled and are in need of some assistance in filling their tanks here in Malibu, that’s another 70 cents a gallon sir! Thank you very much for buying your gas here in Malibu. In L.A. most stations display a small sign, “Need Help, Sound Your Horn,” no extra charge in that high-priced city!
Next week I will try and buy a plain white T-shirt in Malibu, continuing my efforts to help support the chamber’s campaign.
Al Ehringer