Costco Pumps Coming to P.G.
Thursday, April 11, 2013 @ 4:00 AM
Prince George, B.C.- 250News has confirmed, there will be a gas pump at the Costco store on Highway 16 West.
The much rumoured addition to the Costco site is expected to have the pumps flowing by the end of the summer.
Right now, the cheapest gas in the entire province can be found at the Costco pumps in Kamloops, where a litre of regular gas will cost $1.15.9 that’s at least one cent cheaper than the next cheapest competitor in that city. Costco has long been credited with creating the competitive environment which keeps the gas prices down in Kamloops.
Here in Prince George, one litre of regular gas is going for $1.31.9, a full 16 cents a litre more than our Kamloops counterparts.
As 250News reported in late March, Costco’s spokesperson Ron Damiani was not prepared to confirm the rumours of the gas bar plans for P.G. ““We never comment on strategic elements on where we are going or where we’re not going, whether it’s adding something like gas stations or whether it’s opening new locations in a specific market. It’s a long process as you can well imagine. Sometimes we request zoning changes and things just kind of sit there for a while, so we just never provide comments on that.”
The Costco site is zoned Z3, which is a site specific zoning. The zoning already permits “service station minor” as a secondary permitted use on the property so it would not appear there would be any need for a rezoning application.
So, comment or not, 250News has confirmed through other sources, that the environmental studies have been completed and work is expected to begin soon in order for the pumps to be operational possibly as early as the end of July, but at the very latest, the end of August.
Comments
I wonder if Costco’s would consider running a city council? We might get the tax’s under control.
If Costco’s is going to get the other gas gougers into line line than welcome to PG. I know where I will be fuelling my vehicles.
yaaaaaaaaaahhh Good for Costco… Good for consumers..
Great maybe they will help the prices come down to match the rest of most of the province. In Prince George we are paying 16 cents p/l more than Kamloops. That’s 72 cents p/g on the old measurement. In Pr Geo we are paying a whole 7 cents p/l less than Vancouver who have a 14 cent transit tax obiviously we are being ripped off here.
I don’t currently have a costco membership, so this is not that interesting to me, but it is interesting news. If it does create some price competition here I will probably benefit from it anyway while still not paying for the priviledge of shopping somewhere.
I currently consume an avg of 75 litres of fuel so, if we could achieve even a 12 cent favourable price, that would save me 75*12*.12-50=$58 a year. Assuming a membership is still $50. So if the competition creates a 6 cent difference I will be better off just for it coming, so thanks costco, I might get some use out of you yet.
Do you buy food Sine? I imagine you do. So if you buy food Sine the Costco card is free if you get the right membership.
The only bad thing about this would be the lineups at the gas bar! If Costco was smart they would put in one of those fast car chargers too!
I think there is one councillor attempting for the city to get permission from the government to bring in a special (for Prince George only) surcharge to be added at the pump!
If that effort is successful most of the anticipated savings are already spoken for!
what membership would you be referring to, NoWay?
what membership would you be referring to, NoWay?
“So, comment or not, 250News has confirmed through other sources”…..did you find an old copy of the local bird cage liner lying around?
Was a front page story last fall that Costco was going to build a gas station.
So we shall see what really happens, if the gas is cheaper and the other stations follow suit that proves what we know already, we have been gouged for decades.
I see that everyone is assuming that Costco will provide cheap gas. Hmmmmm. Did they actually say that, or are we assuming that we will get the same rates as Kamloops.
94 octane please
That’s right Palopu, people are making a ot of assumptions about cheap gas. Costco has a reputation of bucking the trend, but that remains to be seen.
” Posted by: 1fastm3 on April 11 2013 8:36 AM
94 octane please”
What do you require 94 for?
Quick search on gas buddy for places that have Costco gas.
Abbotsford 119.9
Courteney 119.9
Port Coquitlam 131.9
Langford 126.9
Kamloops 116.9 (115.9 at other stations)
as opposed to Prince George at 131.9
We can only hope!
Costco Grande Prairie 109.9 other stations range from 113.9-119.9.
Costco Edmonton 100.9 & 102.9 others 104.9
Costco Calgary 106.9 Some small players same or slightly lower Majors 109.9 or 110.9
Beginning to see a trend;)
@Dragon Master:
I need 94 octane because my vehicles have ECU upgrades that require a minimum of 93 octane to run optimally.
At this time, Gas Buddy is reporting 91 stations selling at $1.159. Costco is at $1.169 (posted 2 hours ago for Cotco.)
There is one staion (Esso) which has the highest price at $1.229
oops, that should be 19 station.
While I would like lower gas prices as much as anyone, why do we scream that PG is being gouged? The provincial average is currently 131.2 and we are at 131.9. We are .7 of a cent off of the average… seems pretty middle of the road to me.
Kamloops Costco is the lowest for premium at $1.259.
Red Deer Costco 105.9 vs 109.9 elsewhere
Lethbridge Costco 107.9 vs 110.9
Okotoks Costco 106.9 vs 111.9
Medicine Hat Costco 106.9 vs 108.9
Sherwood Park Costco 100.9 vs 105.9
Saskatoon Costco 112.9 vs 112.9
I think that it is a given that Costco will put downward pressure on prices and may even start a price war when they enter the market.
” Posted by: 1fastm3 on April 11 2013 9:11 AM
@Dragon Master:
I need 94 octane because my vehicles have ECU upgrades that require a minimum of 93 octane to run optimally.”
What upgrades and what does the higher octane rating do for you?
Saskatoon 110.9 vs 112.9 oops
So how about a Costco liquor store too?
@ Dragon Master:
I have a supercharger on my one car and the tune is based on running minimum 93. And my other vehicles have ECU upgrades that also requires 93 octane.
Essentially the higher octane allows for optimal fuel/ignition/timing curves. If I were to run anything less, the car’s power and fuel economy would suffer. Not to mention the massive amounts of detination that would occur.
You’ll only find me at Chevron at the moment.
“I think that it is a given that Costco will put downward pressure on prices and may even start a price war when they enter the market. “
Not necessarily. Prince George is a pretty captive market when it comes to gas prices. All of those other communities you mention are a close drive away from another market. We would have to drive an hour minimum to get to ‘the competition’, which many people won’t do.
Maybe Costco’s presence will drive down prices as some predict… maybe not.
I do not find liquor prices at Costco in the USA to be all that great. I find that there is so much competition from every grocery store that one really has to go comparison shopping to find the best price for a given product.
No doubt there are some alcoholic products which are cheaper, but certainly not across the entire range of products.
We need to get liquor into grocery stores in order for prices to become competitive and, most important of all, good range of products. The selection in Northeast Washington State is absolutely mind boggling.
@ Dragon Master:
I have a supercharger on my one car and the tune is based on running minimum 93. And my other vehicles have ECU upgrades that also requires 93 octane.
Essentially the higher octane allows for optimal fuel/ignition/timing curves. If I were to run anything less, the car’s power and fuel economy would suffer. Not to mention the massive amounts of detination that would occur.
You’ll only find me at Chevron at the moment.
Kind nice not to see the OCP altered for the need to install the gas station.
One of the things we do not have here are service stations owned/operated by First Nations. Than can make just as much difference as a Costco.
gus: “I do not find liquor prices at Costco in the USA to be all that great.”
That has not been my experience. I have found the prices to be at least 50% less than here on most items. Of course, we have to contend with excessive liquor taxes and government price setting.
JB:
The gas price in Kelowna is 127.9 as opposed to Kamloops @ 115.9. The only real difference is that Kamloops has Costco gas while Kelowna does not.
Care for a little side wager?
I was in Parksville and Nanaimo on the weekend … 121.9
Ya .. we in PG are getting screwed
lonesome: “The gas price in Kelowna is 127.9 as opposed to Kamloops @ 115.9. The only real difference is that Kamloops has Costco gas while Kelowna does not.
Care for a little side wager?”
You seem pretty sure. Whereas I am not so sure. I wouldn’t bet on anything regarding gas prices around PG… other than they are going up in the long term! :-)
gus: “We need to get liquor into grocery stores in order for prices to become competitive and, most important of all, good range of products. The selection in Northeast Washington State is absolutely mind boggling.”
I agree! But as long as our governments have a strangehold on all aspects of liquor sales and distribution, I can’t see it happening. The government makes way too much money on booze to relenquish control. :-(
Costco strives to be price leader in the markets they enter, about the only way that one could explain the 119.9 price in Courteney. Other stations will try to price match in order to retain market share.
May have cheaper booze south of the 49th but have you seen what they pay for medical coverage. Given the choice I prefer this side of the line and will pick up the occasional bottle of duty free.
JB should adjust his negative predictions considering the fact that PG has a refinery, whereas many of the other towns which contribute to a higher provincial average do not. Just the fact that we have a refinery here should have brought us lower prices than, let’s say Quesnel.
PG: “Just the fact that we have a refinery here should have brought us lower prices than, let’s say Quesnel.”
I have to disagree. A local refinery does not entitle us to low(er) gas prices. They are set on what the market will bear.
Good thing 250news is confirming this important story first reported back in October: http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/article/20121002/PRINCEGEORGE0101/310029961/0/princegeorge/costco-plans-to-open-gas-bar.
to Dragonmaster
I sucks to be you.
Marketplace ran a show this season on what a rip off high octane gas was and that it doesn’t do anything for your vehicle and in fact was worse for the environment. I would encourage anyone who thinks the more expensive the gas the better it must be for your car to google and watch that episode.
To reader,
You may want to read the comments a little more closely. Dragonmaster isn’t the one using high octane gas.
For what it’s worth, I think high octane gas is a scam too.
Should change his/her name from “reader” to “skimmer”:{0
@Reader:
I’m the one using the high octane and I did just watch the MarketPlace show. It seems they didn’t allow the car’s ECU to adapt to the premium fuel. And anyone remotely familiar with car electronics knows that is a fatal flaw in their “claims”. But CBC would never lie, would they? ;)
I’ll trust my car’s manufacturer’s recommendation of “minimum 91” and my aftermarket tuner’s recommendation of “minimum 93”. What’s 15 cents for a 60 liter fill? $9.00, that’snothing for me at each fill up.
sorry to 1fastm3
$9.00 a fill up??? Wow – that seems like a lot to me. Must be nice to not have any concerns about what you pay for gas. I for one made sure I could put “regular” gas into the last vehicle I bought (2010) although I would probably put regular in regardless of what my car’s manufacturer’s recommendation was.
JB:”I have to disagree. A local refinery does not entitle us to low(er) gas prices. They are set on what the market will bear.”
I totally agree that we are not “entitled” to lower gas prices because there is a refinery here. It is you who introduced the word “entitle” into the discussion, not me.
We could however reasonably *expect* to have lower prices than those locations to which the gasoline has to be shipped from the refinery as the cost of the shipping ought be added to the cost there, and not here!
I am certain that you will find something wrong with this assessment of the facts too.
BTW, how does the market (the consumer) find the level which “the market will bear” when all the available dealers have the same identical price down to the last one tenth of cent?
It does not bother you that (again) the consumer has no choice.
PG: “We could however reasonably *expect* to have lower prices than those locations to which the gasoline has to be shipped from the refinery as the cost of the shipping ought be added to the cost there, and not here!”
No we can’t. Gas is not priced based on what it costs to deliver, the proximity of the refinery, or other such factors. If that were the case, it would in fact be cheaper to buy gas here.
PG: “It does not bother you that (again) the consumer has no choice. “
We all have lots of choices when it comes to gas consumption. You can buy a more efficient vehicle, live closer to work, walk, bike, etc. I’m not sure what you mean by ‘no choice’.
first and foremost.. thanks to the Citizen worker who reads 250news regularly.
Sunnyone, this is what your paper had to say back last October.
Nothing’s been finalized, we are still in the process of going through the early stages,” said Colin Folk, warehouse manager at the Prince George Costco location.
Now for your benefit, 250News reported that this has been finalized. It was no longer a rumour .
But keep reading, you are among the growing readership that has made 250news the most read media in central BC and we welcome your participation.
Citizen….. Busted
” Posted by: 1fastm3 on April 11 2013 9:44 AM
@ Dragon Master:
I have a supercharger on my one car and the tune is based on running minimum 93. And my other vehicles have ECU upgrades that also requires 93 octane.
Essentially the higher octane allows for optimal fuel/ignition/timing curves. If I were to run anything less, the car’s power and fuel economy would suffer. Not to mention the massive amounts of detination that would occur.
You’ll only find me at Chevron at the moment.”
Actually the right answer would be “because your engines run higher compression ratios”, because that’s where octane ratings come into play. High compression loves high octane. High octane increases the resistance to ignite therefore it reduces the chance of detonation/pre-ignition.
People that run high octane in their cars that only require low octane fuel, as shown in their owners manuals, (unless the engines are not running stock compression ratios) are wasting money.
“People that run high octane in their cars that only require low octane fuel, as shown in their owners manuals, (unless the engines are not running stock compression ratios) are wasting money.” – yup, not to mention probably losing power and mileage.
As for the $9.00 per tankful, that is pretty cheap if you are actually using it, for someone like 1fastm3 with aftermarket forced induction…
“I’m not sure what you mean by ‘no choice’.”
Let me make myself easier to understand…o.k. why would I waste my time?
LOL!
I’m all for it! Should have been built with the store originally but I ask why build? Last thing that place is less parking. Why not purchase the Husky on the corner …… I assume that in less 2 years it will be shut down or end like all the Mr G’s did with the opening of the pumps at Costco adding another eye sore for PG
PG: “Let me make myself easier to understand…o.k. why would I waste my time?”
You’re right… don’t bother. Try your ‘logic’ on someone who’s a little more gullible.
meisner: “first and foremost.. thanks to the Citizen worker who reads 250news regularly.”
Were they trying to hide that fact? If they were, it’s easy to get an IP blocker.
Almost as easy as an anonymizer … ;-)
The price of fuel from refinery to end users would include the cost of transportation, which in some cases would be substantial.
The refinery in Prince George supplies a lot of service stations in the surrounding area, ie; Vanderhoof, Burns Lake, Quesnel, etc; etc;. In addition these places also have service stations that get their fuel from the Co-op and this fuel is trucked in from Saskatchewan, or Alberta. So the cost of transportation is definitely a factor in pricing.
The local refinery provides fuel to local stations in Prince George, and one would think that because the transportation costs would be much lower, it would logically follow that the end price of the product would be lower, however this never seems to happen.
Soooo. We can conclude that the refinery in Prince George makes a bigger profit on the sale of gas in Prince George. Subtaintially bigger when you factor in the higher population in this area.
Being captive consumers allows them to do this, and get away with it,.
Palopu: “Being captive consumers allows them to do this, and get away with it,. “
Bang on. Our geography and relative isolation from other markets play larger roles than many people realize.
If you think gas companies are the only ones who take advantage of this, think again.
Costco: diesel please.
metalman.
None of the other Costco stores in Canada have diesel, so better not get your hopes up.
There will not be diesel. I already asked them. That is too bad.
Diesel pumps would increase their business tremendously. Bad decision not to include it if it’s true. Wonder why?
It sounds like Costco made that decision (to not carry diesel) on a national basis. They tend to like to do everything the same everywhere. That’s their business model.
Comments for this article are closed.