At some gas stations, prices per gallon were nearly $9, while at other stations across the state they were the lowest all year.
The explanation for the high prices sparked a debate among motorists on social media.
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Fenner, California, a relatively remote town off Route 66, gained popularity on social media after users posted photos of a Chevron gas station where the price of a gallon was well over $8.
The regular price was $8.59, the mid-range price was $8.65 and the premium price was a whopping $8.75. This makes it the most expensive gas station in the USA.
The shock was compounded by the fact that gasoline prices across the country, and especially in California, were at their lowest levels in years.
With California having one of the highest gasoline taxes in the country, paying a surcharge at the pump is nothing new.
Read more about gas prices
However, the prices at the Fenner gas station left people open-mouthed.
Especially after reading the note from Najah’s Desert Goods, the local general store that manages the station.
The note was placed above the gas pumps to explain the high prices.
“Our overhead costs are extremely high. Delivery costs double at this location. There is a vast area of nearly 100 miles of desert with no service,” the statement said.
What shocked the population most was the second half of the banknote, which attempted to curb those who complained about the unattainable prices.
“Please don’t complain about the prices. It’s your choice whether you want to be a customer or not. We are here for your convenience. Thank you for supporting a family business. Business.”
Matt Bateman, an X user (@mbateman), received two million views on his post with photos of the sign and prizes.
He wrote “Shot, pursuer” under the pictures and received over 300 replies, 843 reposts and almost 40,000 likes.
Someone wrote: The alternative makes complaining about prices seem childish.
“I’ve been to a place like this before and was willing to pay the quoted price rather than be stuck in the middle of nowhere,” they wrote.
A Georgia resident responded with a story from several years ago.
“A few years ago there was a gas shortage in Atlanta. A friend called me in desperation because she was almost out of gas and couldn’t find any,” they recall.
States with high gasoline taxes
Here is a list of the states with the highest gasoline taxes (including local fees and federal excise taxes) in the United States:
- 1. California: $0.86 per gallon
- 2. Illinois: $0.84 per gallon
- 3. Pennsylvania: $0.80 per gallon
- 4. Indiana: $0.74 per gallon
- 5. Washington: $0.70 per gallon
- 6. Michigan: $0.66 per gallon
- 7. Maryland: $0.65 per gallon
- 8. New Jersey: $0.60 per gallon
- 9. North Carolina: $0.59 per gallon
- 10. Virginia: $0.57 per gallon
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“I told her about a gas station nearby that had that, and she said, ‘No way! They charge $9 a gallon!'”
Someone else said he wasn’t surprised by the prices and recommended drivers fill up in Bakersfield, Barstow or even Las Vegas before heading to the desert.
Another noted that while this was shocking to travelers, locals understood the concept of supply and demand after some drivers accused the gas station of price gouging.
“They are not lying,” wrote one local.
“Their fuel has to be trucked from Barstow to Needles, and there aren’t many customers there. Delivery costs are high.”
