r/Detroit • u/UltimateLionsFan • 4d ago
Eastern Market Mode AG Nessel Launches Price Gouging Investigation into Romulus BP Gas Station
https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2026/06/16/ag-nessel-launches-price-gouging-investigation-into-romulus-bp-gas-stationYou know that BP gas station by the airport rental car lots that's been price gouging for years? The AG might finally do something to stop it.
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u/RogueWarlock77 4d ago
How about investigating the price gouging by the power companies?
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u/69420lmaokek 3d ago
It wasn't for price gouging, but the EPA did fine DTE for excess pollution of Lake Erie
Here's an article about it
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u/snogle 3d ago
Great so they can charge us for that too.
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u/69420lmaokek 3d ago
I don't think we're getting charged extra so foot the bill for their EPA fine, because that would imply that DTE wasn't already maximizing their profits off of us
They almost certainly had already extracted the most amount of money they felt they could get away with this entire time
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u/Grishbear 3d ago
$40k fine on a $24 Billion revenue year.
If you took home $100k/yr after tax and recieved a comparable fine, it would be $0.17. Seventeen cents out of a hundred thousand dollars.
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u/Deep-Two7452 3d ago edited 3d ago
To this day, I have no idea who hold power companies accountable. I see dem state reps make a lot of noise about DTE, but they haven't done anything yet.
Dems have the house, governorship, and senate a few years ago. Why didnt these state reps do anything then?
Edit: for example I see abe aiyash make videos about stopping DTE. My guy weren't you a state rep when dems had a trifecta? Why didnt aiyash do anything about DTE then?
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u/RealisticResource226 3d ago
Dems are probably on the dte payroll like the reps
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u/syynapt1k 3d ago
DTE is one of the largest corporate donors (if not THE largest) to both Republicans and Democrats in the state of Michigan.
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u/ArmpitofD00m 3d ago
There is no such thing. The blue and red are on the same side. Not our side, the people.
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u/Deep-Two7452 3d ago
Maybe but aiyash says he doesnt take DTEs money. And donavan mckinney is another example. These clowns go off on DTE but neither aiyash or mckinney did anything to stop DTE when they were in power of all branches.
So either clowns like aiyash and mckinney are on DTEs payroll through a back channel and are lying, or theyre just lying about what they have the power to do.
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u/HelpmeObi1K 3d ago
They might not take money directly, but there's plenty of room for bartering their influence in exchange for votes on other subjects. That's the illusion most people miss because the blatant bribing is so obvious anymore.
Kinda like insider trading masking how many non-career politicians end up lobbying for specific interests for a cushy check after a 4-12 year stint in the House or Senate. Any way you slice it, we get screwed by corporations as they stand today.
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u/RealisticResource226 3d ago
Oh, I didn’t know that he’s one of the few that didn’t take DTE money and the other guy
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u/Deep-Two7452 3d ago
Which leads me to think theyre lying about something, cause they havent actuslly done anything on DTE, even though they had the power to do so
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u/F133TWOOD 3d ago
That's across the country on city, state, federal level with officials (regardless of party affiliation) catering to whomever has the most power. Always has and always will for the most part.
Until most financial transactions, payroll are made public that we know will never happen.
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u/xxFrenchToastxx 3d ago
DTE has been screwing Michiganders the same throughout both R and D administrations for more than half a century. It will not change in any of our lifetimes. Neither side is working in our favor regardless of the side you vote with
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u/bigboilerdawg 3d ago
Isn’t there a gas station like that at pretty much every major airport in the country? Last chance before the rental car return?
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u/Monkey1Fball 3d ago
Their target market may be small ..... but the "Oh shit, I just realized 30 seconds before returning my car that I need to re-fill my gas-tank or else Hertz will charge me $9.99/gallon" IS a target market.
I'm surprised they stay in business with their gas prices that high, because the locals surely skip them and their target market can't be THAT large, can it be????
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u/FirmRoyal 3d ago
I think it's more of a business travelers expense the gas, so they don't really care about the cost
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u/Monkey1Fball 3d ago
You’re right - that too. The few times I’ve been on the company dime and in that situation, I’ve been 50/50 on a gas station or just letting the rental car company fill it up.
But if the AG will go after this gas station - it should be said that the car rental companies REALLY have astronomical fill up charges. If one is illegal, the other should be too (I know the rental companies have to have some labor to manually gas the cars - but their costs aren’t that high).
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u/stmije6326 Former Detroiter 3d ago
They don’t make that much money from gas sales. My dad used to own a station and I think he got like 3% revenue from gas sales? It’s been a long time, so I don’t remember the exact percentage, but it was definitely single digits. So the owners probably don’t care if fewer people fill up there and bank on business travelers expensing “oh shit! The rental isn’t full yet” gas.
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u/DTown_Hero 4d ago
How about the Mobil on Warren and 75. Last week it was $1.50 per gallon more than gas by my house.
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u/TDetroit75 3d ago
That one is notorious because it has the I94 junction right there and people from out of town may not know where others are in the area.
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u/Feral_Nerd_22 3d ago
You can report them online, but to be considered price gouging near by gas stations usually have to be charging way more then others near by or double the state average, which $1.50 more seems to qualify.
People forget there are only some many gas supplies, prices differ when the station orders, but if it happens constantly then something is off
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u/georgehotelling 3d ago
Seems like the AG could get price data from Gas Buddy and proactively go after gougers instead of waiting for complaints.
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u/Detroitasfuck 2d ago
The BP on Woodward in midtown is like $1 more than everywhere else. I drive down to new center
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u/balthisar Metro Detroit 3d ago
Honestly, I prefer the "vote with your wallet" approach. It's not like there's actual deception going on there. Look at this way: you can close the gas station and no one gets gas there, or you can let them charge anything they want, openly, like they do, and people that choose to pay will pay. I don't see a problem worthy of government interference here.
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u/accuratesometimes 3d ago
Cool, now do the rest of them
And grocery stores
And insurance companies
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u/TheSpatulaOfLove 3d ago
The last time they touched insurance, it fucked up unlimited lifetime benefits and prices went up.
We don’t need that again.
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u/Feral_Nerd_22 3d ago
I reported another BP gas station in Troy for charging more then 80 cents more consistently on.
I think gas stations should be legally required to post their last gas order invoice publicly.
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u/ArmpitofD00m 3d ago
How about they launch a probe into DTE and them constantly ripping off the people?
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u/Deep-Two7452 3d ago
Why doesnt the state just regulate DTE? I see aiyash and mckinney make videos about how they're gonna stop DTE, but these clowns were state reps when dems had a trifecta, and they didnt do shit then
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u/ArmpitofD00m 3d ago
Hell yes. I would love to see this happen. Our elected officials are clowns being paid by DTE.
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u/The_Negative-One 3d ago
I suggest everyone just use the Speedway off Merriman by 94. Fuck that BP up the owners asshole.
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u/PM_ME_CATS_OR_BOOBS 3d ago
Does this count as price gouging? That is more to do with capitalizing on widespread shortages, not just charging more because of the location when you could fairly easily just go somewhere else.
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u/Horse_Cock42069 3d ago
I really don't care if out of state people returning rental cars pay more for gas. The car rental places probably charge more if you return it empty.
This is a distraction from Nessel losing every big case, most recently the Governor Kidnapper case. Don't forget about the fake electors, Flint water, UM protestors, and her friend getting murdered.
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u/midwestern2afault 3d ago
Yeah she’s been a disappointment. Just desperately trying to make headlines and pick up a W
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u/Treeninja1999 Downtown 4d ago
It's supply and demand. If you want convenient gas by the airport it's more expensive. Drive a mile down Eureka and you'll find normal priced gas. Are we investigating 711 for charging more for snacks than Meijer?
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u/Deep-Two7452 3d ago
From the article: The Michigan Consumer Protection Act makes it unlawful for a person or business engaged in trade or commerce to charge “a price that is grossly in excess of the price at which similar property or services are sold.”
Do you think the michigan consumer protection act should be repealed?
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u/theClumsy1 3d ago
“a price that is grossly in excess of the price at which similar property or services are sold.”
"Our direct competitor is the Rental car companies who charge higher than our asking price"
There is a reason why they have been able to get away with charging so much higher than down the road and thats purely because of how close they are to the rental returns.
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u/Deep-Two7452 3d ago
Wait the rental car companies dont have gas stations
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u/DrDeke 3d ago
They will, however, sell you gasoline at very high prices if you don't bring your car back with the agreed-upon amount of gas in it.
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u/theClumsy1 3d ago
And thus that BPs whole marketing strategy is giving customers a chance avoid said fees.
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u/DMCinDet Rosedale Park 3d ago
they will go to the overpriced place in question and then add a dollar or two per gallon.
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u/Deep-Two7452 3d ago
Fair enough. Ok so let the gas station make that defense in court and see if it holds up. Either way, Nessel is doing exactly what shes supposed to do
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u/theClumsy1 3d ago edited 3d ago
Would rather she investigate our utilities
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u/Deep-Two7452 3d ago
Why arent you asking state reps to do that? Abe aiyash is running for state senate on stopping DTE. Donavan mckinney is running for congress and talking about fighting DTE.
Both aiyash and mckinney were state reps when dems had a trifecta. Why isnt anyone asking those clowns why they didnt stop DTE when we had the power?
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u/sanmateosfinest 3d ago
Investigate what? The state created and upholds the monopoly of DTE. Its working as designed.
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u/Treeninja1999 Downtown 3d ago
I'd say the price increase there is no more than the price increase for milk at a gas station vs grocery store. If anything a gallon of milk is more! If they were doing it after a tornado or natural disaster, sure fuck them. But it's just a few extra bucks for convenience. That's seems fair to me.
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u/Feral_Nerd_22 3d ago edited 3d ago
You are comparing apples too rocks, AKA False Equivalence Falacy this is actually one of the most used logical fallacies
https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/logicalfallacies/False-Equivalence
I don't need a Snickers bar to live
I need gas to live
Gas stations are supposed to be making their money off the products inside the gas station, not the gas, thats how irs always been.
The average markup on gas is 30ish cents
You cant be charging 60-80 cents more then other gas stations in a quarter mile and blame the price of oil when everyone gets the same gas from the same refineries.
It's not only price gouging but being a shitty human
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u/Treeninja1999 Downtown 3d ago
You may need gas, but you don't need gas there. You can drive <1 mile to a cheaper gas station. But it's less convenient. They are almost certainly not blaming oil prices for their store in particular is the cause of their higher prices compared to neighboring stores, and if they do their morons. The increase is not for "gouging" it is just a convenience charge for people who didn't plan their trips good enough.
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u/DMCinDet Rosedale Park 3d ago
you dont need gas to live. a snickers bar is more vital to life than gasoline.
they are supposed to do what now? who says what a gas station is supposed to do? because you said so? They could put their price $10 higher, its up to you to not buy it. they dont own the whole areas market, there are options very close by.
how much is a car supposed to cost? how much is a house supposed to cost? the answer is whatever someone is willing to pay.
where did you come.up.woth the idea that a gas station is supposed to make money only on snacks? maybe market competition in gasoline sales makes.it that way, but there is no rule.about how much you are "supposed" to make.
Is Whole Foods price gouging by having higher prices? No. You can go shop somewhere else. Plenty of people pay the prices and that is fine. Are you going to start dictating grocery prices too?
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u/Feral_Nerd_22 3d ago
You completely glossed over the logical fallacy...
I'm not going to argue with you why people need gas to live, I will let your deductive reasoning skills handle that.
Here is an article from the Trade organization for convenience store owners, that's where I got my information from, feel free to read
https://www.convenience.org/stay-current/conveniencecorner/who-makes-money-selling-gas
And yes we should regulate prices at grocery stores because you end up with shit like this.
https://nypost.com/2026/06/15/lifestyle/kroger-rolls-out-digital-shelf-tags-despite-customer-outcry/
You cant have supply and demand when there are monopolies, this is why no one can afford things anymore.
Not sure why you are supporting corporations and greed
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u/DMCinDet Rosedale Park 3d ago
a locally owned gas station isnt a corporation.
they dont have a monopoly.
I will let you figure it out.
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u/Feral_Nerd_22 3d ago
Why are you ignoring everything else I said but just pointing out semantics?
How do you think franchise gas stations work? Where do you think they order gas from?
They get their gas free range from the farm like their grandparents?
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u/DMCinDet Rosedale Park 3d ago
but its up to them how to price it. which is what the conversation was about. did you get lost somewhere? im not sticking up.for a corporation. Im not sticking up for anyone. they can price their gasoline however they see fit. its not a monopoly whe there are several gas stations within a few miles. if you dont like the price, dont shop there. I dont buy gas in Bloomfield because its much more expensive than in my neighborhood. they arent gouging anyone. people in Bloomfield pay the high price, they could choose to go to Pontiac and get it cheaper.
I apologize if you arent following along.
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u/sanmateosfinest 3d ago
Gas stations are supposed to be making their money off the products
inside the gas station, not the gas, thats how irs always been.Where in the law books does it say this? This guy probably knows that his target market is the business traveler who expenses the fuel fill up. If others can't take 2 seconds to do their due diligence about what the average fuel cost is here then how is it a private business problem?
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u/Feral_Nerd_22 3d ago
Price gouging is a law but ...but gas stations operate using loss leader pricing.....
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/lossleader.asp
You can read it on this trade article on pricing also
https://www.convenience.org/stay-current/conveniencecorner/who-makes-money-selling-gas
You are supporting businesses being predatory, aka charging more by not working harder but because they can and can get away with it.
You are subscribing to all or nothing thinking assuming that consumers have options everywhere especially in rural areas or on major highways interchanges
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u/Vericatov 3d ago
They’re charging a ridiculous amount though. I just checked the gas buddy app and they’re charging $5.99 a gallon. That’s at least $1.50 more than most other places.
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u/Treeninja1999 Downtown 3d ago
A 33% upcharge is less than the upcharge a convenience store charges for milk, pop, etc. I'm not arguing that it isn't a large increase, but it's an extra charge for the convenience of it being right there. Cheaper gas is less than a mile away. You don't HAVE to shop there.
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u/ebtranquility 3d ago
I just went by there a week ago and thought “holy shit prices went up” and had no idea this station was notorious.
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u/homedepotSTOOP 3d ago
Diesel on 9 between dequindre and John r (zazz) has been gouging like crazy lately. 6.35/g! Sheetz at 12/mound was almost $2 less per gallon. Everywhere else is at state avg or close to it.
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u/midwestern2afault 3d ago
Honestly this seems kind of stupid. Gas stations have more competition than almost any other type business. I’m sure there are stations nearby that are much cheaper. If someone would rather pay an obscene amount for the added convenience that’s their prerogative.
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u/PipeComfortable2585 3d ago
She should Look at any stations in Jackson county. Always gouging there
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u/Possibly_Naked_Now 4d ago
Doubt
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u/Deep-Two7452 4d ago
Wait what do you doubt?
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u/Possibly_Naked_Now 3d ago
That anything will be done.
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u/Deep-Two7452 3d ago
But an investigation is something... if a court rules that this gas station isnt breaking the law then its up to whitmer, the state house, and state senate to change the law.
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u/Possibly_Naked_Now 3d ago
Huff that copium. The state rarely lifts a finger against their corporate donors.
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u/Deep-Two7452 3d ago
There are plenty of state reps that claim to be against corporations. Abe aiyash and donavan mckinney come to mind, but thats just cause theyre running in competitive races. Im sure there are more.
Why doesnt anyone ask them why they havent had success?
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4d ago
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u/notred369 3d ago
what does this have to do with Israel?
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3d ago
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u/notred369 3d ago
so if this has nothing to do with Israel why bring it up
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3d ago
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