The most notorious gas stations of L.A. How can they charge that much? And who'd pay that much? You'd be surprised
@SamAugustDean

The truth about L.A.’s most notoriously expensive gas stations
You've seen the signs advertising $6.95, $6.99 or even $7.05 for a gallon of regular unleaded. But who's buying it, and why?

BUSINESS

The truth about L.A.’s most notoriously expensive gas stations

BY SAM DEAN STAFF WRITER
MARCH 9, 2022 5 AM PT

Gas prices in Los Angeles have climbed to new heights this week, with Angelenos shelling out more than $5.50 a gallon on average at the pump. ... But for customers at a handful of notorious gas stations across town, $5.50 would be a bargain. ... These stations are the mysterious outliers of the L.A. petroleum landscape, advertising $6.95, $6.99 or even $7.05 for a gallon of regular unleaded, seemingly in defiance of economic sense.

Mention their intersections, and many Angelenos gravely nod, their eyes growing wide: how can that place at Fairfax and San Vicente, or La Cienega and Beverly, or downtown on Alameda right across from Olvera Street, charge such wild prices? What dark secrets do they hide? And who’s desperate enough to buy gas there?

{snip}

Mike, who declined to give his last name, pulled in to fill up the tank of a brand new V-12 Bentley Continental GT Speed. The total topped $128. The only reason he was using this gas station was because he wasn’t paying for it.

“Because I’m on the clock and using a company card and I’m delivering to a client, I’m just using whatever’s closest,” he said, “but if I was using my own personal card, Costco’s the only way to go.”

{snip}