CLOVIS, N.M. -- When a gas war between rival retailers snarled traffic at one of Clovis, N.M.s busiest intersections last week, Clovis Fire Marshal Allan Silvers had seen enough, reported The Clovis News Journal.
By then, prices had reportedly fallen to 49.9 cents per gallon.
Silvers said with about 200 vehicles lined up to buy cheap gasoline blocking the stores and a local fire station, he had to put an end to the battle because the traffic was a public safety hazard. If [they] couldnt take care of the situation themselves, [image-nocss] I advised both managers as well as one of the owners I would be forced to shut them down, he told the newspaper.
In response, Allsups Convenience Stores raised its fuel price from 49.9 cents to $2.83.9 per gallon and Town & Country Food Stores raised its 99.9 cents per gallon price to $2.86.9 Silvers said.
If anyone in any of those vehicles had a medical emergency arise, we couldnt have gotten to them and there was no way for us to get onto either property. They were in violation of fire codes requiring clear access to private property and public streets. This is not safe and its not going to happen, Silvers said.
The stations attracted attention last Tuesday when they began rapidly dropping their prices in competition, ending the day around $2.39 per gallon. The price skirmish between the two has been ongoing for a couple weeks, Dan McCurdy, director of communication for Town & Country Food Stores, San Angelo, Texas.
As a retailer, were pleased to see this situation come to an end, and were more than pleased that many of our customers had an opportunity to benefit, McCurdy told the paper.
He said Tuesday the price war is a matter of maintaining Town & Countrys customer base. Were not going to lose our customers because theyre offering a lower price, McCurdy said. We are going to ensure our customers that we are going to offer them competitive prices and products.
Clovis-based Allsups declined to comment, said the report.
While dozens of drivers converged on the two stations, the News Journal said, others found the situation less than convenient, choosing instead to drive around the corner to a station with a price of $2.26.9 per gallon. Lines began to form as an unmanned pay-at-the-pumps gas station in the Wal-Mart parking lot attracted customers who did not want to wait in line at the feuding Allsups and Town & Country less than a block away.
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