Drivers suffer at the pump

Expect high prices through week, AAA says

By Toya Graham - Toya Graham

Gas prices dipped below $4 a gallon at a few local stations Saturday, a day after prices spiked in anticipation of fuel shortages from Hurricane Ike.

But York County motorists can still expect to pay higher-than-normal prices for the time being, according to AAA Carolinas.

"I think we're still going to suffer the higher gas prices at least through the end of this week," Tom Crosby, a spokesman for the motor club, said Saturday night.

Despite the lowering of some prices Saturday and the return of gas in some stores that had run out Friday, customers still were frustrated by the situation.

"I think it's a crying shame," Robin Lawson of Rock Hill said after she topped off her tank at Energy USA on Anderson Road. "They jacked the prices. The gas companies are price gouging every day and making billions of dollars."

The York County Sheriff's Office investigated nearly 20 complaints of price gouging Friday, according to reports, but no charges had been filed as of Saturday afternoon.

Manoj Nampoothiry, owner of Elliott's Exxon on Cherry Road, lowered his price for unleaded to $3.79.

"We kept the prices low," Nampoothiry said. "We asked everyone to only get 10 gallons or less so everyone could get some gas. I want to give everybody a fair chance to get their gas."

Other merchants also set limits on how much gas customers could buy Saturday. At Anderson Road-based Lesslie No. 2, a sign to motorists read "Maximum $40.00 for all gas purchases, due to gas shortages."

Across the city at Herlong Avenue-based Petro Express, Alice Watkins was limited to 10 gallons of gas.

"I can't even afford 10 gallons of gas," Watkins said as she pumped. "I don't know if I can live with it. It's rough. To go up 50 cents in a day, that's just ridiculous."

Nampoothiry sold about 3,000 gallons of gas at his station by 3 p.m. Saturday, leaving him with roughly 7,000 gallons. Nearly four hours later, only 5,500 was left, he said.

At neighboring Xpress Mart, regular gas sold for $4.19 while super was $4.43.

But fluctuating gas prices are temporary, Nampoothiry said.

"This is going away soon," he said. "The minute the gas goes down, I'll drop my prices. This is not the time to make money. This is an unfair game right now."

Nampoothiry's store was without gas from late Friday night until Saturday morning. Dontavius Williams of Rock Hill was one of those who stopped by during the dry period. His gas tank was close to empty, but all the pump handles were covered with plastic bags. So the he drove down Cherry Road and paid more than $4 for the same gas.

"Whereas $25 would typically fill my car up, the $25 I pumped today put me at half a tank," Williams said Saturday. "I got to get gas. I got to work."

Up the street at Xpress Mart, plastic bags covering pump handles and a gas truck hauling reserves told the story of yet another gasless gas station.

"We ran out of gas," employee Haytham Khalin said.

On cue, a motorcyclist circled the parking lot, spied the bags and rode off.