Indys Accuse National Gas Chain of Dumping
ST. LOUIS (CN) - In a federal antitrust complaint, independent gas station owners say the national chain QuikTrip sells gasoline at a loss to try to drive the independents out of business.
The Association of Independent Gas Station Owners and three of its members say QuikTrip violates the Sherman Act, the Robinson-Patman Act, and the Motor Fuel Marketing Act.
"On or about July 1, 2011 and continuing to this day, defendant QuikTrip began and has engaged in a price war with plaintiffs and other gas station owners in the St. Louis metropolitan area, with QuikTrip posting reduced pricing changes for its gasoline on almost a daily basis, and at times changing its posted gasoline prices several times in the course of a day," the complaint states.
"The pricing of gasoline by Quick Trip during this period has been predatory because, based on information and belief, QuikTrip has been pricing its gasoline for customers at a price lower than QuikTrip's costs.
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/12/02/41897.htm