MertieMan

Champion Author
Lexington
Posts:14,763 Points:2,891,385 Joined:May 2005
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Message Posted: May 13, 2013 5:09:56 AM
It doesn't matter if they become Joe Blows, the gas is still all the same, coming from the same terminal.
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63pioneer

Champion Author
Texas
Posts:1,000 Points:52,380 Joined:Feb 2012
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Message Posted: May 13, 2013 4:45:36 AM
Haven't seen any yet!
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streetirsx

Veteran Author
North Dakota
Posts:322 Points:119,700 Joined:Nov 2012
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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 7:23:28 PM
Not sure, but here in the Northern Plains Marathon stations have started to become Shell stations
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KrispyKreme

Champion Author
Richmond
Posts:18,537 Points:2,902,760 Joined:Oct 2003
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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 3:37:55 PM
Marathon bought BP's Texas City refinery, but that's it. BP continues to operate it's retail outlets in the southeast though, those were not sold to Marathon. Sometimes brand changes simply have to do with a regional convenience store chain switching brands.
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1OILMAN

Champion Author
Alabama
Posts:2,069 Points:154,810 Joined:Mar 2011
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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 3:17:57 PM
Word is Marathon has bought out BP in the south east.
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MIT05

Champion Author
Massachusetts
Posts:4,147 Points:1,387,325 Joined:Aug 2008
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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 6:07:16 AM
Have not heard, we still have BP & Shell here.
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pbarbee

All-Star Author
North Carolina
Posts:560 Points:1,382,865 Joined:Apr 2008
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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 2:40:13 AM
Yes, lots of our BP stations are now Shell
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borsht

All-Star Author
Oakland
Posts:774 Points:185,905 Joined:Aug 2012
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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 2:39:01 AM
Nearly all the old BP stations have changed to independents in North California.
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sagnat

Champion Author
Riverside
Posts:1,134 Points:303,510 Joined:Jun 2012
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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 1:38:10 AM
We don't have any BP stations in my area.
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51stovi

Sophomore Author
Nashville
Posts:113 Points:80,165 Joined:May 2012
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Message Posted: May 6, 2013 10:16:15 AM
Have not seen this happening in the Nashville area.
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gvan

Champion Author
Chicago
Posts:21,495 Points:2,832,090 Joined:Dec 2004
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Message Posted: May 6, 2013 10:01:19 AM
Haven't seen any trend of any conversions in this area.
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bluenvoy

Champion Author
Nashville
Posts:14,934 Points:1,873,190 Joined:Oct 2005
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Message Posted: May 6, 2013 9:36:24 AM
Not here. Many are run by Mapco.
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Dale Jr.

Champion Author
Illinois
Posts:16,204 Points:3,232,075 Joined:May 2004
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Message Posted: May 6, 2013 9:29:58 AM
Not here.
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RNF

Champion Author
Indiana
Posts:7,087 Points:2,869,980 Joined:Jun 2004
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Message Posted: May 6, 2013 6:42:15 AM
No change here.
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DanFMA

Champion Author
Massachusetts
Posts:1,091 Points:1,068,485 Joined:Apr 2008
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Message Posted: May 6, 2013 5:49:32 AM
Had a Getty become BP.
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BulletRC

Sophomore Author
Mobile
Posts:121 Points:253,845 Joined:Jun 2012
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Message Posted: May 6, 2013 5:16:34 AM
In this area, Mobile, Alabama, I know of one BP that converted to Shell, another BP converted to Citgo.
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danindenver

Champion Author
Denver
Posts:5,472 Points:1,233,995 Joined:May 2005
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Message Posted: May 4, 2013 5:53:20 PM
Actually, this has been in the works for years. All of the BP stations in Colorado went away in 2006. I remember because I did audits on some of them to check the progress of the conversions. It's a shame, too, because I loved the coffee bars at the BP stations. I never went to them before the change, because I never realized that any gas station could have decent coffee. Ours changed to Conocophillips, and again, just don't have any concept of what fresh coffee is all about.
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1OILMAN

Champion Author
Alabama
Posts:2,069 Points:154,810 Joined:Mar 2011
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Message Posted: Jan 14, 2013 2:22:54 PM
Word is BP has sold its assets in the southeast to Marathon. That will require a lot of rebranding.
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Cihl

All-Star Author
Wisconsin
Posts:545 Points:197,645 Joined:Sep 2012
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Message Posted: Jan 14, 2013 8:20:43 AM
Not that I've seen in Wisconsin
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RalphHightower

Champion Author
South Carolina
Posts:3,284 Points:685,480 Joined:May 2011
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Message Posted: Jan 14, 2013 6:13:10 AM
A BP converted to Marathon last year
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MIT05

Champion Author
Massachusetts
Posts:4,147 Points:1,387,325 Joined:Aug 2008
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Message Posted: Jan 14, 2013 5:41:58 AM
Have not heard of this here.
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vulcan96

Champion Author
Ohio
Posts:26,871 Points:3,099,750 Joined:Aug 2004
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Message Posted: Jan 14, 2013 5:01:18 AM
not here in oHIo
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Sneakers55

Champion Author
Houston
Posts:51,246 Points:2,139,175 Joined:Nov 2005
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Message Posted: Jan 13, 2013 11:55:09 PM
On Dec 13, 2012 10:27:15 AM, BuzzLOL wrote:
>.. Speedway is one of the 10 offbrand names that Marathon sells under...
Marathon Petroleum uses only two brand names: Marathon and Speedway. They acquired other chains, but converted them to either Marathon or Speedway.
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Sneakers55

Champion Author
Houston
Posts:51,246 Points:2,139,175 Joined:Nov 2005
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Message Posted: Jan 13, 2013 11:46:19 PM
We went through a conversion a few years ago where nearly all the Texaco stations changed to something else, usually Shell. This was a FTC condition on the merger of Chevron and Texaco. Toward the end of the transition period, "Texaco with Techron" popped up for the Texaco stations that decided to get fuel from Chevron. They were theoretically promoting competition, but they left Houston with an awful lot of Shell stations.
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Sneakers55

Champion Author
Houston
Posts:51,246 Points:2,139,175 Joined:Nov 2005
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Message Posted: Jan 13, 2013 9:56:45 PM
On Jan 13, 2013 7:59:26 AM, MertieMan wrote:
>Brand names mean absolutely nothing as the gas all comes from >one terminal within a given area such as yours.
May be true in your area, but you can't generalize for the whole country.
We had some rookie on here who tried to tell us there was no difference between 87 and 89 octane gasoline either. Well, the Texas Department of Agriculture had better not catch them pulling that stunt.
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DI

Champion Author
Twin Cities
Posts:20,164 Points:4,144,335 Joined:Apr 2001
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Message Posted: Jan 13, 2013 4:47:57 PM
MertieMan claims "Brand names mean absolutely nothing as the gas all comes from one terminal within a given area such as yours."
While the latter is a true statement ("the gas all comes from one terminal within a given area such as yours"), the former is not necessarily true ("Brand names mean absolutely nothing").
Additives are blended into the generic gasoline at the terminal. Some stations only use the EPA LAC (Lowest Additive Concentration); branded stations (BP, Shell, etc.) use their own proprietary additive package.
==
BuzzLOL writes "Speedway is one of the 10 offbrand names that Marathon sells under."
Speedway is a whole-owned subsidiary of Marathon. As one of the largest c-store chains (1,400 stations), I'm not sure I'd call it an "offbrand".
"Shell is actually foreign Royal DUTCH Petroleum company."
And, to be fair, you should probably capitalize "Royal" also. Royal Dutch Shell is somewhat unique in that it has co-headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands and in London, England.
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MertieMan

Champion Author
Lexington
Posts:14,763 Points:2,891,385 Joined:May 2005
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Message Posted: Jan 13, 2013 8:59:26 AM
Brand names mean absolutely nothing as the gas all comes from one terminal within a given area such as yours.
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2Tall

Champion Author
Maryland
Posts:12,757 Points:2,937,380 Joined:Jun 2004
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Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 4:18:40 PM
not here
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BuzzLOL

All-Star Author
Toledo
Posts:898 Points:25,565 Joined:Apr 2011
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Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 11:27:15 AM
.. BPs (they don't want you to realize that stands for foreign British Petroleum) being converted to APs (AMERICAN Petroleum company) around here... AP currently at $2.89/gallon here...
.. Speedway is one of the 10 offbrand names that Marathon sells under...
.. Shell is actually foreign Royal DUTCH Petroleum company...
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dangasman

Champion Author
Michigan
Posts:3,018 Points:1,662,460 Joined:Oct 2006
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Message Posted: Dec 12, 2012 5:01:56 PM
our station was bp until last feb. no sign all summer, now changing to marathon around here 14 stations in all.
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JCLNC

All-Star Author
Greensboro
Posts:902 Points:218,460 Joined:Jun 2011
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Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 4:58:40 AM
I haven't seen any changes in Greensboro, NC.
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PaylessKY

Champion Author
Kentucky
Posts:8,695 Points:1,576,475 Joined:Oct 2008
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Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 12:29:48 AM
Those BP may be franchise station with the agreement having run out or are under new ownership. In my area several Shell stations formerly owned by Road Ranger were sold to Speedway. Speedway put there own brand name on the stations.
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MikeCapeCoral

Champion Author
Cape Coral
Posts:1,911 Points:415,845 Joined:Feb 2012
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Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 12:22:18 AM
A big thank you to all of you that replied to this question. Merry Christmas.
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medic6133

Champion Author
New York
Posts:1,108 Points:211,965 Joined:May 2012
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 5:17:21 PM
The BPs around here (Westchester, NY) don't seem to have changed.
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borsht

All-Star Author
Oakland
Posts:774 Points:185,905 Joined:Aug 2012
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 5:13:50 PM
Im my area the BP's I'm familiar with became small independant regional dealers
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maxstar

Champion Author
Chicago
Posts:18,459 Points:805,545 Joined:Feb 2011
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 4:46:19 PM
Gas_Buddy explained it pretty clearly. The franchise agreement probably expired and the other company had a better deal. I would not base a trend on two stations.
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BuzzLOL

All-Star Author
Toledo
Posts:898 Points:25,565 Joined:Apr 2011
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 4:11:26 PM
.. Shells becoming Marathons, Valeros, Stop&Shops, Speedways, and Stop'n'Go's here... Most BPs and Shells priced 40c above other stations, so with no or few customers, they're being ditched...
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BUSSY

Champion Author
Dallas
Posts:9,882 Points:1,536,515 Joined:Oct 2006
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 2:38:19 PM
No BP stations in this area.
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Gas_Buddy

Champion Author
Maryland
Posts:25,947 Points:3,030,065 Joined:Aug 2004
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 12:37:44 PM
Are you asking if they're being converted as it being a company changing one of it's brands or signs to another name, then the answer is no. BP and Shell are entirely separate companies.
Gas stations owners/operators often own multiple stations, sometimes the same brand, sometimes different brands, just as different brands of auto dealerships are owned/operated by the same company. As franchising agreements run out (just like car leases, apartment leases, cable or mobile phone contracts or internet agreements), gas station operators sometimes will change brands because the new franchise will cost less, provide more support, etc. While gas station owners/operators don't frequently change brands (because they build up name recognition in the community), stations do change brands without any hidden motives.
And, it's also possible that BP or Shell (or any other distribution line) might decide to change their marketing strategy and reduce or increase its presence in a given market.
Note that there are (I believe) about 6,800 gas stations in Florida (as an example, there are more than 200 in the city of Orlando alone). To simply say that two two gas stations in southwest Florida, a very large area, changed from one brand to another isn't really significant unless you have more to add to your original post.
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OceanArcher

Champion Author
Mississippi
Posts:5,683 Points:1,323,400 Joined:May 2004
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 11:36:39 AM
Still two separate companies here in south Mississippi
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WEPSMAN

Champion Author
South Dakota
Posts:10,503 Points:2,021,000 Joined:Mar 2005
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 10:33:35 AM
Still BP here.
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AFOS

Champion Author
Chicago
Posts:30,369 Points:3,068,390 Joined:Jul 2001
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 8:57:40 AM
Haven't seen any around here. But east of the Rockies BP has discontinued its relationship with the am pm convenience store chain. Maybe some of the stations took that opportunity to change gasoline brands as well if their contract was up.
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d_clark

All-Star Author
Grand Rapids
Posts:916 Points:377,485 Joined:Mar 2005
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 8:32:10 AM
not here
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LKnight598

All-Star Author
South Carolina
Posts:787 Points:182,715 Joined:Nov 2005
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 8:30:35 AM
I wish! I use the BiLo fuel discount card and it's only accepted at Shell stations at the present time. Unfortunately, the only Shell stations are on the other side of town, but we have several BP stations on the near us on this side of town. It would be great if they did!
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GopherGuy88

Champion Author
Ann Arbor
Posts:1,330 Points:557,250 Joined:May 2004
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 8:18:39 AM
not here
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Dennis783

Champion Author
Des Moines
Posts:13,569 Points:2,698,910 Joined:Sep 2005
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 8:02:58 AM
not here
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RadarIN

Champion Author
Indiana
Posts:5,077 Points:1,053,195 Joined:Mar 2009
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 7:04:23 AM
They are changing them here.
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jes

Champion Author
Pennsylvania
Posts:16,145 Points:3,348,475 Joined:Jun 2003
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 6:54:37 AM
Not where I live.
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RalphHightower

Champion Author
South Carolina
Posts:3,284 Points:685,480 Joined:May 2011
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 5:42:05 AM
I haven't seen any changing brands.
[Edited by: RalphHightower at 12/10/2012 5:42:55 AM EST]
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MIT05

Champion Author
Massachusetts
Posts:4,147 Points:1,387,325 Joined:Aug 2008
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 5:21:20 AM
Have not heard of this here.
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