On Tuesday, the price of unleaded gas at the Moto Mart at Trimble Rd. and Fourth St. started at $3.39 9/10 and remained one of the best prices in Mansfield. With local prices at nearly $4 a gallon recently, Tuesday’s price allowed local motorists a reprieve.
The Shell gas station on S. Diamond and Fourth had the best price in downtown at $3.48 9/10 per gallon. And if travelers were in Ontario, the best deal was ten cents cheaper at the Valero station on Fourth and US-30, at $3.38 9/10 per gallon.
Moto Mart is a family-owned company. Dan Bisel, the state supervisor for Moto Mart, said that he had heard, “There were some problems with a couple of the refineries on the east coast.” He also mentioned that while consumers saw prices up to $3.99, “We always go for the cheapest fuel.”
Bisel explained that they purchase fuel from refineries out of Michigan and Pennsylvania. He said that he heard the problems with the refineries had been fixed, hence the relief in the price of fuel.
Moto Mart also offers a 20 cent a gallon lower price for gasoline with the purchase of a car wash.
Randy Kemp stopped at Moto Mart, “Because I’m on empty,” he said with a laugh, “It’s in a handy location,” Kemp said, “I pop in now and then.”
Kemp drove to the station from Universal Motors, his car sales business. Kemp’s business was located down the street from the gas station on Fourth St. and Trimble and said he often filled his tank at the Moto Mart. Universal Motors is now located on Park Avenue East and State Route 42.
“There’s been a lot of fluctuation in the price of gas in the fifteen years since I’ve moved,” he said. While Kemp was refueling his tank, he added, “Gas is the lowest I’ve seen in a while.”
Russell Burgraff owns a Harley-Davidson and was refueling the tank, “It gets about 140-150 miles per gallon,” Burgraff said. “I prefer going by bike if I’m not doing anything else. I ride especially in the summertime.” Burgraff was refueling at Moto Mart because he was on his way to Knapp Auto Sales Inc.
According to a report by Nationwide Insurance, the fluctuation in gas prices can be attributed to a wide range of factors from crude oil supplies to natural disaster disrupting production and delivery. To deal with fluctuating prices and tight budgets, many consumers are reaching for their cellphones before they reach for their wallets.
Consumers locate the lowest gas prices on websites like ohiogasprices.com, where they can earn points toward gas cards by reporting local gas prices. And smartphone owners also find the best prices by signing up for free apps like Gasbuddy.com, which works through a community of users providing prices at local gas stations. For Apple iPhone owners, there’s an application called Fuel Finder: Cheapest Gas in US and Canada.
