Did you see any local businesses gouging during the fire...post them here!!!

[ThePlagues helper]

I have one for you. The former Shell station at the corner of Skyway and Wagstaff. Several stations had run out of fuel and had taped off the pumps or closed up and sent the employees home. It appears that this "new owner" saw an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. The price of regular gasoline JUMPED UP to $4.79 a gallon. The other stations that had run out or even those that still had fuel had been selling what they had for $4.41 to around 4.60 per gallon.
I'm sure if or when someone questions the new owner about his slimy business tactics; he/she will tell you that they raised the price so that those that needed fuel would only buy enough to get out of town and find cheaper fuel, therefore keeping more fuel available for others.(hmmmm...ever think of setting the pump to shut off at 10 gallons)
As soon as the tanker trucks were allowed to come back into town and the competition reopened, guess who dropped the price back down to $4.61 a gallon.
Guess this is one station that I'll never buy from again. I hope others will avoid this place too.

[A Good Dog]

i never went there to begin with. They always have some of the highest prices in town. Don't really see how they stay open. I hardly ever see people in there pumping gas.

[J MarineUSA]

Actually, I was there when the truck came and delivered the gas. The gas costed more so they had to raise the price.
p.s. I also saw the invoice that guy only made 2 cents per gallon.

[mastrchef]

That guy is so nice, he goes out of his way to help others. I can't believe some one would say such horibble things about him and his business practices.

[hydrogenman]

Who in their right mind would send a tanker truck full of gas and one of their guys into a fire? Did you ever think of that! I am pretty sure they paid extra to have it delivered. If that store was closed, where would we have have gotten our gas from? Do you even know anything about gas stations or the fuel business? Gas station owners only make pennies, everyday the price goes up. How would you compare a unbranded station with a branded station? There is always a few pennies difference between branded and unbranded. Branded fuel lasts longer, is more efficient and is better on your engine. I know most people didn't bother to ask the clerk why the difference in price, because; a) They saw the tanker come in and bring more gas and knew he paid more. b) They were just glad someone was open still. I have pumped gas at every store in this town, I never met such courtious people as the ones that work at the shell station.

[ddd]

This email has been going around this week:
On Thursday fire fighters went to the Mcdonalds in Paradise, CA to ask for food for the fire fighters battling the blaze. The owner was called and he said no. These are the very fire fighters that are fighting to protect the town from burning down. He also denied the red cross any donations as well. Maybe we should show our appreciation to Mcdonalds, that are all owned by the same man, by not eating there. In addition to not helping people out in a time of need, he told all of his employees that if the power is on then they better be at work, even though many of the employees needed to evacuate the area. The owner of all of the local Mcdonalds name is Mark. He owns all the Mcdonalds is Chico, Paradise and Gridley. Please pass this e-mail along to all of your contacts so that this boycott will be successful.

[emmyreed]

ddd wrote:

This email has been going around this week:
On Thursday fire fighters went to the Mcdonalds in Paradise, CA to ask for food for the fire fighters battling the blaze. The owner was called and he said no. These are the very fire fighters that are fighting to protect the town from burning down. He also denied the red cross any donations as well. Maybe we should show our appreciation to Mcdonalds, that are all owned by the same man, by not eating there. In addition to not helping people out in a time of need, he told all of his employees that if the power is on then they better be at work, even though many of the employees needed to evacuate the area. The owner of all of the local Mcdonalds name is Mark. He owns all the Mcdonalds is Chico, Paradise and Gridley. Please pass this e-mail along to all of your contacts so that this boycott will be successful.

I also received this email so called McDonald's to see what they had to say. Well, the phone rang over 20 times but was not answered. How sad.

[Is it a rumor]

I would want to know that as a definite fact before I did anything. Rumors fly,fly fly. Someone just may have it out for him & started this gossip. People can get nasty. If it is the truth, & I certainly hope not, then yes, it would be very appropriate to boycott. I am just hoping it is a rumor.I would have thought it would have been great if all the restaurants contributed food towards the firemen. Probably some of them did. We have a lot of giving people in this town. We also, have a lot of people that like to gossip. Don't hang him unless this is a known fact.

[Owner of Shell]

Iam saddend by the recent attack on my character and business practices by this petty individual, who is falsely accusing this business, my family and myself of price gauging during our recent crisis. If any one wishes to see what I paid for gas versus what I sold it for please feel free to contact me anytime Iam here at the Shell Station from 7.am to 9.pm 7days a week.

Thank You and
God Bless! Garv

[McDonalds]

This is an open letter to all who have seen an email of lies and slanderous information.
1. I was never contacted by anyone from Paradise to provide any food to fire fighters. I found out yesterday 6/16/08, from one of the restaurant managers, that someone came into the restaurant claiming to be collecting food for fire fighters. This person was not dressed as a fire fighter and the restaurant manager made the decision not to give free food away without some sort of authorization.
2. On Friday 6/13 my supervisor spent several hours on the back dirt roads to get into Paradise. He was there to help the assistant manager and the couple of employees to serve food to people. Only the drive through was open because of the low staffing. When fire fighters came to eat the manager opened the lobby to them so that they would have a cool place to sit, relax and eat.
3. Our primary concern during this time was our employees. Many did not come to work because of the fire. Several who needed to go because of evacuation or the need to check on their property or families were told to go home and take care of their situations. Never were any employees told that they had to stay. That would be ridiculous. Can anyone really imagine us trying to take that position with the people that work so hard everyday at the restaurant? Never happened and would never happen.
4. We arranged for our supplier to help get cases of bottled water for the fire fighters and the relief centers. We have donated over 750 bottles of water to the Salvation Army with the promise of more if they need it.
McDonald's has been and will continue to donate back to our communities. Those of you who know me and my family know many of the things that we do. For those of you who do not know these are just a few of the things we do.
A. We support the Special Olympics at Chico State every year. We feed over 400 contestants, parents and coaches.
B. We donate thousands of dollars every year to the Ronald McDonald children's charities.
C. We donate money and support every year to Camp Ronald McDonald at the lake near Susanville...a place for sick or injured children to enjoy the outdoors and a camp environment.
D. We provide support to the local little leagues, soccer teams, school teams, sober graduation parties, reading programs, end of the year parties, church events and many more organizations through out the year that seek help and donations.
I know that a lot of people do not know that we do these things, and that's alright. We do them not for the publicity but for our community, neighbors and friends. It is so easy in this age of email to pass around something that is untrue, hurtful and damaging. It is so easy for some people to want to believe the worst about someone and the business they and their loyal employees work so hard to make the best they can. I can only tell you that the lies that have been spread have only made me, my family and my staff more determined than ever to continue the good things we do every day, every week and every year.
Thank you and I hope you will have the courage to pass this along to your contacts just as you have done with the other email.
Sincerely;
Mark Burington
Owner / Operator
McDonald's

[To ddd and Emmy Reed]

I wrote earlier that I would want this rumor to be a definite fact before I would believe it. I see neither of you came on line in response to Mr. Buringtons (facts.) Hide your heads in shame. It is so easy to blacken a families reputation & business by uttering your lies. How many people did you pass this lie on to? To say you called & let the phone ring 20 times, did you ever think w/the shortage of help they did not have the time to answer the phone. Mr. Burington gave you a long list of the associations they help, might it just be some member of your family may be getting help thru his generosity. You certainly didn't have the courage to right a wrong. It is so much easier to be critical than to be correct. I would hope both of you think many times over before you open your mouth again before you know the malicious rumors you spread are the truth. If you have any conscience at all you will go on line & offer this fine gentlemen, including his family & employees a heartfelt apology for the damage you both did. To you, Mr.Burington, I wish you continued success with your business. I frequent your business often. Shorty

[A fellow Business Owner]

I was heartsick when I got the email about McDonalds. I don't know the owner but as a Paradise business owner myself, my first thought was that the owner of a business has the right to donate to whom they choose and if they have to turn down a donation for any reason, they shouldn't be publicly shamed for it.

I know how many times a week and sometimes a day we have people asking for donations and most of us give to as many as we can but from time to time we do need to turn people down. A business owner shouldn't have to list the way he or she gives back to their community, we don't require our customers to state to us every donation they make.

I'm sorry for the Burington family, that they have been a victim of such a vicious rumor and am proud as a fellow business owner that it didn't kill their spirit, but made them even more determinded to continue doing good for the community.

I would like to thank you for what you did offer to this crisis and appreciate your quiet support of the causes you choose.

[Snowbird Up North]

I would like to reply to "ThePlagues helper" comments on the Shell gas station, which is located on the corner of Skyway and Wagstaff. I am saddened to read such slander and defamation of character as "ThePlagues helper" wrote about; the very gas station that I always pump at. I believe that the person who wrote the comment has a personal quarrel against the owner(s) of the Shell gas station. Who would leave such a malicious comment about some of the nicest and helpful gas station attendants in town? Due to my age and medical condition, I have trouble simply opening my gas lid, let alone pump gas. This nice young man always recognizes my car; he comes outside, pumps my gas, and even asks if I would like him to check my oil, all this and without stepping one foot out of my car. I had not seen this sort of costumer service since my young days when there were actual gas station attendants. I am happy that they are opened and I will continue to fill up my gas tank at the Shell station. I encourage everyone, especially the older citizens of Paradise to pump gas at the Shell station because the customer service is excellent. And about the gas price that the "ThePlagues helper" complained about, I was just grateful that there was 1 gas station opened and luckily for me, it was the one that I always pump at.

-Snowbird Up North

[D4short]

emmyreed wrote:

<quoted text>
I also received this email so called McDonald's to see what they had to say. Well, the phone rang over 20 times but was not answered. How sad.

I GOOGLED and the owners name appears to be Carl Schlicht...not a Mark. It could be a managers name maybe. I wouldn't send this email to anyone until I knew for sure this story was valid. Pretty sad though if it was.

[yuck]

ddd wrote:

This email has been going around this week:
On Thursday fire fighters went to the Mcdonalds in Paradise, CA to ask for food for the fire fighters battling the blaze. The owner was called and he said no. These are the very fire fighters that are fighting to protect the town from burning down. He also denied the red cross any donations as well. Maybe we should show our appreciation to Mcdonalds, that are all owned by the same man, by not eating there. In addition to not helping people out in a time of need, he told all of his employees that if the power is on then they better be at work, even though many of the employees needed to evacuate the area. The owner of all of the local Mcdonalds name is Mark. He owns all the Mcdonalds is Chico, Paradise and Gridley. Please pass this e-mail along to all of your contacts so that this boycott will be successful.

McDonalds gives me the trotts

[Red Cross]

There are a lot of people who do not donate to the Red Cross. My brother who was a vietnam veteran has nothing but unkind things to say about the Red Cross, I have heard this from several vets. I do not get into the conversation as I do not know anything about them. I believe there complaints was about the Red Cross charging them for the coffee they drank. Some swear by them, some swear at them. Myself, I remain neutral.But I do know there are definetly some who will not donate to Red Cross.

[To Yuck]

Getting a little personal there. I don't usually broadcast my body functions. I guess millions of others don't have your problem.

[Chico Guy]

McDonalds wrote:

This is an open letter to all who have seen an email of lies and slanderous information.
1. I was never contacted by anyone from Paradise to provide any food to fire fighters. I found out yesterday 6/16/08, from one of the restaurant managers, that someone came into the restaurant claiming to be collecting food for fire fighters. This person was not dressed as a fire fighter and the restaurant manager made the decision not to give free food away without some sort of authorization.
2. On Friday 6/13 my supervisor spent several hours on the back dirt roads to get into Paradise. He was there to help the assistant manager and the couple of employees to serve food to people. Only the drive through was open because of the low staffing. When fire fighters came to eat the manager opened the lobby to them so that they would have a cool place to sit, relax and eat.
3. Our primary concern during this time was our employees. Many did not come to work because of the fire. Several who needed to go because of evacuation or the need to check on their property or families were told to go home and take care of their situations. Never were any employees told that they had to stay. That would be ridiculous. Can anyone really imagine us trying to take that position with the people that work so hard everyday at the restaurant? Never happened and would never happen.
4. We arranged for our supplier to help get cases of bottled water for the fire fighters and the relief centers. We have donated over 750 bottles of water to the Salvation Army with the promise of more if they need it.
McDonald's has been and will continue to donate back to our communities. Those of you who know me and my family know many of the things that we do. For those of you who do not know these are just a few of the things we do.
A. We support the Special Olympics at Chico State every year. We feed over 400 contestants, parents and coaches.
B. We donate thousands of dollars every year to the Ronald McDonald children's charities.
C. We donate money and support every year to Camp Ronald McDonald at the lake near Susanville...a place for sick or injured children to enjoy the outdoors and a camp environment.
D. We provide support to the local little leagues, soccer teams, school teams, sober graduation parties, reading programs, end of the year parties, church events and many more organizations through out the year that seek help and donations.
I know that a lot of people do not know that we do these things, and that's alright. We do them not for the publicity but for our community, neighbors and friends. It is so easy in this age of email to pass around something that is untrue, hurtful and damaging. It is so easy for some people to want to believe the worst about someone and the business they and their loyal employees work so hard to make the best they can. I can only tell you that the lies that have been spread have only made me, my family and my staff more determined than ever to continue the good things we do every day, every week and every year.
Thank you and I hope you will have the courage to pass this along to your contacts just as you have done with the other email.
Sincerely;
Mark Burington
Owner / Operator
McDonald's

Regardless I hope you have issues sleeping at night, you contribute to 80% of the obese people in Butte County. I would like to see you sit down and eat the food you serve. Sicko.

[To Snowbird]

Some people can never be happy. They are miserable w/themselves so they think it makes them appear important to slander & degrade others. They are miserable little people. They hate themselves so they try to apply that hate to others. Usually they have no friends. wonder why. If they would give out love instead of hate, they would see their life change & they would become better people. People don't wish to be around them as they don't wish to get down to their level.

[uninformed Chico Guy]

No one forces anyone to eat at McDonalds. BurgerKIng, Taco Bell, Denny's, etc.etc. That is a stupid statement to make. Obese people are obese because they overeat, don't exercise, don't care to take the time to prepare a healthy meal. It's as simple as that.