NomadicLife.com.au
Excerpt from a news story:
Fuel rebellion reaches Shoalhaven: By Stuart Carless 3/11/2008 9:09:00 AM
fuel rebellion spread to the Shoalhaven last week, and now the gauntlet has been
thrown down challenging other local operators to take part in the protest over
petrol prices.
After starting in western Sydney, the fuel protest came to the Shoalhaven on
Wednesday evening when an independent service station in Ulladulla dropped the
price of unleaded fuel to less than a dollar.
The Princes Highway resembled a car park as motorists started queuing along the
highway from 4pm after Ulladulla Motors announced it would be selling unleaded
fuel for just 95.9 cents per litre between 5pm and 9pm. By the time 5pm came
around, traffic was at a standstill and police were forced to step in. Following
the lead set by a number of service stations in the Sydney metropolitan area,
Ulladulla Motors dropped the price of unleaded fuel to send a clear ‘not happy’
message to the major petrol companies.
It was supported in its action by Liberty Petroleum and local businessman Mark
Marshall from Dr Megabyte. As has been the case in Sydney, local motorists
indicated they were willing to sit and wait for discounted fuel and were flowing
with praise for Ulladulla Motors.
See full Story:
http://nowra.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/fuel-rebellion-reaches-shoalhaven/1350012.aspx
The Fuel debate rages and the Independent Service Stations have started
the "war" on the Big Guys, but what about the general Public? It is as much up
to every one of us to help make the change. It is great that some people can
get cheaper fuel at certain times, but what about the longer-term outcomes?
Sometimes we need to suffer in the short term, to cause a change for the long
term.
If we (all of us) can boycott the subsidised discounted fuel outlets (you know,
the ones you get for shopping at certain Stores). They get your loyalty for
shopping in their stores, so you think you can get a few dollars off the fuel
price when you then shop at their petrol outlets.
What they are also doing is keeping the prices up, so you think you are getting
a discount. Look around at the other outlets, and some of them are offering
petrol at a comparable price if you can see past the "coupon" mentality.
It is not always easy to decide to boycott both the Stores, and the petrol
discount, but how about we give it a try? If enough people did it, the
message would be made clear that the buying public has had enough of being
hoodwinked into thinking "they" (the Stores) are doing us a favour. It is "us"
that is doing the Stores and Petrol Stations a favour.
By buy at their stores, then buying their petrol, they have us at their mercy
and they know it. Stop buying, and hopefully they will know it. If enough people
stop buying, they will feel it in the cash registers.
Find an Independent operator to buy your fuel from, and maybe even buy your
groceries from somewhere other than the two big ones. The second option is the
hardest one because there are so few options available in most Towns. The Stores
have already steamrolled their way into Town and taken away the independent
retailers.
In the current economic climate the average person has a lot to loose, but so
have the bigger players if their profit margin is down. They need to explain to
the Stock holders why, and come up with ways to resolve the problem. The NRMA
have also been trying to do something about this issue for some time: see the
Story below - but don't forget there are two Major players in this issue, so
both should come under fire.
Coles drop fuel prices 'or risk drivers' boycott' By staff writers and wires May 08, 2008 04:12pm
COLES must guarantee its service stations will have the lowest petrol prices or
run the risk of a boycott by motorists, the NRMA said today.
The supermarket giant is under fire from the Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission (ACCC), the Federal Government and the motoring group over petrol
pricing.
It is accused of charging high petrol prices and of ripping off motorists who
use shopper dockets to get a discount at its Coles Express service stations.
The chain was slugging motorists with the highest prices and leading the whole
market to go higher in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, said Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission petrol commissioner Pat Walker.
Analysis of petrol pricing at 9am yesterday showed Coles Express sites had set
the highest prices in the four capital cities, he said.
"On any given day the range from the lowest available retail price to the
highest is usually between 15 to 20 cents per litre," Mr Walker said.
In Melbourne yesterday, Coles was selling petrol as much as 14 cents a litre
higher than the Melbourne average.
NRMA Motoring and Services president Alan Evans welcomed Mr Walker's finding,
and said it showed the commissioner was not shy about naming and shaming
retailers who behave badly.
Mr Evans said the onus was now on Coles to act and restore public faith in their
brand.
"The real key now is what Coles does to make sure they redeem themselves (and)
of what the petrol commissioner does to ensure motorists aren't ripped off in
the future,'' he said.
"If Coles were fair dinkum they would have announced today that they will
guarantee they'll be the lowest price petrol stations wherever they are.
"But if they aren't fair dinkum, the Government's got to look seriously at
giving the petrol commission some real powers to ensure motorists aren't ripped
off like this in the future.''
Mr Evans said Coles ran the risk of a driver boycott if it failed to act.
"From what I'm hearing on talkback radio, I think that's likely to happen,'' he
said.
Coles said it was disappointed it had been targeted for selective analysis. The
company said fuel prices moved regularly as part of the normal fuel cycle.
Story:
http://www.news.com.au/business/money/story/0,25479,23663477-14327,00.html
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