| You can learn how consumers have cut the price of | | | | you approach buying gas and still find yourself with |
| gas to unheard of levels. 89 cents was what one | | | | significant savings. You need to be a price conscious |
| consumer paid, while $1.09 was what another paid. | | | | buyer. You need to do your research. |
| They applied to their gas purchases the same ideas | | | | If you approach your buying gas the same as other |
| they used when they purchased other items. This is | | | | items that you buy you can save. Look for the lowest |
| how. | | | | prices for gas as you would look for the lowest prices |
| Not long ago, Kellie Courtney of Cleveland paid only 89 | | | | on other items you buy. Look for frequent shopper |
| cents per gallon of gas. Marion Charvat paid $1.09 a | | | | deals in your area that might include savings on gas. |
| gallon. Marion filled her Volkswagen Jetta for only | | | | Where ever you see a pump be sure to look for gas |
| $12.45. How could they buy gas so cheap? They did it | | | | discounts and frequent buyer programs . Many gas |
| because they are smart consumers. Here's how they | | | | stations now have frequent buyer programs that are |
| did it. | | | | new. Other places to look for bargains are places in |
| The reason that Kellie and Marion were able to | | | | your locale that are new to selling gas. |
| purchase gas at such a low price is that they treated | | | | In order to remain competitive a lot of stores that had |
| gas like it was any other item that they would go to a | | | | not done so in the past have started selling fuel. This |
| store to buy. They shopped around and they found a | | | | new competition has forced many convenience stores |
| way to purchase their gas at the store that they found | | | | that sell fuel to start offering frequent buyer programs |
| had the absolute lowest cost. They found a frequent | | | | of their own. Those programs can help drop your gas |
| shopper program that allowed them to lower their gas | | | | costs. In addition, numbers of stores that never sold |
| cost. They found it at a grocery chain called Giant | | | | fuel before are now offering gasoline. As in the case |
| Eagle. | | | | of Giant Eagle they understand that lower gas costs is |
| Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia is | | | | a way to increase traffic in their stores. As a result |
| where Giant Eagle currently has stores. Giant Eagle | | | | you have more ways to lower your gas costs. |
| has created a new addition to their frequent buyer | | | | According to the Food Marketing Institute, just 18% of |
| program. Fuelperks is the name of the program. It | | | | grocery stores built in 2003 had gas pumps; last year, |
| offers discounts on gas at Get- Go gas stations that | | | | more than 60% of new stores were built with gas |
| are owned and operated by Giant Eagle. | | | | stations. They have seen the value of offering gas to |
| Whenever a consumer at Giant Eagle purchases Fifty | | | | their customers as a loss leader. |
| dollars of merchandise they get a 10 cent price | | | | The mega retailers are another place you should look |
| reduction for a gallon of gas for one fill up. If a | | | | for bargains. As in many areas Wal-Mart / Sam's Club |
| consumer purchases $100.00 worth of products at | | | | are jumping into the gas business big time. The VP in |
| Giant Eagle it equates to a 20 cent reduction. That | | | | charge of fuel for Wal-Mart says he is looking to |
| means that if a family spends $500.00 at Giant Eagle it | | | | extend Sam Walton's marketing strategy to gasoline |
| would produce a discount of $1.00 per gallon. Spend | | | | by building gas stations at every Sam's Club |
| enough at Giant Eagle and you could get gasoline for | | | | throughout the country. In his view, putting in pumps |
| free. | | | | should be "standard practice. It just fits our business |
| The prices in Giant Eagle stores are the same as | | | | model: we want to bring everything [to consumers] at |
| other groceries in the area so they are not making up | | | | the lowest price." |
| the discounts by gouging on grocery prices. Likewise | | | | Comparison shop all the time. Look for discount fuel |
| the Get-Go price on fuel is in line with competitors. | | | | programs at places like big box retailers or grocery |
| That means that this program produces real world | | | | stores. Always watch for low prices and deals. |
| savings, not artificial savings. A big family that buys a | | | | Approach gas like other commodities you purchase. |
| lot of food every week will earn big discounts very | | | | Locate the outlets that have the program you deem |
| quickly. | | | | the best for you. If you do this, you could find yourself |
| What if you don't have a Giant Eagle store where you | | | | filling your car up and only paying 89 cents per gallon. |
| live? You can still apply the same principle to the way | | | | |