| 89 cents was what one consumer paid, while | | | | You don't have to shop at Giant Eagle to lower |
| $1.09 was what another paid for a gallon of gas. | | | | your gas price. It can be done anywhere. You |
| You can find out how buyers have cut their price | | | | just need to be a smart consumer. You need to |
| of gas to crazy levels. They used the same | | | | do your homework. |
| strategy used when they purchased non gas | | | | Treat gas like anything else that you buy. Look |
| items. This explains how. | | | | for the best deals. Look for frequent shopper |
| In Cleveland, Marion Charvat paid $1.09 a gallon | | | | programs in your neighborhood that allow you to |
| when she filled up. She filled her Volkswagen Jetta | | | | build up discounts you can use towards gas. Look |
| for only $12.45. In that same time period Kellie | | | | for gas discounts and incentives anywhere you |
| Courtney paid only 89 cents per gallon of gas. | | | | see a gas pump. Look for stores that may be |
| How could they pay such a low price for gas? | | | | branching out into the frequent shopper area or |
| They were able to pay those low prices because | | | | stores that now sell gas that didn't before. |
| they used the same principles that all smart | | | | In order to remain competitive a lot of stores |
| consumers use. | | | | that had not done so in the past have started |
| Marion and Kellie bought gas like they would buy | | | | selling fuel. This new competition has forced many |
| any other item. They found a frequent shopper | | | | convenience stores that sell fuel to start offering |
| plan that allowed them to discount their gas price. | | | | frequent buyer programs of their own. Those |
| They found a way to buy gas at a store that | | | | programs can help drop your gas costs. In |
| had the lowest price by shopping around for the | | | | addition, numbers of stores that never sold fuel |
| best deal. Giant Eagle markets a supermarket | | | | before are now offering gasoline. As in the case |
| chain is where they found it. | | | | of Giant Eagle they understand that lower gas |
| Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia is | | | | costs is a way to increase traffic in their stores. |
| where Giant Eagle currently has stores. Giant | | | | As a result you have more ways to lower your |
| Eagle has created a new addition to their frequent | | | | gas costs. |
| buyer program. Fuelperks is the name of the | | | | According to the Food Marketing Institute, just |
| program. It offers discounts on gas at Get- Go | | | | 18% of grocery stores built in 2003 had gas |
| gas stations that are owned and operated by | | | | pumps; last year, more than 60% of new stores |
| Giant Eagle. | | | | were built with gas stations. They have seen the |
| Whenever a consumer at Giant Eagle purchases | | | | value of offering gas to their customers as a loss |
| Fifty dollars of merchandise they get a 10 cent | | | | leader. |
| price reduction for a gallon of gas for one fill up. If | | | | The giant stores like Wal-Mart / Sam's Club are |
| a consumer purchases $100.00 worth of products | | | | now a significant force in the fuel station industry. |
| at Giant Eagle it equates to a 20 cent reduction. | | | | The VP in charge of fuel for Wal-Mart wants to |
| That means that if a family spends $500.00 at | | | | create gas stations at every Sam's Club. That |
| Giant Eagle it would produce a discount of $1.00 | | | | translates into lower fuel prices for you. |
| per gallon. Spend enough at Giant Eagle and you | | | | So how can you lower your gas costs? Treat gas |
| could get gasoline for free. | | | | like any other item you purchase. Look for deals, |
| A large family that may buy great amounts of | | | | discounts and low prices. Comparison shop. Find |
| food every week could find itself with big | | | | the retailers that offer the best program for you. |
| discounts in just a few weeks. The price of gas | | | | Look for gas bargains at some of the non |
| for them will be much lower because of the | | | | traditional outlets like grocery stores or mega |
| discount they earned. Giant Eagle grocery prices | | | | stores. Then maybe you will be able to buy that |
| are competitive as are their gas prices so the | | | | tank of gas for 89 cents a gallon like Kellie |
| savings are real. | | | | Courtney did. |