| In August of 2005 the price listed as the price for | | | | substantial discount on gaswhile you are at it. That |
| agallon of regular unleaded gas was $2.29. That | | | | is one way to beat the gaspump. |
| same day | | | | Treat gas like anything else that you buy. Look |
| Kellie Courtney of Cleveland paid only 89 cents a | | | | for thebest deals. Look for frequent shopper |
| gallon. | | | | programs in yourneighborhood that allow you to |
| Marion Charvat paid $1.09 a gallon. Marion filled her | | | | build up discounts you canuse towards gas. Look |
| Volkswagen Jetta for only $12.45. How could they | | | | for gas discounts and incentivesanywhere you |
| buy gasso cheap? They did it because they are | | | | see a gas pump. Look for stores that may |
| smart consumers. | | | | bebranching out into the frequent shopper area or |
| Here's how they did it. | | | | stores thatnow sell gas that didn't before. |
| The reason that Kellie and Marion were able to | | | | In order to compete with the new grocery gas |
| purchasegas at such a low price is that they | | | | stations manygas convenience stores are |
| treated gas like itwas any other item that they | | | | beginning to implement frequentshopper programs |
| would go to a store to buy. | | | | that will result in lower gas costs. Butmore and |
| They shopped around and they found a way to | | | | more traditional stores that never sold gas |
| purchase theirgas at the store that they found | | | | beforeare realizing that discount gas is a big |
| had the absolute lowestcost. They found a | | | | incentive to getshoppers. Giant Eagle is one |
| frequent shopper program that allowedthem to | | | | example of a traditionalgrocery store branching |
| lower their gas cost. They found it at a | | | | out to sell gas at a discount. |
| grocerychain called Giant Eagle. | | | | According to the Food Marketing Institute, just |
| Giant Eagle does business in Ohio, Pennsylvania, | | | | 18% ofgrocery stores built in 2003 had gas |
| Marylandand West Virginia. Recently Giant Eagle | | | | pumps; last year, morethan 60% of new stores |
| added a newcomponent to their frequent shopper | | | | were built with gas stations. Theyhave seen the |
| program. It is called | | | | value of offering gas to their customers as aloss |
| Fuelperks. It is a program that offers discounts on | | | | leader. |
| gas at | | | | The mega retailers are another place you should |
| Giant Eagle's own stations for shopping at Giant | | | | look forbargains. As in many areas Wal-Mart / |
| Eagleusing their frequent shopper card. | | | | Sam's Club arejumping into the gas business big |
| For every $50.00 of purchases using the frequent | | | | time. The VP in chargeof fuel for Wal-Mart says |
| shoppercard the consumer will get a 10 cent | | | | he is looking to extend Sam |
| reduction in the priceof gas for one tank fill up. | | | | Walton's marketing strategy to gasoline by building |
| Purchase $100.00 worth; get | | | | gasstations at every Sam's Club throughout the |
| 20 cents off a gallon. Purchase $500.00 worth and | | | | country. In hisview, putting in pumps should be |
| get | | | | "standard practice. Itjust fits our business model: |
| $1.00 off a gallon. Buy enough groceries and you | | | | we want to bring everything |
| can getgasoline for free. | | | | [to consumers] at the lowest price." |
| A large family that has to buy a lot of groceries | | | | So how can you lower your gas costs? Treat gas |
| everyweek will very quickly earn large discounts | | | | like anyother item you purchase. Look for deals, |
| at the gaspump. The prices at Giant Eagle are in | | | | discounts and lowprices. Comparison shop. Find the |
| line with most ofthe other groceries in the area | | | | retailers that offerthe best program for you. Look |
| and their regular price ongas is in line with other | | | | for gas bargains at some ofthe non traditional |
| gas stations so you really aregetting a legitimate | | | | outlets like grocery stores or megastores. Then |
| discount on gas. | | | | maybe you will be able to buy that tank ofgas for |
| You have to buy groceries somewhere; you | | | | 89 cents a gallon like Kellie Courtney did. |
| might as well buyit a store that gives you a | | | | |