| In August of 2005 the price listed as the price for a | | | | can |
| gallon of regular unleaded gas was $2.29. That same | | | | use towards gas. Look for gas discounts and |
| day | | | | incentives |
| Kellie Courtney of Cleveland paid only 89 cents a | | | | anywhere you see a gas pump. Look for stores that |
| gallon. | | | | may be |
| Marion Charvat paid $1.09 a gallon. Marion filled her | | | | branching out into the frequent shopper area or |
| Volkswagen Jetta for only $12.45. How could they | | | | stores that |
| buy gas | | | | now sell gas that didn't before.In order to compete |
| so cheap? They did it because they are smart | | | | with the new grocery gas stations many |
| consumers. | | | | gas convenience stores are beginning to implement |
| Here's how they did it.The reason that Kellie and | | | | frequent |
| Marion were able to purchase | | | | shopper programs that will result in lower gas costs. |
| gas at such a low price is that they treated gas like it | | | | But |
| was any other item that they would go to a store to | | | | more and more traditional stores that never sold gas |
| buy. | | | | before |
| They shopped around and they found a way to | | | | are realizing that discount gas is a big incentive to get |
| purchase their | | | | shoppers. Giant Eagle is one example of a traditional |
| gas at the store that they found had the absolute | | | | grocery store branching out to sell gas at a |
| lowest | | | | discount.According to the Food Marketing Institute, just |
| cost. They found a frequent shopper program that | | | | 18% of |
| allowed | | | | grocery stores built in 2003 had gas pumps; last year, |
| them to lower their gas cost. They found it at a | | | | more |
| grocery | | | | than 60% of new stores were built with gas stations. |
| chain called Giant Eagle.Giant Eagle does business in | | | | They |
| Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland | | | | have seen the value of offering gas to their |
| and West Virginia. Recently Giant Eagle added a new | | | | customers as a |
| component to their frequent shopper program. It is | | | | loss leader.The mega retailers are another place you |
| called | | | | should look for |
| Fuelperks. It is a program that offers discounts on gas | | | | bargains. As in many areas Wal-Mart / Sam's Club |
| at | | | | are |
| Giant Eagle's own stations for shopping at Giant Eagle | | | | jumping into the gas business big time. The VP in |
| using their frequent shopper card.For every $50.00 of | | | | charge |
| purchases using the frequent shopper | | | | of fuel for Wal-Mart says he is looking to extend Sam |
| card the consumer will get a 10 cent reduction in the | | | | Walton's marketing strategy to gasoline by building |
| price | | | | gas |
| of gas for one tank fill up. Purchase $100.00 worth; | | | | stations at every Sam's Club throughout the country. |
| get | | | | In his |
| 20 cents off a gallon. Purchase $500.00 worth and | | | | view, putting in pumps should be "standard practice. It |
| get | | | | just fits our business model: we want to bring |
| $1.00 off a gallon. Buy enough groceries and you can | | | | everything |
| get | | | | [to consumers] at the lowest price."So how can you |
| gasoline for free.A large family that has to buy a lot | | | | lower your gas costs? Treat gas like any |
| of groceries every | | | | other item you purchase. Look for deals, discounts |
| week will very quickly earn large discounts at the gas | | | | and low |
| pump. The prices at Giant Eagle are in line with most | | | | prices. Comparison shop. Find the retailers that offer |
| of | | | | the best program for you. Look for gas bargains at |
| the other groceries in the area and their regular price | | | | some of |
| on | | | | the non traditional outlets like grocery stores or mega |
| gas is in line with other gas stations so you really are | | | | stores. Then maybe you will be able to buy that tank |
| getting a legitimate discount on gas.You have to buy | | | | of |
| groceries somewhere; you might as well buy | | | | gas for 89 cents a gallon like Kellie Courtney did.Scott |
| it a store that gives you a substantial discount on gas | | | | Siegel is the author of "Beat The Gas Pump!", a 143 |
| while you are at it. That is one way to beat the gas | | | | page manual of industry insider |
| pump.Treat gas like anything else that you buy. Look | | | | information on saving gas and money at the pump. |
| for the | | | | Learn more about how |
| best deals. Look for frequent shopper programs in | | | | to take your money out of your gas tank and put it |
| your | | | | back in your pocket |
| neighborhood that allow you to build up discounts you | | | | now! |