Happy Hour for Sydney motorists
October 30, 2008 by Matt Brogan
In a move service station owners say is aimed at tackling predatory pricing from supermarket chain petrol stations and the big oil companies, a group of independent owners will today offer cheap petrol to draw attention to their plight.
Ten independent servos have joined the cause offering Sydney motorists unleaded fuel at less than $1 per litre.
It is hoped that by doing so that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will be forced in to addressing anti-competitive pricing practices the group says are flaunted by the large retail giants.
The owners who stand to lose up to $10,000 each in the exercise are being supported by other local proprieters including mechanics, butchers, pizzerias, egg farmers, water suppliers and cafe owners who will all give away free goods and services at the selected service stations to help out the rebellious independents.
Sydney motorists can support the independent service stations by purchasing the cheap fuel during “happy hour” at the following locations:
- Speedway Auburn, 238 Cumberland Rd, Auburn
- Metro Bankstown, 158 South Terrace, Bankstown
- BP Independent Blacktown, 163 Sunny Holt Rd, Blacktown
- Metro Croydon, 418-424 Liverpool Rd, Hume Highway, Croydon
- Rebel Petrol, 200 Homer St, Earlwood
- Speedway Fairfield, Horsely Drive, Fairfield
- United Petroleum Granville, corner Clyde and Mona St, Granville
- Speedway UniGas Haberfield, Parramatta Rd, Haberfield
- Speedway Meadows, 359 Elizabeth Drive, Mount Pritchard
- BP Independent Denistone, 295 Quarry Rd, Ryde
Print it: 
Traffic chaos, road rage, waiting in line for hours, all to save $10 or $20. No thanks…
..or you could just buy a 99c fuel cap commodore and save a grand total of $660 over 20,000km ….. or not.
I agree – I wouldnt line up for 40 mins to save $ 20 either, however, something needs to be done – as we are being ripped off – and the smaller chains are getting screwed by the Coles/Woolies chains – who have already killed farmers – now attacking fuel – whats next – world domination…..
Good luck to those small independants…
Is your time that precious that you wont give up an hour to not only get some cheap fuel but to support a minority group who are trying put a stop to the big companies price mongering?
the more people that get behind this the better it will be for all of us.
Hear Hear Nick – well done to these guys and girls willing to take one on the chin to help out the rest of us.
Matt,
If they did this in Adelaide I would queue up to show my support. In fact I would queue up, chuck $10 worth in and offer my congratulations as I paid.
This is all about media attention and showing your support, not cramming in as much fuel into your car and gerry cans as you are able to.
It should be obvious, but the best way to support these independents is to actually purchase fuel from them, all the time.
Further to this, independents, esp ones that are branded with big name labels, such as the ‘BP independents’, would do well to advertise this fact clearly and loudly.
Now what if the big guys suddenly dropped their prices to 89.9c per litre?? where would our support be then?…..how many of us have been supporting these guys prior to now, no matter what their pricing has been i wonder…first and foremost my support goes to my wallett particularly when there are other influences taking more and more of my hard earned already
Far NQ, from what I gather, getting the big guys to drop their prices is what this is all about. So if they dropped to 89.9c P/L everyone would be happy.
To those that complain about waiting in line, consider it as this: 40min save $20 is equivalent to working a $30/hour job – net!
That’s more than what the average australian earn. I would show my support to them. I wonder if they sell 98 octane?
my point was more aimed toward people asking to support these guys now that they are offering reduced prices rather than asking for continued support during normal trading times…… if we are going to fight these big guys lets make it a prolonged attack rather than spasmodic slappings
They don’t discount premium.
Also, this will change nothing. How does this in any way affect how things are currently being done. Explain that. Aside from getting on the news, it means nothing.
Unfortunately I don’t see how this is going to prompt the government to outlaw the collusion and gouging being perpetrated by the main players.
Good luck to them anyway.
I contract for a big player in a service industry and the way they screw us over u would not believe so I empathise with these independent operators.
i would rather put an extra half hour in at work than wait in line for 45 mins to save the whats really bugger all in comparison.
I always fuel up at the independants anyway.
i even find them cheaper than woolies, and ive heard bad stuff about woolies fuel.
I paid 1.26 for fuel a couple of days ago from the independant whilst the mobil 500m down the road was still 1.40
I dont know what the independants hope to achieve from this stunt. sure the consumers will remember it, but the typical consumer swing back the other way once the hype is gone.
what they really need to do is amalgamate under the one independant banner in the very same way “IGA” has done for the independant grocers.
What IGA had done to/for the independant grocers was a fantastic idea.
Support the indies and give Coles & Woolworths the finger!
George,
it sounds so simple to do that, and i agree with you that it is the simple answer,
but at the end of the day the simple mind in the average consumer and the wallet in their pocket will rule
can we say BP is independent petrol station company?
It is just a publicity gimmick. One has to question the quality of fuel used by independents. So many mugs want to believe in conspiracy theories that they voted for the ALP due to KRudd’s claims re anti competitive behaviour and that he could fix it. He cannot & will not. These are probably the same mugs who queue up for an hour.