SCHENECTADY Price Chopper introduces discount gasoline program BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Michael Lamendola at 395-3114 or lamend@dailygazette.com.
Hoping to maintain an advantage in the highly competitive supermarket business, Schenectady-based Price Chopper Corp. on Monday unveiled a program that awards price discounts on gasoline at participating Sunoco stations. The Fuel AdvantEdge program discounts gasoline 10 cents per gallon for every $50 spent at any of Price Chopper’s 119 stores in six states. The discount applies to the purchase of up to 20 gallons per visit. Discounts points can be accumulated for up to 90 days. The program began Monday. “This is the most exciting and more important program we have introduced at Price Chopper since we introduced the AdvantEdge card 20 years ago,” said Jerry Golub, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Price Chopper Supermarkets. Golub said a family that spends $100 per week on groceries for four weeks at a Price Chopper store would accumulate 80 cents per gallon in discounts. “That is significant savings,” he said. Mona Golub, vice president for public relations and consumer affairs for Price Chopper, said company officials expect Fuel AdvantEdge to significantly increase traffic in their stores. “Most definitely. It is yet another competitive advantage,” she said. Price Chopper tested the program in its Watertown store, beginning in 2006, before launching it companywide, she said. It took Price Chopper about 18 months to sign up 74 Sunoco stations for the program, and soon there will be 80, she said. The participating Sunoco stations include independent retailers as well as company-owned stations, said Jeff Hassman, channel marketing manager for Sunoco. Sunoco tested a version of the gas-discount program with a different supermarket chain in Pennsylvania before joining with Price Chopper, he said. “I have never seen consumers get so excited about a program as this one. Our customers will not have to buy retail gasoline,” he said. With fuel prices gradually creeping up to $3 per gallon, the Fuel AdvantEdge program will help families on tight budgets, said Neil Golub, president and chief operating officer for Price Chopper. “Today, you can stop shopping around for cheap gas,” he said. Golub said the Fuel AdvantEdge is a long-term program with no planned ending date. Ralph Bombardiere, executive director of New York State Association of Service Stations & Repair Shops, said Price Chopper is underwriting the program by using discounts and rebates it receives from distributors. Also, some independent retailers, like Stewart’s Shops, are paying a fee to Price Chopper to participate in the program, said Chad Kiesow, Stewart’s gas marketing manager. Among Stewart’s 300 stores are six Sunoco stations participating in the program. The company expects to make up the fee through increased traffic at the participating stores. “You will get some footsteps into the stores when you give them 30 cents to 40 cents off a gallon,” Kiesow said. “It could do as much as a 40 percent increase in traffic.” Mona Golub said Price Chopper’s most immediate competitors in this area — Hannaford Supermarkets and Wal-Mart — do not offer a similar program. ...........................>>>>...................>>>>.................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar00401
I did this last night and saved $4.00 bucks on my twenty gallons. I usually go to Sunoco anyway. Twenty cents off was nice. But I am afraid gas will be $3-$3.50 again soon
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Hmm. Today, Sunoco on Balltown - $2.61. Mobil across the street, $2.52. Runway fuel on Altamont, $2.37 Mobil on Altamont, $2.39 Stewarts on Union, $2.51 Raizda on Union, $2.51
Why would I pay them 10cents more per gallon - just to save 10c for spending $50 at Price Chopper?
Hmm. Today, Sunoco on Balltown - $2.61. Mobil across the street, $2.52. Runway fuel on Altamont, $2.37 Mobil on Altamont, $2.39 Stewarts on Union, $2.51 Raizda on Union, $2.51
Why would I pay them 10cents more per gallon - just to save 10c for spending $50 at Price Chopper?
My sentiments exactly! I guess if you are a regular pc shopper and usually spend at least fifty bucks or more, it would be a side benefit.
I certainly would NOT go to pc just for the ten cent savings. Where were they when gas was over four bucks a gallon?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Since Price Chopper introduced the savings of 10 cents per gallon at Sunoco gas stations, Sunoco’s prices have continued to increase more than their competitors’. I understand that (for whatever reason) the price per gallon is on the rise [everywhere], but Sunoco gas has gotten higher than some Mobil stations — which never has happened that I can recall. It makes shopping at Price Chopper less beneficial than before. If the price at a Sunoco station was more competitive than it was two weeks ago, then the program works. But now, after deducting 10 cents per gallon, it's still more than going to a Hess or Mobil. Someone seems to be taking advantage. Not good marketing to me.
Hmm. Today, Sunoco on Balltown - $2.61. Mobil across the street, $2.52. Runway fuel on Altamont, $2.37 Mobil on Altamont, $2.39 Stewarts on Union, $2.51 Raizda on Union, $2.51
Why would I pay them 10cents more per gallon - just to save 10c for spending $50 at Price Chopper?
Especially when you save more money if you shop at Hannaford and Walmart, i.e., save more to more than offset any saving you MIGHT get on the gas.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
I think they piggie back on eachother (hannaford and pricechopper) to drive prices up, it was a year or two ago hannaford was carrying mostly organic vegetables and fruits and there prices when high.. now pricechopper is leaping them making hannaford seem low... lets see what hannaford will do next? Imbrase the lower prices? I think not, instead they have an excuse now to drive them higher... look for hannaford to follow suit in some from with prices.
I don't spell check! Sorry... If you include "No offense" in a statement, chances are, your statement is offensive.
I shop at BJ's 99.9% of the time. I don't like going to markets. Price Chopper or Hannaford. I also frequent Gabriel's, Sal's, Capri's and Napoli Bakery and Pede's.
I shop at BJ's 99.9% of the time. I don't like going to markets. Price Chopper or Hannaford. I also frequent Gabriel's, Sal's, Capri's and Napoli Bakery and Pede's.
I also prefer the small local businesses over the large corporate grocery stores. I like Perreca's bakery, Pede Brothers and Greulich's Market.
Though Price Chopper's selection of products is good, the prices are exorbitant. It seems that prices of sale items are increased prior to being discounted.
I once shopped at a Wegman's in Rochester. I wish that they were in this area.
Some have grumbled that Price Chopper's partner in the Fuel AdvantEdge program, Sunoco, tends to have higher prices.
On Thursday, albanygasprices.com had no Sunoco stations on its list of the 15 cheapest places for regular gasoline, but three were in the 15 places with the highest prices in the Capital Region.
Still, even with prices a nickel or dime higher, customers swear by the program because it's easy to get discounts that are far greater, with 10 cents off a gallon for every $50 spent at Price Chopper.
I saved .70 cents per gallon today and I had to fill my tank. I paid $2.05 a gallon. This program works for me. I don't like Hannaford, I have had bad experiences with their supposedly fresh food.
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