Overcharging for petrol
ACCC petrol commissioner Pat Walker last week revealed Coles Express service stations are the most expensive.
According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s survey, Coles Express had the highest petrol prices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Mr Walker said the commission had identified about 30 Coles Express sites in Sydney that were selling petrol for 155.9 cents a litre, when the average price was 143.3 cents a litre. According to News.com.au, Coles was selling petrol in Melbourne for up to 14 cents more than the city’s average.
Mr Walker advised motorists to shop around for the best price, as those who use shopper dockets may not be getting the discount they think they are.
“It is important that consumers do not automatically rely on their petrol discount voucher to necessarily deliver the lowest price,” he said.
NRMA President Alan Evans said, “The Petrol Commissioner has done well to catch and shame Coles for their over-pricing; he now needs the powers to do something about it.”
Mr Evans said that bad press alone is not enough, as oil companies have grown immune to it. He believes the Commissioner’s powers must therefore be extended so he can:
- • Force oil companies to drop their prices when they are over-inflated;
- • Force oil companies to artificially keep their prices down to compensate motorists who have been over-charged;
- • Fine oil companies.
Have you noticed some service stations regularly being more expensive than others?
May 13th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I’ve lived in Wagga Wagga for 22 years. We don’t have a price cycle. Petrol is always the same high price. I am sick of hearing about ‘look around for cheaper prices’ as it doesn’t exist here and never will. All servos move up and down at the same time. Mostly they maintain their prices higher than Albury and even some small towns like Culcairn and Henty. Everyone knows there is unity in setting prices here, but NOTHING ever changes!
We had the ACCC come to Wagga Wagga last year, but nothing has changed. Even when I was here in the RAAF as a trainee in the early 70s, Wagga Wagga petrol was dear compared to a lot of other prices.
Alec.
May 21st, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Differences and fluctuations in petrol prices are none of the Government’s business. Nor should they be any concern of NRMA. They are simply a manifestation of the market operating.
The alternative is for public servants and politicians to dictate prices. They used to have that in some countries. It was called socialism.
If you think the oil companies are making too much money, buy shares in them and receive the dividends.
May 26th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Not only oil company ripe of consumers but also Toyota Australia. Everyone knows Toyota Prius save about 30% or more of petrol. But It cost Australian $40K to buy one but Americans only need to pay US$22K (A$24K). But all Prius is built in Toyota city, Japan.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
For comparison’s sake visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline_prices
It takes govt taxes into account and it’s all in US$, but it’s interesting. We’re about mid-range.
Maybe we should strike up a deal with Venezuala… petrol for US$0.05 per litre sounds good to me…
June 9th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Has anyone seen the price of petrol in USA!!! it is only 50% of what we pay at the pump and they import 55%+ of their oil stocks. It seems as if our high prices are just subsidising their LOW price!! We import less than 25% of our oil use and this is only because our oil does not allow us to make lubricating oils etc.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Now that petrol prices are out of control are orgnaisations like the NRMA looking at alternatives such as “hydrogen on demand” that are being pushed on websites such as http://water4gas.com/2books.htm?hop=ezilife?
The general public needs to know if the claims for these devices are real or not?
August 25th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
this site http://www.fuelwatcher.com.au can help and find cheap fuel prices.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:40 am
When I had a Service Station it was against the law to raise the price of fuel until you received a new load of fuel. Is this still the case? It appears not other wise the price wouldn’t be up & down like a Yo Yo! you could drop the price at your own cost, but! look out if you were caught raising the price.