VituVingiSana wrote:Adulterated fuel from 'independents'. I stick with Shell or KenolKobil...
I don't buy this 'adulterated' fuel propaganda. Yes I said that.
Propaganda!!! There might be a
few station that adulterate their fuel but the problem is not as dire as we are made to believe. These station owners are in business. For how long do you expect to be in business if you are selling adulterated fuel? A fuel station is like a restaurant, kiosk, butchery etc - you rely mainly on
'repeat' customers. You mess with your customers and you are out of business!
So who started the propaganda? Mainstream fuel stations. Why? Because they realize that in as much as they can form cartels, it is next to impossible to rope in all independents. You will always find an 'independent' using the low margin - high volume model. It's also very easy for the said independent to keep the overheads low. He/she doesn't have to share profits with a 'big brother' and therefore he/she can sell fuel at a much lower price.
How do you avoid the
few 'adulterators'? When a new station opens in a route you normally use observe the number of cars that fuel there. If the number rises gradually, everything is okay. If it reduces despite the low price, iko shida. Peni zangu mbili za Southern Sudan.
Never count on making a good sale. Have the purchase price be so attractive that even a mediocre sale gives good returns.