Non-auto related businesses giving away free gas
By now, you are surely aware of the gas promotions being run by auto companies such as Chrysler and Suzuki. While these programs have proved unsuccessful overall, this has not stopped other industries from jumping on the bandwagon. For instance, such diverse companies as Callaway Golf, Hasbro games, Hertz Rental Cars, Choice Hotels and Hotels.com are running promotions which include free gas. Additionally, the Northern Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross is offering such prizes as one $3,000 gas card and five $500 cards.
According to marketing professor at the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University Baohong Sun, "A lot of companies, when they make decisions they don't think independently. They'll jump into whatever their competitors are doing, so more companies are likely to mimic this strategy." Suzanne Shu, a marketing professor at the UCLA Anderson School of Management adds a warning, saying, "I would say this type of promotion will only be effective in the short run. People will pay attention until they re-adapt to prices and then it won't be such a big deal anymore." Sounds like if a company wants to get in on the free gas bonanza, now is the time to get it in gear.
[Source: AOL Money]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Caroftheday.org 1:17AM (6/15/2008)
People do weird things when gas is this expensive, if they would just do a little math they would realize that these deals aren't as great as the banner makes it sound. The article is right, that this will level off and people will stop being fooled by these promotions.
http://www.caroftheday.org/2008/06/08/should-you-trade-in-your-gas-guzzler/
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EV-1 6:48AM (6/15/2008)
Surely, we'll see ever increasing efforts from the
oil industry to slow down the inevitable
transistion to alternative motor principle(s).
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/06/14/non-auto-related-businesses-giving-away-free-gas/#comments
Giveaway gas campaigns ?
That's just the beginning (believe me).
Anyone noticed the massively increasing Motorsport
Promotion by middle-east countrys ? ( Or don't you
get that in the States ? )
http://www.motorsportmarketing-me.com/CORPORATE%20CUP2/index.htm
Dakar, Abu Dhabi (of United Arab Emirates), Qatar,
Jordan, Dubai, Kuweit & Co. all arranging and/or
promoting motorsport racing:
"A recent article in the Financial Times revealed
that $11.3 billion has been spent on motor sport
investment in the Middle East over the last five
years." - - >
http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/166544/richards-middle-east-pivotal-to-motor-sport-s-future
The ultra-modern venues are in a league of their
own, five-star class, and this year Qatar staged a
first ever 'nocturnal' moto GP : track flooded w
lights that would've been visible from the moon,
enough to light up a stretch of road from middle
east to France. Track surrounded by artificial
grass to prevent the desert sand from blowing onto
the surface.
Try and figure what money (and whos' ) that took ...
Oil industry will tease us to stay with ICE,
discourage us from jumping ship by every trick in
the book (and believe me, some of them are nasty).
They're only in it for the money.
Face it.
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Cary 1:58AM (6/17/2008)
@#2 - EV-1
I guess I'll be the first to say it, NO SHIT. The idea of a business is to make money. Therefore, it is all about the money. Simple economics. You want to change the world? Step 1: Don't complain about it on blogs, that will get you no where. Step 2: Come up with something not petrol based of great value. Step 3: Find a venture capitalist that is willing to take a high risk on board. Step 4: Get rich, buy a Lexus LS600H and convert it to a PHEV. Step 5: Sell your product to the masss, shut down Abu Dhabi Oil, Iranain Oil, Qatar Oil, Saudi Oil, and Kuwait Petrol. That's what will chage the world forever. As for me, I'll drive my diesel Mercedes. Get 37mpg. Be ok with it for now until the 2011 S400 Bluetec Hybrid comes along with my 40mpg. I'll continue to invest heavily into the alternative energy sector. See ticker FSLR - First Solar, then you'll know why venture capitalism is a great idea. I took a chance with them on their IPO, 5000 shares @ $27.00 to start. Now I still have 4300 share valued at $277.00. $1.1M isn't enough to buy out Abu Dhabi yet, but I'm working on it.
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