This seems insane to me. I live in a city where maybe 50-60% of people have cars, and most don’t drive them that much. Yet every grocery store I’m aware of with the sole exception of the expensive Whole Foods has a fuel rewards points program. Reasons this should be controversial enough to enable a low-cost alternative:

  1. Many people don’t drive and therefore pay a little more for groceries because it includes a perk they don’t use
  2. It seems like a very ardent pro-fossil fuel move that you’d think would cause some sort of negative attention from environment activists.
  3. The subsidy typically applies as an amount off per gallon, so you end up really subsidizing big vehicles with big gas tanks. Again, really makes some customers subsidize others and you’d think people (other than me) would be annoyed at this.

But yet, virtually every grocery store does this. Anyone know why? Does the fossil fuel industry somehow encourage this?

  • @njordomir
    link
    15 months ago

    This makes me think of how my parents’ generation would drive across town to save 5 cents on gas. Assuming a 13 gallon tank, you’re saving about 65 cents. Congratulations, big winner coming through! I will pay that 65 cents to have an extra 10 minutes of time to myself and have a hard time seeing how anyone would rather have the 65 cents.