Force payment up front, say gas retailers
04.07.2008 02:01
Shopping
- Source: cbc.ca
With incidents of gasoline theft increasing, some retailers on P.E.I. are calling for legislation to force consumers to pay for fuel before they start pumping. Jeff Doucette, manager of Mel's Quickmart on St. Peter's Road, told CBC News on Wednesday he has a gas-and-dash incident about once every two weeks — significantly from last year. He believes provincial legislation requiring payment upfront is the only way to stop the problem. "I think it will come to that," said Doucette. "There seems to be no relief in the price of gas, so something is going to have to be done." Every theft takes a big chunk out of Doucette's profits. Retailers make only about four cents a litre profit on gas, regardless of price. At current prices, that means having to sell 33 tanks full to make up for one run-off. Dave Mader, executive director of the P.E.I. Retail Gasoline Dealers Association, also believes new measures are needed to stop gasoline theft. "With the price of gas being what it is today, and what some say it's going to be in the months and years from now, we certainly can expect that we're going to see more and more drive-offs unless we can take some kind of measures to control it," said Mader. At the same time, Mader believes it may not yet be time for government to step in. He would like to see retailers take other measures first, such as installing more video cameras and having attendants be more visible. British Columbia recently became the first province to force people to pay before they pump, and New Brunswick is reviewing its legislation. RelatedInternal LinksGas prices fall in P.E.I.Consumer HeadlinesJazz Air eliminating 270 jobs, cutting serviceRegional carrier Jazz Air LP, based in Halifax, said Thursday it is cutting 270 jobs and trimming its capacity by five per cent in the wake of cutbacks announced last month by Air Canada. First Canadian case linked to U.S. salmonella outbreakHealth officials have discovered the first Canadian case linked to a massive salmonella outbreak in the United States that has sickened more than 900 people.Track fruits and veggies from farm to store, consumer groups urgeConsumer groups are calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to introduce a new tracking program while investigators continue looking into a salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 887 people in the U.S.No pay-then-pump law for Nova Scotia, premier saysPremier Rodney MacDonald says he has no plan to bring in rules requiring motorists to pay for gas before fuelling up.Last call for cheap drinks in AlbertaThe Alberta government is implementing new liquor rules, including minimum drink prices, in an effort to curb binge drinking and bar violence. Consumer Life FeaturesCRUDE AWAKENINGSPricey oilFrom bloomers to bagels, the trickle-down costENERGYGasolinePeculiar pump price protestsTECHNOLOGYDesign softwareThe building blocks of LegoBLOGFood BytesHunting for the perfect fruitBLOGComm-OdditiesLife fetches $384,000 on eBayPeople who read this also read …
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