Shell's "Million Gallon Giveaway"

[asim]

Shell's "Million Gallon Giveaway"



More than 200,000 happy U.S. motorists will be awarded free gasoline by Shell Oil as part of a promotional contest launched Monday. Shell will give away more than $2 million in free gas and instant-win prizes, including six grand prizes of - wait for it - a lifetime supply of free gasoline! Hundreds of thousands of other winners will walk away with $10 Shell Gas Cards.

The 'lifetime' prize isn't entirely open-ended - winners actually get 302 $300 Shell Gas Cards, based on 50 years of driving 13,500 miles/year and consuming 675 gallons a year.

"Scratch and Win" game cards are available at Shell outlets through October 1, and even if you don't win, it's not a total loss - each game card features a money-saving fuel tip to improve your fuel efficiency. For more information go to http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?...ial_rules.html

SOURCE:http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/01/s...llon-giveaway/

[likearock00]

I guess they're trying to find another way to get rid of all that extra cash they have accumulated over the last two years. Why don't they knock a few cents off our gas???? I would be much happier knowing that I was at least getting a kiss after they have bent us over like they are!!

[bjk]

ehh, nice gimic, but i will stop at the cheapest pump

[ponchoman49]

I have nothing but contempt for these bastaard oil companies! Why not find ways of shaving a little off the absurd oil prices instead of pointless gestures that do no good whatsoever to the general public! The oil needs to come down like now! Everything has gone up sharply this past year and will just keep getting worse until something good happens.

[01cavalier]

Not bad, but I doubt it will change my habits in buying gas...
Contests/giveaways like this don't really impress me that much.

[mobyss]

Seems like a goofy gimmick.

But I have a question about the general attitude on GMI about gas prices and oil companies -

There seems to be this attitude of entitlement here, that somehow the oil companies OWE us "cheap gas", that if they make a profit then somehow they're "gouging" or "ripping us off". Why is that? You know, Coke, Coors, Bud, McDonalds, Taco Bell, etc, etc, etc all make profits - or at least try to?

Why is the oil business "BAD". When was the last time some stormtroopers pulled you out of bed, made you drive to a certain pump, and buy a particular brand or grade of gas at gunpoint?

I know there are a lot of simpletons out there that don't understand the economics of supply and demand, but I would figure that on a car enthusiast site like GMI most people would understand:

Drive Car = Use Gasoline = Buy Gas From Oil Companies or Refine Your Own.

If everyone here is so pissed about gas prices, maybe they need to look into joining "HI" - that is "Huffy Inside News" and bitch about the cost of bicycle chain grease.

If you REALLY want to "hurt" the oil compaines, then next time you buy a car, DON'T buy another 16mpg truck - buy a 32 mpg Cobalt. You've just taken away half the business they would have gotten from you.

BTW - I'm not "affiliated" with oil companies in any way - just sick of the general "woe is me - my 6.0 liter Crew Cab pickup costs too much to fill up" attitude I sometimes see here.

[Driveshaft]

Mobyss,
I think most people's frustration lies in that inflated prices for profit are different if gas is optional - but it's not. Those previously mentioned companies of yours all depend on transportation and gas in order to move product. So it's kind of double sided.

I'm not saying I disagree with you, I'm just saying perhaps that's one reason. We all need gas. But not all of us need Coors Light.

[mobyss]

Originally Posted by Driveshaft

Mobyss,
I think most people's frustration lies in that inflated prices for profit are different if gas is optional - but it's not. Those previously mentioned companies of yours all depend on transportation and gas in order to move product. So it's kind of double sided.

I'm not saying I disagree with you, I'm just saying perhaps that's one reason. We all need gas. But not all of us need Coors Light.

Yeah, I understand. But some people seem unable to equate driving their 5500 pound V8 SUV with underinflated tires and a dirty, clogged, 30,000 mile old air filter with high gas bills.

If anyone ever cared to learn, they would see that the profit margins on crude oil are about 9%. Not great considering that companies like Microsoft make closer to 30% profit.

But it's just weird that on GMI, where everyone's so pumped about 400hp 6.2 liter GMT900s we have people whining about the cost of gas.

Buy an Aveo!!!!!

[Bornfromparents]

just knock off the price of gas and everybody wins. Because its never
the people who really need it, its those who have, and get more.

[Driveshaft]

I understand what you're saying.

And I totally agree with you. I love my Wrangler in the summer and have tried to limit my driving more with the increased gas prices, but with such a fun vehicle, I can't complain. In fact I'm planning a scenic driving trip out to California just because I've always wanted to in the Wrangler.

And eventually I may look for an economical car (like an Aveo) but I doubt it. I'll probably look at a GTO or Camaro, and won't have any room to bitch about gas prices. That's the trade-off with such a vehicle.

[Geotpf]

Originally Posted by mobyss

Yeah, I understand. But some people seem unable to equate driving their 5500 pound V8 SUV with underinflated tires and a dirty, clogged, 30,000 mile old air filter with high gas bills.

If anyone ever cared to learn, they would see that the profit margins on crude oil are about 9%. Not great considering that companies like Microsoft make closer to 30% profit.

But it's just weird that on GMI, where everyone's so pumped about 400hp 6.2 liter GMT900s we have people whining about the cost of gas.

Buy an Aveo!!!!!

Or, move closer to work (or carpool or use public transportaion). A vehicle that gets half as much mileage as another one uses the same amount of gas if one drives it half as much.

One problem with America is too many NIMBYers (Not In My Backyard), which turns into BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody). Everybody who screams about a high density housing development near thier house is responsible for all the gallons of gasoline (and all the additional land bulldozed over in the boonies, and all the increased pollution, and all the increased traffic) for those people who would live in that high density area create when they end up having to find housing farther from thier job.

[SCCA1995]

Originally Posted by Driveshaft

I'll probably look at a GTO or Camaro, and won't have any room to bitch about gas prices. That's the trade-off with such a vehicle.

Tell me about it.

[Nightshark]

Originally Posted by Geotpf

Or, move closer to work (or carpool or use public transportaion). A vehicle that gets half as much mileage as another one uses the same amount of gas if one drives it half as much.

One problem with America is too many NIMBYers (Not In My Backyard), which turns into BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody). Everybody who screams about a high density housing development near thier house is responsible for all the gallons of gasoline (and all the additional land bulldozed over in the boonies, and all the increased pollution, and all the increased traffic) for those people who would live in that high density area create when they end up having to find housing farther from thier job.

Some people, like myself, cannot afford to live close to where I work. Houses and apartments are far too expensive in many urban areas, thus forcing people to live far away from where they work (I commute an hour each way...130 mile round trip as I cannot afford a $400k home on just my salary). While an Aveo would be great to commute, I also need something that can pull a light trailer to buy home improvement items and be able to drive to the recycling center (ie...dump). Thus an Aveo is out of the question for me.

I think many people are upset at the oil companies because they are raking in billions of $$$ in profits, while severly hurting the working class by falsly inflating gas prices (just like OPEC artificially inflates oil prices).... Yes they have a right to make money, but they ARE gouging people.

[Smashing1]

I think the Quick Take from the Suntimes is right in line with my opinion:

Originally Posted by Chicago Suntimes

Pumped up, piling on

News Item: Price at the gas pump increases nearly 32 percent in past year.

News Item: Big Five oil company profits increase nearly 32 percent in past year.

Are you saying you have something against symmetry?