TEXOR PETROLEUM COMPANY

3rd QUARTER 2007

FUELING PERFORMANCE NEWSLETTER

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Attention all bio-diesel customers:  We will begin the winter additive program beginning on October 15th.  We will be additizing your bio-diesel again this year using the industry leading Valvetect BDAGW55 additive package.  You will be surcharged $0.02 per gallon for this process.  It is vital that your bio-diesel be treated to prevent cold flow problems.

 

CITGO PETROLEUM COMPANY

 

Citgo will launch a Holiday Gift Card promotion beginning Oct. 1 and running through Dec. 31.  Featuring a newly designed CITGO Gift Card, you will receive a 1% discount for every activation, and you will enjoy a fun, traffic building promotion during the highly competitive retail shopping season.  Current versions of the Gift Card will be included in your next POP shipment, but the newly designed card is in production.  To order the new cards please call 1-800-533-3421, option 2.  An added bonus is that Citgo will be installing the POP for you!

 

MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY

 

A reminder to the locations that failed the 3rd quarter Mystery Shops:  You need to go over the details of your failed shop and make sure that you pass the 4th quarter shop.  Any 2nd time failures will be charged $100.00 for the Mystery Shop.  Lets make sure uniforms are on and to meet and greet every customer.  If you need assistance with this please contact your Texor representative.

 

Marathon has also announced that it is extending the 0% discount rate for the Platinum MasterCard through the end of October.  This latest extension illustrates Marathon’s resolve to continue to assist you in your ability to market the best Co brand card in the industry.

 

Marathon has available to its dealers a system called FuelCall.  FuelCall is a device that is placed next to one of your MPD’s that allows customers with disabilities to call a receiver inside your store to notify you that they need fueling assistance.  Materials that come in the kit include signage of hours that the service is available.  With over 7 million drivers with disabilities in the Marathon distribution area this is a great valued added service that can help you not only capture these drivers, but also let your community know that you care.  More information on this system can be found by calling toll free:  1-800-232-5487.

 

 

 

EXXON MOBIL

 

All locations should have received the 3rd trimester POP materials.  Please make sure you take down the old materials and put up the new.  Also included in the subscription is the annual Holiday Cash Card.  Note that these materials are to be put up on November 1st.  Also, for your planning purposes and holiday gift giving needs, the 2% prepayment on the Cash Cards will be waived from Oct. 15 through Oct. 30.  These cards offer a convenient method for you to take advantage of seasonal gift giving opportunities.

 

Please be advised that we have been dealing with a new fraud tactic primarily in Detroit.  The fraud occurs in the following manner – Someone goes on the roof and covers the satellite feed horn with foil.  This causes the CRINDS to go into store and forward mode, at which time most cards with a magnetic stripe on it will initiate the dispenser and allow for product to be dispensed.  The fraud is primarily occurring with gift cards.  As soon as ExxonMobil identifies a problem, store and forward is turned off.  Currently 36 Detroit locations and 2 sites in Birmingham have been identified, with estimated impact of about $120K.

 

CONOCOPHILLIPS

 

ConocoPhillips proprietary credit card promotion began on September 1, 2007 and will end on December 31, 2007.  Highlights of the program are a rebate program that pays 18 cents per gallon purchased up to $50.00.  The customer has until March 31, 2008 to redeem the rebates.  The customer will also receive a $15.00 iTunes gift card if they purchase 100 gallons of gasoline by March 31, 2008.  This program is for new credit card customers only.  If you need additional materials for this program, please contact your Texor representative.

 

Recently some of ConocoPhillips branded stations in Southern California were victims of sophisticated credit card fraud.  Although these were isolated incidents, all branded customers need to be aware for what happened so they don’t become victims themselves.

Fraudsters used counterfeit credit cards with invalid magnetic stripes and conned store employees into keying in manual transactions.  Sometimes the thieves presented identification that matched the embossing on the cards.  Before your employees consider manually keying-in any transaction, they should stop and examine each card closely.  Here are some key indicators that store employees should look for:

  • Visa/MasterCard – the first four digits of the account number are also printed below the embossing
  • American Express – the account number is embossed on the front as well as printed on the back of the card
  • Discover – the first four digits of the embossed account number also appear on the signature panel on the back of the card

Make sure your employees are aware of these practices.