I thought the recent cartoon submitted by Bruce Sinski to the Cochrane Eagle last week ( pg 15 ) was dead on regarding unjustified gasoline pricing in Cochrane compared to other areas including Calgary, Airdrie and Okotoks. I have refrained from complaining publicly for the past two to three months hoping our local retailers would eventually restore a level playing field as it was for most of the past 20 years when the presence of Loblaws (Extra Foods) kept prices in line.
I have never understood gasoline pricing and probably never will but there is no way to justify why our motorists should be charged 7-10c/ litre more than neighbouring stations 20 minutes away often under the same company brand. I do not blame our local station managers, I lay this directly on their corporate masters for this arbitrary and unjustified pricing structure imposed on our town.
I know from casual coffee row conversations, my friends are getting more and more fed up with the non-competitive gas pricing in Cochrane and are taking their business elsewhere as I have been doing for over two months. With the advent of Gas Buddy our retailers need to realize we will not be held ransom and you either level the playing field or be prepared to lose half your business to others. Hopefully you will finally take heed of our concerns and once again allow to us shop local.
Glen McGlaughlin
