Home Depot to add gas stations, convenience stores

[Itsme]

Home Depot to add gas stations, convenience stores

Hoping to capture a piece of the $268 billion convenience store market, The Home Depot says it is testing four gas station and convenience store combinations on pads in the Nashville, Tenn., area.

The stores, which the chain says it plans to start rolling out in December, will offer competitively priced gas and convenience store merchandise. Some will offer car-wash services. Construction is to begin in September.

Convenient food and gas are powerful motivators for consumers, helping drive traffic — literally — at drugstores, grocery stores and warehouse clubs, says Howard Davidowitz, chairman of New York City–based retail consulting firm Davidowitz & Associates.

Costco, Wal-Mart and other big-name warehouse-style retailers already offer gas stations and convenience stores at some of their units. Deep-discount stores such as Dollar General and Family Dollar, which have recently expanded their food offerings, are likely to add similar components in years to come, Davidowitz says.

“If you are the second-largest retailer in the country, which Home Depot is," he said, "how can you ignore such a powerful trend? You cannot.”

[bachviet]

I hope gas is cheaper there but somehow I don't think so.

[speedracer120]

Sorry to jump the shark so soon, but I filled up at the Sam's Club filling station yesterday and soon after I read C&D's little editorial about the lack of detergents not being good for your car over the long run? I realize the need to clean out the ole injectors every once in a while but how often is often enough?

[DarkFury]

Man.. now EVERYBODY wants to sell gas. Geez... :2far:

The grocery stores have already jumped on the bandwagon.... and now hardware stores? Geez... :2far:

[mechmike0034]

Man.. now EVERYBODY wants to sell gas. Geez... :2far:

The grocery stores have already jumped on the bandwagon.... and now hardware stores? Geez... :2far:

They don't make anything on it, but it drives traffic onto the lot. Plus, it is an added convenience to regular shoppers.

[mechmike0034]

Sorry to jump the shark so soon, but I filled up at the Sam's Club filling station yesterday and soon after I read C&D's little editorial about the lack of detergents not being good for your car over the long run? I realize the need to clean out the ole injectors every once in a while but how often is often enough?

One suspected tank of "sub"-detergent gas won't make a difference.

I have found the best preventative measures are as follows - buy "name-brand" gas, and run a bottle of Chevron Techron (available in any auto parts store or big-box retailer with an automotive section) through the system by pouring it in the gas tank twice per year. This will clean some deposits, and it won't hurt anything if there aren't any.

Here's forty pages of "light reading" :rolleyes: that explain fuel system detergents and more: http://www.ethanolrfa.org/pdf/Gasoline.pdf

[DarkFury]

They don't make anything on it, but it drives traffic onto the lot. Plus, it is an added convenience to regular shoppers.
But honestly, too many isn't always a good thing. :shrug: :2far:

[navyones]

I really hope that this idea doesn't catch on. I don't go to Home Depot to buy gas. I go there to buy hardware and home improvement supplies. All a gas station/ convenience store would do is increase traffic in the lot. Plus, there would be less parking, because they will probably build the store on the existing parking lot.

[ooBaKeep]

Man.. now EVERYBODY wants to sell gas. Geez... :2far:


Maybe suppy and demand will drive the cost down. Our politicians sure arn't doing their job here keeping our prices down.

[DarkFury]

Maybe suppy and demand will drive the cost down. Our politicians sure arn't doing their job here keeping our prices down.
I doubt it... Folks see this as a "money maker" so they are all trying to cash in.

I highly doubt that the extra competition makes gas prices go down much.

Gas is one of those rare commodities where the demand is fairly constant no matter of the supply. We don't really choose when to buy gas... we buy it because we need it. (under the current "must have my own transportation" mindset.)

[Jane83]

well, more vendors means more competitive rates?
so i dont see why not

[DarkFury]

well, more vendors means more competitive rates?
so i dont see why not
Maybe.. unless you are "brand loyal".

No "supermarket gas" is going in my baby... :2far:

[cheapodeepo]

Maybe.. unless you are "brand loyal".

No "supermarket gas" is going in my baby... :2far:
_______________________________________________________________

Strange you will buy food from the supermarket to feed your baby
but not gas to go in your baby

[DarkFury]

_______________________________________________________________

Strange you will buy food from the supermarket to feed your baby
but not gas to go in your baby


Not so strange... The brands of food I buy from the supermarket are things that I generally recognize and identify with. I generally don't buy the "store brand" cereal nor the "store brand" peanut butter. However other items like milk, eggs and butter are no problem.

The nameless liquid in their gas pumps is not something I identify with... (Yeah.. some folks firmly believe that all of it comes from the same place, but I'll still hold to my belief that the additives from the bigger named gas stations are worth going there versus the generic retailers.)

[sizemic1]

As long as they sell Chutney flavored squishies, i'm cool with it :)

[Tai-Pan]

Not so strange... The brands of food I buy from the supermarket are things that I generally recognize and identify with. I generally don't buy the "store brand" cereal nor the "store brand" peanut butter. However other items like milk, eggs and butter are no problem.

The nameless liquid in their gas pumps is not something I identify with... (Yeah.. some folks firmly believe that all of it comes from the same place, but I'll still hold to my belief that the additives from the bigger named gas stations are worth going there versus the generic retailers.)

I do not mean to be a jerk, but you are the kind of person that marketing people salivate over. Those that completely believe the BS that is fed to them.
You do realize that there was just a huge huge blind survey done and store brands generally came out ahead in taste tests, right? This is because they spend more on ingredients than advertising. You can read about it on Clark Howard.com if you like.
In fact, General Mills, the company that makes your name brand cereal also manufactures most of the store brands. Neat huh?


As far as gas goes; it, in fact, does "all come from the same place". All gas is pumped into a seperating station in your city via a pipeline. This company (which usually has a government granted monopoly, except in very major cities), adds whatever mixture of additives the buyer requests. In the case of chevron, of course it is techron+detergents+etc, it may be different for the no-name place or it may be an exact copy of whatever Exxon gets. The distributor will add whatever the buyer wants.

Now, of course, you can say the detergents are "better" but that debate rages with absolutely no evidence to suggest that it is true. I will remind you that Chevron was famous for destroying engines in the 80s by adding a shellac to make the engines quieter.

There are so many misconceptions about gas, my person pet peeve is people putting higher octane rating gas in their car because they think it is "better".


By the way, I work in product marketing so its my job to get people to swallow this marketing BS.

[DarkFury]

I do not mean to be a jerk, but you are the kind of person that marketing people salivate over. Those that completely believe the BS that is fed to them.
You do realize that there was just a huge huge blind survey done and store brands generally came out ahead in taste tests, right? This is because they spend more on ingredients than advertising. You can read about it on Clark Howard.com if you like.
In fact, General Mills, the company that makes your name brand cereal also manufactures most of the store brands. Neat huh?


As far as gas goes; it, in fact, does "all come from the same place". All gas is pumped into a seperating station in your city via a pipeline. This company (which usually has a government granted monopoly, except in very major cities), adds whatever mixture of additives the buyer requests. In the case of chevron, of course it is techron+detergents+etc, it may be different for the no-name place or it may be an exact copy of whatever Exxon gets. The distributor will add whatever the buyer wants.

Now, of course, you can say the detergents are "better" but that debate rages with absolutely no evidence to suggest that it is true. I will remind you that Chevron was famous for destroying engines in the 80s by adding a shellac to make the engines quieter.

There are so many misconceptions about gas, my person pet peeve is people putting higher octane rating gas in their car because they think it is "better".


By the way, I work in product marketing so its my job to get people to swallow this marketing BS.
Well... everyone is entitled to their opinions and tastes. Personally, I can tell the difference between Coke and store brand Cola... if you can't well your taste buds are shot to hell from all the weed ya been smokin'. :heh: (not implying that you are a habitual drug user there... just kidding :D ) I still won't buy Store brand peanut butter over my favorite "JIF"... it's what I like. For veggies, milk, eggs, and butter... I don't mind buying store brands.

Anyways... FOR ME, I used to be an avid user of Amoco (pre BP) gas. One of my previous cars used to knock and ping with Amoco but mysteriously quieted down when I went to Shell... and I've been a Shell user ever since.

Personally, I like Shell and I trust it. If they wanna call that "marketing to me" then fine... do so. However, combined with the fact that I get that extra 5% on my "Shell Mastercard" and the fact that in my local area the Shell stations compete quite well with the BPs, Marathons, Speedway, and most of the "grocery store" gas places, then I prefer to go there. In a pinch on the highway with 100 miles to go before the next Shell gas station and I'm on empty... then yeah, I'll put some "other brand" gas in my ride... enough to get me to the next Shell station of course. But that's just me.

You do what you want with your car... but for me, I know what I like. If that works out better for you, then great.. ha ha... ol' DF just spends a little bit more on what he is comfortable with.

Now go market that. :wavey: :D

BTW.. if you are a "marketer"... then I'll tell ya this... if you try to bring some "brand new" never been heard of product into the arena where a firm market leader has a clear advantage... be prepared to fight to get my money, cause you gonna have to prove to me that you are indeed better if I have already become brand loyal to something else. :D

[Tai-Pan]

Never meant to imply that all store brands are good and all name brands are bad. I hate store brand coke too. Its like anything else, you have to compare before you judge and most people are not willing to do that.

I know I am strange, I am the least brand loyal person on earth. I never buy the same brand twice if there is another I can try. (Except maybe for Lexus, I am pretty much their bitch now)

I just like to preach the gospel of comparison, so if Shell works for you after trying others than fine.

[DarkFury]

Glad we can agree on that. :thumb: