[82473] in Cypherpunks
Re: Shell cancels all but $25 pre-paid cards
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (tzeruch@ceddec.com)
Wed Jun 25 18:15:40 1997
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 16:33:05 -0400
From: tzeruch@ceddec.com
To: Brad Dolan <bdolan@USIT.NET>
Cc: cypherpunks@toad.com
In-Reply-To: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970625065731.890A-100000@use.usit.net>
Reply-To: tzeruch@ceddec.com
On Wed, 25 Jun 1997, Brad Dolan wrote:
>
> About 6 months ago, Shell introduced pre-paid cards in $25, 50 and 100
> denominations which could be used to ~anonymously pay for gas at the pump.
> Suddenly, Shell has withdrawn all but the nearly-pointless $25 cards.
>
> Security problems?
>
> Complaints from the Freehdom usurpers?
>
> Inquiring minds want to know.
Probably because they sold the $50 and $100 at a discount ($48 and $94).
Margins are slim in the competitive areas, so getting a 6% discount (on
something you can charge to a cashback card) probably ate into their
profits. I didn't ask why, but I bought a few $100 since there is a
Shell station at the corner :).
$100 of gas for $94 - I'll take it while I can.
