Costco reveals petrol pricing as service station opens in West Auckland
The US giant will sell 91 for $2.50 per litre, 95 for $2.60 per litre and diesel for $2.10 per litre.
======================================================
The pricing is below the nearby Pak'nSave, whose service station is selling 91 for $2.69, 95 for $2.85 and diesel for $2.29 for the supermarket's shoppers. according to Gaspy.
======================================================
Another close by service station, the Mobil in Don Buck Rd, had 91 for $2.73 and 95 for $2.91 this morning, while another local station, Challenge Massey, had 91 for $2.66 and 95 for $3.06.
======================================================
An annual membership costs $60 or $55 for business.
So far, the only way to register is to join a queue of up to 90 minutes at Costco's temporary admin office at Westgate, but the retailer says an online option is on the way.
=================================================
The first wave of cars came through at 9.20am.
The service station is opposite the $100m Costco store at Westgate, which the retailer's Australia-NZ boss Patrick Noone says will open in late August.
While a membership card can be used straight away, the clock won't start on the 12-month membership term until the store opens.
As in Australia, Costco is partnering with Mobil for petrol distribution.
Noone would not say how many people had bought Costco memberships, but said the figure was in the thousands.
In its recent report into supermarket competition, the Commerce Commission said, "Woolworths NZ [owner of Countdown] also told us that Costco is seen as a "destination shop" and that they have seen analysis from Australia suggesting that Costco stores have in-person catchment areas of approximately 25km."
That's for general shopping. Across the Tasman, a report for the New South Wales state government found Costco influenced petrol prices in a 5km radius around its stores.
Costco also plans stores in Wellington and Christchurch, subject to the performance of its Auckland operation.
Costco's 2021 annual report says its 636 service stations account for 9 per cent of its US$163 billion revenue worldwide (as of December 2021, Costco had 828 stores or "warehouses" as it calls them, including 677 in North America, 29 in the UK and 13 in Australia).
In Sydney, where there are three Costcos, the retailer typically sells for 10 to 20 cents per litre cheaper than other service stations (before loyalty programmes), according to Pricespy data.
A 2020 Houston Chronicle report said the giant retailer at times uses fuel as a "loss-leader", selling at 20c to 30c cheaper per gallon (3.7 litres) than traditional service stations to attract customers to the rest of its business. And in a March 11 article on the Ukraine crisis highlighting "cheap gas" at Costco and other big retailers, the Wall Street Journal said, "Big box retailers are counting on drawing in consumers with cheaper gasoline and then having them leave with an armful of groceries too."
==================================================
www.nzherald.co.nz...
=======================================================
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
.
Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
-
84.6% Yes
-
13.9% No
-
1.5% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Harbour Bridge lane closure - protests
The Treaty Principles Bill was introduced to parliament last week and could have ramifications on the partnership between the Crown and Māori.
Hīkoi mō te Tiriti (March for the Treaty of Waitangi) set off from Cape Rēinga on Monday morning and is expected to reach Wellington next Tuesday. It has now passed through Kaitaia, Kawakawa, Whangārei, Dargaville and is passing through Auckland on Wednesday.
What you need to know today:
- The hīkoi is due to cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge about 9.30am on Wednesday. Two northbound lanes will be closed at some point before the crossing, and remain closed during it.
- NZTA shared at 8:50am Wednesday:
'Curran St northbound on-ramp will be closed shortly, with two northbound lanes on the Harbour Bridge expected to close from approx 9.30am this morning. Allow extra time for likely delays through this area.'
- The hīkoi is expected to go across the Harbour Bridge, in a controlled fashion before marching through parts of the CBD towards Okahu Bay.
- Auckland commuters should expect traffic disruption in vicinity of both sides of the Harbour Bridge.
Stuff reporter Steve Kilgallon was at Stafford Park on the north side of the Harbour Bridge at 8.30am Wednesday and shared:
"I just walked through Stafford Park, where there’s about 400-500 people quietly assembled and more arriving; and about 20 police standing over near the motorway off ramp. Lot of Tino Rangatira flags in evidence, local streets very busy with parked cars."
Police have shared that they will respond accordingly to any issues that may arise along the route.