Press Release: 21.01.09

21st January 2009

Islanders still being fleeced by Tesco.

Gordon Henderson has again criticised Tesco for charging more for petrol than its mainland rivals.

On Sunday the price for unleaded petrol at the Tesco store in Sheerness was 87.9P per litre. By yesterday the price had risen to 89.9P per litre. The comparable price at ASDA in Sittingbourne is 4P per litre cheaper at 85.9P.

Mr Henderson claims that Tesco have been fleecing Islanders for months because they think they have a captive customer base.

Gordon said:

‘I have been monitoring the price of petrol at Tesco and have seen it creeping up over the past couple of weeks, when the price at other outlets has remained stable, or has dropped. Something is going on here and it stinks.

‘I have a suspicion that next week Tesco will re-introduce their promotion where they offer 5P per litre off to customers who spend over £50. As I have pointed out in the past, not only is this promotion sharp practice, but it discriminates against less well off shoppers, including many elderly people, who cannot afford to bulk buy.

‘If Tesco do run this promotion again it will prove once and for all that not only do they think Sheppey motorists are idiots for not working out this scam, but that they think they can get away with fleecing Islanders because they are a captive customer base.

‘Perhaps Islanders should start to nip over the bridge and do their shopping in ASDA or Sainsbury’s to show Tesco that they are wrong to take us for granted!’