Drivers have been flocking to a family-run petrol station with the cheapest fuel for miles after being "taken for mugs". Motorists have rushed to the garage to fill up their vehicles and claim other expensive petrol stations are profiteering during the cost of living crisis.
The filling station in Wales has been selling unleaded petrol for 169p per litre while the RAC's fuel watch figures show that the average price is currently 187.19p.
Prices dropped even further to 167.9p on Friday morning, which meant the UK average cost nearly 20p more than unleaded fuel at Bailey's Garage on Brecon Road, Abergavenny.
The garage also sells cheaper diesel, with Bailey's selling it for 184.9p against a UK average of 195.88p, reports WalesOnline.
The garage's general assistant, Cerys Holland, said that since the price of their BP petrol went down two weeks ago it had been "bonkers" and the staff "don't stop".
Meanwhile, owner Ian Bailey said he was four times busier than he'd ever been before in the 50 years he'd run the garage - and had been left scratching his head as to why no-one else had dropped their prices.
He explained how he bought fuel every day on a system which set the cost of petrol and diesel based on the fluctuating prices of crude oil. As an independent business, he can then decide how much of a mark-up he puts on the price at the pump.
He added, matter-of-factly, that it seemed only fair that he shouldn't profiteer from the falling cost of fuel and was seemingly perplexed by the interest in his garage all of a sudden.
"I'm wondering as well why other people haven't dropped their prices," he said. "I can't see why we're so cheap.
"We've always been cheap. I could put it up to be the same as other garages and we would be laughing. But times are hard and we like to pass on the drop to the customer."
After Bailey's Garage hit the headlines, other motorists have also been left perplexed as to why other garages and supermarkets have such high prices in comparison.
"No company would sell at a lower price and not make a profit at all. Just confirms that the price of fuel does not have to be as high as it is right now," wrote Jane Thomas.
Vivek Thuppil added: "I drove through Abergavenny over the weekend and can confirm that this outlet was 15-25p cheaper than all others. It is clear that the other stations are engaging in blatant profiteering."
Richard Loosemore thought the higher prices was evidence of "greed", while David Bland said it was down to "money-grabbing".
Chris Pointon thought other filling stations kept their costs high "because they know that plenty of people will still rock up and pay whether they are £1.99 or £1.79". He continued: "Our most expensive petrol station is always packed, largely because poverty hasn't yet overtaken convenience."
Chris Willcock wrote: "I think all businesses etc have been ramping up prices to make up for losses during the pandemic," while Valerie Markwick praised Bailey's: "Shame it would cost me so much to go and fill up. Well done this garage."
Kelly Bunney thought the garage was setting a good example for other stations - and was a better incentive for them to drop costs than the fuel price protests.
"Well done," she said. "Hopefully others locally will be forced to follow suit if they start losing out to this garage, and then more and more. The blockades have done absolutely nothing so far, this helps."
In apparent disbelief, Howard Davies wrote: "Is the truth now out....have we all been taken for mugs!?"
Opal Wales suggested Bailey's low prices might, ultimately, be better for their business, writing: "Cheaper the price, more business, more profit overall. Hence how £ stores and Woolworths grew."
Michelle Swattridge suggested boycotting buying fuel from supermarkets that hadn't dropped their prices. "Stop buying from them and buy from the smaller ones at the side of the road," she wrote.
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