A petrol station has explained the profit they receive from a sale after a customer moaned to the cashier: “I was going to put fuel in but not at that price.”
The rising fuel prices has seen petrol prices soar since late February by an average of 24p a litre (to 182.31p) and diesel by 30p (to 188.05p).
It now costs an average family car £100.27 to fill up a tank of petrol and £103.43 for diesel, as demand for non-Russian crude oil is increasing with the war in Ukraine and the pound struggling against the dollar.
The Brian Llewelyn A’i Ferched petrol station at Eglwyswrw, Wales, shared an exchange on Facebook after a customer was left aghast at the recent surge.
“Tonight we had one customer turn up after we had put the pole signs off, as we were closing,” the post read.
“This person pulled up to the pump, saw it was 193.9p per litre. They came into the shop and said, ‘I was going to put fuel in but not at that price.’
“I said, ‘I’m sorry, but it’s not my fault’. For everyone that is thinking that it is the petrol forecourt themselves that are making the money at the moment, here’s a quick breakdown of how little forecourts actually make from the price of fuel.”
The business explained that a £100 sale of diesel at 193.9p per litre accounted for 51.57 litres of diesel — with a 4p-per-litre profit that leaves £2.06 for the filling station, report Wales Online.
And if the £100 is paid using a credit card, the card firm charges £1.69 in interest for the transaction. That leaves the garage with 37p — and that is before taking out overheads such as electricity, maintenance and wages.
A similar rundown was shared by the Gulf Tanerdy Garage, a family-run petrol station on the edge of Carmarthen, which posted on Facebook: “Whilst as a local business we totally understand the frustrations with all the price increases, ESPECIALLY the fuel that helps you get to and from, we have given you an honest breakdown of your spend on petrol/diesel.
“Of £50 that you spend on fuel at Tanerdy or Gwalia this week we forward the following: Tax (fuel duty): £13.94. Tax (VAT): £8.33. Gulf: £26.35. Total £48.62. We keep £1.38 to pay rates, energy costs, wages, national insurance, pension contributions etc.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
