Credit and Debit Card Processing Fees

ExxonMobil has announced changes in its credit and debit card processing fees.  On behalf of GE Capital ExxonMobil has made 4 significant changes.

In a recent letter sent to all Exxon and Mobil retailers the changes were outlined. Included with the letter is the new fee schedule, which should be included in the ExxonMobil Automotive Credit Card Guide.  Click in on this link to view the letter and fee schedule.

BRAND ELEVATION

Promotion Review

The fuels subscription for Trimester 3 of the ExxonMobil brand elevation campaign is due in your store the week of September 25.   This campaign focuses on “speedy, rewarding purchases” with two messages, “We don’t sell time but we can buy some” and “More confidence per mile”.

Please display the materials beginning September 30 and run the promotion through January 2007.  If you have not received the materials by September 29, please contact Connie Schmitt at the Quality State Oil office at extension #321 or e-mail Scott Stangel

EXXONMOBIL TEAMS UP WITH MONSTER

ExxonMobil has teamed up with Monster.com to connect with the best qualified candidates for your store.

Turnover is a problem that has plagued the convenience store industry for some time.  Recruitment of the best candidates has been costly and time consuming.  The results of using the traditional methods of recruitment has been marginal at best.  ExxonMobil has recognized this problem and is taking employment advertising to the internet.

Monster.com is the world’s largest on-line recruitment and career resource has partnered with ExxonMobil to offer dealers the opportunity to post  job openings on the internet at reduced costs.

As the marketplace change traditional methods of operation are no longer effective.  On-line job posting is here and is used by many organizations.  This ExxonMobil deal offers you a cost effective way to place your openings in front of  the type of candidates who you are seeking.

To learn more contact Monster.com at 800-666-7831, ext. 2800, or e-mail at partnerprograms@monster.com.

This year ExxonMobil introduced their Pacesetter Initiatives, the “5 Pillars of the Customer Experience”.  These initiatives are customer focused, and describe the ideal buying experience in 5 easy statements.  These initiatives are extremely fundamental and should be the basis in which you do business.

Set the “pace” for your staff and customers.

ExxonMobil in their constant effort to assist in offering you the programs and support to provide your customers with the best buying experience, have in place many programs in which you can take advantage of to deliver these “5 Pillars of the Customer Experience”.

1. Speedy, Rewarding Purchases

• Speedpass

• Speedpass Instant Activation

• Fuels and C-store marketing Promotions

• U Promise

2. Clean and Attractive Facilities

• Standards Handbook

• Mystery Shopper Program

3. Dependable, Friendly Service

• Mystery Shopper Program

• Uniform Program

• Localized training

4. Quality Products at Competitive Prices

• Highest quality fuels

• Competitive rack pricing

5. Community Support and Involvement

• Educational Alliance

• U Promise

ExxonMobil has established the “5 Pillars of the Customer Experience”, the fifth of the Pillars is “Community Support and Involvement”.  To assist their dealer customers is achieving is objective, ExxonMobil has for several years  offered the Educational Alliance Grant fund.

Each year ExxonMobil establishes $2 million grant fund to be awarded to qualifying schools in the form of a $500 grant.  The money must be used to support school activates and is available to all Exxon and Mobil branded dealers.  To receive one of the 4000 grants issued each year, the dealer must submit a grant application in the Spring.  Notification of grant approval will be made in the Summer with grant payments made in September of the new school year.

To be eligible the retail location must be branded either Exxon or Mobil.  It must be distributor served and in good standing.  The criteria of the grant application must be met.  And, finally after the grant is awarded the dealer is required to submit to ExxonMobil qualifying community recognition in the form of public recognition.

The grant application is very simple.  It requires a letter from the school official authorizing  their acceptance of the grant, a signature of the school official, and a description on how the money will be used.

If you have not worked with a school in the past to obtain a draft, start talking to a local school official now.  The grant application kits will be available in early 2007 and you will have approximately 60 days to submit the application.  Grants are awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis, so it is important to have the necessary cooperation from the school before, in order to expedite the process.  Please keep in mind that typically the grants are all awarded prior to the application deadline date.  So the need to get the application in on a timely basis is imperative.

For those who have gotten grants for schools in the past, congratulations!  Many of you have done this year after year and your efforts are appreciated.  Listed below are this year’s grant recipients. 

Earlier this year ExxonMobil introduced Speedpass Instant Activation (IA). This new tool will allow Exxon and Mobil branded retail locations to activate Speedpass Transponders (FOBs) instantly at their locations, thus allowing their customer the opportunity to use their FOB immediately.  This is a great tool to build customer loyalty, drive sales, and create a feeling of instant gratification. 

In the past the FOB activation took up to 2 weeks.  The customer either called a toll free number or logged on to the internet to apply for their FOB.  Now it can be done right on site, while the customer is filling up.

Here’s Does It Work?

An Enrollment Specialist, who is typically a store employee, approaches customers at the islands and asks if they are interested in Speedpass, and if they would like an activated FOB on the spot.  The Enrollment Specialist then activates a FOB by linking it to the customer’s chosen credit card, by use of a hand held computer.  The computer has a wireless connection to the internet.  Once all the information is entered in the computer, it is uploaded and the FOB is activated. The entire process takes about 2 minutes.

What Are The Benefits?

INCREASED SALES! Simply Speedpass customers spend more money, both inside and outside. Studies have shown that Speedpass customers purchase one additional 8 gallon purchase per month when their FOB is linked to a ExxonMobil private label credit card, and 2-3 additional purchases when linked to a third party card.  Inside the store the average Speedpass purchase is $7.67, compared to $5.50 when a credit card is used, and $3.50 when the customer pays with cash.  Speedpass positively impacts your bottom line and creates loyal customers who feel linked to the location through the use of their FOB.

How Is ExxonMobil Supporting It?

Currently ExxonMobil is offering a 5c a gallon rebate to all IA enrollments.  This is a 90 day offer that is in effect until the end of the year.  So any customer who instantly activates a FOB, anytime through December 31, will receive the rebate on every gallon they purchase when using their FOB during the next 90 days.

How Do You Get Started?

Last summer a group of 10 Quality State Oil Mobil sites participated in the IA test.  These locations were part of a group of about 100 location nationwide who tested every aspect of the instant enrollment process. As a result Quality State Oil received 2 Activators with a value of over $2500 each at no cost.  This savings has given the Quality State Oil group the opportunity to offer the equipment and support to their retail locations at no charge.