The Economic Case For Paying Cashiers $40,000 A Year

[Hoss]

http://www.businessinsider.com/companies-paying-cashiers-40000year-2013-3

Nice to see this recognition for QT.

[Conan71]

QT is characterized in the story as a "low cost" retailer, that's really not the case and isn't part of the C-store model in the first place.  You pay a little more for the convenience of not having to wade through a grocery store for one or two items you want on the fly.  What QT does very well at is dollar turn per square foot and being able to operate with a minimum of staff.

Certainly not disputing that QT is well-run, treats their employees great, and consistently is tops in employee satisfaction.  Unfortunately, that business model doesn't apply to all retailers.

[JCnOwasso]

Honestly I would say that what QT does is it has become more adaptable to the changing face of C-stores.  During my training way back in the day, and when they first introduced "Hotzi" it was done at odds with what the model was for QT at the time.  They said that they didn't want QT to end up being a food store like a lot of the smaller mom and pop shops and the truck stops... but with the increasing cost/lower sales of the higher margin items (primarily cigs), they had to adapt or the amount of money made from each store would significantly decrease.  I pretty much did not enter a QT for 4 years after I left for the military and when I came back, they had went from a prototypical C-store to more of a one stop shop. 

I would say that QT's business model is pretty close to Aldi's.  Remove the name brands and the middle man and manufacture and sell it yourself.  It has most likely significantly increased their profit margins over what a normal store made back when I worked their. 

I am just waiting for them to bring back "Quittin Time"... the QT branded Beer.  I wasn't old enough when it was around the first time, but always heard about it  

[Conan71]

I am just waiting for them to bring back "Quittin Time"... the QT branded Beer.  I wasn't old enough when it was around the first time, but always heard about it  

You didn't miss much.  About like Scotch Buy beer from Safeway/Homeland. Always good for a cheap buzz and lousy hangover.

I think Pearl made it for QT, IIRC.

[Hoss]

You didn't miss much.  About like Scotch Buy beer from Safeway/Homeland. Always good for a cheap buzz and lousy hangover.

I think Pearl made it for QT, IIRC.

Was like JC..never made it to be old enough for that.

Did have some Budweiser Select last weekend.  It was pretty good.  However, it was purchased at the ScottTrade Center in St. Louis, so it wasn't the watered down crap Oklahoma serves.

[DolfanBob]

Good Ol Lamar and Quitten Time Beer.
Remember Redline gasoline and the Redline cars they gave away?

[zstyles]

I was in Dallas last week and in the newer areas, most C stores had the same look, feel and model as QT, the large canopy, large front windows, the inside was almost identical to most QT's, they have a good idea going with the new generation stores, I like the way they are one step ahead of everyone, imitation, the highest form of flattery.

[JCnOwasso]

Good Ol Lamar and Quitten Time Beer.
Remember Redline gasoline and the Redline cars they gave away?

I also remember that they had to do away with the Redline gas because it was cleaning fuel systems too well and causing many many clogged fuel filters.

[Gaspar]

I also remember that they had to do away with the Redline gas because it was cleaning fuel systems too well and causing many many clogged fuel filters.

LOL!  I had no idea that a branding effort could be so effective at cleaning fuel systems.

QuikTrip does and always has purchased gas from the same refineries that other gas stations purchase from.  They shop the market, just like every other fuel buyer.
"RedLine," "Top Tier," and "Guaranteed Gasoline" represent marketing and advertising programs, nothing more.  I have no doubt that they buy quality fuel, but they do not own any refineries, or develop any of their own blending.

[swake]

LOL!  I had no idea that a branding effort could be so effective at cleaning fuel systems.

QuikTrip does and always has purchased gas from the same refineries that other gas stations purchase from.  They shop the market, just like every other fuel buyer.
"RedLine," "Top Tier," and "Guaranteed Gasoline" represent marketing and advertising programs, nothing more.  I have no doubt that they buy quality fuel, but they do not own any refineries, or develop any of their own blending.

They can use different additives however

[AquaMan]

I drive by one of the terminals QT trucks use every day and watch them fill.  I have experience having worked back in the day for a huge oil company in marketing/refining (and sometimes in their refinery) where I learned first hand about fuels and oils.

Though its true that branding is paramount in their claims, it is important to repeat what Swake says. They have different blends, different levels of quality and different additives for different customers. Sometimes even different feed stocks when it comes to lubricants. QT guarantees its product and really pays off when bad fuel damages a customer car. If you're the refiner serving them....vs the "JOe's Gas for Less" .... you'll make sure the quality is there.

Really tired of the blowhard comments around here. Stick to what you have first hand experience with and then comment.

[Townsend]

Really tired of the blowhard comments around here. Stick to what you have first hand experience with and then comment.

So...porn and gaming?

[Gaspar]

I drive by one of the terminals QT trucks use every day and watch them fill.  I have experience having worked back in the day for a huge oil company in marketing/refining (and sometimes in their refinery) where I learned first hand about fuels and oils.

Though its true that branding is paramount in their claims, it is important to repeat what Swake says. They have different blends, different levels of quality and different additives for different customers. Sometimes even different feed stocks when it comes to lubricants. QT guarantees its product and really pays off when bad fuel damages a customer car. If you're the refiner serving them....vs the "JOe's Gas for Less" .... you'll make sure the quality is there.

Really tired of the blowhard comments around here. Stick to what you have first hand experience with and then comment.

Why would you consider that a blowhard comment?  QT indeed purchases only the highest quality fuels.  I said that much.  They however purchase from many sources.  They purchase the same blends regulated by state law that many other gas stations buy. 

My point, and it is indeed accurate, was that the fuel you purchase at QT is marketed to enhance your perception of it.
Branded gasoline is very similar to branded water.  QT's "RedLine" gasoline offered no magical performance qualities over any other Top Tier gasoline.

QT as with other fuel companies have moved away from the idea of branded blends, because most consumers have become wise to the fact that the individual states regulate fuel blends depending on the time of year, and that distributers trade futures on the various blends, and that retailers buy according to price and quality from a vast pool of distributers.  Large retailers, like QuikTrip can indeed dictate rather large contracts, but that only helps refineries to establish baseline offerings. 

The QT Gasoline guarantee is a far more intelligent way to market gasoline than the concept of a proprietary magical blend.  It basically surrenders to the idea that while QT is committed to only buying the very best gasoline, they cannot control quality beyond the buying process, and are willing to make good on any claims related to the quality of their product.

Now if you actually read the terms of the guarantee, you find that it is the same legal obligation that any fuel retailer would be bound by:
GUARANTEED GASOLINE

QuikTrip fuel is unconditionally guaranteed.

That means if you ever have a fuel-related problem with your vehicle caused by QuikTrip fuel, QuikTrip will take care of the problem.  That doesn't mean we'll give you your money back and wish you luck.  It means we will work with you to solve the problem. We can only offer this type of guarantee because we are sure our fuel is of the highest quality.

If you do experience a problem, follow these simple steps:
Call our toll-free number: 1-800-848-1966.
We'll send you a simple form for you and your ASE mechanic to complete.
Send us the completed form along with your estimate for the repairs necessary due to the QuikTrip fuel.
Your information will be reviewed and any repairs determined to be caused by QuikTrip's fuel will be covered.
It's that simple.  You can buy your fuel from QuikTrip with complete confidence.  Or you can take your chances somewhere else.
QuikTrip does reserve the right to fully investigate all claims submitted. Fraudulent claims will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

I think it's great that QT makes a point of putting this in writing, but it's purpose is still marketing, and not related to some magical difference in their fuel.

[AquaMan]

Big difference between what you just wrote and what was inferred in your first post.

LOL!   I had no idea that a branding effort could be so effective at cleaning fuel systems.

QuikTrip does and always has purchased gas from the same refineries that other gas stations purchase from.  They shop the market, just like every other fuel buyer.
"RedLine," "Top Tier," and "Guaranteed Gasoline" represent marketing and advertising programs, nothing more.  I have no doubt that they buy quality fuel, but they do not own any refineries, or develop any of their own blending.

What you're saying now is true. They buy quality fuel, sometimes to particular standards which exceed what is required. Just like milk, that fuel may differ from competitors and may not even come from this area. They then brand their fuel and market it using descripive phrases that convey that commitment to quality.

Their is a difference between milk from Minnesota cows, trucked to Oklahoma and marketed as "fresh from the farm" and local dairy milk from Oklahoma cows even though both meet federal standards.

[JCnOwasso]

They had different additives and their gas was considered "private label" (no idea what that means, but that is what it was described as).  The fact is i worked with people who were employed during that period and remember issues with the Redline branded fuel, and considering I was employed a mere 5 years after the discontinuation of redline, things were still fresh in peoples minds. 

And yes, what you said was absolutely correct, they all moved away from the idea of branded blends... but it wasn't until after Redline.  And I want to say that there was something between Redline and Guaranteed Gasoline, but I don't remember.