I had a phone call earlier tonight, completely out of the blue, from Shell.

After a few questions to check whether my profile fitted, i have been invited to an Optimax Market Research meeting (and they will bung me a few bob for my time). They did know my address, so it isn't a scam (i have an Optimax card)

I won't say the time or place (so that rif-raf won't be tempted to tag along), but it is sometime this month.

Anyone else been invited to a similar event?

mb

p.s. Mods - i put in in SG because Optimax does seem to be the preferred choice of Scooby owners, and besides, i couldn't find an "un-reacted hydrocarbon" forum

 

Repeat after me: 100 RON NOW, 100 RON NOW, 100 RON NOW...

 

Boomer, Do me a favour and ask Shell why the V-Power **** they sell in Botswana is 91 RON and they are the only gas company that don't label the pumps with the octane.
All the others are 93RON which is bad enough. The Shell ads locally stress the Ferrari performance connection!!
Thanks
Chris

 

Are you not getting the US 'style' RON ratings? So your 93 is in fact the same as our 98.

 

make sure you fill up foc when you get there!
martin

 

I got a "msytery shopper" card through for my local filling station - for which I will get a massive 25 points

 

A Shell garage nearer Aylesbury would be nice.

 

I heard a rumour that Optimax is due to phased out and replaced with the 100 RON V-Power stuff that you see on the Continent. Not sure how true it is, but it has been mentioned on a couple of big motoring forums.

 

we can hope

 

I'm not sure whether that smiley is for how good that would be or for how much the cost would be

 

Ooh. The "Greens" will love that. Performance petrol for performance cars.
From one who used 5 star in his youth.

 

I wonder if Shell would keep it under the Optimax banner in the UK? They've spent a big pile of cash plugging it as a brand.

 

Tell them to make PROPER synthetic oil, and not misleading PAO based oil labelled as synthetic, only because they paid their marketing gurus and lawers enough money to get away with trade description.

 

Yep, I got one of these as well - I draw the line at inspecting the porcelain though !

 

Esso 5 star was the best stuff, cars used to run as smooth as silk on that .

Les

 

Thats very interesting mate. because as far as I know 91RON is no longer produced in SA since 1999, and Botswana gets its petrol from down here

Very interesting indeed, because some people here have run into extremely crappy batches of pump fuel, which begs the question if we sometimes get 91RON in 93RON pumps........

 

Les you really are showing your age - proper leaded 5 star would put you in prison these days (almost as criminal as actually owning a car under this lot) My dad's Rover 3500S used to love it!

As for Optimax tell them to make it 100 RON as those that need better RON will pay for it and remain jealous of the Continentals!

I think they are making a killing on the price premium over 95RON as it is a HUGE percentage increase on the price before tax per litre. Tell them we know this

Tell them we all seek out Optimax in preference over BP Ultimate etc - tell them to capitalise on this by bumping up the RON further! After all those that know will then flock to Shell even MORE as it is even MORE worth it... [I hate putting 97 in my car...for the same cost as Optimax]

 

Well i got my official invitation in the post this morning. An hour and a half telling Shell what i think about petrol (well, me and seven others).

It looks like i'll be the only Midland Scooby owner there, but i believe that i will be in a batch of "performance car" owners, so there should be a few other enthusiastic attendees.

I'll let ya all know how it goes

mb

 

alwong,

good to meet you tonight - and what an interesting meeting

Of course we couldn't possibly disclose what was said, as at the very least it would stop scoobyverysoon from being an impartial attendee, and he might get banned from the Northern study

It would be a shame however, because we did give a lot of feedback about Optimax, and we did see a new product name and logo, and we do know a few technical details about it, and we did see a proposed new advert. We can probably even have a guess at the min/max pricing.

But no, we must be firm, and justify the petrol contribution that we received from Shell (which we are bound to give back anyway)

Cheers,

mb

 

Ask them why they keep shutting the bloomin stations down. In the last few years 3 near me have closed Ottershaw has 2 facing each other though! BP have something of a monopoly in South London now.

 

V-Power is coming, V-Power is coming... they don't like it up em..!

One thing, how come on the continent it's 100ron and it seems we're only going to get 99ron..? If only they'd give us V-Power Racing too..!


Just got back from Novatel Birmingham, how is it you guy's only got £35..?

What did you think of the TV ad..?

Jason (+£65...)

 

Nice to me you too Boomer. Jaisonous you got £65??? Is that all??
I guess you get more depending on which group your from. Your must have been the cheap group!!

I think the v power will be interesting, but need to be at the right price!!

 

I still pale at having to pay 6p per litre more for Optimax - its too much price differential to make it a 'everyday' fuel for 98% of motorists.