Ampol Lewisham Service Centre sees surge of new customers as word spreads about cheap fuel

A regional Tasmanian service station has experienced a rush of new customers after word spread about the proprietor’s decision to keep his fuel prices low. CHEAPEST FUEL NEAR YOU >>

Rob Inglis and Annie McCann

4 min read

February 27, 2022 - 4:04PM

Tasmania

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Customers from all over Hobart are flocking to a small suburb south of Sorell to buy their fuel, as word spreads about a service station deliberately keeping its prices low.

While the cost of fuel creeps ever closer to $2/L elsewhere in the state, the Ampol Lewisham Service Centre is an outlier, currently selling unleaded and diesel fuel for $1.739/L.

Proprietor Maz Elali says that since the Sunday Tasmanian published a story about his ethical decision not to hike up his fuel prices, he had seen a surge of new customers lining up at the bowser.

“I’ve had lots of people coming in that I’ve never seen before,” he said on Sunday.

“A few people were coming in from Hobart, lots of people came from Seven Mile Beach, from Cambridge, Richmond – all those areas.

“I’ve had lots of people from Hobart come in and say, ‘We came here for a drive and just to (get) fuel here’.

“They’re very happy. Everyone is complaining (about fuel prices elsewhere).”

Discounted wholesale delivery costs Mr Elali $1.73/L but he only marks up the price by 1c or 2c, meaning he makes a minimal profit on fuel.

Max Elali at Lewisham Service Centre. Picture: Linda Higginson

“We’re not ripping people off,” he said.

Happy customers took to Facebook to praise Mr Elali for looking out for the community.

“Maz is a great guy,” Brandt Campbell said. “Always has a smile and (is) interested in what you’re up to. We go out of our way to go there.”

Lauren Penneyston said: “Good on you, Maz. Great coffee and food also. Well worth a Sunday drive to fill up.”

The economic sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine have threatened to send fuel prices skyrocketing to as high as $2.10/L. Russia is the world’s second-largest producer of crude oil.

Meanwhile, wage growth continues to be outpaced by rising cost of living pressures in Tasmania.

According to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics last Wednesday, the state’s real wages fell 1.5 per cent in 2021, while its wage price index rose about 3 per cent. However, the consumer price index increased by about 4.5 per cent.

‘Not ripping people off’: Why Tassie station peddles cheap petrol - February 26

Words by Annie McCann

One bargain petrol provider is making less than a cent back from each litre it sells, but the small family business owner says it’s worth it to keep his customers happy.

Prices are skyrocketing across the state for unleaded petrol, hovering closer and closer to the $2/L mark, but Maz Elali from Ampol Lewisham Service Centre has said prices don’t have to be so grim.

On Saturday, Mr Elali was selling petrol for $1.739, despite that discounted wholesale delivery costing him $1.73/L.

He said the less than 1c of profit helped cover the cost of running the Eftpos machine.

“We try to make 3c or 4c, (but sometimes there is) no chance, so we make 1c or 2c,” he said.

“I’m not making any money off the fuel – I’m helping people. We’re not ripping people off.”

Maz Elali at Lewisham Service Centre. Picture: Linda Higginson.

Mr Elali said customers from all over Hobart flocked to the Sorell spot for discounted petrol.

“They come in, have fuel, have a coffee here. We’re like a small supermarket, we have everything.”

Bridget Mathewson lives nearby in Dodges Ferry and has been exclusively buying her fuel at Lewisham since Mr Elali took over three years ago.

“It’s excellent,” she said.

“You’ve always got people there in line waiting to fill up.

“I’m in and out of Hobart at least four times a week. I know I couldn’t do it if it (kept) on getting higher.”

Ms Mathewson said “lovely fellow” Mr Elali always greeted her with a smile.

“I know that he keeps on selling it low, or lower than anyone else around, so if he can do it and still put in another bowser and replace the old ones, then it makes you wonder why others don’t do that.”

Bowsers. Picture: Trevor Veale, The Coffs Coast Advocate.

Mr Elali has been working seven days at the shop, with help from his wife and son.

He said “the big guys” weren’t happy to see how inexpensively the Lewisham service centre sold its fuel.

But even Mr Elali hasn’t been immune to the global surge in oil costs, saying his price had risen 6c in the last four weeks.

Premier Peter Gutwein said the government provided “a range of supports” to help Tasmanians with fuel prices, including encouraging competition in the market.

‘That’s why we have a very successful fuel app (FuelCheck TAS) that people can use to ensure that they are getting the best price wherever they are,” he said.

“But, importantly, on a whole range of these matters, should there be price or pressure points that become challenging for the Tasmanian community, the government will obviously look at what supports can be provided.”