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GRAFTON, Mass. - Grafton's BP gas station, Mike’s Car Care Center, located on Worcester Street is, like all 218 BP stations in the area, without gas. The problem began when the distributor, Green Valley Oil, LLC., stopped making deliveries when they fell under financial hardship.
Station owner Michael Awde says he will have a new distributor by May 1, but worries how to make ends meet till then.
In the meantime, his pumps stand empty while his attendant is asking people to fill up at Mike’s Mobil Service, located across from Stop and Shop, which Awde also owns.
Green Valley Oil, a Rhode Island based supplier, was under contract with Getty Petroleum Marketing Inc., a New York fuel marketer that manages the leases for the region’s BP stations. Green Valley’s financial difficulties eventually forced Getty Petroleum to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December and the lack of fuel, which only affects BP stations, has left Awde scrambling.
“We keep the garage doors open so people who drive by know we are still in business,” Awde said.
Owning the second station helps him “a little bit,” he said, but without gas at the BP, his repair business is suffering. Beginning in February, he said, Green Valley began making smaller deliveries, 2,000 gallons at a time, in trucks that can hold up to 12,000. But he said the problems began much sooner because Green Valley, controls the pump price, making it harder for him to be competitive.
Awde said he has a new supplier lined up, Lehigh Gas Corporation, based in North Bethlehem, PA., but they required a $25,000 security deposit, which he had to borrow from the bank. He made a similar deposit with Green Valley in 2009, but is not sure he will ever see that money again.
Awde bought the BP station 16 years ago and he, like the consumer, has suffered from the pain at the pump. Rising gas prices and the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill have hurt his business -- and now this.
Awde hopes to hang in there till May 1 when the new distributor arrives, but sees the new relationship as a leap of faith.
“I don’t know if they will be any better,” he said.
Comments (11)
In full disclosure I have been going to Mike for about ten years. I find him very fair and an excellent mechanic. I have sat there waiting for my car and have seen him go out of his way to try to please the customer, and I have seen that you can not please everybody no matter what you do.
Common Cents & C.Swett> First of all if you read the article you would see that the distributor controls the pump price.
CRL> Second it doesn't matter who you are or why your car fails inspection, if the car fails inspection it fails, he can't alter state inspections. The guidelines are set by the state not him. There are people, employees of the State Inspection Department who go to stations like secret shoppers to ensure there is no nonsense. I am sure there is more to the story, like your 'calm measured' reaction to your cars inability to pass inspection.
Zuri> Your just a clown for that statement.
Mike is a good business man in town and an honest mechanic.
Please point out to me where the article says that. And by the way, thanks for assuming I'm ignorant enough to comment on an article which I haven't read. I get a lot of things done there myself, one thing I do not get there however is gas. I don't care who is responsible for their gas prices.......they're to damn high.
Here you are C. Swett (you probably should have carefully re-read the article)
Sixth paragraph, third sentence:
"But he said the problems began much sooner because Green Valley, controls the pump price, making it harder for him to be competitive."
I buy my gas at B.J's, it's $.30 a gallon cheaper. Remarkably, the wholesale clubs are a big factor in what is transpiring at this R.I. distributor versus the hundreds of retail outlets it franchises or supplies, especially the retail outlets in CT.
Sorry Mike, I don't leave $.30 per gallon gas savings on the table, I keep those savings for myself and I read that a lot of other consumers feel the same way.
We have been going to Mike for many years. We rely on him for anything and everything when it comes to our vehicles. We are very lucky to have such a knowledgeable and down to earth mechanic in our town, that is always there for us. He has checked out used cars for us, prior to purchase, given his professional opinion if we have questions, and of course, done all our repair work. We trust him and we appreciate him. Thank you Mike. I hope this BP gas problem is resolved very soon! Hang in there!
Barry Enman
Why is their gas 10¢/gallon more expensive than other stations in surrounding towns?
I've been going to Mike's for years now and have had nothing but positive experiences. Excellent work and responsive.
I wouldn't do business there anyway, they rejected me for one inch of my windshield wiper being ripped and when I asked the owner about it he started yelling at me about something in Wisconsin. Very rude, I try to support local business, but not here anymore.
I was yelled by the owner at as well. There are some real anger issues there. And I'm aware of at least 3 other separate independent incidents. Will not go back.
Karma
Agreed. You're not going to win a lot of fans by charging more than anyone in town.....or anyone in the surrounding area for that matter. There were days when they were selling their gas at a higher rate than you'd find on the pike.