Not Big on Big Oil but...
Far be it for me to defend an Oil company. For a variety of reasons (environmental, political, my last gas bill, etc.) I'm not fond of them. However, I'll get off my soapbox as this is the CMA blog and give one credit for a recent online initiative.
Petro-Canada posted on YouTube videos explaining why gasoline prices fluctuate, why gas prices are higher than in the past , what factors determine pricing and how you can make your gasoline dollar go farther.
[Full disclosure: My employer has a loyalty program in place with Petro-Canada. The opinion expressed here is my own and not that of Sears Canada.]
It's not my place to comment on the video content or journalistic quality as you can debate until the cows come home. However, Petro-Canada took initiative for posting these videos and opening up to feedback. Some rather harsh.
That's a big step in these days of spin-control especially from an oil company. Even more so when you consider they were posted this summer before YouTube became fashionable amongst corporations and agencies.
Ils ont aussi mis quelques vidéos en français sur YouTube. C'est important de se rappeler qu'il y a beaucoup de consommateurs francophones a travers le Canada et pas seulement chez Québec.
For the aformentioned reasons, whether you like Big Oil companies or not, you have to give Petro-Canada kudos for this intiative. As one friend likes to say, "At least they are contributing to the conversation."
Note: If you want first hand details on this Petro-Canada initiative check out Kate Trgovac's presentation at CaseCamp Vancouver 1 today. If you cannot make CCV, there is always CaseCamp Toronto 3 tommorow. Both are free and informative. (Well except maybe session 2 @ CCT3.)
