Morrisons price increase

[Ben01]

Morrisons (now MFG) have just put LPG up to 99.9p, the same price as at MFG forecourts. The CMA didn't think there was going to be a competition issue..... I suppose I should be grateful they are at least still selling LPG.

[Avensist]

Majority of Asda outlets now out of the way, they thought they can put the price up. CMA really need to look into this!
CMA looked into petrol and diesel prices where prices were nowhere near the difference of LPG outlets.

[Gilbertd]

That's if you can find any. I filled up at Morrisons in St Ives on Monday at 89.9, tried to filled up Tuesday (yesterday) at Morrisons Ipswich and they didn't have any. Couldn't find any at all on the way back from Walton on the Naze until Morrisons at Camborne only find that is now 99.9. Had to do nearly 40 miles on petrol!

What pisses me off is that LPG prices went up when petrol and diesel almost hit 2 quid a litre but now petrol is down to 1.35-1.40, LPG has stayed where it was and hasn't gone down.

[Avensist]

It's strange that many Asda station stopped LPG, you would have thought there won't be supply issues. Some sort of conspiracy going on...

[russellwheeler]

Yep, no point in using it at that price. I can get Petrol at 132.7 or lpg at 99 - Once you work out the difference in economy between lpg and petrol, the price difference is tiny per fill up. I wonder if any other stations will pop up. I have used LPG since 1999. Back then to fill with LPG, often the "filling stations" were often bottled gas suppliers

[Avensist]

Is Flogas having logistical supply issues?
Many of their depots are dried up so are the independent ones supplied by them for the last couple of days... As they no longer need to supply many Asda outlets, I would have thought there will be plenty to go around.

[Gilbertd]

My local Flogas put a sign up a couple of weeks ago saying no autogas for the foreseeable future so I went in and asked them how long. They reckoned a couple of weeks but couldn't say any more than that. They have also put their prices up. Apparently head office told them 95ppl but the manager of my local depot runs an Audi TT on LPG and lives near to a Morrisons who were selling at 89.9 at that time. He pointed out to head office that a supplier shouldn't be selling at a higher price than a supermarket and they agreed to let him drop it to 89p. Since then Morrisons have gone up to 99.9 so whether they will keep it at 89 or put it up to 95 once they get supplies I've no idea.

[Avensist]

I wonder why weeks without augas. Also their pricing strategy... Competitiveness is hardly there. Likes with Calor previously do they really want to do business I wonder.

[Gilbertd]

The CMA have put pressure on them to lower petrol and diesel prices, maybe it is worth contacting them?

[Avensist]

Good idea. Because the situation is ridiculous. Besides, we pay duty as road fuel for LPG it shouldn't be treated any different to petrol or diesel.

If CMA can pressurise the morons, it would not only save us the users but also those morons who price themselves out of the market may be saved as more people will start using those stations if prices are more reasonable.

Otherwise, those morons would just conclude the situation by saying 'there is low demand', pulling out the facilities they've invested a large sum years ago wasting them rather than make those investment work to generate returns.

[Ben01]

When the greedy private equity owners of MFG took over Morrisons it was never going to be good news for consumers. Sadly the useless Competition and market’s authority didn’t see a problem.
Today, Morrisons are now charging an outrageous £1.30 a litre. Needless to say I refuse to pay that much for LPG (it’s cheaper to run on petrol). I will also no longer shop in a Morrisons supermarket. Sad days.

[Avensist]

Just noticed the silly price increase on Morrisons. I've ditched Morrisons for both fuel and shopping long time ago, filling up at independent. You're right, I've contacted Competition & Marketing Authority while back but still haven't got a reply.

Don't know a price increase of 30p overnight can be justified.

[russellwheeler]

Morrisons is the only one near me (Blackpool) - There is a couple in Preston if I am passing - Petrol is now cheaper than LPG to run. So it's pretty much the end of LPG for me. Morrisons are a complete rip off. They are using their monopoly to let them increase the price. It's cheaper to fill up on the Isle of Skye ! I have also reported them - Thank you for contacting the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Your enquiry number is CMAE2401090.

We respond to all enquiries within 10 working days.

[Avensist]

Luckily I've got a friendly independent not very nearby but due to rip off prices charged by Morrisons and MFG, still works out cheaper a little venture to the country side to fill up, but people like yourself not having anything nearby might as well run on petrol at that prices.

I've got a similar response from CMA. No follow up since. I think I'll pester them again. If more people contact them, they might look into this.

[Gilbertd]

I've just sent the CMA a report and also sent Morrisons customer services an email. I've pointed out that although the forecourt isn't run by them, they must have some influence on what, to those not in the know, is blatant profiteering by them. Surely they want to encourage customers not cause them to go elsewhere?

[Gilbertd]

I have been having an exchange of emails with Morrisons Customer Service (as I'm retired so have plenty of time on my hands). The reply to my initial complaint:

Good afternoon Richard,

Thank you for contacting Morrisons customer support. I hope you are doing well.

Thank you for reaching out to Morrisons Customer Services regarding your concerns about the prices of LPG at our petrol stations. I apologise for any inconvenience this has caused and appreciate your loyalty to our store at Cardea in Peterborough.

I understand that you are disappointed with the recent increase in price of LPG, and I want to assure you that we take your feedback seriously. Although the operation of our petrol stations has been taken over by a third-party company, MFG, we will still ensure that your concerns are escalated to them.

Please be assured that we value your custom and would like to continue to serve you as a customer. We recognise that the price increase may have had an impact on your shopping habits. I request you to kindly share the store name and location so that we can investigate your issue.

Your patience and continued support as a customer are highly appreciated. I hope to hear back from you soon.

Warm regards,
Ramanjeet Singh
Morrisons Customer Services

So I replied:

Good morning Ramanjeet

Thanks for your reply. I am aware that the filling stations are now operated by MFG, who are known for high prices, and were investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority for their pricing of petrol and diesel, so it would appear that they have increased the price of LPG instead. I travel a lot for work and depending on what direction I am going the filling stations I use regularly are:

Morrisons, Broad Street, Great Cambourne, CB23 6EY Morrisons, Parsons Green, St Ives, PE27 4NB Morrisons, Elm High Road, Wisbech, PE14 0DQ Morrisons, Wardentree Lane, Pinchbeck, PE11 3UU

In addition to fuel, I will almost always buy lunch for the day, cigarettes and at the very least, a drink. All Morrisons filling stations used to be amongst the cheapest in the country at around 75-80p per litre. As soon as MFG took over the operations, they all increased the price to 89.9p and shortly afterwards to 99.9p per litre. This sudden increase of 30% to 129.9p per litre is ridiculous. There has been no increase in the price of bulk gas, or the price for buying the same thing in Calor cylinders (LPG/Autogas is simply Propane) so cannot be justified. The price rise will almost certainly affect trade in Morrisons supermarkets as people will have no reason to visit.

Regards

Richard

Which solicited the following from them.....

Hello Richard,

Thank you for replying. I hope you are doing well.

Thank you for your email and for sharing your concerns about the pricing of LPG at our Morrisons filling stations. We understand that you are a regular customer and have been disappointed by the recent price increase.

We truly value your business and want to make sure you receive the exceptional service you deserve. We have also reviewed our internal processes to prevent such occurrences in the future, as your feedback is crucial in helping us improve our services.

Thank you for your understanding and for choosing Morrisons. We look forward to serving you again in the future.

Warm regards,
Ramanjeet Singh
Morrisons Customer Services


Feeling in a particularly sarcastic mood at the time, I replied:

Hello Ramanjeet

"We look forward to serving you again in the future."

Only when the price of LPG has been dropped to a realistic price, currently it is the most expensive anywhere in the UK. Then I might consider using Morrisons again but until then, I will be doing all my shopping elsewhere.

Regards

Richard

But he didn't give up and ignore me like I expected......

Good evening Richard,

Thank you for contacting Morrisons customer support. I hope you are doing well.

We truly value your business and want to make sure you receive the exceptional service you deserve. We have also reviewed our internal processes to prevent such occurrences in the future, as your feedback is crucial in helping us improve our services.

Thank you for your understanding and for choosing Morrisons. We look forward to serving you again in the future.

Warm regards,
Ramanjeet Singh
Morrisons Customer Services


Definitely a copy and paste of standard phrases coming out here but if they want to make promises, then I'll carry on giving them a prod:

Good evening Ramanjeet

Quote: "We have also reviewed our internal processes to prevent such occurrences in the future"

Presumably this means you will be instructing MFG to reduce the price of LPG at your filling stations back down to 99.9p per litre?

Richard

It seems that they must have the last word (even if it is stock copy and paste phrases) and I received this a few minutes ago:

Hello Richard,

I hope you are doing well.

I completely understand your concern. I would like to inform you that I can pass your concern to the company operating our filling stations. This is the best I can do, and they will look into the matter and do the needful.

Thank you for your understanding and for choosing Morrisons. We look forward to serving you again in the future.

Warm regards,
Ramanjeet Singh
Morrisons Customer Services

Should anyone else want to keep poking at them, the email address is customerservice@morrisonsplc.co.uk. The more people that bombard them with complaints the greater the chance of them doing anything. Surely it is not in their interest to allow MFG to cause them to lose customers?

[Avensist]

Wow Gilbertd, you're such a nice person.

I usually stop using any shit businesses with immediate effect, taking my custom elsewhere. Though I did write to Morrisons' customer services once but got a shit reply. In conjunction with high prices in-stores, with @!## quality products and services I've ditched them while back. And it's not just me, quite a few of my friends did the same as they also were fed up. Though, one of them does say he misses the entertainment factor of the punch-ups that happens in-stores by rough customers.

I know there's a lack of competition in the UK for most things, but still don't understand why people keep going back to bad businesses. Best way to root out bad businesses is to stop using it all together. The moment you spend another penny on those, they'll keep screwing consumers over and over again.

[Gilbertd]

I told them in my initial email that I normally do my food shopping in Morrisons, which I don't, and won't be going back. The only thing other than LPG I would normally buy in Morrisons is Marmite flavoured Cashew Nuts which are highly additive if you like Marmite. Fortunately my missus hates it so there's no danger of her pinching them either. However, I have now discovered that Waitrose stock them too so I have no reason to go to Morrisons ever again.

[Avensist]

Never knew Marmite flavoured Cashew Nuts existed! Need to get that for my friend in Japan as he absolutely loves Marmite and also cashew. And his family is the same, apart from him everyone hates Marmite so he can enjoy this treat in peace, unlike other things I took back for him which were bourbon biscuits and mature cheddar both of which disappeared in no time. And I intend to get that in Waitrose I hasten to add! LOL

[Gilbertd]

These https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/ ... 340-741341 are what you want, My daughter introduced me to them and I buy 3 or 4 packs at a time. Can't be beaten.