I more often write about petrol prices when they’re volatile and hit new highs. But this time, the question is why are all the service stations in Abingdon charging almost exactly the same price for unleaded?
For years, a certain supermarket, let us call them T, in Abingdon was the place to go for the cheapest petrol in town. That’s no longer the case. A recent snapshot (February 21st, 2025) reveals a surprising uniformity.
T now matches the Vineyard petrol station, which used to be more expensive.
And T is 0.2p per litre more expensive than the Esso station on Marcham Road, a station that used to be pricier.
T in Abingdon appears to be the most expensive T petrol station in Oxfordshire. Here’s a comparison:
Unleaded Prices on 21/2/2025:
T Abingdon: 141.9p
T Banbury: 137.9p
T Bicester: 137.9p
T Didcot: 137.9p
T Oxford: 139.9p
A look at Didcot, a town with more supermarkets and other petrol stations, reveals a wider price range – from 136.9p to 142.9p. T in Didcot prices its unleaded at 137.9p. Are T using a location-based pricing strategy? Instead of setting uniform prices across the county, and undercutting local competitors as they have done in the past, they now seem to be aligning their prices with the local market.
Figures come from https://www.petrolprices.com/.
It’s been a long time (ever?) since Tesco Extra on the Marcham Road has been reliably cheaper and the last time it was cheaper for a short while was when it reopened after they’d been closed for major work on their forecourt. I think they price high to take avantage of passing traffic on the A34.
It’s worth keeping an eye on ‘petrolprices.com’ which you can set up to monitor all the local petrol station prices. Sutton Courtney Tyes is always a ‘star player’ here (currently 133.9p/litre) and Sainsbury in Didcot isn’t too shabby (currently 136.9p/litre). Both of these make for a ‘subsidised’ trip for a ‘big shop’ to Sainsburys, Didcot if your car needs filling up (plan it, it makes sense and you get a break from the Tesco ‘offering’)
For some reason petrol seems to be cheaper in Didcot than it is in Abingdon.
“A look at Didcot, a town with more supermarkets and other petrol stations, reveals a wider price range…”.
Pricing cartel… anyone?
As said above as long as it costs you no more shop elsewhere. Reward their greed by giving your money to someone else.
Expanding on Badger’s point … if the guys can trust their femmes to put the right grade of petrol in the tank they could be dropped off at the ‘Plum Pudding’ in Milton for a few pints while the little lady went off to fill up the petrol tank and hunt down something nice to heat-up hunting down the aisles of Sainsburys, or, if you’ve trusted her with your credit card, in M&S, Didcot.
BTW, backstreeter, I’m still anonymous on this blog, aren’t I …
Doesn’t give you the right to be chauvinist though – even if it is in jest.
I used to like the Shell garage in Didcot but alas it is long gone now, Shell fuel at competitive non-Frilford ripoff prices.
my mum worked at tescos for years, one time when she was helping in the garage she was actually asked to walk to the corner of the road to check what price the rival garage was charging so tescos price could be aligned.
Try electric – much cheaper and generally less carbon
Aaah! Electric. The latest first-time-adopter-folly.
Sainsbury’s Kindlington is even cheaper, 135.9 today.
Can’t afford electric. The atomised cost of the car I have, sitting taxed on the drive is £19.60/month over 5 years. I then have to put in diesel off course. But….before we even talk about cost of diesel Vs cost of electric charging….can I even get an electric car purchased for anywhere near £20/month!? I fear I can’t. Saving the planet is great, but it’s only for the wealthy.
2013 Peugeot 308 1.6 diesel, purchased for £1000, £35/yr tax.
The cost will surely come down. Like you I run a second car – mine’s petrol but I did look at second hand electric when I bought. I still needed the cargo capacity at that time. That’s now changed. Best of all would be if I didn’t need a car for work of course…