A major challenge for any business is being able to make a strong and memorable impression in the marketplace in order to attract the attention of consumers. To this end, many businesses are offering clients and customers some form of free gas incentive. Offering free gas certainly tends to grab people's attention. With daily reports of record high gas prices, the price of gas is on everyone's mind. The lure of free gas is a sure fire way to gain the attention of consumers who are looking for ways to reduce the cost of driving any way they can.



Gas discounts and promotions are a sign of the times. In Ontario, the province's leading association of hotels and resorts, Resorts of Ontario reports that many of its members are offering customers incentives such as gas discounts and rebates to help reduce the price of vacationing. Gas promotions might not work for everyone, but tourist operators and businesses that rely on tourist traffic say that free gas promotions work for them because gas and holiday travel go together well.

Another business sector where offering free gas incentives seem like a natural fit is the automobile industry. Some automobile manufacturers and new car dealerships are now promoting various types of customer gas saving incentives and rebates. For instance, at one Ontario dealership customers are offered the opportunity to receive their choice of either deferred payments for 90 days on any new car purchase or they may select a $300 prepaid gas card in lieu of the payment deferral. Many savvy dealership owners are reporting that this corporate program is very popular with customers since the high price of gas is a very hot topic right now. While customers generally purchase a vehicle based on the quality of product, features, and price, the free $300 prepaid gas card gives customers a little extra-added incentive to buy a vehicle from that particular dealership.

With gas prices at record high levels and a weakening economy, businesses in sectors that are not normally known to offer gas incentives are trying their luck with them in an attempt to catch the attention of customers. In Florida, state blood donor centres are appealing to blood donors by offering free $10 BP gas cards. In Washington D.C., a creative home seller is offering a $1,000 gas card as an incentive to help sell their house.

According to industry experts, the price at the pump isn't going down anytime soon. In the mean time, consumers looking for some relief at the pumps can save a few dollars while fuelling up by doing a little shopping with retailers and businesses offering free gas and special gas discount promotions. As long as gas prices remain where they are, expect to see more promotions enticing consumers with discounts at the pumps.