Article: Marketers question value of company promotions.

WASHINGTON -- Gasoline marketers say they already knew there's no such thing as a free lunch; what they've learned since entering the gasoline business is that there's often no such thing as a free giveaway item, either.

"Most of the time, the oil company comes to us and says `here's the promo, here's how much you'll pay for it, and now good luck'," a Georgia Shell Oil Co. jobber said.

Some Shell jobbers complained to their supplier earlier this summer about the high cost of promotions.

The jobbers told Shell they're fed up with expensive promos that might raise brand name awareness for their supplier, but don't help their own bottom line.

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