But that was the case for lucky motorists at the Maheno service station on State Highway 1 yesterday afternoon.
The station was charging 49.7c a litre for unleaded 91 and 95 petrol as it emptied its 3000-litre tanks to make way for Gull New Zealand's takeover of the site.
The discount was not advertised, but word quickly spread in the North Otago township and long queues formed from about 3pm.
Next month, Gull plans to open an unmanned site on State Highway 1 at Maheno, where it has leased the existing, independently owned service station.
Gull New Zealand general manager Dave Bodger said work on the company's first South Island site at Maheno began in the past week, but it was unlikely fuel would flow before September.
Initial work involved concrete laying, improvements to drainage on an extended forecourt area and the installation of an above-ground, 50,000-litre capacity tank to complement the three smaller tanks already on site.
-Additionally reported by Gus Patterson
