What’s this oil thing?
How can I get the Self Reliance price? Are there qualifications I must meet?
How much is membership?
How long does this process take?
How can I order oil?
How do I know what the price is?
Can I have same day delivery?
What about service?
How about fixed pricing?
Are you always the cheapest oil?
Is this oil somehow
different?
Am I locked into buying from
you?
Self Reliance has an oil cooperative program. We have negotiated, on behalf of our members, with a number of local oil dealers for a fixed profit margin over the wholesale price.
The wholesale price fluctuates on a daily basis according to the market. The good news is that the price does go down as well as up! The fixed profit margin that is added to the wholesale price for members is less than what our participating oil dealers charge the general public.
How can I get the Self Reliance price? Are there qualifications I must meet?
In order to take advantage of our pricing, you first need to become a member. Membership is open to everyone. The only guideline to becoming a member of the oil cooperative program is that you must live within the territory that we service (all of Cape Cod and most of southeastern Massachusetts – please call to see if your town is included in our service area).
Membership is $30 a year unless you are over the age of 65 or a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association and then it is $15 a year. Membership is valid for one year from the date we receive it. Our membership application is available online at www.reliance.org. You can either complete the entire transaction online with a credit card or print the application and mail it in with a check.
How long does this process take?
Once we receive your completed application and membership dues it takes one to two business days to process everything. We notify the oil dealer that works with us in your area that you have joined and should receive the Self Reliance pricing. We also send you a welcome letter letting you know that we received your membership, processed it and notified the oil company of your new membership. This welcome letter will also contain the name and telephone number of the oil company that we work with in your area.
Once you receive the welcome letter it is up to you to call and set up your payment terms and delivery schedule with the oil company. Automatic delivery and will-call delivery are both available (no price difference). Please note that will-call delivery is a minimum of 100 gallons or you will be charged a surcharge.
How do I know what the price is?
The daily price is posted on our website at www.reliance.org. If you do not have access to the internet you can call our office at 508-563-6633.
Yes, if you call first thing in the morning you can have a same-day delivery. The exact cut-off time varies a bit with each company that we work with – we would be happy to tell you the time you need to call by for your specific company.
All of the oil companies that we work with are full service companies with emergency service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All of the oil companies also offer service contracts. Service contracts are between you and the oil company, they are not part of the Self Reliance membership.
We do not offer fixed pricing. The Self Reliance price always fluctuates according to the wholesale market. Many of our participating oil dealers do offer fixed pricing but it is the same whether you are a member of Self Reliance or not. We do have a graph that shows our monthly average price versus the monthly average retail price.
Are you always the cheapest oil?
We can’t always promise to be the lowest priced oil. Sometimes a discount oil company will get a really cheap load of oil and be able to sell it for less than the Self Reliance price. However, we are always lower than what our participating oil companies are selling to the general public for.
Is this oil somehow different?
No – the oil in the truck is being delivered to both Self Reliance members and the oil company’s regular customers.
Am I locked into buying from you?
No – by joining you are able to access our pricing but you are not locked into buying from us. If you find a cheaper price somewhere else (and you are not on automatic delivery) – go for it!
CAPE & ISLANDS SELF-RELIANCE CORPORATION
Promoting environmentally sound technologies
23A Edgerton Drive, North Falmouth, MA 02556
toll-free: 888.808.0120 or 508.563.6633 fax: 508.563.1123