Boston Herald: Station owner gives ’em Shell
“Independent lease operators have battled Shell for years, arguing the company is trying to take over their franchises. Last year, a federal jury in Boston ruled in favor of eight independent dealers who claimed Shell was trying to put small-time operators out of business.”
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
By Jay Fitzgerald
Paul Micalizzi says Shell Oil tried to put the squeeze on its independent station owners again.
Micalizzi, owner of Battle Green Shell in Lexington, said yesterday that Shell charged so-called “lease operators” of Shell stations higher wholesale gas prices than “directly controlled” stations paid during the recent gas-price run-up.
“Shell has been screwing us for years,” said Micalizzi, who has battled the oil giant over wholesale prices in the past.
Micalizzi said lease operators and Shell’s direct-service operators are now paying about the same for wholesale gas. But the station owner said he was paying anywhere from 5 to 10 cents a gallon more for fuel than direct-service operators paid during the gas-pump craze’s height.
Shell spokesman Stan Mays said he wasn’t aware of any specific charges, and couldn’t give details about pricing issues. But Mays downplayed Micalizzi’s accusations, saying that Shell treats all clients and customers fairly.
“We recognize the contributions that each of our operators – whether independent dealer, wholesaler or open dealer – brings to the Shell brand and our promise to customers,” the spokesman said.
He added: “It remains in our best interest to ensure our business practices remain fair and equitable across every class of trade.”
Independent lease operators have battled Shell for years, arguing the company is trying to take over their franchises. Last year, a federal jury in Boston ruled in favor of eight independent dealers who claimed Shell was trying to put small-time operators out of business.
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
