Bad Gasoline Isn't the Only Problem

Note: This post does not reflect the opinion of KOB-TV, of its managers, nor of its owner.

It was a mistake that affected hundreds of drivers. But the company behind the contaminated fuel (Western Refining) continues to make blunders during the fall-out.

So far, nobody at Western Refining has appeared ON CAMERA and apologized to the hundreds of drivers who've been forced to dig into their wallets to fix their vehicles.

Western Refining has not released a specific phone number to the press for drivers to call for reimbursements (Drivers have been forced to go back to the gas station that sold them the bad gas to get a phone number).

Western Refining failed to send out one press release about it's tainted fuel (yet on its website it has a "News" section with "articles" about its high profits).

It's not my job as a reporter to give PR lessons to companies. But when the company starts complaining about bad press to one of my co-workers, I have to step in and explain how common sense works.

Instead of reacting to the news, Western Refining should have become more proactive.

Here's what the company should have done immediately, in the best interest of drivers:

1) Hold a press conference. Have someone apologize ON CAMERA to the drivers who were
affected.

2) Release a list of gas stations that were affected. (Don't make excuses on why you can't
release a list).

3) Send out press releases (at least two a day) updating the public on what happened.

4) Set up a temporary website and 800-number for drivers to connect to.

5) And finally, don't complain about negative press when your company is responsible for a mistake that affected hundreds of people and their finances.

Western Refining obviously doesn't have any clue how to deal with a disaster involving its product. Hopefully, for the many drivers out there who've been forced to deal with the company's mistake, things will get back to normal soon.

If any of you have any questions about the bad-gasoline story, feel free to email me at jeremy.jojola@gmail.com or jjojola@kobtv.com.