Buc-ee’s has built a cultlike following because it’s an amazing place to stop on the highway.
Need to stretch your legs? Cool, how about a 75,000 square foot building, half the size of a Costco?
And in addition to gas and a drink, chances are good you’ll grab…
– Some homemade bbq
– Beaver nuggets
– Peanut brittle or fudge
– Plushies
– Clothes
And so much more.
People LOVE Buc-ee’s.
There’s only one problem:
Follow The Coconut Mama
• For fun lists, healthy living tips, and bar conversation topics, make sure to follow The Coconut Mama. Click here to access The Coconut Mama’s profile page and be sure to hit the Follow button here or at the top of this article!
• Have feedback? Add a comment below!
Shutterstock
They love Wawa more.
Don’t believe it? I didn’t either.
Until I read through the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s new convenience store study.
It’s pretty robust, by the way – based on a survey of 5,710 customers.
What I saw there shocked me.
Because Buc-ee’s wasn’t #1.
It wasn’t even #2!
Shutterstock
Third place among convenience stores would be amazing for most places, but not for Buc-ee’s.
So what happened?
To understand that, we need to look at Wawa and why it scored first place.
Shutterstock
One of the things people highlighted throughout the survey was the value they put on loyalty programs.
In fact, rewards members rated every facet of their convenience store experience higher than nonmembers.
Well, guess who has a rewards program? Wawa.
And guess who doesn’t? Buc-ee’s.
Shutterstock
This ties in with loyalty programs, but it’s also something customers highlighted in the survey as valuable.
And also – it’s 2024. Come on. You should have a mobile app.
Wawa does.
Buc-ee’s doesn’t.
Shutterstock
Part of the Buc-ee’s magic is that the store has so much stuff!
And it’s so huge – like, world record-level huge.
That’s awesome.
But also – the point of a convenience store is, well, convenience.
You’re supposed to get in and out quickly.
The average Buc-ee’s is over 50,000 square feet. Bigger than your average grocery store.
The average Wawa is, like, 3,000 square feet.
Shutterstock
Buc-ee’s food is amazing. No doubt about it.
It’s got a distinct character and personality.
That’s part of what makes it great.
But also – sometimes people just want something a little more standard.
Wawa does the “greatest hits” of American food remarkably well.
From hoagies, to fries, to chicken fingers, to mac ‘n cheese, to their branded Sizzli breakfast sandwiches…
You know that everything you get from Wawa is going to be awesome – and it’s going to be more or less exactly what you’re expecting.
Shutterstock
All of the above probably wouldn’t have mattered with ASCI’s survey if Wawa didn’t also have a cult following.
Because let’s face it – Buc-ee’s fans ADORE Buc-ee’s.
But so do Wawa’s fans.
In fact, back when I was in college, I was part of a facebook group called “Cult of the Wawa.”
People will go out of their way to stop at a Wawa – and given that there are more than 1,100 nationwide, that’s a LOT easier to do than for Buc-ee’s’ 60 stores.
Follow The Coconut Mama
• For fun lists, healthy living tips, and bar conversation topics, make sure to follow The Coconut Mama. Click here to access The Coconut Mama’s profile page and be sure to hit the Follow button here or at the top of this article!
• Have feedback? Add a comment below!
Shutterstock
So there you have it – my take on how Wawa beat Buc-ee’s in the survey rankings.
So what do you think? Are the rankings real?
Is Wawa ACTUALLY better than Buc-ee’s?
Let us know in the comments!
Shutterstock
Leave a Comment