You’ve gotta get gas somewhere…
So might as well get it somewhere fun, right?
Somewhere people like visiting.
Wawa and Buc-ee’s both fit this bill – both have a rabid fan base, and even though they hail from different parts of the country (Buc-ee’s is based in Texas and has just 60 stores nationwide; Wawa’s in the Mid-Atlantic and has over 1,000)…
They have a lot more in common than most gas stations.
And that’s for a simple reason…
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It’s all about the quality of experience!
Both have created a really good customer experience…
But they’ve taken VERY different paths to get there.
With that in mind, here are six major differences between Buc-ee’s and Wawa that you’ll notice as soon as you go inside:
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The typical Wawa is roughly 4,000-5,000 square feet. That’s a little bigger than your average convenience store (which is more in the 2,500 square foot range), but it’s not wildly different.
Buc-ee’s, by contrast, is building new stores that are 70,000+ square feet. That’s about half the size of a Costco.
And not surprisingly, that yields a big difference in selection!
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With the typical Buc-ee’s being 15x bigger than the typical Wawa, not surprisingly – they’ve got a lot more stuff.
Sure, they’ve got a wider selection of food beyond typical gas station fare (including their famed beaver nuggets), but beyond that they have all kinds of other stuff, too.
Merch, cookware, clothes, tchotchkes – all kinds of stuff you just won’t find at Wawa (or really just about any other gas station).
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Of course, neither Wawa nor Buc-ee’s limits itself to “just” your typical gas station fare of packaged snacks.
Wawa specializes in hoagie sandwiches, mac & cheese, and their delicious Sizzli breakfast sandwiches – it’s solid food for a higher-end gas station.
Buc-ee’s, by contrast, serves a plethora of foods – fudge, bbq, chopped brisket, kolaches, pastries, and all kinds of other get-find-anywhere-else deliciousness.
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Wawa has a mobile app. Buc-ee’s does not.
This one probably feels like a small difference…but it’s actually a big deal, and here’s why:
You can order food through the Wawa mobile app.
You can pay for gas through it.
You can get curated offers through it.
Buc-ee’s customers have none of those options.
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Again, Wawa has one…and Buc-ee’s does not.
Wawa’s math is pretty simple – every dollar you spend on the app nets you 10 points (and five points per dollar spent on gas via the app), and you can then use those points to redeem rewards in the app.
Plus, they have bonus offers and promotions tied to your Wawa rewards account.
If you’re going to spend the money anyway, might as well get a little something back, right?
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Wawa’s vibe is of…a gas station convenience store.
You get in, you get out, you get on with your day.
Buc-ee’s is like a weird cross between Disney World and a flea market – it’s huge, it’s crowded, everyone’s pretty excited, and you never know what you’re going to find.
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So there you have it – six big differences between Buc-ee’s and Wawa.
What did I miss?
What would you add?
Let us know in the comments!
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!
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