Last August the XT chain of gasoline stations had a temporary sales promotion in effect. In the promotion, any customer who made a purchase of ten or more gallons of gasoline was entitled to a free car wash. For the month of August, XT experienced a ten percent increase in gasoline sales as compared to sales in August the previous year. So evidently the promotion was successful as a means of boosting sales.In evaluating the argument, it would be most helpful to answer which of the following?
(A) In the areas in which XT’s gasoline stations operate, how did total combined gasoline sales for all gasoline stations last August compare with sales for the previous August?
(B) Was the money that XT earned from the increase in gasoline sales enough to offset the cost of providing free car washes during the promotion?
(C) Were there any customers who bought ten or more gallons at an XT gasoline station during the promotion who would have bought gasoline at the same station in lower quantities, but more frequently, if the promotion had not been in effect?
(D) Did XT or any of its gasoline stations have to pay other businesses to provide the car washes that customers were offered in the promotion?
(E) Are XT’s gasoline sales in August usually significantly higher than one twelfth of XT’s annual gasoline sales?

The promotional campaign increased total sales by 10%, but it also increased total costs. Was the increase in total sales large enough to offset the increase in costs? That is what would really determine if the promotion was a success or not.

Does the extra profit made by selling 10% more gas cover the costs of washing X amount of cars for free. This type of strategy is very tricky because even regular clients might have benefited from this promotion and they would have purchased gasoline there anyways. Unless car washing is extremely cheap, I guess that the gas station actually lost money.