About three years ago I got one of the Exxon cards that offered a 15cent per gallon discount, redeemable in units of $10.00. Just recently the speedpass system offered a 15cent discount if you use the speedpass, limited to a total of 100 gallons. I now get a 30cent/gallon discount until the speedpass discount ends. My gas bill is still over $300 each month.
Howard, USN Ret
2000 Ford Excursion,V10, Limited
2003 Terry 27H. Super Slide
Not 5%, but a discount none the less. My ConocoPhillips card discounts $.10 per gallon at time of purchase. I don't know the monthly or individual purchase limits; unless traveling in the RV I don't use enough gas to reach limits. My "daily" driving uses about 6 to 10 gallons per month, I think the limit is 20.
You can get more out of other rewards programs, if you have opportunities to use the rewards, either credits toward buying gas based on other purchases, or credits for other things based on the gas you buy. The catch is, sometimes the prices are lower at vendors who don't have rewards to pay.
Most reward programs with credit cards have been cutting back since the government regulated credit cards. I had a credit card that offered 5% back on gas, but it got cut back to only 5% on gas one or two quarters a year and I can only get 5% back on the first $1500 of gas in that quarter. I can easily buy $3,000 in fuel during the quarter I do my RV trips.
I remember one RVer with a bus conversion who got a unlimited gallon discount from some grocery store. They ended up pumping more than 200 gallons of diesel so they saved a good chunk of money.
CC rebate programs started cutting back well before any "regulations" took effect. This new BP "Rebate" seems to be too complicated. I liked the "old" idea of $X got you $Y in rebates. Complicated programs are usually just a way to mask the fact they've lowered their rebates significantly. I have two other cards that give 1-5%, depending on the item purchased. That I can understand.
Okay, I just looked at my statement. It says I have 0.44 cents per gallon (up to 20 gallons). No idea what that means. It does say that for every $1 dollar, I can get a $15 statement credit. That I understand. So I bought $60 worth of gas and got $0.09 credit for it. If I redeemed that, I would get $1.35, which is 2.25% of $60. So I used to get 3% on gas and now they've lowered it to 2.25%. I purchased $44 at a restaurant (date with wife). That gave me 0.04 in cents per gallon. If I were to cash that out, it would be 1.36%. I used to get 2% for meals and now it is down to 1.36%.
Now I still don't understand the "cents per gallon" thing. If I buy 20 gallons, will I get $.44 off each gallon? I will try that out at the pump next time. If that IS true, the multiplier is 20 instead of 15, which would put the rebate for gas at 3%, just like it was before. The food rebate would then be 1.8%, a bit lower than before.
Only one of my vehicles has a tank big enough that I can put 20 gallons into it. That would indicate that I am better off "cashing out" the rebates when they get to over $1.00, unless I am filling my truck when it is empty. So if I can pump greater than 15 gallons (if my interpretation of the rebate is correct), I will be better off using the rebate to buy gas. If I can't put 15 gallons, I will be better off getting the cash back (statement credit).
BP gas is more expensive in my area. Usually, it was NOT 3% higher, so I was still gaining money by getting their gas. Now I am not so sure.
Yes, I AM a rocket scientist, and this is WAY too complicated for a rebate system. Looks like I will be retiring my BP card.
Yes, I AM a rocket scientist, and this is WAY too complicated for a rebate system. Looks like I will be retiring my BP card.
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!! And THAT says it all - a big hug to you, Doug!!!
I have a Chase Freedom card, which gives me 5% on select purchases each quarter - the first quarter was gas and Amazon.com; now it's groceries and movies. It will move back to gas for the 3rd quarter - just in time for my trip to the U.P. I'll be using that card from now on.....
Deb and Ed M wrote: I have a Chase Freedom card, which gives me 5% on select purchases each quarter - the first quarter was gas and Amazon.com; now it's groceries and movies. It will move back to gas for the 3rd quarter - just in time for my trip to the U.P. I'll be using that card from now on.....
I also have Chase Freedom and I also think I will be using it instead of my BP. Too bad as the BP card is quite pretty.
As for gas sales connected with a food chain or big box store, I suspect they the increase of the some store products covers what ever discount is given on the gas.
No body gives away money in this day and age. Just like "Free Shipping".
It's should state that "Shipping and Handling Included".
Someone has to pay the extra 3% or so that the credit card company charges for using they're cards.
Here in our hometown, we have a Safeway and a local store that offer gas discounts. We use Safeway because their prices, for same brand products, are lower and they offer $.10 per gallon discount for every $100 of groceries you purchase. Also give you 50 points for prescriptions, other store doesn't have a pharmacy anymore. There is a limit of $1.00 discount and $100.00 of fuel, somewhat hard to stop with the 34 or so gallon diesel. The only problem is that the award points roll over every two months so you have to use them. We try to time our grocery purchases so we don't run out too soon. Best discount so far has been $.80 per gallon. What a deal!!!
lwmuddy wrote: Someone has to pay the extra 3% or so that the credit card company charges for using they're cards.
And that somebody is someone else because I go for the 3% rebate while someone else buys the same stuff I do (at the same price) and DOESN'T get the rebate. That's fine with me. Same thing for "free shipping", I take advantage of those offers all the time. If someone else doesn't, it's not my problem.
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