There is a post over on MM where multiple people have mentioned they wait until both of their cars (and even gas cans) need to be filled up and use the grocery store gas points for up to a $1 per gallon discount. On filling two cars and multiple gas cans.
It's making me a little I'm pretty sure that isn't how gas points were intended to be used. It makes me think it's an abuse of the system that will eventually ruin the perk for other users. And something tells me these people aren't filling up two economy-sized cars...
Post by ninjabridemom on Mar 26, 2015 13:15:19 GMT -5
I'm impressed they buy enough to a full $1/gal off!
All the other places I've seen have safeguards to prevent this sort of abuse (which I'm not sure it is since you own both cars anyway?). There's always an attendant, you can only get a certain number of gallons, etc. I"m sure people can figure out how to play the system but, I dunno. Seems to work for the few places nearby that do it.
If the grocery store cares, they'll change the program to limit it. Personally, it's too much effort to take two cars at the same time and fill up with gas. Or get them close to empty at the same time to be worth that effort.
The gas program at my grocery store allows you to buy up to 30 gallons in one purchase. But I think it also actually forbids filling two cars or a car and separate gas cans, but I'm not sure. I've never tried it.
As long as they are following the rules, I don't see a problem with it. Personally, I would not want to dedicate that much thought and planning to save money on gas.
Our grocery reciepts say "35 Gallon limit" right on them. So you better believe I take every vessel I can to get my 35 gallons each time I fill up. We can take as many cans as we want but our recipts do say "limit one vehicle per fill up." I think that's just because it takes too long to jockey two cars around the pump and causes a backup.
Post by iammalcolmx on Mar 26, 2015 13:29:55 GMT -5
H and I do this when we both need gas at the same time. I buy a shitton of Gift Cards from Kroger for work so I always have a ton of gas points. The limit is 35 gallons but we are filling up a Prius and a Passat so we don't go near the limit.
Post by revolution on Mar 26, 2015 13:35:13 GMT -5
My store limits it to 25 gallons for only one car, not multiple cars. I've seen them enforce it too.
If their store doesn't limit it, then I see no issue. If they are breaking the rules and going to ruin it for everyone, then I am not on board with it.
My store limits it to 25 gallons for only one car, not multiple cars. I've seen them enforce it too.
If their store doesn't limit it, then I see no issue. If they are breaking the rules and going to ruin it for everyone, then I am not on board with it.
How do they enforce it?
Our gas points come from Stop and Shop...and they definitely do not have gas monitors stationed around town at the gas pumps to track who may be using points to fill up LOL
Well, the pumps are in the grocery store parking lots. So the gas attendant there will stop anyone who tries to keep pumping while switching cars.
The gas program at my grocery store allows you to buy up to 30 gallons in one purchase. But I think it also actually forbids filling two cars or a car and separate gas cans, but I'm not sure. I've never tried it.
Two cars isn't allowed. You can actually fill up gas cans. Completely kosher. A partner at my law firm was telling me he asked them and they said fine. He bought, and takes with him, two gas cans to get his 30 gallons. I told DH about it, who thought that was amazing, and now we also have a gas can we take with us (him...he takes with him). We don't shop there except to buy gift cards, but that adds up to a free tank 2-3 times a year. It's awesome!!!!
Post by snipsnsnails on Mar 26, 2015 13:45:34 GMT -5
Wait, this means coordinating a time where both my SUV and my DH's hybrid are empty at the same time and schlepping the whole family to the gas station to get in line behind one another to fill up at one pump???
Hahaha, ain't nobody got time for that in the snips' house. I admire their diligence; more power to em if their frugality motivates them to that. I'm way too lazy.
You lost me at "There is a post over on MM". I admire their devotion over there to save a dime but I have no patience for some of their ways of going about it. I will pay for my laziness.
The gas program at my grocery store allows you to buy up to 30 gallons in one purchase. But I think it also actually forbids filling two cars or a car and separate gas cans, but I'm not sure. I've never tried it.
Two cars isn't allowed. You can actually fill up gas cans. Completely kosher. A partner at my law firm was telling me he asked them and they said fine. He bought, and takes with him, two gas cans to get his 30 gallons. I told DH about it, who thought that was amazing, and now we also have a gas can we take with us (him...he takes with him). We don't shop there except to buy gift cards, but that adds up to a free tank 2-3 times a year. It's awesome!!!!
Oh good to know! I knew something was forbidden, I just didn't know what. We only ever take one car at a time and we're cool with that. I'll have to keep it in mind when we need lawnmower and snowblower gas though.
We're allowed to buy gift cards at our Kroger and it counts toward our fuel points. Gift cards always count as at least 2x the face value and occasionally they count as 4x the face value when there is a special promotion.
We just bought Anderson windows through Home Depot and asked the sales rep if we can use gift cards to pay for the windows. The windows are being installed June 1, so in March, April, May, and June, I will buy about $8k worth of Home Depot gift cards for a total of $32k at my Kroger. That will be a minimum of 64 fill ups at a dollar off, up to $35 per fill up. that's over $2200 saved on our gas purchases this year. Plus, we participate in a cash back to the community program so a fraction of what I spend is donated to my daughter's school. Paying for our windows with gift cards purchased at Kroger means $640 will be donated to the school.
I dont see a problem with it. We need diesel so we usually can't even use our gas points where it makes a difference. It also has a 26 gallon cap which is not close to our whole tank.
Post by crispnclean on Mar 26, 2015 13:59:17 GMT -5
Our stores have a limit on how many gallons you get at a discount. I guarantee any store that is large enough to offer fuel points has taken into consideration all the ways people might use the fuel points and have set limitations so they are still coming out ahead. I see nothing wrong with what the people are doing.
We're allowed to buy gift cards at our Kroger and it counts toward our fuel points. Gift cards always count as at least 2x the face value and occasionally they count as 4x the face value when there is a special promotion.
We just bought Anderson windows through Home Depot and asked the sales rep if we can use gift cards to pay for the windows. The windows are being installed June 1, so in March, April, May, and June, I will buy about $8k worth of Home Depot gift cards for a total of $32k at my Kroger. That will be a minimum of 64 fill ups at a dollar off, up to $35 per fill up. that's over $2200 saved on our gas purchases this year. Plus, we participate in a cash back to the community program so a fraction of what I spend is donated to my daughter's school. Paying for our windows with gift cards purchased at Kroger means $640 will be donated to the school.
Do they expire? Ours expire three months after earning them so we'd never get 64 fill ups worth! That's awesome tho!
Post by emoflamingo on Mar 26, 2015 14:03:34 GMT -5
We do this on occasion. My H drives a compact and I drive a small SUV, so we're able to fill up both cars with our discount. There's a limit on the number of gallons you can get (the pump will shut off) and his car requires premium so it's not like we're getting gas at a great discount - it's almost what regular is at that point.
We spend more per item to shop at the grocery store vs. Wal-Mart, so I could save money and shop at Wal-Mart instead but I prefer to shop at Dillons and support them instead.
We're allowed to buy gift cards at our Kroger and it counts toward our fuel points. Gift cards always count as at least 2x the face value and occasionally they count as 4x the face value when there is a special promotion.
We just bought Anderson windows through Home Depot and asked the sales rep if we can use gift cards to pay for the windows. The windows are being installed June 1, so in March, April, May, and June, I will buy about $8k worth of Home Depot gift cards for a total of $32k at my Kroger. That will be a minimum of 64 fill ups at a dollar off, up to $35 per fill up. that's over $2200 saved on our gas purchases this year. Plus, we participate in a cash back to the community program so a fraction of what I spend is donated to my daughter's school. Paying for our windows with gift cards purchased at Kroger means $640 will be donated to the school.
Do they expire? Ours expire three months after earning them so we'd never get 64 fill ups worth! That's awesome tho!
Yeah, they do expire, so watch your points 4speedy.
H does this as well when we need to make big purchases. We used HD gift cards purchased at Dillons when we carpeted our old house and he does it with eBay gift cards on occasion too.
Hey man, if you are going to all that effort to time/sync everything up just so, all the more power to ya. I usually forget to get gas at my grocery store and use my points, so it evens out. Haha.
Post by captainobvious on Mar 26, 2015 14:13:53 GMT -5
We're only allowed a max of .30 discount on gas points (I think, it might be .20 - I haven't used them in a while because H always does on his car so then I'm out of points by the time I have to fill up, damn it.)