topic Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?! in Credit Cards

Cashback on Gas?!

TheBoondocks — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 23:38:59 GMT

Hey guys, I've been using the Plenti program for a while now and saved a few bucks here and there, but since they are going away as a whole with all their partners except exxon/mobil, this time its good news cause they're giving 5c but not only that I was looking into the exxon credit card itself and it gives a lovely 6c making it 11c per gallon, which is really good. 11% per dollar, thats unheard of! I never even thought about opening up a gas card but its very tempting now lol.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 20:51:27 GMT

@TheBoondocks wrote:
Hey guys, I've been using the Plenti program for a while now and saved a few bucks here and there, but since they are going away as a whole with all their partners except exxon/mobil, this time its good news cause they're giving 5c but not only that I was looking into the exxon credit card itself and it gives a lovely 6c making it 11c per gallon, which is really good. 11% per dollar, thats unheard of! I never even thought about opening up a gas card but its very tempting now lol.

11c per gallon or 11c a dollar? Quite a difference in many places, were a gallon is well over $2

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

TheBoondocks — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 22:05:17 GMT

I don't even know bro lol

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 22:22:25 GMT

Not sure how you're calculating 11¢ per $; from what I can see the current deal on the Exxon/Mobil card is 6¢ per *gallon*, which at an average price of $2.79 is only about 2% cashback, which is pretty lackluster for gas cashback. For example the Costco Visa gives 4% cashback on gas, many other cards give 3%. And with those cards, you wouldn't be locked into a specific brand; you could get your gas whereever it's cheapest, whether Exxon/Mobil, BP, Speedway, Costco (as long as it's a Visa), or anywhere else. Even if you were getting 11¢ off per gallon, that would still only approach 4% cashback, which while good, certainly isn't legendary, and again would only apply to Exxon/Mobil stations.

But if you are talking Exxon/Mobil, IMO the big play right now is to use the Speedpass+ app to get an additional 10¢ off per gallon on top of the cashback for whatever card you have recorded in the app (Costco Visa, Exxon/Mobil, BofA CashRewards, etc.).

Chris.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

FinStar — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 22:30:24 GMT

OP (or bro), how did you arrive at 11% cashback? I think the math is way off and/or you misread the promotion.

The ongoing ExxonMobil Smartcard promotion is a "savings" of 6¢ per gallon or using the Speedpass+ app which gets a "savings" of 10¢ per gallon (through 7/10/18).

Then again, the Plenti program will be entirely discontinued with any existing partners including ExxonMobil as of July 10th.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

kshurika — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 07:01:43 GMT

The Boondocks, here's how you really can get a huge cut on your gas prices. First, get a Discover It card. 2nd, find a discount gas station near you that sells good gas. Exxon/Mobil is among the most expensive fuels. 3rd, during the gas quarter of your first year, buy gift cards at your station along with your fill-up, as many as you can afford. This will increase your total expenditure on gas, on which you'll get 10% back. Plus, you'll have gift cards providing you with cheaper gas after the gas quarter ends.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

wasCB14 — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 07:15:41 GMT

@kshurika wrote:
The Boondocks, here's how you really can get a huge cut on your gas prices. First, get a Discover It card. 2nd, find a discount gas station near you that sells good gas. Exxon/Mobil is among the most expensive fuels. 3rd, during the gas quarter of your first year, buy gift cards at your station along with your fill-up, as many as you can afford. This will increase your total expenditure on gas, on which you'll get 10% back. Plus, you'll have gift cards providing you with cheaper gas after the gas quarter ends.

Or just fill up at Costco.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

kshurika — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 07:25:57 GMT

In South Orange County, CA, Costco gas isn't that much cheaper than, say, Arco (which won't accept credit cards). But, some of the independent stations are WAY cheaper than even Costco. They accept CCs and they sell cards.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

nrm — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 10:40:18 GMT

@kshurika wrote:

In South Orange County, CA, Costco gas isn't that much cheaper than, say, Arco (which won't accept credit cards). But, some of the independent stations are WAY cheaper than even Costco. They accept CCs and they sell cards.

Name one station with full address please? Thank you!

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 12:13:18 GMT

@kshurika wrote:

In South Orange County, CA, Costco gas isn't that much cheaper than, say, Arco (which won't accept credit cards). But, some of the independent stations are WAY cheaper than even Costco. They accept CCs and they sell cards.

This seems to vary significantly by region. I've done a lot of road trips and try very carefully to get the lowest price wherever I am. In some regions (for instance last time we were in the four major islands in Hawaii), Costco was significantly cheaper than any other station in the area, independent or brand name. In other areas, Costco seems to keep pace with the big guys but is undercut by the independents. In my area, Costco seems to religiously track with (but not undercut) the lowest price in the area. That usually means they're 1¢-5¢ lower than the Mobil, BP or Shell down the street, although with brand-specific deals (FuelRewards at Shell, DriveRewards at BP or the current 10¢ Speedpass+ promotion), it can be beneficial to go the brand name. But in my area, that's the exception.

Chris.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 19:20:03 GMT

@kshurika wrote:

In South Orange County, CA, Costco gas isn't that much cheaper than, say, Arco (which won't accept credit cards). But, some of the independent stations are WAY cheaper than even Costco. They accept CCs and they sell cards.

Where? Also living in OC. Haven't found anything comparable to Costco.

Costco is also better quality gas than the stuff they sell at Arco. At Arco you have to pay in cash or they hit you with a debit card fee, so its pretty bad all around imo.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 20:18:06 GMT

Thats weird to hear about the costco prices abroad, in my area costco is 15 c minimum chaeper per gal than any of the stations, even the local truck stops. On the high end I have seen costco be 50 c less and they seem to average 30 c less. On diesel they are 40-50 cents cheaper I dont know the low and high of the costco difference, but I have seen quite a few semi's filling up at the local costco next to the highway. I travel alot and never paid attention abroad. I took my home experience with me and just assumed. Ill have to keep my eye out next time on the road.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

kshurika — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 21:35:28 GMT

Well, first of all, in California gas is very, very expensive. We've laid so many taxes on gasoline that it's almost ridiculous what we pay - especially when the prices start going up as we approach summer or holidays. It would almost be worth it for a consortium to rent a tanker truck and go to Arizona to buy gasoline wholesale. Even the retail price at the pump in Arizona is incredibly less than California.

I used to get gas at Costco when I was a member, but I realized I was paying the yearly membership fee and going there once to buy stuff at the most. In the higher-end areas of South Orange County (Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, San Clemente, Dana Point, Coto De Caza and about 10 other places) the gas prices are absurd. Only LA and San Francisco beat them. The two Costcos that I know of are easily the best places to buy gas. And, yes, Arco sucks. But, I go to Fountain Valley four times a week to see my martial arts teacher and there are independent stations out there where the prices often beat Costco and the gas is high-quality. (Btw, most gasoline comes from the same refineries and each brand buys the same stuff.) When I use my Discover at 2 x 5% to buy not only gas and oil but several hundred dollars of gift cards for the future. It saves me a lot of money.

I wonder what gas costs in Texas.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

wasCB14 — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 23:34:19 GMT

In Los Angeles county. I haven't done a full survey of local prices. Costco is reasonably cheap and certainly convenient as it's also my main grocery destination.

When I used to shop at a CT Costco, though, I did do a limited survey. Gas was 14% cheaper than the next station within a few miles (all Connecticut stations).

AZ certainly does have much lower gas taxes than CA, and I vaguely recall gas being relatively cheap there last summer. I'm not sure how much of the retail price difference is due to taxes.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

Gardenhand — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 00:02:55 GMT

Just bought three 100 dollar Sunoco prepaid gift cards off EBay for 94 dollars each or 282 total for 300 dollars worth of cards.

Additionally I used PayPal with my Chase Freedom card which is getting five percent cash back rewards this quarter for PayPal purchases.

UR points are worth more the 1cent each because I have the CSP and Hyatt card to transfer points to but counting them at 1cent each I’m getting 14.10 dollars back.

Discount on cards- 18
Freedom Cash Back- 14.10
Total Savings- 32.10
Percentage off- 10.7

It’s worth noting that the Sunoco on my commute is competitive with the surrounding gas stations and often have the best prices available to me.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

TheBoondocks — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 01:00:02 GMT

Hey kshurika, I've been trying to buy gift cards in the store but they don't allow it and if I do but has cards they will have fees and even for shipping. But, to buy gift cards these days, they require cash unless you pay online.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

TheBoondocks — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 01:06:38 GMT

I live in the bay area and I use gasbuddy to get chevron, Exxon, or shell but I never tried BP gas before, how are they? Costco gas is cheap than most but idk why I get bad mileage with them. I want the best gas for my car. I never use generic/no name brand lol, if I had no choice then I would put like $5 in the tank with them aha.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 02:10:41 GMT

@TheBoondocks wrote:
I live in the bay area and I use gasbuddy to get chevron, Exxon, or shell but I never tried BP gas before, how are they? Costco gas is cheap than most but idk why I get bad mileage with them. I want the best gas for my car. I never use generic/no name brand lol, if I had no choice then I would put like $5 in the tank with them aha.

You sure you're measuring your MPG correctly? I know you were thinking 11 cents per gallon = 11% return.

Re: 11% Cashback on Gas?!

kshurika — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 03:27:17 GMT

TheBoondocks: I bought my gift cards directly at the gas station where I usually fill up. They are the same size as a credit card and work in the pump the same way.