@Andypanda wrote:
@KJinNC wrote:From Costco's Web site:
https://www.costco.com/executive-rewards.html
In the U.S., Rewards are not calculated: (i) on purchases of cigarettes or tobacco-related products, gasoline, Costco Shop Cards, postage stamps, alcoholic beverages in certain states (including Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee), and at food courts; (ii) on membership fees; (iii) on purchases not recorded through Costco’s front-end registers and transactions done on or through websites not hosted by Costco even if accessed through Costco.com, including all business, consumer, and insurance services, the Online Photo Center, and the My Publisher website; (iv) on miscellaneous fees, deposits and taxes, including sales tax and shipping; (v) where prohibited by law or regulation; (vi) on purchases made by anyone other than the account’s Primary or Primary Household Cardholder; (vii) on travel purchases: surcharges, gratuities, trip protection, travel purchased through a third party, upgrades, rental car equipment, resort charges and port charges; and (viii) on certain other categories as determined at Costco’s discretion, which may change without notice.
That is regarding 2% executive membership rebate, not for the cash back from using the Costco visa.
True.
But the reason he was posting the info is because someone else said that you get 2% back (from executive membership) on gas, and that is incorrect.
@Anonymous wrote:I now realize the best gas card is google map. Within a mile radius, price could be 10% cheaper at different stations. Just make sure you include the distance you need to drive to the station, at roughly 10c/mile.
Well, if we're getting into smartphone stuff ...
I love the Gas Buddy app (or website.)
You can save your favorite stations and give feedback to other drivers.
You can show stations in list or map view.
And you can have it list by grades of gasoline.
That is helpful to me because one of my cars needs premium.
I use GasBuddy. It's not a replacement for other discounts, though, it just adds to it.
Gas prices vary by area (never figured out why), but they don't vary by standard gas station chain, so if you drive a few miles to the lower gas prices, you will probably still have your pick of stations ... at least in my area. That may not be true in rural areas. Because of this, I never have to try very hard to use my Shell loyalty card for the 5 cent discount. A card that gives a discount on gas anywhere (Ducks Unlimited, Fort Knox) will also usually work at the cheapest station around regardless of chain.
And Sam's/Costco are going to consistently be 10 or 12 cents cheaper than nearby gas stations. Overall, I think GasBuddy/Google Maps are a separate layer from what cards you use, not a replacement.
By the way, I see people occasionally say they prefer Fort Knox to Ducks Unlimited. Why? Same discount on gas, and DU also gives a discount on sporting goods. Even if you don't care about sporting goods, seems the cards are equivalent. Is Fort Knox easier to get? Thanks!
@creditfan wrote:I just came across to this CU and it also has 5% on gas
https://www.lnfcu.com/pages/credit-cards.html
Interesting. I hear about new cards or FIs everytime I come on My Fico, it seems.
5% on gas, no spending cap, No AF, reasonable APRs starting at 10.24%.
This one, however, seems strictly geo-fenced to small areas of 23 counties in Louisville KY area. Few of us would qualify. (Although you can qualify if you have a sibling, child, or grandparent who is a member.)
@KJinNC wrote:I use GasBuddy. It's not a replacement for other discounts, though, it just adds to it.
Gas prices vary by area (never figured out why), but they don't vary by standard gas station chain, so if you drive a few miles to the lower gas prices, you will probably still have your pick of stations ... at least in my area.
And Sam's/Costco are going to consistently be 10 or 12 cents cheaper than nearby gas stations.
True, Gas Buddy just adds to it. I mentioned it because someone mentioned layering in a discount on Google Maps.
Gas prices are quirky. The main reason they vary so much by geographic area has to do with supply-and-demand, competition, and what the station thinks they can get away with charging. It probably also has to do with overhead costs. Stations in downtown areas of large cities probably have larger fixed costs from rents, taxes, etc. And there is the demand factor too, since stations can be in shorter supply in landlocked downtowns but there are also a lot of cars. Stations along major highways tend to charge more than those a few miles away from it. They know people will often not price-check and they also know people will pay for convenience, even if they do. Stations tend to mirror what other stations in the area are charging, but there are almost always exceptions. Some stations seem to purposefully buck the low-price trend due to brand loyalty or knowing people may stop in because their station is more closely-aligned with direction of travel. There is also the time it takes to reprice. As prices begin to fall in an area, one station is going to be the last one to fall in place. I have learned which stations in my area tend to be the most competitive after watching over time.
Costco prices can be much lower than the surrounding area, but my understanding is they use the surrounding area to set prices, just like other stations do. So you'll rarely if ever pay even a penny more at Costco than you would within a couple of miles. I've had cases where I saved 25 or 30 cents a gallon at Costco for premium. Other times, it might be the same price or a penny or two cheaper for regular unleaded. So it just depends. Regardless, I buy gas at Costco whenever I can, as long as I don't have to drive far out of the way to do so.
Pen fed Plat Rewards and Citi Costco.
