Latest Velocity BP Fuel Offers

[Jurahn]

Received 4 points/litre offer, with 50 bonus points for spending $5 in-store. Not exactly appealing, given that BP is usually one of the most expensive fuel retailers in our area.

 

[QF WP]

Ended up looking at mine - I get 100 bonus points for $10 spent instore. Unlikely to want to do that

 

[Legoman]

Bonus 100 points if I spend $10 in-store in the same transaction.

All these "offers" are getting more aggressive at trying to force you to waste money on other things you don't want. It used to be just an enticement to visit the store but without any forced commitment to buy. That obviously didn't work, so now it's moved to a forced commitment to buy in order to get the points.

Lemme think, do I need ~$1 worth of points by spending 3x the going rate on $10 worth of groceries I don't need?

 

[Legoman]

Received 4 points/litre offer, with 50 bonus points for spending $5 in-store. Not exactly appealing, given that BP is usually one of the most expensive fuel retailers in our area.

Yeah, same. You're in Perth too. BP are not competitive over here. Always the most expensive and they surcharge for card use. The only time BP is ever economical to visit where I am is when they've gotten their pricing wrong for a day and have accidentally ended up being the cheapest not through design. Even then, this only happens mid-week/cycle when fuel is at its most expensive underlying price anyway, so I only buy the minimum amount I need to (20 litres at most) to get me through to the following Monday when it will be at least 24c/l cheaper.

Have you ever tried visiting one of the BP's aligned with the IGA shop-a-docket discount scheme and tried double dipping the IGA discount as well as the Velocity discount in the same transaction? Oh boy, do you cop the stink-eye from the cashier when you try that on! I really pushed my luck once. Bought 20 litres of petrol and then went in clutching my Amex, IGA docket + my Gold Velocity card. I was hastily pointed to the home-made inkjet printed signs taped to the counter saying 3% surcharge for Amex and we do not combine IGA discount vouchers with Velocity rewards.

What pisses me off is that none of this is declared and known before it's all too late and you're already at the counter with the petrol in your tank. No matter how good your pre-planning and calculations at home are before you head out, you still get ripped because you can't possibly know all the rules of the game before you start playing.

 

[AisleSeat]

All these "offers" are getting more aggressive at trying to force you to waste money on other things you don't want. It used to be just an enticement to visit the store but without any forced commitment to buy. That obviously didn't work, so now it's moved to a forced commitment to buy in order to get the points.

Lemme think, do I need ~$1 worth of points by spending 3x the going rate on $10 worth of groceries I don't need?

I'd only use it if I needed to change my gas bottle, get ice or firewood.

 

[Jurahn]

Have you ever tried visiting one of the BP's aligned with the IGA shop-a-docket discount scheme and tried double dipping the IGA discount as well as the Velocity discount in the same transaction? Oh boy, do you cop the stink-eye from the cashier when you try that on! I really pushed my luck once. Bought 20 litres of petrol and then went in clutching my Amex, IGA docket + my Gold Velocity card. I was hastily pointed to the home-made inkjet printed signs taped to the counter saying 3% surcharge for Amex and we do not combine IGA discount vouchers with Velocity rewards.

No, never tried that - and glad I didn't, given your experience! I can't remember the last time i bought petrol at BP because of their pricing, and as you say, almost all of them surcharge for Amex. A new Puma has opened up near us, so I'll probably end up using that a fair bit - their prices are usually reasonably competitive (mind you, I have to buy Premium ULP, so "competitive" is a relative term, given how much more expensive it is than ULP!) and I can get the RAC 4c/l discount. The last time I bought petrol at a Puma station, I don't think they had an Amex surcharge.

 

[Legoman]

almost all of them surcharge for Amex.

I haven't found one yet that doesn't surcharge for Amex. Some, like the one in Balcatta on Erindale Road surcharge for all cards and will even stand over you and make sure you press debit/eftpos when you want to use a debt card to avoid Visa/MC payment routing.

A new Puma has opened up near us, so I'll probably end up using that a fair bit - their prices are usually reasonably competitive (mind you, I have to buy Premium ULP, so "competitive" is a relative term, given how much more expensive it is than ULP!) and I can get the RAC 4c/l discount. The last time I bought petrol at a Puma station, I don't think they had an Amex surcharge.

Nah they don't. They're good. There was one close to me I used to use quite a bit because they had the IGA shop-a-docket thing, but they've recently given that away to BP and gotten into bed with RAC instead. I have no relationship with RAC and don't need one, so unfortunately that's been the end of Puma for me. They're never cheap enough to beat and offset the discounted price at Calworths/Coleshell.

I'd only use it if I needed to change my gas bottle, get ice or firewood.

As for getting gas bottle exchanges. In WA you'd never do this at a petrol station anyway. Especially not a BP. Bunnings/Westfarmers in their tie-up with Kleenheat are always cheapest regardless of any discounts/vouchers/points or shop-a-dockets.

 

[Jurahn]

I haven't found one yet that doesn't surcharge for Amex. Some, like the one in Balcatta on Erindale Road surcharge for all cards and will even stand over you and make sure you press debit/eftpos when you want to use a debt card to avoid Visa/MC payment routing.

The only I found that didn't have an Amex surcharge was BP Nookenburra (the one on Scarborough Beach Road, next to Innaloo shopping centre), but haven't been there for ages, so maybe that's changed now.

Nah they don't. They're good. There was one close to me I used to use quite a bit because they had the IGA shop-a-docket thing, but they've recently given that away to BP and gotten into bed with RAC instead. I have no relationship with RAC and don't need one, so unfortunately that's been the end of Puma for me. They're never cheap enough to beat and offset the discounted price at Calworths/Coleshell.

The new Puma is currently cheaper for PULP for me than either Calworths/Coleshell (love those names, by the way LOL). I rarely ever go to Coles Express now, their prices are ridiculous for PULP these days, and they're not even on the Fuelwatch email I get each day e.g. at the moment they're almost 10c/L dearer than any of the local BP outlets!!!!!

 

[JohnK]

Received an offer of 4 points per litre + 50 bonus points for in store spend.

Good to see these offers continue but BP is generally expensive.

 

[AisleSeat]

I haven't found one yet that doesn't surcharge for Amex. Some, like the one in Balcatta on Erindale Road surcharge for all cards and will even stand over you and make sure you press debit/eftpos when you want to use a debt card to avoid Visa/MC payment routing.


Nah they don't. They're good. There was one close to me I used to use quite a bit because they had the IGA shop-a-docket thing, but they've recently given that away to BP and gotten into bed with RAC instead. I have no relationship with RAC and don't need one, so unfortunately that's been the end of Puma for me. They're never cheap enough to beat and offset the discounted price at Calworths/Coleshell.


As for getting gas bottle exchanges. In WA you'd never do this at a petrol station anyway. Especially not a BP. Bunnings/Westfarmers in their tie-up with Kleenheat are always cheapest regardless of any discounts/vouchers/points or shop-a-dockets.

Yeah, I usually go to a Coles Express servo for my bottle.

 

[AisleSeat]

Just received this offer, valid until 2 Jan:

6 points/litre on BP Ultimate
4 points/litre on any other fuel
200 points for an in-store purchase (no minimum purchase)

 

[Jurahn]

Just received this offer, valid until 2 Jan:

6 points/litre on BP Ultimate
4 points/litre on any other fuel
200 points for an in-store purchase (no minimum purchase)

I received the same offer - got a full tank at the moment, work part-time and only live about 10 minutes' drive from work so won't be using much fuel between now and 2nd January. In a couple of weeks might have to see if I can squeeze a few litres in and buy the Sunday paper in-store to get the bonus points .

 

[daft009]

Just received this offer, valid until 2 Jan:

6 points/litre on BP Ultimate
4 points/litre on any other fuel
200 points for an in-store purchase (no minimum purchase)

yep, got the same here.
will try and make use of it.
was thinking of buying a mars bar but a paper will be healthier

 

[QF WP]

x 4



Of course I said yes, as we’re on a mini break which will use a bit of petrol

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

And so too ACCC did not approve the BP WW tie up.
More bonus offers I hope.
I don't drive dont need for petrol but wlll buy in store items and see what happens... re 200 VFF points if I get them ir not.
Not a targeted offer this time round.

 

[Legoman]

I received the same offer - got a full tank at the moment, work part-time and only live about 10 minutes' drive from work so won't be using much fuel between now and 2nd January. In a couple of weeks might have to see if I can squeeze a few litres in and buy the Sunday paper in-store to get the bonus points .

I didn't get the offer at all but doesn't make any difference since BP are always completely uncompetitive in WA even when considering points/discount offers. At best the discounts just put the BP stations on par with the non-discounted prices everywhere else. The petrol price cycle in Perth has now narrowed down to a focused single day (Monday) each week when the price is cheapest. It means massive queues and half hour waits just to get to the bowsers on Mondays and then completely vacant forecourts for the rest of the week. This week, the price of petrol went up 30c/litre from Monday to Tuesday and that's completely normal in Perth.

If you really have to buy petrol on a day other than Monday in Perth, you only buy the absolute minimum you need until next Monday. This is so well known and common now the register operators don't even blink an eye at selling $5 or $10 worth of petrol on a non-Monday anymore. By contrast, single purchases of $150+ on Mondays are nothing out of the ordinary either as everyone brings their jerry cans and boats on trailers in to fill up. I don't have a boat, but I do keep three 9 litre jerry cans next to the car with a funnel in the event of getting caught out between Mondays.

Another trick in Perth is that you never go to the cheapest petrol station in your area. Always go to the second cheapest (whcih will never be more than 4c/l more expensive). The queue at the cheapest will stretch over the horizon while the second cheapest will be empty. The fuel you burn waiting to get to the bowsers at the cheapest will be more than the extra 4c/l you spend at the second cheapest.

I haven't bought a paper in at least 6 years. We have the internet in WA.

was thinking of buying a mars bar but a paper will be healthier

For you, or the environment?

 

[Jurahn]

I didn't get the offer at all but doesn't make any difference since BP are always completely uncompetitive in WA even when considering points/discount offers. At best the discounts just put the BP stations on par with the non-discounted prices everywhere else. The petrol price cycle in Perth has now narrowed down to a focused single day (Monday) each week when the price is cheapest. It means massive queues and half hour waits just to get to the bowsers on Mondays and then completely vacant forecourts for the rest of the week. This week, the price of petrol went up 30c/litre from Monday to Tuesday and that's completely normal in Perth.

If you really have to buy petrol on a day other than Monday in Perth, you only buy the absolute minimum you need until next Monday. This is so well known and common now the register operators don't even blink an eye at selling $5 or $10 worth of petrol on a non-Monday anymore. By contrast, single purchases of $150+ on Mondays are nothing out of the ordinary either as everyone brings their jerry cans and boats on trailers in to fill up. I don't have a boat, but I do keep three 9 litre jerry cans next to the car with a funnel in the event of getting caught out between Mondays.

Another trick in Perth is that you never go to the cheapest petrol station in your area. Always go to the second cheapest (whcih will never be more than 4c/l more expensive). The queue at the cheapest will stretch over the horizon while the second cheapest will be empty. The fuel you burn waiting to get to the bowsers at the cheapest will be more than the extra 4c/l you spend at the second cheapest.

I agree re the BP pricing in Perth, I rarely ever go to BP as they're usually considerably more expensive than the other stations in our area. Occasionally, one of the local BPs will be only a few cents dearer than the cheapest stations on a Sunday/Monday, so if that's the case this weekend or next, I'll get a few litres and use the offer - if not, I'm not too bothered.

I'm able to get around the Monday queues by getting fuel on a Tuesday morning before the price changes at 6am. I head off to work about 5.45am and one of the cheapest local stations is only a few minutes down the road so I just drop in there on my way and fill up. Don't have to worry about them having run out (as often happens after the Monday rush on cheap ULP) as I have to buy Premium 95 so "cheap" is a relative term for me anyway LOL.

 

[Legoman]

Don't have to worry about them having run out (as often happens after the Monday rush on cheap ULP) as I have to buy Premium 95 so "cheap" is a relative term for me anyway LOL.

I haven't seen the running out scam that used to be common recently. I suspect there was an ACCC inquiry that threatened penalties to the petrol stations that used to quote the cheapest price and then put the OUT-OF-ORDER hoods on the handles to prevent actually having to sell at that price. It was clearly a scam along with only putting on one staff member at one cash register to deliberately slow the payment process while the other member of staff helpfully restocked the cigarette cabinet while the queue to pay for petrol was out the door.

I honestly think that 95RON is the new default 'normal' standard fuel quality by sales volume these days anyway. I see at least as many people filling up with PULP as I do ULP these days. Certainly it's the case with 3 of my 4 cars with the fourth requiring 98 RON, but my cars are not 'normal' Australian fleet cars. That said though, I've been behind people at the bowsers driving entirely mundane rubbish like small hatchback Suzukis + Hyundais + KIAs and such who kick up a fuss when the bowser they've pulled up to doesn't have a blue PULP handle on it!

Our 91RON ULP is the equivalent of US 87AKI fuel (though with less Sulphur in it) which is utter rubbish and a big reason why American cars have such huge engines producing such pitiful power outputs. If American size engines ran with the volumetric efficiency of European engines, 1 million bhp outputs would be perfectly normal over there ;-) 91RON is completely unavailable as a grade of fuel in Europe. It dosn't exist, which is why virtually every European designed car here requires 95RON as a minimum anyway.

 

[daft009]

For you, or the environment?

Don't think I've bought a paper since early 00s.
thought it would be a nice change for a sat/sun morning, for old times sake

 

[Legoman]

Don't think I've bought a paper since early 00s.
thought it would be a nice change for a sat/sun morning, for old times sake

Don't bother. I occasionally pick up one of the free papers left on the tables of the golf club and I can assure you they're nothing these days like they were back in the early 00s. Back then they were 80/20% split news/articles:ads. Now it's more like 20/80% split instead. Even the articles are hard to distinguish whether they're actually genuine articles or ads in disguise.

Back when I used to get papers it would take me sometimes 30-45min to completely read one. Now when I pick one up it's a real struggle to find an article in it I haven't already read word for word verbatim on the equivalent website already a few hours earlier. Even wating for a haircut I can barely find enough in a paper today to occupy me for longer than a couple of minutes at the most. Mind you, I am speaking from the perspective of a Perth resident with the one and only newspaper colloquially known as The Worst Australian. Possibly the most trashiest tabloid in the country, so my benchmark for comparison isn't exactly very high.