Caltex - QF points instead of fuel discount

[whatmeworry]

I take the points but I use the receipt, and get a discount on my shop at my local supermarket.

 

[burmans]

I generally take the points if I buy the coughpy fuel from woolies. Comparing to the value of the discount is pretty much irrelevant. The points gained from fuel purchases are so few in the overall equation that the cost averages down pretty quickly.

Yes but if the value of the discount is pretty much irrelevant then so are the number of points, as there are half as many! Given we are up to 41 posts not sure everyone agrees its irrelevant though.

 

[medhead]

Yes but if the value of the discount is pretty much irrelevant then so are the number of points, as there are half as many! Given we are up to 41 posts not sure everyone agrees its irrelevant though.

Don't even know what you mean by half as many? I earned 300000 points last year, that a couple of thousand of those points cost me 2 cents each is irrelevant since the average cost of all of my points is much lower.

This thing about "there are half as many" doesn't even make sense.

 

[burmans]

This thing about "there are half as many" doesn't even make sense.

For me QF points are worth (at most) 1c a point so 4c discount should equate to 4 points but they only give too.

Each to their own I gues, the fact that the average cost of my points is much lower is a reason NOT to take the miniscule no. of points on offer here, rather than a pro. And that's the case regardless of the no. of points on offer, though I do accept/agree the argument that its peanuts anyway in the big scheme of things. But I don't think the low no. of money/points on offer alters the argument as to relative value, it just means that its not a big deal to argue over.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

I hate myself for even reading this thread seeing as the differences between the 2 options are so miniscule but would like to add that the equation does change if you were to spend more than $5 in the shop. You get the bonus 4c p/l if you take the discount, however still only get the 2 points p/l. ICertainly f you take the points, in effect the points start costing you 4c per point

 

[coles525]

I think totally different.

60 litres @ 4 points = 240 points.

To actually go shopping for the same points = between $480 (1/2 point cc) & $170 max. (1.5 points).

Instead I spend less and get the points I want.

 

[andye]

Lottery companies would go bust if we always spent rationally rather than emotionally

 

[medhead]

I hate myself for even reading this thread seeing as the differences between the 2 options are so miniscule but would like to add that the equation does change if you were to spend more than $5 in the shop. You get the bonus 4c p/l if you take the discount, however still only get the 2 points p/l. ICertainly f you take the points, in effect the points start costing you 4c per point

I would never spend $5 in store on overpriced products I don't particularly need, especially if taking the points option. I'm not sure I would spend $5 to save $2.40 either, assuming the 60L tank in the car is empty.

 

[burmans]

I think totally different.

60 litres @ 4 points = 240 points.

To actually go shopping for the same points = between $480 (1/2 point cc) & $170 max. (1.5 points).

Instead I spend less and get the points I want.

Sorry but your logic is wrong here, 60 litres would give you 4c off but only 2 points per litre =120 points.

I also think your logic is wrong regarding shopping. I never shop for points! I will use my CC to get points if it is for something I already want to get and it doesn't cost me any extra to use my CC, i.e. the points are free. If there is any surcharge I usually wont use the CC if possible (and certainly not if > 1%).

Clearly only a total idiot would spend $170 let alone $480 to get 240 points but that's certainly not what I am doing and I suspect there are very few people spending just to get points.

I would never spend $5 in store on overpriced products I don't particularly need, especially if taking the points option. I'm not sure I would spend $5 to save $2.40 either, assuming the 60L tank in the car is empty.

Yep, totally agree, however very rarely (extremely so) you can actually buy goods which of themselves are worth say $3+ so you are spending $5 to get $5.40 ($3 for the goods and $2.40 for the discount). In this case it may be worth it.

 

[CharlieD]

I have a work issued Motorpass card and fill up my company vehicle at least every 4 days. Motorpass will not accept the discount loaded on my rewards card but they will allow me to swipe my rewards card and issue double points if there is any loaded. Works very well!!

That's good news. Its the same with my work issued Caltex fuel card - no discount offered but hoping I will get points per litre. Will be trying it tomorrow...........

 

[coles525]

Sorry but your logic is wrong here, 60 litres would give you 4c off but only 2 points per litre =120 points.

I also think your logic is wrong regarding shopping. I never shop for points! I will use my CC to get points if it is for something I already want to get and it doesn't cost me any extra to use my CC, i.e. the points are free. If there is any surcharge I usually wont use the CC if possible (and certainly not if > 1%).

Clearly only a total idiot would spend $170 let alone $480 to get 240 points but that's certainly not what I am doing and I suspect there are very few people spending just to get points.


Yep, totally agree, however very rarely (extremely so) you can actually buy goods which of themselves are worth say $3+ so you are spending $5 to get $5.40 ($3 for the goods and $2.40 for the discount). In this case it may be worth it.

Will say it a different way. All the shopping I do or bills I pay, is done by cc.

Council rates, power & gas, phone bill, water bill, internet, postage (parcel/overseas mail), refuel the car, food.

99% of the time there is no cc surcharge. So no matter if I seem to be "shopping for points"; I would still be doing the same shopping!

No matter if I used: Cash, Chq, eftpos or credit card!

If I use cc, I get points.

If I use any other payment option, I get no points.

Diesel in the car: I don't really care what the "savings" may be (4c, 8c, per litre), notlr the conversion into points (half the cost/amount).

I will still be spending $ to be able to drive to and from work for another month. Saving less then $5 per month means nothing to me.

But since I'm purchasing something required (I don't intend walking 40km each day return between home and work!), I would rather the extra measly points then some measly cash savings.

When the total points are used for more overseas trips in U class, or maby One World trip for like 580k for 2 people; I think Im saving even more on the rrp of original airfairs.

Ending: We are all looking at the differently, some like it, others hate it!

 

[medhead]

Just on the shopping, our typical $300 shop will gain me 270 QFF and 900 MR points.

Not counting bonus points.

So not sure about $480 for 240 points from shopping. But then maybe I'm missing something.

 

[coles525]

Im talking about changing from fuel savings, to points.

The points I choose to recieve, would cost me extra $ if I decided to not goro woolies fuel outlets. $1 per point, V's nothing more then nothing! (I need to do shopping, I just get bonus points (fuel voucher) on top of using a cc.

 

[dajop]

Marketing spin = confusion.

It's simple really. Putting payment method aside (as that is irrelevant) if you went to, say Bunnings, and they said either you pay $48 for this bundle of goods, or you can pay $50 and get 100 QFF points. ..... Would that be buying points?

 

[exceladdict]

(I need to do shopping, I just get bonus points (fuel voucher) on top of using a cc.

A cynic would say "that's what they want you to think". Though, we're in an odd position where the chain with rewards is also generally the cheapest (compared to say an LCC with no FF program vs Qantas).

What will be interesting will be how velocity enters the shopping space given they've now entered petrol, and how Woolworths change EDR.

 

[burmans]

Diesel in the car: I don't really care what the "savings" may be (4c, 8c, per litre), notlr the conversion into points (half the cost/amount).

I will still be spending $ to be able to drive to and from work for another month. Saving less then $5 per month means nothing to me.

But since I'm purchasing something required (I don't intend walking 40km each day return between home and work!), I would rather the extra measly points then some measly cash savings.

This is the bit I don't get, saving $5 per month means nothing but 250 points a month is somehow great? Would saving $500/month mean something or would you rather get 25000 points because the ratio (i.e. comparative value) is exactly the same in these two cases, and personally I'd be keeping the money if offered this deal. Plenty of cheaper ways to get those 25K points.

When the total points are used for more overseas trips in U class, or maby One World trip for like 580k for 2 people; I think Im saving even more on the rrp of original airfairs.

If you were to get those points purely via buying petrol an economy flight to London (144K points) would cost the equivalent of $2800, hardly cheap let alone rapid (it would take forever at 250 points per month). But as you note, different folks, different strokes, if it works for you, go for it. For me there are better ways to effectively "buy" points.

 

[TomVexille]

If you were to get those points purely via buying petrol an economy flight to London (144K points) would cost the equivalent of $2800, hardly cheap let alone rapid (it would take forever at 250 points per month). But as you note, different folks, different strokes, if it works for you, go for it. For me there are better ways to effectively "buy" points.

Another way of thinking about that is it's 144k points to LAX in F, so $2800 is a bargain.

 

[medhead]

That's probably the more important point. It's not how you earn them but how you use them that counts. That is why we're on AFF, I assume.

 

[burmans]

That's probably the more important point. It's not how you earn them but how you use them that counts. That is why we're on AFF, I assume.

Yes but while I agree to a degree with this statement there are a least a couple of reasons I don't agree with in this instance

1. My comparative value is what I value something at, i.e. the fact that Qantas sells SYD to LAX at whatever ($15K) doesn't mean I value it at this much, in fact I value at considerably less. I would never pay that $15 with my own cash (thanks to AFF and others), not anywhere close!
2. You need to take availability into account, there is no way a hardly available and heavily qualified reward should be valued the same as a full refundable paid fare.
3. You mention AFF and this is the biggest issue. I have bought US air points at just over 1.1c in the past, i.e. under 1.5K for F return to Europe, I can get serious SQ points at ~.5c or LM at 1.5c. Even for QF I have accumulated as serious set of (non flight) points (~250K) in last two years at costs that's probably well south of .5c per point. Why would I prefer this expensive 2c/point way to accumulate points when there are MUCH cheaper options to get my points?

For me costs to earn and value to enjoy are equally important, you do after all have to do both.

 

[medhead]

I guess we can look at it another way. In the last 30 days qantas says I earned 10000 points. Let's assume that includes 240 petrol points (it doesn't) I've paid no other surcharges. So 10000 points cost me $4.80 - 0.05 cents per point.