The cost of Credit

[Broompilot]

I have been noticing the price of using credit cards is increasing out there. TAs I believe is now .05 at some stations I know its at least .04. Pilots are the same. Wilco/Hess does not charge and if you have a Flying J Tab account is the same as cash.

I did recieve a Pilot Visa and they do not offer cash discount but will credit you for any store purchases thru the mail which is bull *&^% in my opinion (fine tiny little print) so they are gona be getting my card returned. After 2,000 gallons I get a whoppping $20. store credit big deal.

Currently thru nine months I have purchased almost 26K in fuel that is over 10K gallons at .04 four hundred dollars plus a ton of mail to open up and get paid on time.

Currently thinking of loading up 2K on the Flying J card using them and just Wilco for Visa or anyone else that does not have an excessive fee and taking a withdraw of about $800 a shot at Flying J when I am there and begin paying cash. J does not charge any fees for withdraws and I believe the limit is 1K.

Anyone got a better suggestion?

 

[LDB]

I have a mastercard that's conoco/76/phillips66 and when I use it at conoco branded flying j, or any station with one of the 3 brands on it, I get a 3% rebate. I have to pay the credit price but it's still a better deal than the cash price as long as fuel is $1.349 or higher. Not all J's are conoco and for the ones that aren't I have their TAB bank card to get the cash price. It is also my frequent fueler card so it's dual purpose.

At Pilot I pay full price and get a 4 cent per gallon rebate at the end of the month for all purchases that month, if I use my company issued comdata card. I've heard the Wilco/Hess branded card gets a 5% discount but don't know for sure. I am rarely in an area with their stations but am going to stop at one the next chance I get to check it out.

Leo Bricker
OOIDA 677319
truck 4958
73's K5LDB
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[MSinger]

1997 Dodge Ram 3500 with 12' cube. Dock high with jackstands. 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel.


I always use my Discover card at Flying J and receive the cash price.
I use my Flying J Frequent Fueler card to authorize the pump and then select "Pay By Card" then swipe my Discover card. The price on the pump appears to be the credit price but when I go in to sign my ticket I get 4 cents per gallon off as "cash discount" then another 1 cent per gallon off with my frequent fueler card.

At Pilot I use the auto/RV pumps and do not get charged extra for using credit card.

 

[Broompilot]

According to the last post.....Now is that not a bunch of crap if I drive an RV and am a seldom useage customer you get a discount but if your a truck driver bend over, would you like KY or Vaseline.... No wonder I hate using this crapola company, fast food and get the *&^% out of here we would rather cater to summer drivers than professionals that continue to use the services summer, spring, fall, or winter....

I cannot understand why I or we even bother with this chain the only nice thing about them is they do have nice showers compared to some of the other truck stops... Excuse me for being so vocal... we are getting taken advantage in a big way if what the last post, posted is in fact true which I can believe he is correct.

If I pulled my big 6 wheeler into the RV slot think they would mind????????

 

[MSinger]

1997 Dodge Ram 3500 with 12' cube. Dock high with jackstands. 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel.

BROOMPILOT,

I agree with you 100%. I only go to Pilot as a last resort. They are only competetive when a Flying J is across the street and even then they are at least 2 cents per gallon higher. If they are out by themselves they can be as much as 15 cents a gallon higher than the nearest J.

As for my last post about the price at the auto/RV lanes. I swear it is true. Most of their pumps on that side have both unleaded and diesel. You know they aren't charging the 4 wheelers more to use their credit card "pay at the pump" feature for gasoline. It is the same story for diesel in those islands.
In Indiana it costs 6% more for diesel at the auto/RV lanes because they add sales tax to the price. If you use the truck lane they assume you have an ICC or DOT number which makes the fuel tax exempt at the time of purchase.

 

[DannyD]

This is only my opinion, but the best card to get is the Speedway/Chase card. For the first 2 months you get 8% off. You don't get it at the pump, but you get it as a rebate on your bill one month later. To keep it simple I'll just use gas purchases, but your bill would look something like this.

March: Bought $1000 in gas.

April: Bought $2000 in gas.

May: Bought 1500 in gas.

Your May statement will show $2000 being bought, w/ $80 rebate. You then pay them $1920. June's bill will show you bought $1500 w/ a $160 rebate. You pay them $1340.

After the first two months, you then get a 4% rebate. Still a pretty good deal. If gas is $2.50 you save about 10 cents a gallon.

If you buy the gift cards b4 you fill up, you save 4% right at the counter. A $100 gas card will cost you $96. That's an additional savings that you get on the spot. Make sure you buy the gift cards & not the fuel card. The gift card is a better value.

Hope this helps some. Be safe all.

 

[louixo]

Long ago I dumped my cards and went cash. It´s the most cost efficient. You get what you pay for. No inflated pump prices and then false rebates, or merchnadise gifts for usage. I go to an ATM machine and draw the max on my card. If I need more cash I use two cards, which these days is usually the case. The max draw is usually around $500 give or take, per card, so I work with that figure. I´ve been doing it so long it´s rare that I get stuck with an ATM that won´t go that high for a cash draw. The cost of cash is $1.50-$2.00 per draw. When you pay with the hard green for anything, if there is a discount, you get it, and you don´t pay the premium card price either. Statements are minimal, and can be paid by phone or computer. Best way to go for me. I only use my cards for purchases in malls etc. My road expenses are cash, except if I need a big ticket item, or repair. I budget 10% of my weekly check for tires, oil, and repairs, and pay the cards off every 30 days when I have to use them for repairs or purchases. In all the years I´ve been trucking it works and I save all that interest. Next to getting the miles, money management is the most important thing for your business.

 

[TheGoodGuy]

Well said louixo, cash is the only way to go.

I suggest a debit card with Bank of America, not only, are their banks all over the country but they have thousands of ATM's around the nation.

Saves the 2 or 3 dollar withdrawal fees, and the limit is $600.00 a day.