Analysing Canadian Gas Station Cards
The price of gas (petrol) has gone up over the years, but there is nothing we can do about it. If there is at least a small degree of comfort, it is that with strategic use, you could get something back from the gas stations or companies, and this is in the form of the now-favourite points.
The series of essays will consider some of the benefits offered by the gas stations. We will only consider the status in Ontario, and also only the following four majors – Petro-Canada, Shell, Esso and Sunoco.
Obviously, there is one big question: which is the most beneficial card.
In Part 5, we try to get to that, even though it is no easy task.
First, this is NOT a scientific analysis; rather a very basic analysis with some simple and basic presumptions.
The Input Method
I tank about five times a month, each time about 40 litres.
I have also assumed that I pump only regular gas which, again I have assumed, to be a dollar a litre.
Calculation
Let’s say, I have tanked for 2000 dollars and want to know the rough monetary value of having used the various stations.
Petro Points: 10,000 Petro Points. According to their website, 10,000 Petro Points would earn a gas gift certificate to the value of $5.00.
Sunoco: 6000 Sunoco Performance Points. 20,000 Sunoco Points equals $20.00. Based on this, 6000 Points would equal $6.00
Esso: 2000 Esso Extra Points. 1800 Points equals $10.00. Therefore, 2000 Points would equal $11.11
Shell: 80 Air Miles. It is a little bit tough to calculate the value for this, but 175 Air Miles can get a $20.00 fuel certificate. Therefore, 80 Miles would have a value of just over $9.00
So, a rough translation of the value of the various cards would mean the following:
$2000.00 spent=$5.00 @ Petro Points, $ 6.00 @ Sunoco, $11.11 @ Esso and $9.14 @ Shell.
Again, I wish to stress this is a very simple calculation, and one might be able to get more out of the cards by being a strategist – for example, linking HBC to the various cards would bring more points. But that is for another day.
Sunoco Performance Points — A Gas Card With Rewards – 4
The price of gas (petrol) has gone up over the years, but there is nothing we can do about it. If there is at least a small degree of comfort, it is that with strategic use, you could get something back from the gas stations or companies, and this is in the form of the now-favourite points.
The series of essays will consider some of the benefits offered by the gas stations. We will only consider the status in Ontario, and also only the following four majors – Petro-Canada, Shell, Esso and Sunoco.
In Part 4, we analyse some of the benefits of using the Sunoco gas station.
Benefits come primarily through two types of cards – Sunoco Performance Points and the HBC Credit Card or HBC MasterCard.
Both are free.
Sunoco Performance Points Card
Points are awarded for the following:
Ultra 94 fuel: 20 points/litre
Sunoco 91 fuel: 5 points/litre
Sunoco 89 fuel: 5 points/litre
Sunoco 87 (regular) fuel: up to 3 points (you will have had purchased 100 or more litres of regular fuel during the previous month to receive 3 points; otherwise, you get one point/litre)
Gold diesel: 10 points/litre
Regular diesel: up to 3 points/litre (same rules as Sunoco regular fuel apply in terms of the number of points awarded)
Eco-wash/Eco-bright/Eco-brilliant car-washes: 30 points/dollar
Eco-wash/eco-clean: 20 points/dollar
In-store merchandise: 20 points/dollar
Rewards:
20,000 Performance Points= $ 20.00 Sunoco gift card (to be used to purchase fuel, car-wash or in-store merchandise)
Partnership Programs
If you have HBC Credit Card or HBC MasterCard, link your Sunoco Performance Points account and receive 50 HBC Points for every dollar spent.
To know more about the program, or to apply, go to the Sunoco Loyalty Programs Website.
Shell Canada — Tanking With Rewards – 3
The price of gas (petrol) has gone up over the years, but there is nothing we can do about it. If there is at least a small degree of comfort, it is that with strategic use, you could get something back from the gas stations or companies, and this is in the form of the now-favourite points.
The series of essays will consider some of the benefits offered by the gas stations. We will only consider the status in Ontario, and also only the following four majors – Petro-Canada, Shell, Esso and Sunoco.
In Part 3, we analyse some of the benefits of using the Shell gas station.
Benefits come primarily through two types of cards – Shell’s partnership with Air Miles Program and the four different types of MasterCards from Bank of Montreal (BMO).
Air Miles Program
You can swipe the Air Miles card to get the following:
One Air Mile for the first 20 dollars, and one Air Mile for every $ 30.00 thereafter for fuel and other purchases at Shell.
Two Air Miles on oil change services for up to $ 14.99, three Miles for between 15.00-29.99 and five Miles if the value is more than $30.00
There are also special offers from time to time.
Shell/BMO MasterCards
No Annual Fee Cards
Shell Air Miles MasterCard
Benefits:
Save 1.5 cents on every dollar spent at Shell, to a maximum purchase of $2500.00 per month.
1 reward Mile for every $20.00 at other locations
1.5 reward Miles if you rent car through National Car Rental or Alamo Rent A Car
Discounts on car rentals of up to 25%
Shell CashBack MasterCard
Save 2.5 cents on every dollar spent at Shell for first three months, to a maximum purchase of $2,500.00 per month
Save 1.5 cents on every dollar at Shell after first three months.
Save 0.5 cents per dollar on purchases made using the card elsewhere.
1.5 cents per dollar on National Car Rental or Alamo Rent A Car locations worldwide.
Annual Fee Cards
Shell Gold Air Miles MasterCard (Annual Fee $ 99.00)
5 times bonus miles for purchases at Shell for the first three months
2 times bonus Miles after first three months, to a maximum of $2,500.00
One Mile for every $15.00 on all other purchases
25% discount on number of Air Miles required for flights worldwide and no blackout
2 times bonus miles on National Car Rentals and Alamo Rent A Car.
Discounts on car rentals
Shell Premium CashBack MasterCard (Annual Fee $49.00)
10 cents on every dollar at Shell for first three months, to a maximum of $2,500.00
3 cents for every dollar spent after the first three months
1 cent per dollar on all other purchases
BMO Roadside Assistance at no cost
3 cents on every dollar spent at National Car Rental or Alamo Rent A Car rentals.
To know more about the Shell advantages, go to Shell Canada Website.
