Using PC Financial Mastercard for fuel purchases at Esso | Credit card reward programs | Discussion forum

Hmm said
I am confused about the PC Financial Credit card and Esso/Mobil Price Privileges Fuel Savings Card and how it works. I understand that it gives a 3-cent-per-litre discount on fuel at participating Esso and Mobil stations, but I am not sure how to calculate the discounted price.

For example, the digital sign at the Esso gas bar at the Real Canadian Superstore (RCC) today showed that gas was $1.919 per litre. With the Price Privileges card, the price would be $1.849 per litre based on the banner inside the store. However, when I subtract 3 cents from 1.919, I get 1.889. How did they arrive at 1.849?

And is there a quick calculation or method I can do in my head to calculate the discounted price? I want to be able to compare the discounted price to the price of gas at other stations to determine if it is feasible to go to the Esso gas bar at RCC.

Thank you for your help in clarifying this.  

The "Price Privileges Card" seems to be a Esso/Mobil program. You need to look into that there. I couldn't find much on it with a quick Google search.

As for "PC Optimum", scanning your PC Optimum card (or PC Optimum linked PC MC) before pumping gas will earn you 10pts/litre (= $0.01/litre) immediately and will show on your gas receipt.

If you then pay with PC MC, you will receive another 10pts/litre a few days later. Then a few days after that, another 10pts/$.

So, say 50 litres @ $1.919/litre ...

1: 10pts/L = 500
2: 10pts/L = 500
3: 10pts/$ = 950

Total PC MC Charge = $95.95
Pts received = 1950 ($1.95 equivalent)

Net Fuel Cost = ($95.95-$1.95)/50 = $1.880
PC Opt/MC Savings = $0.039/litre

Then add whatever your Price Privileges does for you ...

Norman1 said
The Price Privileges 3¢/L discount will be applied before charging to the PC Mastercard. So, the charge will be

50L * ($1.919/L - $0.03/L) = $94.45

#3 will be 940 pts instead of 950.

Total pts received will be 1,940 for an equivalent of $1.94. Savings from the pts will be

$1.94 / 50L = $0.0388/L

Net price would be

$1.919/L - $0.03/L - $0.0388/L = $1.8502/L  

As I mentioned in my post, I couldn't find anything informative on Price Privileges. Do you have a link? Thanks ...

Norman1 said
I found this: https://www.esso.ca/en-ca/price-privileges

Looks like Esso renamed the cards to Fuel Discount Cards.  

Thanks Norman ...

So not really a Loyalty or Discount Gas card but rather a prepaid or gift gas card. Not much of a deal in that unless somebody wants to give you one to pay for gas ...

I'll pass ...

Norman1 said
Yes, those Esso discount cards were a gimmick.

Instead of giving someone a $25 gift card for $25 worth of gas, one could give them 5¢ off of 500L of gas.   

Give us $25 for a gift card that'll go in the kitchen drawer with the others in your collection. Please leave it there in that protected enclosure. Forever...

...and they can keep your money longer, until you buy enough gas to use up $25 at 5 cents a litre - like, 500 litres! You can easily get your cash out on the first fill-up with a straight $25 gift. And then you can go wherever the price is best.

A friend tried to pay some cash he owed me with one of those cards. And for weeks thereafter, that brand charged 5 cents more per litre! So I never got a dime of my cash back!
RetirEd