Which petrol kiosk loyalty card offers customers the greatest cash savings?
SPC&U PROGRAMME HOW IT WORKS This is the only card that gives you discounts off the next month’s purchase based on the current month’s spending. There is no need to accumulate points − each time you pump, the card records the amount spent and totals the bill at the end of the month.
REWARDS Get a 5 per cent discount for monthly bills up to $50, 6 per cent for between $50 to $300, 7 per cent for $300 to $500, 8 per cent for above $500. You can include purchases from Choices outlets (the minimarts at SPC) to your bill, although the discounts don’t apply there.
SAVINGS If you spend $200 in October, you get a 6 per cent discount on your petrol bill in November. This works out to a $12 saving. It takes just two months to save more than $20.
VERDICT9 Straightforward, and with the most direct savings
ESSO SMILES DRIVER REWARDS HOW IT WORKS Spend $1.25 to earn one point. Accumulate the points to redeem from a catalogue of 50 items. The points are valid as long as you make a purchase once a year. The rewards brochure is available online, with a useful one-page summary that lists the rewards by categories. Redeem by phone, fax or by filling in a form at any Esso petrol kiosk. Car washes, fuel and grocery vouchers can be redeemed instantly while other vouchers will be mailed to you within three weeks.
REWARDS We were impressed by the range of popular stores in the catalogue, like Charles & Keith and Robinsons, and dining joints like Sushi Tei and Crystal Jade. Redeem a car wash for 175 points, or chalk up 5,500 points for a Philips Micro Hi-fi . You can also exchange your points for vouchers at Fairprice and Cheers.
SAVINGS 600 points gets you two $10 fuel vouchers. With an average monthly bill of $200, it would take you four months to accumulate the points.
