Be careful when using fuel dockets

[lino6]

I used to work in a Wollies/Caltex servo a few years ago. It was mind-blowing to me the amount of people who thought all of the problems we my fault. So just something to consider when you get to the counter;

1, the people who work there don't personally set fuel prices, its done by some tool in an office in Sydney. And no, the people behind the counter can't give out the phone number for this tool as much as they would love to. Remember these people that work there often have to drive to get to work and when I worked there staff discount was the 4c/l only.
2, if the people behind the counter don't follow policies and procedures, they get fired.... So when the attendant asks you to not jam the nozzle open, its because if they get caught allowing it to happen the get the sack (despite what they think of the policy).
3, The computer systems on the registers are Nazi's and will not do anything that is not allowed. So if that particular store doesn't accept a certain discount there is nothing the attendant can do weather they want to or not.

I get frustrated like anyone, but having worked in a petrol station I have realised that it takes a special type of person (thick skinned) to work in this area of customer service. So now when I go to a petrol station and fuel is $1.95 I swear at the sign on the way in and not the poor bastard working behind the counter. Not even the manager of the place has any control, in fact the only difference between the manager and the staff is the manager has to roster the staff and order stock and that's about it. So next time someone wants to have a crack at the attendant because they shut the pump off for jamming the LPG nozzle open remember if they don't they can be sacked then you'll have to complain about them being on the dole....

[Goose]

1, the people who work there don't personally set fuel prices, its done by some tool in an office in Sydney.

Not a guy in the office. I would expect pricing in the big retail networks (like WW/Caltex) is done by an automated computer program that is constantly taking tabs on all fuel sales (demand), fuel volumes available at the individual sites (supply), wholesale prices (base cost), nearby competitor prices (competition) and producing a unique retail price for each fuel product in each outlet a few times a day, so as to maximize revenue.

3, The computer systems on the registers are Nazi's and will not do anything that is not allowed. So if that particular store doesn't accept a certain discount there is nothing the attendant can do weather they want to or not.

100% agree here... and this should be the obvious response to the very first post. If you walk in with a docket and the guy behind the counter can't scan it, there is absolutely nothing he can do for you. Hang onto the docket and use it next time at the right store or give it to a family member.

[Bird]

If its a common complaint and your sick of being abused, put up a sign saying 'we don't accept XYZ at this outlet'....

its not that hard, they do it with Amex and Corporate cards ...

[lino6]

Not a guy in the office. I would expect pricing in the big retail networks (like WW/Caltex) is done by an automated computer program that is constantly taking tabs on all fuel sales (demand), fuel volumes available at the individual sites (supply), wholesale prices (base cost), nearby competitor prices (competition) and producing a unique retail price for each fuel product in each outlet a few times a day, so as to maximize revenue.

Certainly when I worked in the industry, it was a guy in the office. Who ever worked the first am shift had to do a drive by a number of nearby servos and note their fuel prices. Then you had to call through to this dude at 9am and inform him of the prices and he would let you know over the phone if you had to change prices or leave as is. Definitely not automated in those days. When I left they were trying to do it over all shifts but staff didn't appreciate doing an extra 10km unpaid to work to do the price checks. I would doubt the ACCC would allow all fuel prices into some computer system to allow regular price updates, we were strictly forbidden to give out prices over the phone because of the possibility of "collusion" over fuel prices. It was also frowned upon to work for 2 different fuel companies in case you used information to set fuel prices between companies.

[Beachman]

Here is a list of the participating Caltex servo's. Thanks for putting up this thread as I need to put 140L of fuel in the car this week and I was going to use the 14c voucher. The servo I usually use aren't on the attached list, so you just saved me going through the same heartache.
 www.woolworthspetrol.com.au/media/admin/194/_/5e5di3wr2pvaww4s04/ReceiptRewardsRedemptionLocationsWebsite.pdf

[Nay-DMAX]

If its a common complaint and your sick of being abused, put up a sign saying 'we don't accept XYZ at this outlet'....

its not that hard, they do it with Amex and Corporate cards ...

This would work if people actually read the signs a lot don't and if that is all they have on them and haven't read the sign then even point it out then does make it difficult for the shop attendant if they are coping the abuse.  I would hope most would not rely solely on something like Amex since it is not accepted everywhere

[krisandkev]

Bad service is not restricted to Coles/Woolworths outlets.  I use to use our local ‘United Fuel’ servo and never at the Woolworths one as the United was already discounted.  Until the attendant charged me for the wrong pump and after a bit of a heated debate with the manager they would not back down and insisted that I used the pump that the computer showed, even though I was parked beside a different pump!  I have not been back to that servo since, and I was buying a lot of petrol and diesel from that servo.  I just voted with my feet.    Kevin

[Bird]

Bad service is not restricted to Coles/Woolworths outlets.  I use to use our local ‘United Fuel’ servo and never at the Woolworths one as the United was already discounted.  Until the attendant charged me for the wrong pump and after a bit of a heated debate with the manager they would not back down and insisted that I used the pump that the computer showed, even though I was parked beside a different pump!  I have not been back to that servo since, and I was buying a lot of petrol and diesel from that servo.  I just voted with my feet.    Kevin

Tell em to call the cops and watch the security tape...
then never go back...

[MDS69]

I fill at my local Caltex/Woolies with Vortex diesel, and usually get a 4c/L discount if I spend $5 in store, a couple of cherry ripes Yesterday the dude says if you spend another $5 in store he'll give me another 6c/L off. As I had bought 156L I couldn't resist, $15.60 off and a stack of cherry ripes

I filled up at Woolworths on 07/01/15 and put 162L in. I had my 4c docket (good for only 150L) and went into the store. Then the usual spend $5.00 in store for an additional 4c. On that day there was a promotion of 6c if you spend $10.00 in store. Somehow the git behind the counter gave me all 3 discounts so I got a total discount of $21.00. So I spent $10.00 in store which paid for itself and saved another $11.00, happy days.

It was good to put in 162L and only pay $167.45 instead of around $240.00 for a change

Someone above mentioned the overpriced items to save the additional which is a false economy but Coles servos are starting to charge supermarket prices for grocery items. Icecreams, drinks etc still overpriced.

[HuskyInAuz]

Don't travel to the US then, pre-pay is standard practice there, also stops drive offs.

Eh?  Your grouping 50 states into one statement.  In Oregon there is no pre-pay since you can't pump your own petrol/diesel.  In Washington your card is validated if using a CC at the pump but I've never had to prepay unless using cash..

[lino6]

Eh?  Your grouping 50 states into one statement.  In Oregon there is no pre-pay since you can't pump your own petrol/diesel.  In Washington your card is validated if using a CC at the pump but I've never had to prepay unless using cash..

Don't forget Alaska, no pre-paying there because the moose they ride runs on pasture   

[HuskyInAuz]

Don't forget Alaska, no pre-paying there because the moose they ride runs on pasture   

LOL .. unless it's winter then the rider uses Jägermeister (Schapps)to combat the chill and shares it with the moose's.

[davenmarcia]

I usually fill up at the local metro when needed but when I use the woolies standard 4c discount i don't do the spend extra and get so much off discount.
However on our cape trip last yearwhen filling up at either coles or woolies  we were offered a few times in Qld and each time I asked the attendent how much will I save and a couple of times they actually calculated it for me and when i save money I bought the extra to get the discount.(mainly after long drive with 2 kids under 7 in the back seat to keep them quiet lol).

Also Thanks for the heads up about the newlambton woolies as that is one i do use now and then.

Dave

[Redcherokee]

In Adelaide do you have to pre-buy your fuel at Costco like you do in Canberra?  I was going to fill up there after Christmas, but refused to guess if I needed $100 or $120 worth of diesel to fill up...

They only charge you for what you actually use.  You put in an amount greater than you think you need, they get a bank pre authorisation for that amount, you fill up, and they reverse the pre authorisation and charge you the exact amount. Even if it is out by just one cent.   

It is the only way an automated system can prevent you filling up and driving off without paying.

[Coiled]

Lucky it was you and not me.

I wouldn't have paid. I would have left all my contact details and stating that I am willing to pay once resolved with management.

It isn't about the money it is the principle of it and I wouldn't be aggressive to the guy behind the counter but I wouldn't sugar coat it either especially when they acknowledge the regular confusion and lack of effort to clarify.

Disclaimer to the above is I typically don't use these dockets nor shop at these type of servos for fuel but if I am I always on the alert and looking for the notices.

[KingBilly]

Those fuel dockets clearly state on them that the discount is only available at participating outlets.  If you went to a new outlet and didn't check first, you have nobody to blame but yourself.  Obvously if you had been to the outlet previously and had received a discount, then the next time didn't, you may have an argument

Driving off without paying, no matter if you leave your contact details, without mutual agreement from the service station that they accept this arrangement, then it is nothing more than a criminal offence of stealing.

KB

[pauljygrant]

I'm not endorsing either of the big 2 although I do tend to use them for fuel.  However what I do like is the Woolies phone app. It states the current price at its local outlets and also if linked to your reward card also tells you what value of docket will be redeemed next.
I've used this when travelling into the city and saved a few dollars. Coles doesn't provide prices via its app.
I also feel sorry for the counter staff that are 'forced' to offer lollies etc to every customer paying for fuel. Having worked in retail and know how they are mystery shopped so can't differ from their script, I 'complained' to Coles via their website - my issue is actually to benefit the staff although made the matter sound more like it annoyed me as a customer.  Perhaps if enough people complain, they might let us pay without being hassled.?

[rotare]

Some of these fuel discount offers seem almost too good to be true.... and in most cases they probably are.  There have been plenty of studies and investigations on these sorts of docket / petrol discounts and all ended with the a similar conclusion that the consumer is really no better off.

Nothing more than an effective marketing strategy unfortunately....
 

[MDS69]

Some of these fuel discount offers seem almost too good to be true.... and in most cases they probably are.  There have been plenty of studies and investigations on these sorts of docket / petrol discounts and all ended with the a similar conclusion that the consumer is really no better off.

Nothing more than an effective marketing strategy unfortunately....

I don't know about that.
In a lot of cases I see there may be a BP with a price of $1.09/L and the Coles or Woolworths a cent of two either side of that then the $0.04/L off that then I will go with the discounted fuel everytime. Sure you pay for it when buying groceries in the supermarket but when you shop there anyway......

As much as I would like to shop at IGA they are more expensive and don't have the range.

[Bird]

I don't know about that.
In a lot of cases I see there may be a BP with a price of $1.09/L and the Coles or Woolworths a cent of two either side of that then the $0.04/L off that then I will go with the discounted fuel everytime. Sure you pay for it when buying groceries in the supermarket but when you shop there anyway......

you pretty much wrote in a longer format 'I agree'..

[rotare]

I don't know about that.
In a lot of cases I see there may be a BP with a price of $1.09/L and the Coles or Woolworths a cent of two either side of that then the $0.04/L off that then I will go with the discounted fuel everytime. Sure you pay for it when buying groceries in the supermarket but when you shop there anyway......

As much as I would like to shop at IGA they are more expensive and don't have the range.

In a round about way you've just stated the same conclusion as the point I made.  You save on petrol but pay more for groceries in the first place.   

Regardless of whether you are shopping at Coles or Woolworths already, the point is, overall you're unlikely to be any better off financially than someone who chooses not to use Coles and Woolworths for groceries and petrol.  This has been demonstrated numerous times.

Again, it's just a very clever and effective marketing strategy and a good way of securing more of your $'s.
   

[Paul (SA)]

Unless you hang out the front of Woolies and Coles like a weirdo and beg people for their shopping receipts, in which case you come out in front by about $2.37 every time you fill up the average household car.

[oldmate]

Unless you hang out the front of Woolies and Coles like a weirdo and beg people for their shopping receipts, in which case you come out in front by about $2.37 every time you fill up the average household car.

    Next time i walk past ill be sure to stop and give you mine mate 

[dales133]

I drink a fair bit of red bull or poweraide or water from servos and if I full my tank and get some drinks and save 8 -10 cents a liter then it's worth it to me.but I hate big corporations trying to cull thier competition in the same lite

[Elky]

I used to use a local woolies servo religiously, I fact I tried to only use that servo so in the event of contaminated diesel I could easily prove where it came from, then I discovered the northbound BP truckstop at forest glen was selling diesel cheaper than I would get at woollies discounted, closer to me too, was a win win situation, today I filled up at 118.9, they are usually 10c cheaper than anyone else ( except for the Matilda/puma servo at kunda park, which is also a truck stop)

The big 2 supermarkets can go and jump....