Fuel Discount Program

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Now, that is a funny one, your best joke yet! 

[belfert]

Don't forget, EVERYTHING we buy is marked up to accommodate the fees charged by bank and credit companies to the vendor, for the service.

CASH is KING.

But beware, they are forbidden in their contract language to offer a cash discount...

My understanding is merchants could offer a cash discount, but could not charge extra to use a credit card.  I seem to recall that Flying J stopped taking certain credit cards for a time due to a dispute over the cash/credit pricing.

A few years back there was a settlement with the credit card companies in the USA that required them to allow merchants to have minimums for card purchases and to allow merchants to add a fee for use of a credit card.  There are very specific rules for merchants to tack on a fee for credit cards.  I have not yet been to a merchant that started charging for credit cards after the changes.

Very few merchants offer a cash discount so I use my credit card since the costs is already figured into the price.  The cashiers at the big retailers have no authority nor ability to offer a cash discount.  The small businesses that might offer a cash discount generally charge so much more that a cash discount might still mean a higher price in the end.

[Lin]

There are lots of gas stations here the charge more for using credit cards. There signs advertise both the cash and credit price.

[belfert]

There are lots of gas stations here the charge more for using credit cards. There signs advertise both the cash and credit price.

Isn't Arco one of the chains that charges extra for credit cards?  A few Arco stations are now in Minnesota, but I don't know if they charge extra for credit cards or not.  I have not yet run into any gas stations in Minnesota that charge extra for credit cards.

[buswarrior]

Different jurisdictions, different rules...

And none of it for the consumer...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[richard5933]

Different jurisdictions, different rules...

And none of it for the consumer...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

Here in Wisconsin the signs at stations usually have the credit price AND the cash price if there are differences. You know what you're going to pay when you pump without confusion.

I've traveled to other states where the only price posted is the cash price, and when you press the "credit" button on the pump suddenly things get more expensive. I always hate that kind of surprise.

Guess you get used to what ever you deal with regularly.

[neoneddy]

Who wants $25  in free fuel?  I'm going to signup but I want to refer someone.  Put your name down, first one will get it.

[luvrbus]

Who wants $25  in free fuel?  I'm going to signup but I want to refer someone.  Put your name down, first one will get it.

RJ started this and said use his name 

[neoneddy]

So.... just RJ? I didn't see his full name in the post.  I've been known to be blind though.

[buswarrior]

Russ Long

[plyonsMC9]

Just remembered that I signed up for the FMCA TCS program about 2 months and haven't heard back!  Need to give it another shot.  It seems that nobody has complained about their bank accounts being raided by nefarious types since signing up. 

Best Regards, Phil

[richard5933]

Just remembered that I signed up for the FMCA TCS program about 2 months and haven't heard back!  Need to give it another shot.  It seems that nobody has complained about their bank accounts being raided by nefarious types since signing up. 

Best Regards, Phil

I signed up for that program, and to be honest I don't think it was worth all the effort. Took me multiple phone calls and emails to finally get signed up. Then it took me about a week to find a way to put money on the card. Finally found a way through Zelle, but it was not seamless and involved contacting TCS via email. They were supposed to have some type of method to add funds through their app, but apparently they haven't done that yet.

In the end, I got signed up. Put $405 in the account, and haven't touched it since. Their discounts are not as good as the TSD program, and if I use the funds in the account I've got to go through the steps to refund the card.

Initially they appeared to offer discounts in more locations and at more chains, but right now TSD has really expanded their program. The TSD discounts are generally larger going head-to-head at the same station.

One might ask why I keep the TCS card then? Mainly I keep it for now as a back-up funding source for fueling. Also I have it since they do offer a few discount locations not in the TSD system, especially in areas away from the Pilot/Flying J/Loves zones.

If you still want the card, I'd suggest calling TCS directly after the holidays. Tell them you're trying to sign up from FMCA, and they will send you a packet via email. It takes a few back-and-forths to get this all set.

[buswarrior]

I wonder why i continue to belong to FMCA...

A bad habit? Like a heroin addiction?

In this day and age, why would signing up for a fuel card require all that fooling?

Just another enterprise structured, towards and by, ignorant mediocraty...

Wish it was better.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[luvrbus]

I will say FMCA stepped up and paid there share on Sonja's helicopter medical emergency ride so I renewed again,I mostly use QuickTrip they do all right on price and don't hassle me over the extra  8 cents tax off for RV's either here in AZ.Loves is the pits unless you fill at the RV pumps to get the 8 cents off   

[chessie4905]

After you are a member for thirty years, you should automatically be converted to a lifetime member with no more dues. When they built their main office building, they offered lifetime memberships with no convention rally fees for, if I recall $500 donation?