Kroger 4x Fuel Rewards Promotion
Kroger and its subsidiaries run a 4x fuel rewards promotion on gift cards several times each year. I participate in these promotions each and every time since they help me save additional money on fuel and still earn a little back in rewards.
The latest of these promotions has already started and is running through 4/5/15.
Loading the Offer
Unlike the last promotion, this offer must be loaded to your Kroger (or other brand) loyalty card. To do this, simply login to your loyalty account on their website and go to the “coupons” section. Once there, click on “promotions” on the left hand side. You should now see the offer and make sure to click to load it to your card.
Kroger Fuel Rewards
With Kroger fuel rewards you normally receive 1 point for every dollar spent at their store. 100 points equals $.10 off per gallon of gas. You can earn and use as many fuel rewards, but the company does impose a few rules:
- Rewards expire at the end of the following calendar month in which they were earned.
- You can only use up to 1,000 points to receive $1 off per gallon on each transaction.
- The discount is limited to 35 gallons of gas for each purchase.
So if you earn points before 3/31 they will expire at the end of April. If you earn rewards in early April, they will expire at the end of May.
Possible Scenario
While variable load gift cards are excluded, fixed value Visa/MC gift cards are not. This opens up a situation where you can buy cards which can be easily liquidated and earn a profit, especially if you are using a card which pays 5% back at grocery stores.
As I wrote earlier today, the Chase Freedom is still paying out 5x at grocery stores through the end of March. If you have not hit your $1,500 spending limit on that promotion, then this is a good way to earn your 5% back and stack for additional savings. You can see more math regarding using a Chase Freedom card in this post from January on a similar deal.
WARNING:
I went to my Smith’s this afternoon to purchase a $100 Visa gift card like normal, but it did not earn ANY fuel rewards points. I did confirm the fine print in store and it seems that fixed value cards should still earn points. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to try a $100 Mastercard. While the terms say these cards should earn points and they have in the past, I would suggest trying a test purchase out first.
Other Possible Way to Go
Some Kroger stores sell eBay gift cards under this promotion. It may be possible to purchase these gift cards to earn 5X back and fuel rewards and then use them to purchase other gift cards during occasional sales. You could also use them for general merchandise on eBay as well.
Of course, you can also buy gift cards from dozens of other merchants at Kroger stores. I try not to stockpile merchant gift cards, but if you know that you will be shopping at a particular store, then this is a good way to realize additional savings.
Considerations
In our case, the Smith’s (our local Kroger brand) gas station is the cheapest around and it is very close as well. If you have to drive out of your way or if your local Kroger gas station is more expensive, you should definitely figure that into your calculations. You should also calculate for your time to liquidate the gift cards purchased.
Conclusion
These Kroger 4x fuel rewards deals are some of my favorites. They aren’t huge moneymakers, but we end up saving on an everyday expense. With the location of our local Smith’s being so close, this deal is a no-brainer. I plan to pickup some gift cards this month and some more next month to guarantee a huge savings on fuel through the end of May!
HT: Slickdeals
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Thanks for the news Shawn. I noticed earlier this month that Kroger (in my area anyway) started carrying more travel gift cards, including my favorite for Hyatt. (which I then use with Hyatt points & cash reservations)
For those of us triple dipping (and more) with Kroger this month, this works out to over a 25% discount. (discounts off fuel, plus discounts on Kroger i-wireless cell minutes, plus the Chase 5% points) Of course, everyone should do the math for their own circumstances… good deal for my household.
Shawn,
If you have the receipt with you, You can call roger customer service and let them know about your purchase, they will be able to add the corresponding kroger points to your account. Just make sure you tell them it’s a fixed value visa or master card .. I have done it in the past and it had worked.