posted on July 16, 2000 05:26:52 AM new
If you read the fine print, they are planning on charging you $3/month to use the card after the 90 free trial period. Interestingly, they didn't mention this when you requested it, nor (to the best of my knowledge) do they charge a monthly fee for their other services.
So, at a savings of 10-15 cents per gallon (or so they claim), you have the hassle of going to a specific gas station, bringing this card, paying up front for your gas, forfeiting any gas not used in 90 days, paying penalties if you pump too much or the wrong kind of gas, maximum of 100 gallons per month, etc. Balance the "huge" monthly savings versus the fee and hassle, and I'm thinking of passing on this "deal".
We've used their services on hotels and air tickets,and there it makes sense (effectively auctioning off unused seats that would go empty otherwise), but gas is a different kind of creature.
posted on July 16, 2000 06:03:24 AM new
Hi there! I have been using the Priceline Webhouse card for groceries. They do charge you $3/per month to use it, but ONLY if you do use it that month. I have saved a LOAD of money there...especially on diapers! The gas may not be as good a deal, we recieved the card, but have not used it yet. Perhaps, they will "revamp" it the way they did the grocery card, early enough to keep people interested.
The one bummer about the Grocery card is not due to the fault of Priceline.com, but with their affiliates. When you submit to some of the "trial periods", the affiliates have charged our credit card before the trial period expires; sometimes before we recieve the informational package about the program. But, all total, we have really enjoyed the program. Besides diapers, we have saved a lot of money on good quality meats.
posted on July 16, 2000 07:02:28 AM new
I'm going to check into the groceries. Even at $3 per month, assuming you can buy unlimited groceries per month, it seems like families who spend a lot on food might be able to save. (with 7 kids, 2 in diapers, I suspect I'm one of them...)
Why do I think priceline is just trying to cash in on the current gas price increase?
posted on July 16, 2000 01:03:00 PM new
I've been using priceline grocery for a while and I've never seen the $3 per month charge, were is this listed??
posted on July 16, 2000 04:31:13 PM new
Priceline does charge $3.00 a month for any of their services that require a card. However, charge $3.00 per MEMBER, not per CARD. If you are already using the Grocery Card and paying $3.00, it won't cost anything extra for the Gas Card.
posted on July 16, 2000 11:06:29 PM new
I been using the priceline gas card for about a month now, I save almost $.25 a gallon in my area, pretty good deal when you drive a SUV!!!
posted on July 17, 2000 12:58:44 PM new
I believe this card and it's company to be one big rip off as I have never received the card as promised. For the last 4 months I have send e-mails to this company asking for the card and all they say is they have sent out thousands of these cards. If I get the card, I will not use it since they have lied to me and kept me waiting. I have not heard of the $3 dollar charge and that is part of "Disclosure" a rule that must be followed in all business venture. That is illegal according to business law, so based upon what I know to date, forget this card.
posted on July 17, 2000 10:58:15 PM new
I haven't tried the card -- just think it's ironic and amusing that the person who posted this thread goes by "captainkirk", when Priceline STILL has Shatner doing those doofuscommercials! (I change the channel in 1/2 second flat!)
The buck doesn't even PAUSE here!
posted on July 20, 2000 12:04:33 AM new
I heard there are a few point programs that you can use with your priceline purchases, does anyone know what they are?
posted on July 23, 2000 05:41:11 AM new
Priceline and it's endless promises of "savings" is just bunk, IMO. Sure, you might have a "good chance" or "not so good chance" at savings 10 or 20 cents at a local gas station---who is charging $1.85 or $1.97 a gallon. Why do that when I can go to another station selling gas for $1.55? Wow, some savings. And when I read the bit about the $3 service charge, I just threw the card away. Maybe Priceline is great for seasoned citizens who have money to burn or want to THINK they are saving money and get a warm, fuzzy feeling when they whip out their Priceline card. Priceline is right up there with Costco as legal "highway robbery."
posted on July 23, 2000 01:37:46 PM new
Hi Everybody--just a fast glimpse of my trials and tribulations with the priceline gas card. Got it about a month ago. Used it once--got my gas for $1.46 (at that time regular here was about $1.59). Yippee, I say to myself. Then, the last two times I have tried to "win" my price--its a no go and they offer some stupid incentive to buy other items from other companies to get my price. HogWash! It's a scam. I collect obsolute plastic--so not throwing this card away--in a few years-- will be putting it up for auction as a collectible.
posted on July 23, 2000 08:37:40 PM new
Yep, I'm with everyone else. After reading about the $3.00 monthly charge I cut up the card. I did check to see whether the card would save me any money it and would have actually cost me more to use it! 2 weeks ago gas was $1.39 at the corner and Priceline said the average price for the 3 stations I picked was $1.52. Priceline thought there was a chance I could get it for $1.46!! Woo hoo!! Anyway, I filled up for $1.21 today which means it would probably have been $1.35 through Price-scam!
posted on July 29, 2000 02:26:38 PM new
Luck of the draw? Do message boards actually work? Not really sure, but for the hay of it--clicked on Priceline.com today to see if I could get my gas price. Surprise--I did. Games, games, games. It wearies me so sometimes.
posted on July 30, 2000 03:37:25 AM new
I have not tried the Gas card so it may not be as good, but the grocery part is great. I've yet to save less than 1/2 of what they say when I get to the register. Wednesday I went to the grocery and when I checked out the register price was $65, I had paid $32 on priceline. I didn't know about the $3 charge, I've been using it for about 3months now, but at an average of 3-4 times a month to the store for a family of 5 at $30 savings per trip, I'll pay $3 to use it.
posted on July 31, 2000 03:29:50 PM new
Guess I don't like:
- paying for groceries by credit card
- paying in advance
- if the store is out of stock "then check one of our other affiliated stores." Sorry, no refunds.
- if the item is bad it's between you and the store. Sorry, no refunds.
posted on July 31, 2000 03:45:34 PM new
The thing is the only offer national brands, have you ever seen your grocery out of tropicana oj, or kellogs cereals. In 3 months it hasn't happened yet. Also I pay for it with my check card, visa logo, which is the same thing I use to pay for grocerys at the store, just like writing a check.
posted on August 26, 2000 07:32:07 AM new
Just got this e-mail from Priceline and thought I would post it FYI -
Name Your Own Price for Gas has just gotten even better.
Great News! - No Monthly Fees For Gasoline
Since launch over 250,000 customers nationwide have used Priceline Gasoline to save money on their gas. Because of this trememdous response we are able to eliminate the original $3 per month Priceline for Gasoline processing fee (originally planned for launch in September). So, now you'll be able to use Priceline for Gasoline with
no monthly fee!
posted on August 27, 2000 05:42:18 AM new
Or, just as likely, the thousands of people like me who told them to "shove their $3 fee" made them change their mind.
I'll go back and relook at it now. Or maybe I won't, just on principle of not supporting sneaky people.
posted on August 28, 2000 07:14:33 AM new
Do you know if they are dropping the $3 fee for the Groceries?
I don't have the Gas card, but I do have the grocery card. I also have the Perfect YardSale card, but that charges no fee as well. The only fee I pay is when I goto an ATM to get the cash for the stuff I sold. The ATM I use charges me a $1 for each withdrawl.
commercials! 
(I change the channel in 1/2 second flat!)
