Buying Gas At Sam’s w Sam’s Credit Card (2024)

Leesbro63 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 11, 2021 12:41 pmSomewhere I recall that the 5% gas rewards on the Sam’s Club Mastercard doesn’t apply if you buy the gas at Sam’s because it’s already discounted for members. But I don’t see that online. Is that still the case, if ever? Do Sam’s Club Mastercard holders (who, by definition are Sam’s Club members), get the 5% rebate to the rewards card if they buy gas at Sam’s Club (in addition to the generally lower Sam’s Club gas price)?

If that is true, that is lame. Costco members definitely get 4% cash back on gas purchases with the Costco Visa at Costco.

Gertrude wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 5:26 amThat is not true. We are samsclub members and I confirm that we get the 5% discount on gas purchased at samsclub.

Thank you for that confirmation.

Leesbro63 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 12:27 pmI wonder about buying gas at Costco with Sam's Club Mastercard. I think Costco requires a Visa card (no Mastercard, so the Sam's card wouldn't be allowed, let alone no bonus points), but I'm not sure.

Yep Costco gas is VISA-only for credit card purchases. At least in my anecdotal experience Costco gas is no more than 1 or 2 cents cheaper than the other stations near it but yet has a long wait. Love Costco, but I never get gas there.

dukeblue219 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 3:49 pm

Leesbro63 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 12:27 pmI wonder about buying gas at Costco with Sam's Club Mastercard. I think Costco requires a Visa card (no Mastercard, so the Sam's card wouldn't be allowed, let alone no bonus points), but I'm not sure.

Yep Costco gas is VISA-only for credit card purchases. At least in my anecdotal experience Costco gas is no more than 1 or 2 cents cheaper than the other stations near it but yet has a long wait. Love Costco, but I never get gas there.

We buy 90% of our fuel at Costco. Where I live Costco is on average much cheaper. Looking at Gas Buddy right now area average is $4.399, range is $3.899 - $4.799, Costco is $3.949….then we get 4% additional cash back via the Costco Citi Visa.

By the way the 3.899 is an Indian Casino about 15 miles from our house where Costco is 2 miles.

This is pretty typical in California. YMMV depending on where you live.

dukeblue219 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 3:49 pm[quote=Leesbro63 post_id=6379646 time=<a href="tel:1639333676">1639333676</a> user_id=22011]
I wonder about buying gas at Costco with Sam's Club Mastercard. I think Costco requires a Visa card (no Mastercard, so the Sam's card wouldn't be allowed, let alone no bonus points), but I'm not sure.

Yep Costco gas is VISA-only for credit card purchases. At least in my anecdotal experience Costco gas is no more than 1 or 2 cents cheaper than the other stations near it but yet has a long wait. Love Costco, but I never get gas there.
[/quote]

True prices today.
Costco $2.71 vs cheapest elsewhere $3.09.
Colorado

dukeblue219 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 3:49 pm

Leesbro63 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 12:27 pmI wonder about buying gas at Costco with Sam's Club Mastercard. I think Costco requires a Visa card (no Mastercard, so the Sam's card wouldn't be allowed, let alone no bonus points), but I'm not sure.

Yep Costco gas is VISA-only for credit card purchases. At least in my anecdotal experience Costco gas is no more than 1 or 2 cents cheaper than the other stations near it but yet has a long wait. Love Costco, but I never get gas there.

Costco gas is at least 20-30 cents cheaper than all the stations. I hate the line too but if you go late evening there is never a line (for me). The station closes 1 hour later than the store. (bay area, cali)

fareastwarriors wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 4:18 pm

dukeblue219 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 3:49 pm

Leesbro63 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 12:27 pmI wonder about buying gas at Costco with Sam's Club Mastercard. I think Costco requires a Visa card (no Mastercard, so the Sam's card wouldn't be allowed, let alone no bonus points), but I'm not sure.

Yep Costco gas is VISA-only for credit card purchases. At least in my anecdotal experience Costco gas is no more than 1 or 2 cents cheaper than the other stations near it but yet has a long wait. Love Costco, but I never get gas there.

Costco gas is at least 20-30 cents cheaper than all the stations. I hate the line too but if you go late evening there is never a line (for me). The station closes 1 hour later than the store. (bay area, cali)

We do better by accumulating 1,000 Fred Meyer fuel points and then redeem them for $1 off a gallon up to 35 gallons. We already shop at Fred Meyer, and one of the ways we easily accumulate enough points is by buying gift cards to places like Amazon when you get 4x fuel points (e.g., $100 Amazon gift card yields 400 fuel points). Then we drive across the state line into ID, where the state gas tax is half what it is here in WA. I fill up metal jerry cans when we do so in order to maximize the savings since the $1 off a gallon is only good for a single fill-up, then I empty the jerry cans into our vehicles later. This way, we always have at least 40 gallons of gasoline safely stored (which we want anyway for our generator), and we save nearly $50/month. And that's aside from the rewards on our credit card used to make all the purchases.

willthrill81 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 4:27 pm

fareastwarriors wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 4:18 pm

dukeblue219 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 3:49 pm

Leesbro63 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 12:27 pmI wonder about buying gas at Costco with Sam's Club Mastercard. I think Costco requires a Visa card (no Mastercard, so the Sam's card wouldn't be allowed, let alone no bonus points), but I'm not sure.

Yep Costco gas is VISA-only for credit card purchases. At least in my anecdotal experience Costco gas is no more than 1 or 2 cents cheaper than the other stations near it but yet has a long wait. Love Costco, but I never get gas there.

Costco gas is at least 20-30 cents cheaper than all the stations. I hate the line too but if you go late evening there is never a line (for me). The station closes 1 hour later than the store. (bay area, cali)

We do better by accumulating 1,000 Fred Meyer fuel points and then redeem them for $1 off a gallon up to 35 gallons. We already shop at Fred Meyer, and one of the ways we easily accumulate enough points is by buying gift cards to places like Amazon when you get 4x fuel points (e.g., $100 Amazon gift card yields 400 fuel points). Then we drive across the state line into ID, where the state gas tax is half what it is here in WA. I fill up metal jerry cans when we do so in order to maximize the savings since the $1 off a gallon is only good for a single fill-up, then I empty the jerry cans into our vehicles later. This way, we always have at least 40 gallons of gasoline safely stored (which we want anyway for our generator), and we save nearly $50/month. And that's aside from the rewards on our credit card used to make all the purchases.

I don’t like the idea of transporting gas in cans. $600/year isn’t enough for me to take that risk and deal with the smell & spillage etc.

Leesbro63 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 6:22 pm

willthrill81 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 4:27 pm

fareastwarriors wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 4:18 pm

dukeblue219 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 3:49 pm

Leesbro63 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 12:27 pmI wonder about buying gas at Costco with Sam's Club Mastercard. I think Costco requires a Visa card (no Mastercard, so the Sam's card wouldn't be allowed, let alone no bonus points), but I'm not sure.

Yep Costco gas is VISA-only for credit card purchases. At least in my anecdotal experience Costco gas is no more than 1 or 2 cents cheaper than the other stations near it but yet has a long wait. Love Costco, but I never get gas there.

Costco gas is at least 20-30 cents cheaper than all the stations. I hate the line too but if you go late evening there is never a line (for me). The station closes 1 hour later than the store. (bay area, cali)

We do better by accumulating 1,000 Fred Meyer fuel points and then redeem them for $1 off a gallon up to 35 gallons. We already shop at Fred Meyer, and one of the ways we easily accumulate enough points is by buying gift cards to places like Amazon when you get 4x fuel points (e.g., $100 Amazon gift card yields 400 fuel points). Then we drive across the state line into ID, where the state gas tax is half what it is here in WA. I fill up metal jerry cans when we do so in order to maximize the savings since the $1 off a gallon is only good for a single fill-up, then I empty the jerry cans into our vehicles later. This way, we always have at least 40 gallons of gasoline safely stored (which we want anyway for our generator), and we save nearly $50/month. And that's aside from the rewards on our credit card used to make all the purchases.

I don’t like the idea of transporting gas in cans. $600/year isn’t enough for me to take that risk and deal with the smell & spillage etc.

With metal jerry cans, there is zero risk of spillage or smell. The vapors are completely contained. You've likely been transporting gasoline for many years, but you might not have thought about it because it was in your fuel tank. Yet contrary to what Hollywood would have everyone believe, gasoline causing fires in vehicles is a relatively rare event, and explosions are exceedingly rare. Still, we carry a small fire extinguisher can in our glove box all the time.

So far, electric vehicles have been at much greater fire risk than ICE vehicles.

willthrill81 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 6:23 pm

Leesbro63 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 6:22 pm

willthrill81 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 4:27 pm

fareastwarriors wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 4:18 pm

dukeblue219 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 3:49 pm

Yep Costco gas is VISA-only for credit card purchases. At least in my anecdotal experience Costco gas is no more than 1 or 2 cents cheaper than the other stations near it but yet has a long wait. Love Costco, but I never get gas there.

Costco gas is at least 20-30 cents cheaper than all the stations. I hate the line too but if you go late evening there is never a line (for me). The station closes 1 hour later than the store. (bay area, cali)

We do better by accumulating 1,000 Fred Meyer fuel points and then redeem them for $1 off a gallon up to 35 gallons. We already shop at Fred Meyer, and one of the ways we easily accumulate enough points is by buying gift cards to places like Amazon when you get 4x fuel points (e.g., $100 Amazon gift card yields 400 fuel points). Then we drive across the state line into ID, where the state gas tax is half what it is here in WA. I fill up metal jerry cans when we do so in order to maximize the savings since the $1 off a gallon is only good for a single fill-up, then I empty the jerry cans into our vehicles later. This way, we always have at least 40 gallons of gasoline safely stored (which we want anyway for our generator), and we save nearly $50/month. And that's aside from the rewards on our credit card used to make all the purchases.

I don’t like the idea of transporting gas in cans. $600/year isn’t enough for me to take that risk and deal with the smell & spillage etc.

With metal jerry cans, there is zero risk of spillage or smell. The vapors are completely contained. You've likely been transporting gasoline for many years, but you might not have thought about it because it was in your fuel tank. Yet contrary to what Hollywood would have everyone believe, gasoline causing fires in vehicles is a relatively rare event, and explosions are exceedingly rare. Still, we carry a small fire extinguisher can in our glove box all the time.

Zero risk of spillage or smell of gasoline jerry cans? Metal jerry cans need to be vented for safety.
See also https://www.wesh.com/article/hummer-fir ... a/36421732
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/98-111/default.html

If you keep fuel in a vehicle's fuel tank, you shouldn't have problems, as any vehicle meeting very stringent safety standards (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) has safety vents designed to prevent vapors from escaping even when fuel expands, and the vapor recovery system even recovers the vapors back into the vehicle fuel system.

This is not the case with jerry cans which are designed for residential use only and don't have stringent safety standards that vehicles must comply with. Fuel expands when it gets warm (temperature changes between day/night, vehicle or building the can is inside heats up, sunlight, etc. When this happens, fuel vapors must escape from the can or pressure builds.

criticalmass wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 7:57 pm

willthrill81 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 6:23 pm

Leesbro63 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 6:22 pm

willthrill81 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 4:27 pm

fareastwarriors wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 4:18 pm

Costco gas is at least 20-30 cents cheaper than all the stations. I hate the line too but if you go late evening there is never a line (for me). The station closes 1 hour later than the store. (bay area, cali)

We do better by accumulating 1,000 Fred Meyer fuel points and then redeem them for $1 off a gallon up to 35 gallons. We already shop at Fred Meyer, and one of the ways we easily accumulate enough points is by buying gift cards to places like Amazon when you get 4x fuel points (e.g., $100 Amazon gift card yields 400 fuel points). Then we drive across the state line into ID, where the state gas tax is half what it is here in WA. I fill up metal jerry cans when we do so in order to maximize the savings since the $1 off a gallon is only good for a single fill-up, then I empty the jerry cans into our vehicles later. This way, we always have at least 40 gallons of gasoline safely stored (which we want anyway for our generator), and we save nearly $50/month. And that's aside from the rewards on our credit card used to make all the purchases.

I don’t like the idea of transporting gas in cans. $600/year isn’t enough for me to take that risk and deal with the smell & spillage etc.

With metal jerry cans, there is zero risk of spillage or smell. The vapors are completely contained. You've likely been transporting gasoline for many years, but you might not have thought about it because it was in your fuel tank. Yet contrary to what Hollywood would have everyone believe, gasoline causing fires in vehicles is a relatively rare event, and explosions are exceedingly rare. Still, we carry a small fire extinguisher can in our glove box all the time.

Zero risk of spillage or smell of gasoline jerry cans? Metal jerry cans need to be vented for safety.
See also https://www.wesh.com/article/hummer-fir ... a/36421732
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/98-111/default.html

If you keep fuel in a vehicle's fuel tank, you shouldn't have problems, as any vehicle meeting very stringent safety standards (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) has safety vents designed to prevent vapors from escaping even when fuel expands, and the vapor recovery system even recovers the vapors back into the vehicle fuel system.

This is not the case with jerry cans which are designed for residential use only and don't have stringent safety standards that vehicles must comply with. Fuel expands when it gets warm (temperature changes between day/night, vehicle or building the can is inside heats up, sunlight, etc. When this happens, fuel vapors must escape from the can or pressure builds.

I've stored gasoline in HDPE 'cans' for years before starting to see degradation of the seams. At that point, I switched to metal jerry cans, none of which I've ever seen were vented. If they are vented, the gasoline inside will lose the 'light ends' that make it burn, and the gasoline will go stale. Metal jerry cans don't expand much in my experience if kept in the shade, but I rotate the fuel often enough to relieve any pressure that would otherwise build from temperature changes.

willthrill81 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 4:27 pm

fareastwarriors wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 4:18 pm

dukeblue219 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 3:49 pm

Leesbro63 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 12:27 pmI wonder about buying gas at Costco with Sam's Club Mastercard. I think Costco requires a Visa card (no Mastercard, so the Sam's card wouldn't be allowed, let alone no bonus points), but I'm not sure.

Yep Costco gas is VISA-only for credit card purchases. At least in my anecdotal experience Costco gas is no more than 1 or 2 cents cheaper than the other stations near it but yet has a long wait. Love Costco, but I never get gas there.

Costco gas is at least 20-30 cents cheaper than all the stations. I hate the line too but if you go late evening there is never a line (for me). The station closes 1 hour later than the store. (bay area, cali)

We do better by accumulating 1,000 Fred Meyer fuel points and then redeem them for $1 off a gallon up to 35 gallons. We already shop at Fred Meyer, and one of the ways we easily accumulate enough points is by buying gift cards to places like Amazon when you get 4x fuel points (e.g., $100 Amazon gift card yields 400 fuel points). Then we drive across the state line into ID, where the state gas tax is half what it is here in WA. I fill up metal jerry cans when we do so in order to maximize the savings since the $1 off a gallon is only good for a single fill-up, then I empty the jerry cans into our vehicles later. This way, we always have at least 40 gallons of gasoline safely stored (which we want anyway for our generator), and we save nearly $50/month. And that's aside from the rewards on our credit card used to make all the purchases.

I do that too. Get the fuel rewards from the grocery store gas station. It's amazing. (Though I don't get extra with the cans like you...)

But I don't do it every month or every time since the grocery store gas station is like 10+ miles away while Costco is closer and more on the way.

fareastwarriors wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 6:45 pm

willthrill81 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 4:27 pm

fareastwarriors wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 4:18 pm

dukeblue219 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 3:49 pm

Leesbro63 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 12:27 pmI wonder about buying gas at Costco with Sam's Club Mastercard. I think Costco requires a Visa card (no Mastercard, so the Sam's card wouldn't be allowed, let alone no bonus points), but I'm not sure.

Yep Costco gas is VISA-only for credit card purchases. At least in my anecdotal experience Costco gas is no more than 1 or 2 cents cheaper than the other stations near it but yet has a long wait. Love Costco, but I never get gas there.

Costco gas is at least 20-30 cents cheaper than all the stations. I hate the line too but if you go late evening there is never a line (for me). The station closes 1 hour later than the store. (bay area, cali)

We do better by accumulating 1,000 Fred Meyer fuel points and then redeem them for $1 off a gallon up to 35 gallons. We already shop at Fred Meyer, and one of the ways we easily accumulate enough points is by buying gift cards to places like Amazon when you get 4x fuel points (e.g., $100 Amazon gift card yields 400 fuel points). Then we drive across the state line into ID, where the state gas tax is half what it is here in WA. I fill up metal jerry cans when we do so in order to maximize the savings since the $1 off a gallon is only good for a single fill-up, then I empty the jerry cans into our vehicles later. This way, we always have at least 40 gallons of gasoline safely stored (which we want anyway for our generator), and we save nearly $50/month. And that's aside from the rewards on our credit card used to make all the purchases.

I do that too. Get the fuel rewards from the grocery store gas station. It's amazing. (Though I don't get extra with the cans like you...)

But I don't do it every month or every time since the grocery store gas station is like 10+ miles away while Costco is closer and more on the way.

Yes, you have to account for the fuel burned to travel to the gas station as that offsets some of the benefit. In our case, traveling 20 miles each way makes sense because we're saving $.20/gal. in lower taxes by buying fuel in ID rather than WA, and it's usually more like $.30/gal. Plus, we buy the fuel in Coeur d'Alene, which is always a nice city to visit, and we incorporate the gas trip with something fun.

Based here in Pittsburgh is GetGo, a gas and mini-mart chain owned by the Giant Eagle grocery chain. Most of the GetGo gas stations are in Western Pennsylvania, but they have some in Ohio and some as far west as the Indianapolis area. Anyway, they have an "Advantage" program where, if you sign up and let them link to your checking account, you get a discount of 5 cents to 30 cents per gallon. They change the discount amount based on market conditions and both prices ("Advantage" and the regular price) are clearly posted on the sign. Sometimes this is a good deal, giving a discount greater than the 5% Sam's Club Mastercard discount. I do one or the other based on quick math. They also have a different program where you get a discount off for buying groceries at Giant Eagle, of up to 30 gallons of gas, similar to the Fred Meyer deal posted above. That's basically free money if you shop at Giant Eagle anyway.

Truthfully I'd rather just have the lowest price possible without the gaming. But hey, it's the American way going back to Green Stamps and Plaid Stamps (and, I am sure, before that) of my 1960's youth. Hey, everyone likes free stuff, even if it's expensive!