Tesco petrol price - clever rip-off?

Tesco petrol price - clever rip-off?

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Dog Star

Original Poster:

16,079 posts

167 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Not a "fook me look at the price of petrol" thread in the usual sense...

Just been out for a drive and on the way back needed petrol. Went past a Tesco, "I'll stop here" I thought, bound to be cheapest, however I changed my mind when I saw the queue. Petrol £1.27.9, diesel £1.30.9 yikes

Just down the road there was a Shell station - petrol £1.22.9 and diesel £1.27.9, similar at Texaco.

WTF? It occurs to me that Tesco might be profiteering from people who are rushing out to fill up before VAT goes up (evidenced by the humungous queue) and who assume that their fuel will be cheaper. Seems sharp practice if true, but why should I be surprised?

(Still cost me £93.58 to fill my SL500!)

SubaruSteve

546 posts

190 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
They probably just have an offer in store for 5p off per litre if you spend x.

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
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One can't assume anything. You did well there!

hyperblue

2,800 posts

179 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
WTF? It occurs to me that Tesco might be profiteering from people who are rushing out to fill up before VAT goes up (evidenced by the humungous queue) and who assume that their fuel will be cheaper. Seems sharp practice if true, but why should I be surprised?
They do that instore too, so I wouldn't be surprised.

ZOLLAR

19,908 posts

172 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Can't see how it is a rip-off, they clearly display the price if they are dull enough to assume its cheaper then thats their problem not tesco's.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Ultimately they're a business, it's their duty to their shareholders to make as much profit as possible within the confines of the law.

It's not as if they don't tell you beforehand - there's usually a bloody great big sign outside the filling station.

Edited by kambites on Monday 3rd January 15:20

Dog Star

Original Poster:

16,079 posts

167 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
hyperblue said:
Dog Star said:
WTF? It occurs to me that Tesco might be profiteering from people who are rushing out to fill up before VAT goes up (evidenced by the humungous queue) and who assume that their fuel will be cheaper. Seems sharp practice if true, but why should I be surprised?
They do that instore too, so I wouldn't be surprised.
True enough - I used to work there when I was at school on Saturdays and noticed the odd thing like it was cheaper to buy two 2 litre tubs of ice cream than one 4 litre tub.

ZOLLAR said:
Can't see how it is a rip-off, they clearly display the price if they are dull enough to assume its cheaper then thats their problem not tesco's.
OK, fair point - poor choice of words, but my other one of "sharp" is better.

Edited by Dog Star on Monday 3rd January 15:22

Celt

1,264 posts

191 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Iv used the 5p a litre off voucher and had to drive slightly further for the petrol and que for ages. I probably saved less than a pound.

stuttgartmetal

8,108 posts

215 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Scottish Celt then.

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Tesco in Borehamwood was 125.9 for unleaded. The Shell up the road (500 metres away) was 122.9. Tesco has queues the the pumps, Shell did not.

theboss

6,878 posts

218 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
I've just been out to the local Shell garage and its fking madness, queues 4-5 cars deep for each row of pumps. You would think fuel prices were literally doubling overnight. I only went down there because I needed a cash machine and figured I could fill up at the same time, but having taken a quick look at the situation, sod it, I'll fill up tomorrow!

Edited by theboss on Monday 3rd January 15:48

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
g3org3y said:
Tesco in Borehamwood was 125.9 for unleaded. The Shell up the road (500 metres away) was 122.9. Tesco has queues the the pumps, Shell did not.
I wouldn't be surprised if half the people in those queues had 5p per litre off tokens.

Cost Captain

3,917 posts

179 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Tesco in Potters bar is always cheaper than BP and Murco all within 150 yards of eachother. And take onto account if you get clubcard points you can knock 1% off the price.

Not alot, but as they say, every little helps!

whoami

13,151 posts

239 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
Tesco might be profiteering from people who are rushing out to fill up before VAT goes up (evidenced by the humungous queue) and who assume that their fuel will be cheaper.
laugh

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Cost Captain said:
Tesco in Potters bar is always cheaper than BP and Murco all within 150 yards of eachother. And take onto account if you get clubcard points you can knock 1% off the price.

Not alot, but as they say, every little helps!
This is true, but Murco is always scandalously overpriced! The Sainsbury's at London Colney always appears to be a couple of pence cheaper than Tesco.

HellDiver

5,708 posts

181 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Cost Captain said:
And take onto account if you get clubcard points you can knock 1% off the price.

Not alot, but as they say, every little helps!
1 Clubcard point for every £2 spent on fuel since 1st October. So, 0.5% in reality.

monthefish

20,439 posts

230 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
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I've never know our local Tesco to be anything other than cheaper than every other local filling station.

10AE

4,121 posts

207 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Tesco are always one of the more expensive fuel retailers in my area, along with Texaco. I still often fill up there because it is convenient to do it whilst out shopping.

I have filled up recently at Asda though which was about 5p/litre cheaper.

bigdods

7,172 posts

226 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
For once our local tesco is cheap ! £1.22 for Momentum 99 , just been out for a blat and brimmed the TVR on the way back.

paulrussell

2,084 posts

160 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
There is no 5p off a litre offer at tesco at the moment. The prices are 125.9 for petrol and 129.9 for desiel where I live, yet there's a bp and shell about 1.5 miles away and they're at least a penny cheaper.