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DjShadow

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#251062 6-Jun-2019 18:48
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This was sent out via e-mail today:

 

Fuel partner change - effective 1 August 2019

 


As a valued cardholder I want to let you know about an upcoming change to the AA Smartfuel programme.
Today we have announced that AA Smartfuel has ended its partnership with Caltex, effective 1 August 2019, due to competitive commercial reasons.
But the great news is that by the end of July we will announce our new fuel partners who combined with BP will provide more than 300 sites nationwide.
AA Smartfuel continues to grow strongly with New Zealanders earning a record $132 million in fuel discounts last year.
AA Smartfuel is the only rewards programme that enables New Zealanders to accumulate the biggest fuel discounts simply by shopping with some of NZ’s leading brands, including BP, Countdown, Contact Energy and most recently ASB Credit Cards.
In the meantime you can continue to earn and redeem AA Smartfuel discounts at Caltex up to and including 31 July 2019.

 

Yours sincerely,
Scott Fitchett
Managing Director
AA Smartfuel Limited

 

A quick Google search says BP has 210 stations in NZ so my pick for the new provider will be smaller provider like Gull or Allied Petroleum. Don't think it'll be Waitomo as they look like they are going for the least-overhead price as possible (given they are still undercutting Wellington stations significantly).

 

As for Caltex dropping Smartfuel one can only assume they are bringing in Fly Buys/Airpoints since they are owned by Z Energy or Z Energy will dissolve the Caltex brand into Z

 

Edit: A quick look at Caltex's Facebook page say they are bringing in the "pumped" discounts that Z have


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benokobi
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  #2253246 6-Jun-2019 18:58
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Would be surprised if it's Allied, they're well aligned with Mobil.




Oblivian
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  #2253256 6-Jun-2019 19:19
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It's taken a while. I was surprised they still had them at Caltex given that they are basically ChevronNZ/Z and when theres no Z around is the go-to for smartfuel supermarket dockets too.

 

My guess will be expand to G.A.S (BP supplied) and whoever else wholesales their stock

 

Presumably not NPD as they are tied with Mobil/Allied back-scratching

 


wellygary
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  #2253270 6-Jun-2019 19:46
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benokobi:

 

Would be surprised if it's Allied, they're well aligned with Mobil.

 

 

Both Allied and Waitomo buy wholesale from Mobil...




wellygary
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  #2253274 6-Jun-2019 19:49
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DjShadow:

 

As for Caltex dropping Smartfuel one can only assume they are bringing in Fly Buys/Airpoints since they are owned by Z Energy or Z Energy will dissolve the Caltex brand into Z

 

 

Z say it was Smartfuel that pulled the plug, not them .. but we don't know what the Offered T+Cs are so they made have made it impossible for them...

 

"Z Energy (NZX:ZEL) advises that the agreement between Z Energy 2015 Limited and AA Smartfuel will end with effect from 31 July 2019. The contract has been renewed several times since its inception in 2011 however AA Smartfuel have chosen to end the existing contract effective 31 July 2019"

 

http://nzx-prod-s7fsd7f98s.s3-website-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/attachments/ZEL/335663/301235.pdf

 

 

 

 


KrazyKid
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  #2253284 6-Jun-2019 20:01
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I read that as AA put the deal to tender, and someone else won, so AA did not renew the contract.


Yetti92
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  #2253314 6-Jun-2019 20:50
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Fly buys pumped is the replacement for aa smartfuel at caltex, just like Z. I don't know if this means flybys and airpoints can now be collected at caltex but there will be fuel discounts with fly buys and airpoints cards.

My guess is that gull will be looking for a loyalty program to keep customers coming back and spending at gull especially after they were confusing brought by caltex Australia a few years back they would have the backing to bid for smartfuel over Z/caltex

nickb800
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  #2253328 6-Jun-2019 21:17
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Certainly seems like AA forced this one on Caltex (whether by result of a tender or other negotiation) - the email from Caltex was very hasty. If they were in control, I'm sure it would have been spun like 'we've got a new shiny rewards program, and by the way, no more smartfuel'

 

Caltex:

 

Earlier today AA Smartfuel informed their cardholders that they are ending the agreement with Caltex effective 31 July 2019. With the agreement ending, Caltex customers that hold an AA Smartfuel or AA Membership card will no longer be able to use their card through the Caltex service station network from 12am 1 August 2019.

 

From 1 August 2019, Caltex will offer its customers the Pumped rewards programme. Details of the rewards programme changes can be found via our market update to the NZX with more information available closer to 1 August.

 


 
 
 

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bonkiebonks
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  #2253385 6-Jun-2019 21:53
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I'd hazard a guess and say it's Gull.

 

The email that Smartfuel sent out stated when the new partnership kicks in, they would have over 300 participating sites along with BP.

 

 

BP alone has Smartfuel participating sites already.

 

 

I'd rule out Mobil because Mobil has close to 200 sites.

 

 

So that leaves Gull as the other sizeable operator in NZ with approx. 77 sites (from this article dated 2016 - https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/87886580/the-700m-family-behind-gull-nz-the-lowprofile-raes - they probably have closer to 100 now)

 

 

 

 

 


sbiddle
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  #2253531 7-Jun-2019 07:12
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The actual appeal of Smartfuel is pretty limited. Most people just use it as an instant 6cpl discount at the pump, and with everybody now doing that it doesn't really offer much in the way of customer loyalty.

 

I would really wonder why Gull would care about being part of such a program. Why would they want to offer (and absorb) a 6cpl on top of their already discounted pricing?

 

I really just hope the ComCom does something about Smartfuel as part of it's inquiry into the fuel market, but suspect they won't.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Behodar
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  #2253538 7-Jun-2019 07:36
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I got the email this morning. With Caltex the only place in my usual route, it looks like my wallet will be getting 1 mm thinner!


zyo

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  #2253541 7-Jun-2019 07:42
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sbiddle:

 

The actual appeal of Smartfuel is pretty limited. Most people just use it as an instant 6cpl discount at the pump, and with everybody now doing that it doesn't really offer much in the way of customer loyalty.

 

I would really wonder why Gull would care about being part of such a program. Why would they want to offer (and absorb) a 6cpl on top of their already discounted pricing?

 

I really just hope the ComCom does something about Smartfuel as part of it's inquiry into the fuel market, but suspect they won't.

 

 

 

 

To me Smartfuel is better than any other saving scheme.

 

I drive my car til the tank is empty.

 

Then do 2 X 40 dollar refills which accumulates 6cents each.

 

 

 

At the end of the month I do 1 X 50L refill and use up all the points. If you do the math this will yield a lot more saving than taking 6 cents outright.


logo
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  #2253544 7-Jun-2019 07:58
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zyo:

 

sbiddle:

 

The actual appeal of Smartfuel is pretty limited. Most people just use it as an instant 6cpl discount at the pump, and with everybody now doing that it doesn't really offer much in the way of customer loyalty.

 

I would really wonder why Gull would care about being part of such a program. Why would they want to offer (and absorb) a 6cpl on top of their already discounted pricing?

 

I really just hope the ComCom does something about Smartfuel as part of it's inquiry into the fuel market, but suspect they won't.

 

 

To me Smartfuel is better than any other saving scheme.

 

I drive my car til the tank is empty.

 

Then do 2 X 40 dollar refills which accumulates 6cents each.

 

At the end of the month I do 1 X 50L refill and use up all the points. If you do the math this will yield a lot more saving than taking 6 cents outright.

 

 

I agree. And with the BP app you can do your 2 x $40 refills from the car without having to go instore. Time it for the 10c discount days too.

 

I also shop Countdown so get 6c a week which accumulates as well. I use to get the Countdown vouchers but would only get $15-$30 every six months whereas 6c a week is a $3 a week saving on a 50litre fill (=$156 a year)

 

 

 

 

 

 


sbiddle
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  #2253545 7-Jun-2019 08:00
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zyo:

 

sbiddle:

 

The actual appeal of Smartfuel is pretty limited. Most people just use it as an instant 6cpl discount at the pump, and with everybody now doing that it doesn't really offer much in the way of customer loyalty.

 

I would really wonder why Gull would care about being part of such a program. Why would they want to offer (and absorb) a 6cpl on top of their already discounted pricing?

 

I really just hope the ComCom does something about Smartfuel as part of it's inquiry into the fuel market, but suspect they won't.

 

 

 

 

To me Smartfuel is better than any other saving scheme.

 

I drive my car til the tank is empty.

 

Then do 2 X 40 dollar refills which accumulates 6cents each.

 

 

 

At the end of the month I do 1 X 50L refill and use up all the points. If you do the math this will yield a lot more saving than taking 6 cents outright.

 

 

All that effort and driving around carefully monitoring fuel and having to visit multiple petrol stations to simply save another 6cpl when filling up? Yeah nah.   

 

Buying petrol shouldn't be a game - and the fact they can offer additional discounting really shows his Smartfuel distorts the retail market and should be either banned or restricted to a maximum of a 4cpl one time discount in line with rules Australia introduced to prevent retail distortion of petrol prices.

 

 

 

 


zyo

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  #2253549 7-Jun-2019 08:20
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sbiddle:

 

All that effort and driving around carefully monitoring fuel and having to visit multiple petrol stations to simply save another 6cpl when filling up? Yeah nah.   

 

Buying petrol shouldn't be a game - and the fact they can offer additional discounting really shows his Smartfuel distorts the retail market and should be either banned or restricted to a maximum of a 4cpl one time discount in line with rules Australia introduced to prevent retail distortion of petrol prices.

 



A typical car can hold more than 60l of petrol. Is it such a hassle to pop into a petrol station when there is 1/3 or less of gas left and do two refuels?

At the end of the day this is just like switching power companies every year and get bonus joining credit.


geoffwnz
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  #2253635 7-Jun-2019 10:57
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zyo:
A typical car can hold more than 60l of petrol. Is it such a hassle to pop into a petrol station when there is 1/3 or less of gas left and do two refuels?

 

At the end of the day this is just like switching power companies every year and get bonus joining credit.

 

 

Not sure what the "visit multiple petrol stations" bit is in relation to.  You can do multiple fills at one visit quite easily, especially with the app.  For example, before my last rally, after accumulating for the prior two months I put 2x$40 into the tow vehicle, 4x$40 into 4 20L containers, then redeemed the whole lot on the remaining 3x20L containers and saved $123ish.  All in one visit without going in store.

 

I don't have to "carefully monitor fuel" as I can see at a glance from a handy gauge on the dash when a vehicle will need $40 or more of fuel.

 

Overall, very minimal effort as far as I can see.





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