How far would you go...
By ShepherdSpy
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
Omagh, Northern Ireland
November 5, 2011 1:32pm CST
..to save money?
We have 2 major supermarket chains in the nearby town of Enniskillen in competition with one another..if you're in the UK,you'll know which ones! One of them recently added a filling station on site,bringing local petrol prices to a new low in the area.The competition nearby does not have a filling station,but another branch of theirs in the region does...so now they're offering discounted fuel price vouchers to use at their sister outlet,subject to a minimum shopping spend...but this other outlet with the filling station is over 43 miles away,according to google maps!(Out of curiosity one day I went over to the customer services desk to check..BIIIG poster and display pushing the promotion..nowhere on it did it say how far you had to go to get it!-I think they've updated it to something in small print at the bottom since..)So..Would YOU go 40 miles out of your way to "Save" money? or go across the road (you can see the competion's pumps from the car park!) and save the trip?! Would there be Anything like this where you are?
4 responses
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
11 Nov 11
See we have one near us that is usually sooooo much cheaper but, it means it is only worth it because it is on a dual carriageway, if we are totally filling up as of course got to go then all the way past it to come back! However if, filling totally it is worth it or if already going into the town center it is otherwise it is better to just fill at the supermarket as with my shop I usually get 5p off per litre anyways!
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
1 Dec 11
Doing my shopping this week,I noticed the fuel voucher display was gone...OTOH,it was difficult to notice when the place is now in full festive gear and I was zig zagging around all the "helpful" Island displays of gifty and foody items!..first time I ever saw a yard of Jaffa cakes..
1 person likes this
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
5 Dec 11
Lol - I saw those too - in fact my mum has even bought my gran one for xmas!! Lol
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
5 Nov 11
I would cross the border if that is cheaper to do so.
But not if I have to pay extra to get there.
So the all-in price I have to pay has to be cheaper otherwise it's not about saving money.
I have a supermarket nearby that is a bit more expensive but I can walk over there. To the very cheap ones I need to go by car which I only do once in a while if I am also able to buy a lot of stuff I need.
If I am abroad/traveling and I see things I need which are way cheaper over there I will buy it. But only if I need it. I don't like to buy stuff that is cheaper just because it's cheaper. Not needing it is not saving money either.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
5 Nov 11
Is there a border to take into consideration when shopping in the region where you live? I live about 10 miles from the Northern Ireland border with the Irish Republic,so at times in the recent past,we've had Currency differentials (GBP/EUR) driving fuel and Shopping tourism...also,recent Tax differences (VAT) have given Towns such as Enniskillen a welcome boost around Christmas time..things may have settled down for this Year's season,though..VAT is about on a par on both sides,though the € is running at about 85p against the £,which may send some shopping south..btw,the other branch with the filling station is in Dungannon,also in NI,the only plus being that being on the way towards Belfast for Shopping or tourism,though a recent new road alignment makes Dungannon more of a detour off the Motorway to Belfast..but still,less of a detour than 40+ miles!
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
30 Nov 11
In recent news,the Irish Republic's gov't is increasing their VAT rate a couple of points around now,just in time for the Christmas Shopping..which will have a knock-on effect on fuel prices..Local shopping here has been spiking this past weekend,I was hearing these stores' car parks were stuffed this past weekend..
@faisai (1138)
• Hong Kong
8 Nov 11
It is just Maths to me and if the numbers did work out lower by going that extra miles, I would then choose that.
Time unspent is useless and worthless so it really isn't "wasted" if it can help to save a few bucks.
As I said, it is just Maths. So, do make some calculations and see if the distance to travel (which burns fuel) as well as the extra minimum spending required adds up.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
8 Nov 11
Agreed..Well,as for me and my driving pattern,the numbers don't add up to do this..though Belfast would have excellent shopping and entertainment options at the other end of the motorway,I'm not doing a weekly family shop at this supermarket to make their minimum spend threshold to qualify for the vouchers,then travelling to the other branch to redeem them..Between adequate local shopping options that brings in tourist trade and online shopping,I don't have the need to go this far out of my way for a discount that might only match the competition's pricing..I'd be wanting FREE petrol at least,to make an 86 mile round trip worth my while..!
@Spartan217 (263)
• United States
5 Nov 11
I wouldn't even if traveling 40 miles was cheaper, you still waste a lot of time to make that long of a trip and we all no time is money. So really either way you won't "Save" money traveling 40 miles, you would be doing yourself a favor by going across the road and filling up at the competition's pumps.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
6 Nov 11
That's what I'm figuring too...unless you're going on a trip to Belfast,it's unlikely you'd travel partway along the motorway in that direction to make use of this "offer"!
