UK to Texas - what's it really like?
#227
Joined on April fools day
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: 30 miles from a decent grocery store.
Posts: 10,642
#228
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,834
Re: UK to Texas - what's it really like?
Oh Tanja, before we carry on talking about irrelevancies 😀
Most of the supermarkets here (Walmart excepted) have a card loyalty scheme. It's important to get a card before you start shopping, as there are two sets of prices for all the goods - one for cardholders, one without. The difference is usually 15-20%, so definitely needed.
The cards are a totally meaningless gimmick designed to collect data and make customers feel that they're getting a deal. They don't collect points for the individual, like a Tesco Clubcard (except sometimes for fuel discounts). You can pick up a card at Customer Services, not even bother registering it with your name and address, and chuck it at the end of the stay. Or ask the checkout assistant to scan the spare one they inevitably keep on their till.
Most of the supermarkets here (Walmart excepted) have a card loyalty scheme. It's important to get a card before you start shopping, as there are two sets of prices for all the goods - one for cardholders, one without. The difference is usually 15-20%, so definitely needed.
The cards are a totally meaningless gimmick designed to collect data and make customers feel that they're getting a deal. They don't collect points for the individual, like a Tesco Clubcard (except sometimes for fuel discounts). You can pick up a card at Customer Services, not even bother registering it with your name and address, and chuck it at the end of the stay. Or ask the checkout assistant to scan the spare one they inevitably keep on their till.
#229
Joined on April fools day
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: 30 miles from a decent grocery store.
Posts: 10,642
Re: UK to Texas - what's it really like?
Oh Tanja, before we carry on talking about irrelevancies 😀
Most of the supermarkets here (Walmart excepted) have a card loyalty scheme. It's important to get a card before you start shopping, as there are two sets of prices for all the goods - one for cardholders, one without. The difference is usually 15-20%, so definitely needed.
The cards are a totally meaningless gimmick designed to collect data and make customers feel that they're getting a deal. They don't collect points for the individual, like a Tesco Clubcard (except sometimes for fuel discounts). You can pick up a card at Customer Services, not even bother registering it with your name and address, and chuck it at the end of the stay. Or ask the checkout assistant to scan the spare one they inevitably keep on their till.
Most of the supermarkets here (Walmart excepted) have a card loyalty scheme. It's important to get a card before you start shopping, as there are two sets of prices for all the goods - one for cardholders, one without. The difference is usually 15-20%, so definitely needed.
The cards are a totally meaningless gimmick designed to collect data and make customers feel that they're getting a deal. They don't collect points for the individual, like a Tesco Clubcard (except sometimes for fuel discounts). You can pick up a card at Customer Services, not even bother registering it with your name and address, and chuck it at the end of the stay. Or ask the checkout assistant to scan the spare one they inevitably keep on their till.
#230
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,834
Re: UK to Texas - what's it really like?
Kroeger which owns the very profitable Fred Meyer Chain in these parts has a customer loyalty program that can lead to a dollar off per gallon of gas. Many other 40 to 50 dollar off bargains are available. I don't keep up on the details but contribute to my son and daughter in laws card.
#231
Re: UK to Texas - what's it really like?
I don't know of ANY store operating a loyalty card scheme that doesn't index membership off your phone number. I have half-a-dozen or more loyalty memberships at various stores, not just groceries but also books, car parts, a pet store, etc. and I never carry the physical membership card - I just give my phone number.
#232
Re: UK to Texas - what's it really like?
I don't know of ANY store operating a loyalty card scheme that doesn't index membership off your phone number. I have half-a-dozen or more loyalty memberships at various stores, not just groceries but also books, car parts, a pet store, etc. and I never carry the physical membership card - I just give my phone number.
#233
Re: UK to Texas - what's it really like?
At least one local grocery chain, that belongs to Kroger, gives kick-backs to a school if you link it to your account. We get an annual reminder to refresh the link at the start of the school year. Actually we get two reminders, one from the grocery, and the other from little Miss P's school!
#234
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Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,834
Re: UK to Texas - what's it really like?
At least one local grocery chain, that belongs to Kroger, gives kick-backs to a school if you link it to your account. We get an annual reminder to refresh the link at the start of the school year. Actually we get two reminders, one from the grocery, and the other from little Miss P's school!
Kroger's is our nearest store, only a mile or so away, and it's a large, remodeled one with a good deli section, so I don't mind shopping there. We can game the fuel points nicely too by buying Amazon gift cards - I buy everything possible online - when they're doing the 4x promotions. I time those purchases and make sure we have enough points at $1 a gallon off to completely fill the F-150, which saves us over $30 a fill-up.
#235
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 199
Re: UK to Texas - what's it really like?
Oooooh, so much new information! Thank you all!!
Didn't realise you need to pay for fuel before pumping - that could've been awkward lol! I shall be sure to check in-store if there's a card scheme before shopping. 20% off is huge!! So long as I don't need to provide a phone number and address there and then we should be good lol... I don't see myself as a supermarket snob at all. I tend to shop at Asda online and quite often pop into Lidl as well - being German and all that lol But I'll gladly give any shop a go and I do like a bargain, so long as the quality is still good! I suppose you can't do online shopping over there like we do here? Where you just do your grocery shopping online at Asda or Tesco or wherever and they deliver it? I know my family and friends in Germany think that's very odd so just wondering if you can do it over in the US?
Didn't realise you need to pay for fuel before pumping - that could've been awkward lol! I shall be sure to check in-store if there's a card scheme before shopping. 20% off is huge!! So long as I don't need to provide a phone number and address there and then we should be good lol... I don't see myself as a supermarket snob at all. I tend to shop at Asda online and quite often pop into Lidl as well - being German and all that lol But I'll gladly give any shop a go and I do like a bargain, so long as the quality is still good! I suppose you can't do online shopping over there like we do here? Where you just do your grocery shopping online at Asda or Tesco or wherever and they deliver it? I know my family and friends in Germany think that's very odd so just wondering if you can do it over in the US?
#236
Joined on April fools day
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: 30 miles from a decent grocery store.
Posts: 10,642
Re: UK to Texas - what's it really like?
Oooooh, so much new information! Thank you all!!
Didn't realise you need to pay for fuel before pumping - that could've been awkward lol! I shall be sure to check in-store if there's a card scheme before shopping. 20% off is huge!! So long as I don't need to provide a phone number and address there and then we should be good lol... I don't see myself as a supermarket snob at all. I tend to shop at Asda online and quite often pop into Lidl as well - being German and all that lol But I'll gladly give any shop a go and I do like a bargain, so long as the quality is still good! I suppose you can't do online shopping over there like we do here? Where you just do your grocery shopping online at Asda or Tesco or wherever and they deliver it? I know my family and friends in Germany think that's very odd so just wondering if you can do it over in the US?
Didn't realise you need to pay for fuel before pumping - that could've been awkward lol! I shall be sure to check in-store if there's a card scheme before shopping. 20% off is huge!! So long as I don't need to provide a phone number and address there and then we should be good lol... I don't see myself as a supermarket snob at all. I tend to shop at Asda online and quite often pop into Lidl as well - being German and all that lol But I'll gladly give any shop a go and I do like a bargain, so long as the quality is still good! I suppose you can't do online shopping over there like we do here? Where you just do your grocery shopping online at Asda or Tesco or wherever and they deliver it? I know my family and friends in Germany think that's very odd so just wondering if you can do it over in the US?
Last edited by Beaverstate; Aug 14th 2016 at 8:03 am.
#237
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,834
Re: UK to Texas - what's it really like?
Online shopping... sadly not a thing here. I loved the online service in Switzerland - 15 mins of pulling up last week's list, tweaking a little, and sending, then magic elves did all the work and turned up the next day with all our food and put it in my kitchen. I didn't have a car there, and that saving easily covered off the few francs delivery charge.
There are some services separate to the supermarkets that will go and shop for you and deliver, but you pay for the convenience (one operating here adds a surcharge of 7% per item, plus delivery). And there are kerbside pick up services, where the supermarket will shop for and bag your order, and you then collect it. I haven't tried those - once I've actually driven there, I may as well shop myself.
There are some services separate to the supermarkets that will go and shop for you and deliver, but you pay for the convenience (one operating here adds a surcharge of 7% per item, plus delivery). And there are kerbside pick up services, where the supermarket will shop for and bag your order, and you then collect it. I haven't tried those - once I've actually driven there, I may as well shop myself.
#238
Re: UK to Texas - what's it really like?
..... I suppose you can't do online shopping over there like we do here? Where you just do your grocery shopping online at Asda or Tesco or wherever and they deliver it? I know my family and friends in Germany think that's very odd so just wondering if you can do it over in the US?
Last edited by Pulaski; Aug 14th 2016 at 12:12 pm.
#240
Re: UK to Texas - what's it really like?
I was only trying to prepay because I was running on fumes and their pumps wouldn't read my card, but after arguing and pleading I drove away because I was so damned irritated with them. I now avoid that station and have only used it maybe half a dozen times in the six- eight years since that incident, not that it's a big deal because they are very rarely price-competitive, and their station is crappy with old pumps that often won't read my card.