Circle K

Kevin Finnerty · 22-09-2018 8:04pm

Sofiztikated wrote: »

Yup, Circle K, that are in the top 10 fuel companies in the world, don't know how to operate a forecourt.

Couldn't give a toss, shop where you want.

Renegade Mechanic · 22-09-2018 8:08pm

CeilingFly wrote: »

now that's a load of utter baloney

Texaco own 50% of a fuel terminal in Dublin Port. That's where all their fuel comes from.

Applegreen own the other 50%, so in effect applegreen and texaco are from the exact same storage tanks.

In any case, all fuel in to and out of all fuel terminals is the same. If for some reason the applegreen/texaco terminal runs short, they have an agreement to take supply from the circle k terminal or the TOP terminal.

The tankers line up, fill up with petrol and then add 'additives' relevant to who's buying the petrol and that is the ONLY difference. Therefore the base petrol is all the same there is no concept of Texaco say getting the 'good' stuff.

None of the fuel companies owns tankers anymore either. They are all sub-contacted out. (Reynolds being the biggest) They may carry an oil companies livery but they don't own or run the tankers.

The only "baloney" here is the belief that fuel, when left in storage, doesn't settle into different heights of quality :rolleyes:
I never said fuel companies own sea tankers, but it doesn't change the fact that they still bloody well get their products from them.
There is a pecking order, the stuff at the bottom is cheaper than the stuff at the top. Deal with it.

The "additives" make such a small difference overall you could almost argue they were a gimmick. The main difference lies in order of first to last to draw from the tankers.

punisher5112 · 22-09-2018 8:09pm

Sofiztikated wrote: »

Yup, Circle K, that are in the top 10 fuel companies in the world, don't know how to operate a forecourt.

People go to in most cases wherever is closest or even just passing.

Look at all the motorway service ones they are extremely expensive but attract huge numbers.

I do my best to get to the cheaper price examples if I'm in the right place and only fill small amounts if can only get to the expensive ones.

Odyssey 2005 · 22-09-2018 8:11pm

Fernanda Howling Dishcloth wrote: »

They're the most expensive because a lot of people have fuel cards that knock 4c a litre off. The fuel cards are free, so I don't know why everyone doesn't have one...

My fuel card supplier is 1cpl dearer that the local retail garage.

CeilingFly · 22-09-2018 8:41pm

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

The only "baloney" here is the belief that fuel, when left in storage, doesn't settle into different heights of quality :rolleyes:
I never said fuel companies own sea tankers, but it doesn't change the fact that they still bloody well get their products from them.
There is a pecking order, the stuff at the bottom is cheaper than the stuff at the top. Deal with it.

The "additives" make such a small difference overall you could almost argue they were a gimmick. The main difference lies in order of first to last to draw from the tankers.

Total baloney.

And I wasn't saying sea tankers. They don't own any road tankers. It's all subcontracted to Reynolds, Camp freight and a couple of others. They might have specific livery on them but that's just advertising, same as Kelloggs trucks are not owned by Kelloggs.

They get the order details and simply queue up. There's no hierarchy system whatsoever and neither do any of them take fuel directly from sea tankers.

ted1 · 22-09-2018 8:49pm

Kevin Finnerty wrote: »

Because the price on the sign is too dear. They'd get more repeat business if they advertised better prices. The fuel card concept shoots itself in the foot from the off imo.

Plenty of people have the Topaz card and are repeat customers because of it.

BMW offer Topaz card with 5 cent off
Group scheme offer it with 4 cent off
AA offer it with 2or 4 cent off
Some credit unions offer it with 4 cents off

And I’m sure that the list goes on

Wildly Boaring · 22-09-2018 8:52pm

My local circle k is generally the cheapest in the town and does 3 euro carwash when you spend 50 on fuel.

You do all realise that these fuel stations are not owned by circle k, applegreen, Texaco etc.

They are owned and operated by the local shop owner who has livery and some other stuff provided and generally has certain standards they must meet.

They also choose the price they charge at the pump.

Even the large motorway stops aren't owned directly by the fuel companies but usually a consortium of several businesses. For example lusk and castlebellingham owned by superstop. That's too, applegeeen, couple financial institutions and pierse until they went bust

CeilingFly · 22-09-2018 9:28pm

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

My local circle k is generally the cheapest in the town and does 3 euro carwash when you spend 50 on fuel.

You do all realise that these fuel stations are not owned by circle k, applegreen, Texaco etc.

They are owned and operated by the local shop owner who has livery and some other stuff provided and generally has certain standards they must meet.

They also choose the price they charge at the pump.

Even the large motorway stops aren't owned directly by the fuel companies but usually a consortium of several businesses. For example lusk and castlebellingham owned by superstop. That's too, applegeeen, couple financial institutions and pierse until they went bust

Generally correct.

Topaz/circle k - 420 stations, 160 company owned which have restore or circle k shops.

Applegreen - 180+ locations in Ireland. Less than 40 are franchise

Maxol - approx 230 sites, about 100 company owned.

Texaco - all owned and operated by independent retailers.

Top (now owned by Irving oil who own white gate) - 205 sites, mostly independently owned.

beachhead · 22-09-2018 9:52pm

I see no difference at all in the fuel economy with "Tesco" fuel or any other supplier but wouldn't touch Texaco or Topaz or Essso for prices if I can help it.What I have noticed in the 2 years is that Tesco have given up competing on price with garages in their locality.Years ago Statoil used to get slagged same as Tesco is by some contributors here.Is all in the imagination and little green men talking out loud at night.

killanena · 22-09-2018 10:11pm

I'm all for saving money but for an example, if you were to fill 100 litres a week and you bought in a place that charged 3c more per litre you only spending 3 euro more out of a near 150 euro bill.

I get that over a year it will add up and pay for another bill but I can't understand why some people are so obsessed with saving money on fuel over nearly all other expenditures.

killanena · 22-09-2018 10:23pm

Kevin Finnerty wrote:

Because the price on the sign is too dear. They'd get more repeat business if they advertised better prices. The fuel card concept shoots itself in the foot from the off imo.

Retailers want to make as many transactions as possible cash less. This has many benefits.
Such as:
-Lower cash loss.
-Freeing up site managers time to focus on their site instead of sitting in an office to count cash for 1-2 hours or having to look for missing cash.
-Security.
-Counter fit notes can also be a big problem from time to time.

mikeecho · 22-09-2018 11:00pm

xpletiv wrote: »

Still more expensive than anywhere else im seeing petrol or diesel. No wonder applegreens profits are through the roof!

Applegreen will be introducing their version of milesPlus soon.

mikeecho · 22-09-2018 11:02pm

ted1 wrote: »

Plenty of people have the Topaz card and are repeat customers because of it.

BMW offer Topaz card with 5 cent off
Group scheme offer it with 4 cent off
AA offer it with 2or 4 cent off
Some credit unions offer it with 4 cents off

And I’m sure that the list goes on

I'd like too know more about this bmw card.
My current cards only offer 4￠ off

mikeecho · 22-09-2018 11:25pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

Circle k miles plus diesel works out quite good for me
My local was running a discount on it for the last month 5 cent a litre off
No queues and they always have gloves to use

I'm an avid user of plus diesel, my fuel card gives me 4c off per litre, so I'm only paying a 3c premium, and I do notice an engine noise and performance difference with it.

I'll keep buying it... But each to their own.

firstlight · 22-09-2018 11:33pm

Don't notice any difference in the fuel, The garage I normally use all the time returns better fuel economy of the same style and type of driving
Cheaper diesel too

mikeecho · 22-09-2018 11:35pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

I’ve been using is for about 6 months now and won’t go back to regular diesel
They have an ad blue pump for lorries where I’m going and it’s only €3.50 to go from half to full at the pump

I was in the uk recently and the premium diesel was £1.70 a litre

I drove to the UK this year, and I made sure I topped up before getting on the ferry. Likewise, I make sure I have a full tank before heading north, UK diesel is expensive.. I paid £1.449 for premium diesel in the UK, on my return trip on the motorway.

heroics · 22-09-2018 11:47pm

mikeecho wrote: »

I'd like too know more about this bmw card.
My current cards only offer 4￠ off

It’s part of bmw first https://www.bmw-first.ie/home?ds_c=BMW+%3E+AfterSales+%3E+Service+%3E+Brand&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrLG5uNjP3QIVwbTtCh2GvAyUEAAYASAAEgKdbfD_BwE

ted1 · 23-09-2018 1:00am

mikeecho wrote: »

I'd like too know more about this bmw card.
My current cards only offer 4￠ off

It’s part of bmw first

https://www.bmw-first.ie/

If you have a bmw you can sign up for free, getvthe card and then cancel the bmw first but keep the card

Phil.x · 30-03-2019 9:38pm

No cars in the play or park draws, is this just a new thing with circle K.

L1011 · 30-03-2019 10:20pm

The cars would have almost definitely been part sponsored by the car brand. Car sales are not doing well - UK imports from people selling up there are destroying them; and it'll only get worse if they crash out and every PCP car in the UK gets repossessed.

That is going to lead to a massive reduction in car draws. Topaz/Circle K's contribution to each months draw is probably circa 10k, and the prizes still reflect that. Its legally run as a lottery where the points transfer buys tickets off some charity who have the lotto licence.

Circle K

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