‘People are struggling’: Change in fuel policy frustrates motorists
- Replies 8
In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, Australian motorists are feeling the pinch more than ever.
From the pump to the repair shop, every aspect of car ownership becomes a source of concern in the face of economic pressures.
As consumers grapple with these challenges, a recent change in a popular fuel-saving app has added to their woes, leaving thousands of users disappointed and frustrated.
7-Eleven, a multinational convenience store chain, announced last month that it would be capping savings at $0.25 per litre on their Fuel Lock app.
This move caused a significant stir among users who were accustomed to locking in much higher savings.
Seamus Monaghan, a Queensland resident, had managed to lock in an impressive $0.44 per litre saving. However, he was left ‘frustrated’ when he received a message stating that his savings would soon be capped.
The Fuel Lock app allows customers to search for and lock in the cheapest fuel price at the nearest 7-Eleven stores.
Once locked in, customers can avail of the locked price at any 7-Eleven fuel station nationwide for the following week.
'We will honour all Fuel Locks locked in prior to the 6th of February to the full extent of the saving,' 7-Eleven assured in an email to customers.
'However, if you redeem that after 12.01 am on [the] 6th of February and the saving exceeds the new maximum saving of 25 cents per litre, for technical reasons, that saving that exceeds 25 cents will not be processed at the time of your purchase,' they added.
Monaghan, despite being granted his substantial savings, confessed that the change didn’t exactly sit right with him.
'I've used that app for a couple of years, and I regularly lock in prices. (The change) was a bit of a shock... It's frustrating,' he said.
He said that the reason why he started using the 7-Eleven app was originally for savings.
‘People are struggling to pay for things, and this little hit makes you think, what's the bigger company doing to the everyday users as opposed to maxing out their profits.’
‘It's affecting everyone, I would hate for people that are struggling [to be] disadvantaged further. That got under my skin a little bit,’ he added.
While the change did not deter Monaghan from using the app, he is now more cautious when locking in prices.
'On the days that I check it and when I fuel up, I take a little more time to make sure I am [getting] those savings,' he said.
In response, a 7-Eleven Australia spokesperson said the chain was continually seeking avenues for 'ways to give our customers convenience, choice and value'.
‘The My 7-Eleven App Fuel Price Lock feature allows our customers to search for the best price at the five closest 7-Eleven stores to their current location and then to lock that price in to use at any 7-Eleven fuel store in Australia for the next seven days for a maximum saving of 25 cents per litre.’
‘When it comes to saving, of course, savings vary and are not guaranteed. Some customers could save a few cents per litre by using the fuel price lock. Others could save more over the course of a year by locking in their price at the lower points in the fuel cycle and redeeming their price lock for a maximum saving of 25 cents per litre when fuel is more expensive,’ the spokesperson added.
For consumers, the key is to stay informed about changes in policy and to use these apps as part of a broader strategy to manage fuel costs.
This could include driving more efficiently, maintaining your vehicle properly, and planning your trips to avoid unnecessary driving.
However, this is not the only 7-Eleven move that raised apprehension among its customers. Recently, a controversial decision caused concern for some, especially for those who rely on cash transactions. You can read more about it here.
What are your thoughts on this change? Have you been affected by it? Share your experiences and tips for saving on fuel costs in the comments below.
From the pump to the repair shop, every aspect of car ownership becomes a source of concern in the face of economic pressures.
As consumers grapple with these challenges, a recent change in a popular fuel-saving app has added to their woes, leaving thousands of users disappointed and frustrated.
7-Eleven, a multinational convenience store chain, announced last month that it would be capping savings at $0.25 per litre on their Fuel Lock app.
This move caused a significant stir among users who were accustomed to locking in much higher savings.
Seamus Monaghan, a Queensland resident, had managed to lock in an impressive $0.44 per litre saving. However, he was left ‘frustrated’ when he received a message stating that his savings would soon be capped.
7-Eleven announced a 25 cents per litre cap on savings on its Fuel Lock app. Credits: Unsplash
The Fuel Lock app allows customers to search for and lock in the cheapest fuel price at the nearest 7-Eleven stores.
Once locked in, customers can avail of the locked price at any 7-Eleven fuel station nationwide for the following week.
'We will honour all Fuel Locks locked in prior to the 6th of February to the full extent of the saving,' 7-Eleven assured in an email to customers.
'However, if you redeem that after 12.01 am on [the] 6th of February and the saving exceeds the new maximum saving of 25 cents per litre, for technical reasons, that saving that exceeds 25 cents will not be processed at the time of your purchase,' they added.
Monaghan, despite being granted his substantial savings, confessed that the change didn’t exactly sit right with him.
'I've used that app for a couple of years, and I regularly lock in prices. (The change) was a bit of a shock... It's frustrating,' he said.
He said that the reason why he started using the 7-Eleven app was originally for savings.
‘People are struggling to pay for things, and this little hit makes you think, what's the bigger company doing to the everyday users as opposed to maxing out their profits.’
‘It's affecting everyone, I would hate for people that are struggling [to be] disadvantaged further. That got under my skin a little bit,’ he added.
While the change did not deter Monaghan from using the app, he is now more cautious when locking in prices.
'On the days that I check it and when I fuel up, I take a little more time to make sure I am [getting] those savings,' he said.
In response, a 7-Eleven Australia spokesperson said the chain was continually seeking avenues for 'ways to give our customers convenience, choice and value'.
‘The My 7-Eleven App Fuel Price Lock feature allows our customers to search for the best price at the five closest 7-Eleven stores to their current location and then to lock that price in to use at any 7-Eleven fuel store in Australia for the next seven days for a maximum saving of 25 cents per litre.’
‘When it comes to saving, of course, savings vary and are not guaranteed. Some customers could save a few cents per litre by using the fuel price lock. Others could save more over the course of a year by locking in their price at the lower points in the fuel cycle and redeeming their price lock for a maximum saving of 25 cents per litre when fuel is more expensive,’ the spokesperson added.
For consumers, the key is to stay informed about changes in policy and to use these apps as part of a broader strategy to manage fuel costs.
This could include driving more efficiently, maintaining your vehicle properly, and planning your trips to avoid unnecessary driving.
However, this is not the only 7-Eleven move that raised apprehension among its customers. Recently, a controversial decision caused concern for some, especially for those who rely on cash transactions. You can read more about it here.
What are your thoughts on this change? Have you been affected by it? Share your experiences and tips for saving on fuel costs in the comments below.
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