Esso Extra or PC Optimum at Esso? - UPDATE: Esso Extra program ending January 17, 2022

Haven’t tried PCO.
I’m assuming 1% back(PCWE) + 30 points per liter(PCWE) + 10 points per liter(PCO).

Esso extra points are $1 for 3 points(supreme) and 160 per dollar for lottery tickets or 150ish for fuel saving cards. So about 2% cash back-ish. If you can fulfill esso extra offers, that can get you another ~0.25% value back in fuel savings. And it’s very convenient and cheap for car wash with esso extra points.

So if you use supreme or medium gas esso extra + a 4% g&g card + speedpass+ is the BiS solution.

Probably the same with PCO if you use regular gas.

Hi @Kiraly
The General consensus so far is Esso Extra is more rewarding if you buy Mid Grade or Premium Gasoline

For Regular, there are soooo many variables that it’s tough to know what exactly is better, where & when

PCO Base Points are 10 Points per Litre

BUT you can significantly improve your earn, if you pay with a PC Financial MC... with the highest Earn Rate on the PC WE MasterCard

“The variables” that come into play though are Esso vs Mobil Stations

And if there are any offers that impact the Earn Rate by paying out bonuses... be they Personal Offers - Local, Regional or Provincial Offers - or promos that pay out Bonus Points on Mid or Premium Gasoline

Then you add in payment options...

Some are choosing to swipe their PCO Card at the pump for PCO Points, but pay with a CC that offers its own points program or Cash Back

Which brings up another option... swipe at the pump with Esso Extra, but pay with a PCO MC, and earn PCO Points too

There has been much discussion of late on the pros & cons over on the PC Optimum Discussion Thread (formerly PC Plus)

pc-optimum-discussion-thread-formerly-pc-plus-2040084/

ADD - Ya I know it’s a royal pain to find what you are looking for regarding Esso or Mobil in that thread (all 639 pages of it)
For now just type either name into the SEARCH THIS TOPIC box
I agree Esso & Mobil probably merit their own topics
But it is where RFDs Mods keep moving such topics... their mindset being that all PCO topics be in one spot
(This one may end up there too for all we know)
Hopefully, going forward in 2019 this will be resolved... and things will be easier to find

RE - Esso Speedpass

Evidently, for now there is a workaround so you can use the Soeedpass. No need to swipe a PCO Card or fiddle with the PCO App. Just set up your PCO Account for phone number recognition

You’ll find more info here on the Esso Website in the PCO FAQs section
https://www.esso.ca/en/pc-optimum-faq

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ RE - Esso Speedpass

Evidently, for now there is a workaround so you can use the Soeedpass. No need to swipe a PCO Card or fiddle with the PCO App. Just set up your PCO Account for phone number recognition

You’ll find more info here on the Esso Website in the PCO FAQs section
https://www.esso.ca/en/pc-optimum-faq

Speedpass+ is the app, not on the terminal at the pump.
No way, for now, to collect PC Points with the Speedpass+ app.

MoneyHypeMike wrote: ↑ Speedpass+ is the app, not on the terminal at the pump.
No way, for now, to collect PC Points with the Speedpass+ app.

Sorry, not an Esso Customer

I understood Speedpass to be the Key Tag that you wave at the pump to pay.

That’s what my explanation referred to.

Punch in your phone number to get the PCO Points, wave the Speedpass Key Tag to pay with the CC you have on record with Esso

EDIT - looks like I was right Speedpass is the Key Tag
Speedpass+ is the App.
And you are correct ... none of the Apps (PCO or Esso) have been integrated yet to work with PCO at Esso or Mobil Stations

At the pump, I swipe my Esso Extra card, then my PC Optimum card. U sure u can't earn pts on both?

I dont have a physical PC optimum card, my wife carrys that in her wallet, I have the smaller keychain sized card and the PC optimum app on my phone and the PC optimum card on my StoCard Android App. How in the heck can I enter my PC optimum number in the gas pump with my android app or the mini keychain card? it seems impossible? because of this i cant collect PC optimum points when I PAY at the Pump, its gonna force me to go into the gas station and pay at the teller instead which i do not want to do

GoodFellaz wrote: ↑ I dont have a physical PC optimum card, my wife carrys that in her wallet, I have the smaller keychain sized card and the PC optimum app on my phone and the PC optimum card on my StoCard Android App. How in the heck can I enter my PC optimum number in the gas pump with my android app or the mini keychain card? it seems impossible? because of this i cant collect PC optimum points when I PAY at the Pump, its gonna force me to go into the gas station and pay at the teller instead which i do not want to do

See post #5

The other factor here is do you actually use a PCO account for other collecting? If so, it might be better for you in the not so long term to earn worthwhile points to redeem with PCO, rather than only earning Esso points when you get gas and it taking however long to actually get enough points for something. Even if the actual return isn't as great on PCO.

djeffery wrote: ↑ The other factor here is do you actually use a PCO account for other collecting? If so, it might be better for you in the not so long term to earn worthwhile points to redeem with PCO, rather than only earning Esso points when you get gas and it taking however long to actually get enough points for something. Even if the actual return isn't as great on PCO.

Ya, it takes a long time in my experience to earn Gas Points ... especially @ Esso.

Which is why we left Esso to begin with... Petro Canada partnered up with other Retailers where one can earn link programs and earn in both with every purchase at either one like @Kiraly mentioned in the second para of Reply # 10

For us, that’s Petro Canada Points + CAA Rewards Dollars + HBC Rewards Points
And at the end of the equation / year
The Petro Canada Points can be turned into CAA Dollars, which in turn go towards paying our annual CAA membership

Would be awesome if Esso established a linked Rewards Program with PCO (a double dip earn)

Other RFDers have said though, until things improve at the Esso Stations with PCO Points (low returns & currently Earn only) many are staying with Esso Extra Rewards, and using any points therein to buy gas, or car washes

Kiraly wrote: ↑ Just those? You haven't signed up for More Rewards yet? I expected better from @PointsHubby!

Lol, nope... unlike others here on RFD we don’t churn or stock up on an abundance of Credit Cards.
1 for Cdn
1 for US
1 for Biz Expenses
And 1 rarely used, that acts as a backup

All no fee (except for the Biz one... where the fee is paid by Employer)

Kiraly wrote: ↑ No no, not the More Rewards credit card, I was talking about simply joining the loyalty program. Just like PC Optimum, it's free to join, and you'll collect More Rewards points at Petro Canada on top of your Petro Points. I thought you joined every points program!

Ok... need to explore further.
Thx

Lol, yes I have a lot of Loyalty Memberships, but not every one. It has to fit with my purchasing too.

MoneyHypeMike wrote: ↑ See post #5

Tried it and doesn't seem to work, got the gas but did not collect any points either

Consolidation of points is a value in and of itself.

If PCO gave you 1.5% and Esso Extra gave you 1.75%, all things being equal, I would still use PCO because I can collect it in other places, and thus make it worth something that much faster.