Cut the cost of take away coffee

peedee
peedee Club Member Posts: 9,499
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edited May 2019 in General Chat #1

We stopped at a motorway service area for a break and fuel. I was surprised to find that if you take your your own mugs to Starbucks you get the coffee at halfprice. We got two take away flat whites for £3.10. The downside was fuel was £1.549 per litre. How do they justify that price when off the motorway it is at least 20p a litre cheaper? I would have filled my 90litre tank had it been cheaper, as it was I put just enough in to get to my destination.

peedee

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited May 2019 #2

    They don't justify it, they don't need to. You're a captive audience .... you either don't need/want fuel or you pay £1,549 pence a litre wink

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited May 2019 #3

    +1👍🏻, if you pay the price they ask then you are part of the problem not the solution.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,499
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    edited May 2019 #4

    I call it rip off MM, 20p is excessive. It was my fault for not checking the fuel gauge before accessing the motorway.. Locally it is £1.319.

    peedee

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Club Member Posts: 10,224
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    edited May 2019 #5

    I would warrant that a lot of the fuel bought is by reps who aren't paying for it personally. It's surprising how direct responsibility focuses the mind.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,766
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    edited May 2019 #6

    That's an absolute rip-off, no question. £3.10 for a flat white surprised and it's lousy coffee as well. Don't like Starbucks. 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited May 2019 #7

    I rarely stop for fuel on motorways. Probably once every two years at most I guess. When I do I fill up. As it is so infrequent I simply don't worry about it.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,884
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    edited May 2019 #8

    Biggest price cut in take-way coffee is to not take it away at all but make it yourself. That way you get your favourite brand and no worries about whether the cup etc is clean.

    Used the My Esso Card/Pump King thinggy today for the first time at an "Esso" station in Dumfries which actually seems to be Tesco in disguise. Well away from motorways but still had motorway prices. So perhaps if one MUST have Starbucks coffee (yeuch) then pick a services with Esso branded pumps.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 14,061
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    edited May 2019 #9

    I read it as two flat whites for £3.10? Seems pretty good to me. Given that on motorway service stations its a choice of only Costa or Starbucks I think I prefer Starbucks coffee. Margaret always goes for the coffee so I have to accept what I am given!!!

    David

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited May 2019 #10

    Esso was £129.9 with esso card when i filled up yesterdaysmile

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant, Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 17,298
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    edited May 2019 #11

    You have been ripped off twice peedee. Fuel and coffee. The cost conscious person just does not use service stations. If you want simple, good value coffee and something to eat few places beat Greggs. But they don’t sell fuel. Sticking to motorways in UK means you are a captive wallet, take some of the A roads and you will find some great places to break a journey. We cross from East to West via M69, then take to A roads down to Tewkesbury when heading to SW. Break our journey at Evesham Country Park. Lots of delicious eateries, some retail therapy if we have time, and a decent walk for us and dog. 

    Or we make filter coffee in our MH for next to nothing😁 Sometimes we even cook a quick meal!

  • Unknown
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    edited May 2019 #12
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited May 2019 #13

    And you have come in from the cold with that sort of business acumenwink

  • Unknown
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    edited May 2019 #14
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited May 2019 #15

    Like wisewink

  • Unknown
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    edited May 2019 #16
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  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited May 2019 #17

    It can too👍🏻, particularly the ones that continue to denigrate the C&MH whilst paying the prices, geez some even rejoin by paying a fee(again) after complaining. . .Go figure🤷🏻‍♂️🤔. Some folk eh DD?🙄

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,499
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    edited May 2019 #18

    Just to clarify a few points, it was 2 flat whites for £3.10. We normally carry a flask of hot water to make coffee on a long journey. This was supposed to have been a short trip so we did not fill the flask.  Hold ups delayed us prolonging the journey and we would not have normally stopped had we not been delayed or had sufficient fuel. I cannot remember the last time I bought fuel at a motorway service station, something any cost conscious person would not do at the rip off prices they charge. I don't see it as any different to those on here who avoid sites in peak periods unless there is good reason not to do so.

    peedee

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Club Member Posts: 2,402
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    edited May 2019 #19

    Hi pd, two for £3.10 seems a bargain! I have now accepted that some things are not worth the fuss to avoid them,such as coffee on motorway services, but some are, such as fuel.

    Our only regular motorway trip is from Cornwall to Northampton. We use two different routes but the easiest towing is via Gloucester services which is as pricey as any but is better than most.

    Last bought fuel at services on employers BP fuel card and that’s over 10 years ago.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,367
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    edited May 2019 #20

    Apart from using your own cup, substantial savings can be made at motorway services by downloading a couple of Apps. One for Moto the other for Roadchef. You can often get 20% off Costa and occasionally at M&S, as well as other eateries that we don't use.😀 All you have to do is show the code on the phone. Always surprises me, the young ones in front, often checking or texting on their phones while they wait and then not using them for a discount at the till.🤔

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,367
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    edited May 2019 #21

    Last bought fuel at services on employers BP fuel card and that’s over 10 years ago.

    If we did that when I had one, we had to explain why it was necessary. We were always expected to use supermarkets. So I used ASDA which gave you points for George items in those days. Therefore we both benefited, the firm by purchasing the cheapest fuel, me with an occasional cloths voucher.😀

  • Unknown
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    edited May 2019 #22
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  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Club Member Posts: 2,402
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    edited May 2019 #23

    Hi stevel, as said it was a BP card and could only be used at BP garages so I had no choice.

    We had fuel pumps at most work locations, most colleagues didn’t have a fuel card, and I would fill up before leaving so it was almost always a max of one fill up and at the most convenient to my route.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,618
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    edited May 2019 #24

    you made a foolish and really very basic mistake (which as an experienced tower you shouldn't have) and you paid the price for that mistake, it is not a rip off in such circumstances.  Stop transferring the blame onto the fuel station. 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,618
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    edited May 2019 #25

    no membership fee wow! How did you manage that?

    And of course having to spend time in the UK meant that you just have to use club sites or CLs. Why? Are they the best? Cheapest? 

    I do remember you once saying that the club has a monopoly on sites, I now think you believe itsmile

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited May 2019 #26

    Yeah. . .Whatever😂😂. You’re a closet addict, other folk admit it, you?-Not so much👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 9,412
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    edited May 2019 #27

    What! You paid £52 just on the off chance that you "just may" be able to benefit? I mean, you didn't work out which benefits, if any, you'd be able to take advantaget of. "Easy come, easy go" when it comes to the old sponduliks then, obviously!  laughinglaughing

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,499
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    edited May 2019 #28

    I can afford to make such mistakes and chose the most convenient way of correcting it. It is still a rip off however you look at it.

    peedee

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant, Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 17,298
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    edited May 2019 #29

    Two “flat whites” for £3.10! In plain Yorkshire speak that’s a teaspoon of coffee and a dollop of milk fancied up for the unwary, costs 50p to churn out, sells for a mega profit. But at least you didn’t have a fancy coffee.

    Motorhome........gas hob..........gas kettle......fridge.....milk.......mug.......

    teaspoon........huge saving......job done. You can choose your location as well, service station or scenic delights...... 😁

    We had a hot picnic for four up on NY Moors yesterday, I did lunch while dog went swimming and Mum was taken for a stroll. Scenery to die for.......👍

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
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    edited July 2019 #30

    Can’t remember the last time I bought fuel on a Motorway- I just won’t do it! I always take enough fuel  so I can avoid these robbing bar stewards!