In the rewards scheme world, there’s been a huge number of changes recently. BP have just launched their own brand rewards scheme, BPme rewards after being with Nectar for nearly 20 years.
Shell has also released an update to their Drivers Club called Go+, Gulf is releasing an own brand called Oomph! At the end of the month and Esso will start to use Nectar soon. So much change, but here’s our roundup of the three new own brand schemes and what we think of them, what makes them different, and what the three companies themselves said about it.
BPme Rewards
BP has got a physical card with four designs, one saying “High five”, “Nice one”, “Ker-ching!” and “Ta very much” which definitely feels like a move to a more modern brand, and like they’re really trying to shed the old feel of the brand.
The card itself is a lime green colour so it definitely stands out from the more muted colours of peoples wallets.
BP has also released an online web portal as well as updating the app, and from my quick scan through, the web is so much better than the app, it loads fast and looks really clean. The app has retained much of the old app with a small section for the rewards card, which is unnoticeable on the home screen. The online portal contains the rewards catalogue (we’ll come to that later) as well as all the account settings.
You can have up to 5 cards linked to your account, although I haven’t found the benefit of this yet, please let me know in the comments below what you think the benefit could be. While you can have up to five linked to one account, each card itself can only be registered to one account, so my theory of partner sharing didn’t work out. BP do say they want to introduce partner linked accounts and points sharing but this isn’t released yet.
The strangest thing I saw was the gifts catalogue. It contained everything from a grill pan to a Frozen (Disney film not actually an ice block) backpack. The gift catalogue seems quite random for a fuel company to be offering. On top of that, points are displayed showing a count towards a certain percentage of the cost of the item, rather than the total number of points needed. For example, the grill pan (with a unique coating imitating stone) costs you 2100 points or 840 points plus £6.99 (which is what is displayed). The rewards on offer seem a bit strange, as you can put them towards money off in store, or a gift voucher.
Points wise, you earn 1 point for every litre of regular fuel, 2 points for every litre of Ultimate fuel and 1 point for each pound spent in shop. Exclusions apply: BPme Reward points cannot be earned on tobacco and related products, phone cards, baby milk, postage stamps, utility cards, e top-up and lottery, which is fairly standard for most promotions.
You can also currently earn 250 points for registering your card on the website and 100 for linking your Nectar card if you’ve shopped at a BP before. This offer isn’t publicised so it may not appear or work for everyone. Without even shopping at BP I’ve already got 350 points which are worth £1.75. Not too bad so far!
Nicola Grady-Smith, BP Retail Operations Director UK said: “BPme Rewards is our exciting new personalized loyalty programme that allows customers to earn points on fuel and in-store purchases at BP’s UK forecourts, with double the points on BP Ultimate fuels. Customers can choose between spending their points for fuels, in store, or on a range of offers available online.”
Shell Go+
Shell Go+ has been around since March but as they have an overlap with their previous Shell Drivers Club, they haven’t done a full push for it yet. You stop collecting points on your physical card from the 30th June but can currently collect points on the digital-only Go+ card.
If you’re not a smartphone user or have a very old smartphone, you’ll no longer be able to get Shell rewards, which is something to consider, especially if you’ve got lots of points on your current card. Perhaps speaking to a relative or friend if you struggle with tech to get them to set it up online so you don’t lose all your points.
In terms of the customer experience on the app and web, the harmony is exactly the same, it’s very simple to use and the digital card is fairly easy to find. There isn’t much in the app and the main things you need are on a slider on the main screen, making it easy to navigate.
The perks of being a Shell Go+ member includes an automatic 10% off things including Costa Express, Jamie Oliver Deli, car washes and more, without needing to “unlock” anything. You also get random little rewards every now and then, such as by three set items and get a 5ppl voucher for fuel. If you have Shell Energy, you also get Go+ rewards and points for that.
Another interesting thing about Go+ is that you don’t get points, you get visits (a £10 or more fuel spend or £2 spend in the shop.) After 10 visits you get a money off fuel voucher which they don’t specify how much it will be, but it will hopefully be a good number.
All in all, a very simple service that seems to have a lot more to come.
A spokeswoman for Shell said “Shell Go+ provides our loyal customers with a much more personalised offer than was previously available through Shell Drivers Club. Our members can now earn rewards across all the Shell products and services they use – not just when purchasing fuel. Each week, we attract around five million customers to our sites: with one in every three transactions at our service stations being a non-fuels purchase. The biggest change is that members are now rewarded for visits to Shell, not just on the amount of fuel they buy. And we’ve made it even easier to redeem rewards by making them instantly available via the app – members no longer have to wait for their vouchers to arrive in the post and then remember to bring them when they visit us.“
Oomph! From Gulf/Certas
Oomph! Is not fully released yet, only to fleet at the minute, but at the end of the month they’ll be releasing it to everyone. Gulf has more of a presence in the Midlands/North, so I’ve never visited one myself and therefore haven’t got as much knowledge of how it will work compared to the current Gulf experience.
Gulf seems to have launched the app, but I don’t want to comment on it until I’ve had the chance to try it out. It also seems to be quite basic, so I don’t know if a newer build is coming at some point.
Gerry Welsh, Retail Marketing Manager for Gulf said “We will shortly roll out our new Oomph loyalty platform to Gulf dealers at the end of the month.
Drivers can sign up to Oomph via an App, website or in store. Drivers collect points when they purchase fuel, lubricants and car washes and can enter high-value prize draws in our Monthly Prize Hauls and they can also vote for their local charity to win £1000. In addition to this, dealers can provide additional offers to their customers and this will include deals such as free coffees, money off in-store and money off fuels.”
Esso and Nectar
Nectar, having been part of BP for nearly 20 years, is now moving to Esso with a roll-out happening since 1st June. It seems to be running the same as it has previously but Esso is apparently introducing more features in 2020.
At the minute, at participating stores only, you earn one point for every £1 spent on fuel, and two points on every £1 spent in store. If your local Esso has a Tesco Express attached, you won’t be able to use Nectar, but you can see more here, including qualifying stores: https://www.nectar.com/esso
Overall thoughts
Bringing it all together, the next few months look to see some exciting developments for loyalty programs. It’s a great thing to sign up to and having an extra loyalty program never hurt anyone as the perks often do pay off.
If you’re an avid loyalty card user at the forecourts whether it’s Esso and Nectar or one of the ones listed above, let us know at support@petrolprices.com and some of you might be contacted for a three-month study we’re interested in doing!
What do you think of the new loyalty schemes? Are you excited to try any out? What are your thoughts on the offerings? Let us know below
Shell GO+ is not active at all petrol stations, and when I went to two that the app said were on it they said they were not on it yet.
Also had the same issue. Cannot use voucher which expires next week and last 3 visits could not use mobile app as it stations couldn’t scan electronic card yet. Pretty pathetic. Left fuel card at home so missed out on the visits/points.
I done the same thing so maybe with a receipt they might add the visit.
I have been a Shell Drivers Club member for a number of years. Although their fuel is not the cheapest, I have a local garage which is quite handy, but the main reason for collecting shell points was I could convert them to Avios (Air Miles). Accrued quite a few thousand Avios over the years. But now I can’t any more. They have done away with Avios. So I’m afraid I shall be doing away with Shell. I never buy anything, other than fuel, at a petrol garage so why do I need to collect their rewards?
My feelings exactly. I bought at Shell garages for the fuel and Avios points. I don’t use Costa and Jamie’s Deli has zero appeal. So closing down the account.
I work for a Shell branded independent, there are still teething problems with the Go+, but most app features and sites are working normally now.
Your points collected by the end of June will be converted and sent out in August, these will be the final Drivers Club points sales you will receive. Certainly with the money of fuel vouchers, these will be valid until November, contact SDC Customer Services via email and they should get back to you.
I would assume that any pints for Avios will be converted as normal, but you will no longer be able to collect them through Drivers card, but again, please check with customer services for confirmation.
Hope this helps.
I think you have a couple of things muddled up with the Shell Go+ scheme. 1.There is a physical card available to reward visits. 2. The drivers club ends as soon as you enroll into GO+. The point earned under drivers club will be paid as normal (so Q1 in June 2019). The last date for collecting drivers club points is 30 June 2019 and the vouchers will be issued in August 2019
Just to correct this report. Shell Go+ do, on application, issue a card and keyring card to those who don’t have a smart phone. They scan the barcode.
In 5 attampts to use this wondorous new card it has only worked twice! The previous card was much simpler and more useful. Also, with the new, it favous those who get £10 worth each time over those that fill up each time. If you live in the country would you want to spend £2 or £3 to pick up £10 worth to increase you number of visits? Another marketing disaster or just a plain rip-off?
Living 200 metres away from a Shell station that accepts Go+, over 10 days I filled up with £100 of petrol. My reward….. £1 off fuel. During my visits I did receive a free Costa Express hot drink, a free finger of fudge (25p) and £2 off a full up. All in all I’d really like my Avios back or the system changing back to a points per litre collection.
I think it is daft to reward people for number of visits rather than the spend, it simple encourages “topping up” with the resultant stop/start in order to maximise benefits
Who cares? It’s a win win for the motorist 🙂
I still have, an active drivers club card. However, over the years my use of shell garages has declined significantly as in the areas where I need to fill up there are other stations with cheaper fuel prices sometimes 6 or 7p less! I worked out that on the whole I am saving far more these days over what shell discount vouchers used to give me. As a general comment these changes are not for our benefit, it’s pure marketing and to get us even more hooked in to using mobile devices, even though there is an option to have a physical card. The combination of service stations with shops is also killing off small local businesses in several areas.
You will get 4% more in town and 10% on the motorway with Shell diesel. Never had a service light come up with Shell, but used to with supermarket fuels. SHELLS marketring is absolutely bonkers. Do we have nothing better to do than pop in to a Shell station for 10 quid?
BP 5 card issue could be used by small companies to give there drivers a card linked to the oweners card
For me, I find it hard to beat Tesco Clubcard. Combined with our points from shopping and the ability to triple up the value, we usually manage to pay for a substantial chunk (half this year) on a canal boat or cottage holiday. I prefer that to the relatively rubbish rewards from Shell and BP Etc. But each to their own I guess. I’ve got loads of Nectar points but never found anything I’d want to spend them on.
I never struggle to spend mine ! Argos and Sainsburys will willingly exchange points for money off.
And theres pizza , the cinema and loads more. ALthough they don;t do the special double up campaigns Tesco does, I think they are far better.
I agree that the £10 spend is annoying, as I’d rather make fewer trips and fill up less often. Maybe this is a ploy to encourage some to visit more regularly and maybe be tempted into buying shop items. Who knows. I will stick with it, but I am not very happy.
Also, some of the stations around here can’t scan the phone app; some also can’t scan the card (which you can apply for) Customer service is good, and you can email them a copy of any receipts where a visit was not recorded but it is unwelcome hassle, and they don;t offer a bonus for all this. I’ve had to do it now after using 4 different stations.
BP fuel stations tell us not to use our phones at the pumps.
BP website says, “Easy payment. The new BPme app is easy to use, just put in your pump number, the amount you want to spend, then fill up with fuel and go.”
Kind of contradicting themselves 🤪, Duh.
Pure marketing and so complicated. Will stick with Morrison’s More card who just give straight cash off supermarket shopping for points earns at petrol station.
Is my petrol really branded today as Petrol companies no longer own their refineries but can buy petrol from any refineries they want
I want Avios, so I’ll only fill up at Tesco from now on !
The BP scheme is not new,they were doing this 30 years ago giving points which you could spend on selected items from their catalogue.
I bought a newspaper in at the Crowborough Esso garage to get Nectar points but the cashier refused to even scan my Nectar card; telling me that you only get Nectar points on fuel.
I use Texaco star rewards best one around I feel, and the quality of the fuel is fantastic, the star rewards card gives you equivalent to 1p off per litre of fuel. once you have 500 points you can get vouchers for money off fuel, love2shop vouchers etc.
I joined Shell to collect Avios points. As it costs me £100 to fill my tank each time, that’s £1000 before I get a bonus on the new scheme! Whatever that would be. Tried the local Esso garage but they’ve now changed to Nectar and I don’t like supermarket fuel as they don’t have the same power! (I have compared them several times on the same stretch of road!)
None of the new schemes look worthwhile! Smart dress, no knickers seems to be the best description.
I have used Shell for years and collect Avios points. I have written to Shell saying I don’t like the new scheme Nd that in future I’m filling up at Tesco’s where I can convert my Tesco points into Avios
Also Tesco is something like 10 p cheaper than my local Shell
Goodby Shell
The bpme site wont let you log on its rubbish,have contacted BP but still NO joy
ProPete, the rewards are pretty pathetic too. Hardly worth the bother!
Interested so see first reward after 10th visit with Shell Go+ card. Over 10 visits I always filled up with about £40 of fuel as told reward based on what spent. My reward for spending about £400 was £2 or 0.5%. Base getting reward on 10th visit, but make it at least 3%, which get if have Shell Energy. Take all other benefits on coffee and food away as not a benefit if don`t use them. Only need fuel discount to reward loyalty and would help reduce joining queues of people only in to buy sweets.