With the price of gas soaring uncomfortably higher, and my youngest only two years away from college, I've been having second thoughts about that shiny red SUV sitting in the driveway. Lately, I've taken to using our crabby sedan with the dented bumper, in a last ditch effort at frugality.

Like budget conscious buyers everywhere, I try to shop wisely, avoid impulse buying, clip coupons, and shop at places like TOPS, which offer BONUS CARDS and award programs. Shoppers who use a TOPS BONUS CARD, are credited with a point for each dollar spent. At the end of the designated collection period, BONUS POINTS may then be used to offset a grocery tab, which can amount to significant savings at checkout time.

The other day, upon exiting my local TOPS, I noticed a sign in the window. "SAVE .10 CENTS A GALLON FOR EVERY $100 IN GROCERIES, AT TOPS GAS!" Really? Hmmm..... I quickly calculate, given the amount I spend at my local TOPS SUPERMARKET, I can probably save quite a bit on fill-ups several times a year using this program! Best of all, it's time to cash in those points!

On the way home, I make a mental note of the price of gas at my usual fill-up station. It proves to be .05 cents cheaper a gallon, but I can still save at least 16.5 cents per gallon, minus about $1.00 it'll cost me to get to and from the TOPS Station.

The next morning, I happily travel the extra miles to the TOPS gas station on the corner of Transit and French Rd, in East Amherst, ready to reap my reward! I scan my TOPS BONUS CARD, and the pump proudly proclaims I will pay $2.87 a gallon vs. the Regular price of $3.17 a gallon. I scan my debit card and think to myself "This BONUS POINTS program is alright!" Yep, this is really something!". I feel like I have a delicious secret I can't wait to share with grateful shoppers everywhere! Thank you TOPS!

Suddenly, I am jolted out of my euphoria by the unexpected lurching of the pump, as it stops short. I squeeze the pump handle harder, thinking I must have relaxed my grip or something, but the pump refuses to start again. The ticker reads exactly $50.00. Huh?

"Wait, I'm not done!" I yell at the pump, which responds by printing my receipt, and thanking me for my purchase.

I wonder out loud, "Am I missing something here?" I take out my most recent TOPS MARKET receipt, looking for my points summary "VALID FOR ONE VEHICLE FILL-UP". I check my gas gauge, which reads a hair under 3/4 of a tank. Hmmm......

Inside the station, the kid behind the counter tells me matter-of-factly "The pump stops at $50.00 if you use a debit card."

Ok, I'll bite. "Why is that?"

"I don't know, you'll have to ask customer service." He points to the big TOPS store at the other end of the huge parking lot.

"There's no sign posted that tells a person that", I retort, as if pointing this out might make a difference. It does not.

Realizing it's fruitless to argue this matter with someone who's not old enough to shave, I retreat to the warmth of my "gas guzzler", grumbling about "invisible limits and restrictions". Obviously, the only reason for NOT informing patrons about the DEBIT CARD LIMIT when using BONUS POINTS, is to in fact LIMIT the amount of gas TOPS is willing to let you buy at that rate, even though they clearly advertise you are entitled to "ONE VEHICLE FILL-UP". TOPS gas is already .07 cents above the average in the Buffalo, NY area, and with this restriction in place, TOPS MARKETS is clearly not the Fairy Godmother of Gas.

By now, the rain is coming down in torrents, and I am more than a little annoyed. I quickly surmise that my savings at the pump has dwindled down to a mere $1.60, before mileage. Do I really want to stand in a customer service line for another twenty minutes, or would it be a little more rewarding to present TOPS MARKETS with the MONKEY'S BUTT AWARD for today?

Guess which option I chose.

EPILOGUE:

The Manager from TOPS MARKET on Transit and French (a very nice lady) called me late this afternoon, to explain that when using your debit card at the TOPS GAS STATION, you are limited to a $50.00 purchase, whether or not you use a bonus card, because that's the way the banking is set up. Huh?

She went on the state " You are also limited to 30 gallons of gas when using BONUS POINTS."

I pointed out that the receipt clearly states " VALID FOR ONE VEHICLE FILL-UP". My vehicle has a 20 gallon tank, and at $2.87 per gallon, it would cost $57.40 to fill. If I had a 30 gallon tank, it would cost $86.10 to fill, however, using a debit card, the pump would still cut you off at $50.00. Hmmm... Does this mean that if gas reaches $5.00 a gallon (ouch!), we will then be limited to 10 gallons of gas?

She went on to apologize for the ambiguity of the situation, which will soon be rectified, and offered me a FILL-UP at the reduced rate. Of course, by the time I drain the tank next week, gas prices will have risen another thirty cents, so it may not be worth my while to take advantage of her generosity. But let's to give credit where credit is due; at least she tried to make it right, proving that great customer service is alive and well at TOPS MARKETS!

Hmmm.....

By the way, and just as an aside : How come when I use my debit card to pay for my groceries TOPS does not cut me off at $50.00?

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