Kroger Fuel Reward Promotion

I love saving money, using coupons, rebates and store promotions. There is nothing that makes me more frustrated than not being able to take advantage of an advertised store promotion like the Kroger Fuel Rewards.

I shop at Kroger nearly every week, meaning, at least 5 times a week I am harassed by the Kroger Fuel Rewards Promotion. I see it a couple times when I am looking over my ads, I see it online when I go to add coupons to my card, I see it advertised in the store when I shop and I see it again on my receipt.

In case you are not familiar with the Kroger Fuel Rewards Promotion, allow me to explain. Simply put, each month you can earn points for every dollar you spend at Kroger. $1 = 1 point. This is all kept track of at the bottom of your receipt, along with when your previous months fuel rewards expire. You can then go can redeem your Fuel Rewards in at any Kroger gas station and get .10 cents off each gallon of gas.

Sounds wonderful right? I mean, who wouldn’t want to get a few cents off each gallon of gas they purchase, right?

Why does this frustrate me so much?

Because, from where I live, the closest Kroger gas station is over 14 miles away in another town. Now, I know that doesn’t seem that far, but when we are talking stop lights, stop signs, though town 25 – 35 mph – it’s going to take at least a half hour to get there. And that’s only one way. Were talking an hour’s driving time and 28 miles just to save .10 cents a gallon. Somehow, I really don’t think that is practical. And that would be the only thing I would be going there for, is the gas, because the Kroger I normally shop at (that does not have a gas station) is less than a mile, right down the road where I live.

I wonder how many other people have this same problem, because the fact is; there is only a hand full of Kroger gas stations in all of Ohio, yet they advertise these fuel rewards everywhere.
All I ask is for Kroger to either stop promoting their Fuel Rewards where there is no fuel, because it’s rather pointless. Either that build more gas stations or at least offer Kroger shoppers without gas stations some other form of reward.

What is everyone else's experience with the Kroger Fuel Rewards? Am I the only one who feels it's a complete waste of a promotion or have others benefited from it?