do you think consumers should start a campaign to boycott gas stations?

Question

If we comsumers rallied together and boycotted these gas stations on a rotating schedule. As an example hit Shell stations on Mondays, Petro Can on Tuesdays and so on. Do you think these oil companies would get the message that we consumers have reached our limit of patience with the ever rising fuel prices and lame excuses.

Answer 1

No. It does nothing.

I work in the oil industry. Here's how things really work, just to give you some background:

In Canada, there are 13 refineries. These refineries may be owned by different companies (i.e. Shell, Petro-Canada, etc.) but their products all go to the same tank farms, in the same tanks. Regular gas (87 octane) from all suppliers all goes into the same tanks. The difference between the different gas at the gas stations is simply the additives added. So, when the local gas station runs low on gas, a chit is issued at one of these bulk stations and Joe Trucker pulls up to a window with a printer and pulls out his orders. "45,000 litres from the regular tank, then a few hundred litres of additives from tank X." He pulls up, gets his gas, then pulls ahead further to receive the station-specific additives (i.e. "Winter Gas Formula" or "Top Tier") then drives to the gas station in need of the gas and fills their tank. Boycotting one station over another doesn't do anything to the industry as a whole, because they are all pumping each other's gas anyway.

If you look at the annual reports from the big players you will see that the gasoline sales at their branded stations make up a tiny portion of the overall profits. Imperial Oil, for example, makes less than 5% of their annual profits from gasoline sales (total petroleum products - including jet fuel, heating oil, diesel, kerosene, etc. - account for only 20% of the 2006 profits). The majority of the profits are from chemical feed stock and other bulk crude sales. If you really want to make a dent, stop buying things made out of oil (plastics, fertilizers, etc.) or start heating your house with wood (fuel oil is a big money maker from crude oil).

If you boycott certain gas stations, all you are hurting is the local operator of that station. He doesn't make a cent off of the gasoline (if it's a big brand outfit like Esso, Shell, etc.), so you not visiting his store to buy coffee and chewing gum will hurt his bottom line. That's where the individual store operator makes his money, and feeds his family.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

This is not a new idea to me.... I gave it a lot of thought.

We would have to pick one fuel supplier... Take Chevron/ Texaco
A nation wide boycott for 21 days of any gas station that is supplied by this company. We would have to do some home work because most stations in a metro area are supplied by only one or two bulk plants. (no matter the name on the store)
The boycott would then drive down the prices at these stations. On day 22, boycott all stations except the stations boycotted during the first 21 days. (this would drop the other stations) Keep rotating the boycott.... They would have to listen.

I have played it out over and over... I think it would work!

Answer 3

Boycott gas stations? How would that help? Most are independents who are just passing on the prices they are charged for gas.

Hey, even at the $2.59 a gallon it's at today where I live, or even the $3+ it hit some time back, it's still a lot cheaper per ounce than the $1.09 bottle of water the convenience store sells inside when you go in to pay for your gas.

And OK, I know you don't want to hear or acknowledge that much of the UK and continental Europe pays prices much higher than we're paying in the US even now.

Answer 4

Don't think it will work. The gas company's have us by the short hairs and they know it. We need gas for our vehicles and by going on a rotating schedule, they know we'll all be back in 4 days. Now if we would stop buying the gas guzzling SUV's & stick with hybrid's or more economical vehicles, we wouldn't need to be at their mercy quite so often.

We still have it pretty good compared to elsewhere e.g. Europe where gas is twice or more than what we pay.

Answer 5

There has been so many gas boycotts going around on the web in the last few years and they have all failed, because no matter the cost, we still need the stuff...all we can do is find a way to not be so dependent on the stuff--walk, ride a bike, take public transportation, car pool, etc., until we can find a way to not need gas at all....

Answer 6

Nothing will happened for the simple fact that oil prices are controlled by OPEC . They set the prices on the futures on a daily basis and in turn the oil co will charge corresponding to the prices they have paid on the market

Answer 7

Unfortunately, you'd have to get a MASSIVE number of people to do this.

Also, not just passenger vehicles use gas or oil based products. You'd have to find a way of getting the largest percentage of people who use gas & oil products to join your cause.

Probably most of them would be businesses and honestly I can't see businesses forgoing their revenue and putting their cash flow at risk (which pays the workers) for something that has no guaranteed outcome.

Answer 8

if consumers in 4 wheelers started a campaign, the gas companys wouldn't really notice. (people gotta get to work)
now.... if all us truckers parked our trucks for a month, it would CRIPPLE them

who's with me???

Answer 9

That is a nice idea but people eill not stand up for them selves, thats how all of us as americans got in this situation. I say boy cot wal mart too.... But that wont happen

Answer 10

It would, BUT to many JACKASSES in the U.S. that can't rally together and get the job done.