Would buying only a half a tank of gas drive down prices?

Question

The don't-buy-gasoline on May 15th boycott really doesn't solve the problem does it? I mean, we still have to buy the same amount of gasoline unless we change our driving habits. What about buying only a half-tank at a time and reducing our driving to create a surplus thus forcing oil companies to lower prices?

Hootie...sorry but I don't agree. The May 15th boycott was public. And, remember the beef, coffee, and sugar boycotts. No one was charged.

The "manipulating the marketplace" laws apply to companies who conspire to control prices and supplies of commodities/products.

Answer 1

Ah, the problems of gas prices! There are too many factors, including political. For the first time ever, CBS TV news claims that everyone knows that gas prices rise this time of year because the oil companies shut down refineries for maintenance. Everyone knows that no new refineries have been commisioned. Before, the claimed that gas prices rose due to increased demand. Then there are the political issues. In the old days, where ever oil was drilled and gasoline refined had the lowest prices. Now, they ship it across the country, around the world, and it is cheaper where it is delivered to than where it is pumped out of the ground and refined. No, buying half a tank will not lower prices, but if everyone would drive only when needed, there would deffinitely be a lot less gasoline sold. This includes ALL vehicles that use gasoline: golf carts, go carts, 4- and 3-wheeled ATVs, snowmobiles, everything. If people would walk or bike as much as possible, make as few trips as possible, demand the city and other governments provide public transportation, there would be a lot less consumption, and, hopefully, lower prices.
Or, you can hope that Exxon, Shell, Texaco, BP, et al, will settle for a lower profit margin.

Answer 2

No, and the "one day boycotts" don't have effect either. Buying half a tank of gas would simply require you to visit the station twice as often. The end result (your consumption) would be essentially the same. If you reduced your driving as you have suggested it may have a positive impact on your pocket book but the unfortunate truth about gas prices is that they are largely a derivative of decisions made by OPEC. The only real way to get prices down is to reduce our dependence on foreign sources and thereby reduce the level of influence OPEC has over us. We have large, untapped fields in Alaska and off the coast of California that could really help in this direction, but unfortunately, environmental advocacy groups stand in the way politically of allowing that to be exploited.

Answer 3

The "boycott" would have the same effect as if your company said we won't pay you on Monday but we will pay you twice as much on Tuesday. In your paycheck it would be exactly the same.

Reducing vehicle usage would lower the demand for gas prices and theoretically lower gas prices. However it would have to be a worldwide movement, because the growth in China and India could easily pick up for slacking demand in the US.

Answer 4

I think right now, it would take an act of God to bring down gas prices. *****NEWS ALERT ***** Biggest oil field ever found in Rhode Island. Gas industry official say we wont have to buy gas from the middle east or Venezuela any more!

Answer 5

like all protests it needs the support of the masses, if 25% of car owners did this in one area, it would lower prices, but did you know if you proposed this publicly you could be charge under the competion act? for trying to manipipulate the marketplace?

Answer 6

If anything, buying any gas would only help to increase demand which in turn could potentially increase cost.