All -

Gasoline prices are high everywhere, and profits of oil companies are way way up. This is not normal market function, but manipulation regarding a necessity. We can't argue the price at the station; we just fill up.

Things that do not work:

1. Refusing to fill every other day. We still buy the same amount.

2. Trying to drive less. This is a small help.

3. We can't boycott gasoline - there is nowhere else to buy it.

What will work:

Boycott the stores associated with filling stations. Refuse to go in and buy anything. We can get all these things in other places.

It is true that these station operators are not the real culprits - not the ones making millions. But this is where we can speak and be heard.

Put those stores right out of business, and gas will go down to get the stores back. Many of the station owners themselves will be excited that something might actually work. They hate the high prices also.


If you send this to your list, and they send it to their lists, it may happen.

2. Trying to drive less. This is a small help.

Huh??? :confused: Most people could easily cut their fuel consumption in half if they're willing to make a few changes in their driving habits, vehicle of choice, and combine trips, carpool, etc.

Conservation is the best, and only way to beat them at their own game.

If we start boycotting their stores, the stations will just raise the prices more to keep the place profitable.

2. Trying to drive less. This is a small help.



As Derek said, you can save a lot by watching your driving habits. Or buy a smaller or more efficient vehicle. I sold my Dodge Ram a few years ago, and bought a Honda Accord. I was actually able to make the payments on the Honda with the money I saved on gas.

I agree, the "C" stores have to make a profit to stay in business if they can't sell all the other junk, like Derek said, they will be forced to raise gasoline prices.
Who ever thought up that email sceme didn't put much thought into it because it would backfire.

Buy stock in oil companies and tell them you don't want them to make profits. As as a stock holder you have the right to tell them what to do. And as the old saying goes MONEY TALKS BS WALKS. So put up or shut up that is a proven and responsible method.

Boycott one brand, Exxon. If everyone in the country made a serious effort to NOT purchase from Exxon, by the law of supply and demand, they (Exxon)would have to reduce their prices. If other brands wanted to complete, they would follow. Basic economics.

It is true that these station operators are not the real culprits - not the ones making millions. But this is where we can speak and be heard.

Put those stores right out of business, and gas will go down to get the stores back. Many of the station owners themselves will be excited that something might actually work. They hate the high prices also.

If you believe that, you will believe anything. The company my father and I owned together was a construction company, but we also had a division that was a commercial business brokerage firm. We employeed 4 full time realtors that only dealt with selling businesses, no residential ever. Our realtors specialized in c-store sales. I can tell you from first hand experience, the higher the fuel prices get, the fewer c-stores their are to sell. The owners make considerably more as the prices go higher. Its all a percentage game. What would you rather make a percentage of? $1.25 per gallon sold or $3.00 per gallon sold?

Like was said, the original e-mailer of this put no thought in to it what-so-ever. To say driving less would only help a little is ludicrous. Driving less and using less fuel is the ONLY way to solve the problem. All these hoaky boycott gas stations and boycott a certain supplier schemes will never work.

Its just like excercise. Their are people out there that realize the only way to get or keep yourself in shape is thru hardwork, whether it be pumping iron or running or cycling or any other way. Then their are those that will buy the "magic" pills that will get them in shape with no effort on their part. People who think the fuel prices will come down with out them putting in any effort to conserve fuel are the very ones that will buy the "magic" no effort pills. Yet those that buy the magic pills and see no results still like to blame the people who are in shape for their problems.

Jeff

Boycott one brand, Exxon. If everyone in the country made a serious effort to NOT purchase from Exxon, by the law of supply and demand, they (Exxon)would have to reduce their prices. If other brands wanted to complete, they would follow. Basic economics.

Ugh. How many hundreds of times over the years have we all received that email? :rolleyes:

For a plausible explanation of the basic economics of this scenario, check out:


http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/gasout.asp

Dang it, I wish more folks would go to snopes or anywhere to do a little background checking before passing "stuff" on. 99% of it belongs in the recycle bin.

Boycott the stores associated with filling stations. Refuse to go in and buy anything. We can get all these things in other places.

It is true that these station operators are not the real culprits - not the ones making millions. But this is where we can speak and be heard.

Put those stores right out of business, and gas will go down to get the stores back. Many of the station owners themselves will be excited that something might actually work. They hate the high prices also.



Station owners themselves would be excited about being put out of business?!?

Punish those who are not the real culprits?

Did you actually read what you just typed?

With tongue firmly planted in cheek, I'd like to suggested a few more hair brained ideas with the hope that I can start another stupid internet myth.

Don't buy anything made from plastic. Plastic is made from petroleum.

Don't buy anything grown in the ground. Fertilizer is made from petroleum.

Start up the whaling industry again. Whale oil lamps could replace electric lamps.

Encourage the invasion of China and India. Without them, we'd have plenty of oil.

I think we could get back to a nickle a gallon if we would just e-mail my ideas all over the world. At least we could annoy people enough that they might turn off their computers and we could save something on the electricity.

Reading these responses, I have on thing to say. We're all idiots.

My next mode of transportation is going to be a horse. I can sell the lawnmower because the horse will take care of the lawn. You can bet the horse I buy, won't be a Mustang.

I would have to disagree with that. Some of the posts here contain idiotic premises, and some contain quite sensible ones. I can't see how such divergent views can be entwined such that all become "idiots".

Leave a bit earlier and drive slower! ---- Ditto!!!

Car-pool! Been doing it for YEARS!!

And don't buy anything except the necessities!

Are Lotto tickets, a Big Gulp and beer and cigs. really needed??

Shopping at Quik Shops cost's like 35 to 40 percent MORE other than for gas than at a grocery store so go f-- figure!!

AND I really HATE to say this BUT milk and beer are cheaper at WALMART!!

pdq67

Ugh. How many hundreds of times over the years have we all received that email? :rolleyes:

For a plausible explanation of the basic economics of this scenario, check out:


http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/gasout.asp

Dang it, I wish more folks would go to snopes or anywhere to do a little background checking before passing "stuff" on. 99% of it belongs in the recycle bin.

Screw Snopes. Are you telling me if everyone in America boycotted Exxon it wouldn't effect their sales?

In addition, after reading that garbage, the writer is a moron; however, he is certainly entitled to his opinion. Sorry, Snopes is not the end all or the Bible.. :clonk:

First things first: never in a million years would you get everyone in America to boycott Exxon.

Secondly, assuming a miracle happens and Exxon is boycotted, people would simply be getting their fuel elsewhere. Why would that cause gas prices to go down?

Or, more simply put, "Yup".

First things first: never in a million years would you get everyone in America to boycott Exxon.

Secondly, assuming a miracle happens and Exxon is boycotted, people would simply be getting their fuel elsewhere. Why would that cause gas prices to go down?

Or, more simply put, "Yup".

My friend, did you ever study the law of supply and demand? If not, I'd suggest you do so.

Yes, I have. And if the demand remains the same, which it would under what you propose, then what is it, exactly, that will motivate the suppliers to drop their prices???

Changing driving habits is the ONLY thing that will keep more money in our wallets. You and I can do very little to affect gas prices. Ask yourself this: are there any other areas where you can cut costs in your life? How about those 'necessary' beer runs? That $125 monthly cell phone bill? Any other habits and/or addictions that you can do without? The only reason why gas prices are so high and will STAY that way is that those in charge have figured out that we will whine and moan and complain, but WE WILL PAY!!! What worse place to moan and b!tch about gas prices than a website devoted to the antithesis of economy?!?

68, you nailed it, I think! Although, if everyone- not just a few- cut the fat out of their fuel consumption, it would certainly have an effect on U.S. demand. What the prices would do in response, however, I cannot say.

FWIW, I burn very little fuel, so the price of gas really doesn't impact my budget very much. I live close to the things I need; most of the stuff I do I accomplish on foot or on bicycle. When I do use a car, I get 36 mpg with it. Sometimes it'll sit for weeks without even being started up. Then there is my car "toy", which I only run a couple tanks of gas through per year. I also do some gratuitous motorcycle riding, but that's mighty easy on gas too.

Screw Snopes. Are you telling me if everyone in America boycotted Exxon it wouldn't effect their sales?

In addition, after reading that garbage, the writer is a moron; however, he is certainly entitled to his opinion. Sorry, Snopes is not the end all or the Bible.. :clonk:

Exxon gas stations aren't required to buy their gas from Exxon refineries. Exxon refineries aren't required to sell their gas to Exxon stations. Everybody sells to everybody. If you boycott Exxon gas stations, Exxon will sell their refined gas to Chevron, Shell, BP, etc.

Here's an explanatory link that isn't snopes:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/experts/contactexperts.htm

Seriously, it will only hurt the stations, most of which are locally owned. Exxon won't be hurt at all. Boycotters will be smug thinking that they're bringing down "the man" while Exxon execs laugh their butts off and sell their gas elsewhere -- and the boycotters buy it! Even if Exxon owns the station, they can unload gas stations in a heartbeat.

There's no way of knowing where your gas was made, what hole in the ground it was pumped from, etc.

I really like the idea in theory, but the reality of oil production logistics prevents it from being effective in hurting anything but the little guy. There are plenty of other ideas for reducing consumption, which will be the real solution in the end.

The law of Supply and Demand works, but not in this case. China is a growing nation, and they are one reason the price is and has been on the rise. If I remember correctly, our nations (U.S.A. only) gas Tax (state, local, and Fed) is close to 80 cents a gallon. With a Barrel of Oil around $80 right now, and with our Fed tax, etc, we should only be paying around 2.30 a gallon. So why are we paying $3.00 or more, because of Wall street, they set the prices. They have inflated the selling price because of China growning needs. If you don't agree, don't yell at me, get on the Web and read about it, this is absolutely true.......
A gallon of gas in Saudi Arabia is around .16 U.S. cents right now.

Fred.