Something to think about! Gas Prices.

[Drolefille]

Theoretically boycotting one gas company could bring down prices, first of the boycotted company due to excess supply then from the others to compete. But it would require waaaay more organization than a one day boycott sort of thing.

Might work on a micro level too within one city.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Theoretically boycotting one gas company could bring down prices, first of the boycotted company due to excess supply then from the others to compete. But it would require waaaay more organization than a one day boycott sort of thing.

Might work on a micro level too within one city.

But it DOESN'T work, because the gas companies sell to eachother as well. So if everyone boycotted Exxon, they'd just sell their gas to BP and laugh all the way to the bank.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

But it DOESN'T work, because the gas companies sell to eachother as well. So if everyone boycotted Exxon, they'd just sell their gas to BP and laugh all the way to the bank.

Good point. And it certainly wouldn't have worked with the idea in the email centaur got either.

*shrug* Stop driving. It's the only way to quit using gas.

[Kevin]

Stop driving, move closer to work, get more efficient cars.. those are the only ways to help lower the price of gas.

If you don't fill up on the 15th, you'll just buy more gas on the 16th.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Simple economics tells you that this doesn't work, as that $3 Billion dollars just gets spent the day before or after.

not only that, but some people may not even need to gas up on the 15th.

since i live so close to work, i gas my car up once a month. imagine my shock when i went to the gas station and the cheap stuff was $2.70 a gallon when it was only $2.20 three or four weeks before. it's getting to the point where i need to fill up pretty soon and it's already $3/gallon for regular unleaded in my area.

it's definitely making me rethink the super duper high-performance sports car that i've been wanting because i'm pretty sure those require the premium stuff.. and making me rethink a possible transfer to our california office

[Kevin]

All of these hikes in energy costs have more-less been offset by some pretty huge gains in my portfolio... My folks have made out alright also... They sold some oil royalties awhile back and we just found out they drilled a gusher on that land

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

not only that, but some people may not even need to gas up on the 15th.

since i live so close to work, i gas my car up once a month. imagine my shock when i went to the gas station and the cheap stuff was $2.70 a gallon when it was only $2.20 three or four weeks before. it's getting to the point where i need to fill up pretty soon and it's already $3/gallon for regular unleaded in my area.

it's definitely making me rethink the super duper high-performance sports car that I've been wanting because I'm pretty sure those require the premium stuff.. and making me rethink a possible transfer to our California office

I too am just starting to look around at new cars and I was very surprised at just how many "normal" cars have premium gas suggested for use.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by jon1856

I too am just starting to look around at new cars and I was very surprised at just how many "normal" cars have premium gas suggested for use.

Wow, that is interesting!!!

Ethanol now while cleaner burning gets last gas mileage but is replaceable. Oil, well goodby someday!

Maybe not buying for one day, then do as Kevin suggests, live closer to where you work!

I drive 4 1/2 miles a day to and from work and bank, in a Honda! I only put $20.00 a time in I need.
But, if you drive a gas hog and live a long way from your job, do you take the Metro of some kind to save?

Funny how many people want to get away from the Urban Sprawl and move to the Rural area and have land to cut more gas, drive farther, for peice and quiet?

Oh, KC is on a big down loft rebuilding, but not any place to shop. That too will come.

[Texas Beta]

Are you guys serious? This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Oil companies lose money selling gasoline. Gas is one of the most refined products of oil. Highly refined means it costs the oil companies quite a bit to make it, but they have to sell it at such a reasonable price so people still purchase it. Industial use is what causes the price to rise.

I was able to ask this question to a exxon v.p. Oil companies usually make slight profits from gas stations not from gas sales, but all the shit inside like cokes and candy.

[Drolefille]

Gas stations make the profits on the convenience store stuff, but I don't know why oil companies would see a dime of that. Most stations are locally owned and franchised and all that, not run by the oil companies.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by Texas Beta

I was able to ask this question to a exxon v.p. Oil companies usually make slight profits from gas stations not from gas sales, but all the shit inside like cokes and candy.

And a high-up oil company exec would never be anything but 100% honest and forthright with information about their profit & loss, right.

[macallan25]

Actually he is exactly right.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Actually he is exactly right.

Then it should be relatively easy to show exactly what % of gas prices are currently related to the refining process, and how (and why) that cost has outstripped inflation by a wide margin over the last, say, 30 years, no?

Or was gasoline a loss leader until 2007?

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Then it should be relatively easy to show exactly what % of gas prices are currently related to the refining process, and how (and why) that cost has outstripped inflation by a wide margin over the last, say, 30 years, no?

Or was gasoline a loss leader until 2007?

A very fast, down and dirt search found this story from the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...092400253.html
Gas Profit Guzzlers

Refiners Captured The Biggest Part Of the Price Increase


"By Justin Blum
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, September 25, 2005; Page F01

When the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline peaked at $3.07 recently, it was partly because the nation's refineries were getting an estimated 99 cents on each gallon sold. That was more than three times the amount they earned a year ago when regular unleaded was selling for $1.87.
The companies that pump oil from the ground swept in an additional 47 cents on each gallon, a 46 percent jump over the same period."

And in case no one heard over the weekend, US production plants and their capacities are at there lowest level in years........

[Texas Beta]

Originally Posted by jon1856

A very fast, down and dirt search found this story from the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...092400253.html
Gas Profit Guzzlers

Refiners Captured The Biggest Part Of the Price Increase


"By Justin Blum
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, September 25, 2005; Page F01

When the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline peaked at $3.07 recently, it was partly because the nation's refineries were getting an estimated 99 cents on each gallon sold. That was more than three times the amount they earned a year ago when regular unleaded was selling for $1.87.
The companies that pump oil from the ground swept in an additional 47 cents on each gallon, a 46 percent jump over the same period."

And in case no one heard over the weekend, US production plants and their capacities are at there lowest level in years........

Please do a more thorough search next time. Refineries on average make about 10 cents for every gallon sold. Refineries are at maximum production to compensate for the war and random natural events such as Katrina which shut down pipelines and ports.

The government makes 20 to 25 cents on every gallon of gasoline. Why don't you instead lobby your representatives to lower the tax? Why try to hurt an industry which employs hundreds of thousands of people world wide, an industry that puts billions of dollars into the American economy.

This is a perfect example of people following the crowd and not thinking for themselves.

Edit* I like how current your source is!