Date:         Wed, 25 Feb 2004 14:51:46 -0500
Reply-To:     David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Subject:      Re: gas prices..
Comments: To: Eric Zeno <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <403CE94E.8000207@fyi.net>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

> >buying gas. But we CAN have an impact on gas prices if we all act
> >together to force a price war. Here's the idea: For the rest of this
> >year, DON'T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies (which
> >now are one), EXXON and MOBIL. If they are not selling any gas, they
> >will
> >be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the
> >other
> >companies will have to follow suit. But to have an impact, we need to
> >reach literally millions of Exxon and Mobil gas buyers.

This is ridiculous.

- The margin in gas sales is all at the production end.  Individual gas
stations don't make that much of a profit, so they don't have all that
much ability to lower prices.

- Boycotting Exxon and Mobil stations will not hurt Exxon and Mobil at the
production end, either.  Gas is fungible, and gas stations buy from the
closest supplier.  Just because the sign on the station says Exxon doesn't
mean the gas came from an Exxon refinery.

- The U.S. *already* has close to the lowest gas prices of any country
that doesn't have a government-subsidized petroleum industry.


David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'82 Volkswagen Diesel Westfalia
'86 Volvo 240DL wagon