Chicago BP Stations Hurt By Boycotts

Chicago Public Radio:

Activists around the country have been protesting British Petroleum for its response to the Gulf oil spill. And some Chicago-area gas stations say they're beginning to feel the squeeze.

Read the whole story: Chicago Public Radio

Comments

[studmoose]

02:54 PM on 06/11/2010

Why boycotts fail...

When NJ tried a Boycott Exxon/Mobil campaign several years ago, it failed miserably. Only the independent Exxon/Mobile dealers were hurt. Exxon/Mobile itself thrived. Exxon/Mobile partners with LukOil and Getty. The same thing will happen to BP, their dealers will be hurt, but BP will continue to thrive.

The reason why NJ's Exxon/Mobile boycott failed is given below:

Each gasoline station is contracted to purchase 'X' amount of gasoline from their parent corporation. Any gasoline purchased above and beyond that amount can be purchased from ANY supplier. These other-party deliveries generally occur at night time. I'm sure you've seen generic or other company-named tanker trucks delivering at gas stations before.

BP will just price their gasoline a few cents per gallon below the other local suppliers, so they will get preferential deliveries at all gas stations.

The same holds true for those no-name local gas stations. They will buy from the lowest supplier - regardless of whether it's BP or not. If you remember the several Texaco boycots since WWII, they opened up a series of no-name stores to move their product.

Also, the refineries are spread across the country. Many times, one brand of gas actually comes from another company's refinery. The gas companies have reciprocal deals to provide these services. This saves on transportation costs. If BP is the only refinery within hundreds of miles, chances are most non-BP gas stations will provide BP gasoline.

[MalteseTiger]

11:02 AM on 06/03/2010

Sucks for the station owners.. but you pay the price when you get in bed with evil money grubbing polluters.

[zombywulf]

02:47 PM on 06/02/2010

BP brands to boycott:
http://www.bp.com/extendedsectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9&contentId=7046348
bp
BP
Much of our business is done under the look and feel of our main brand
The BP brand

ARAL
ARAL
With fuels and stations, Aral is one of the most trusted brands in Germany
The Aral brand
ARCO
ARCO
A regional leader, Arco brings cleaner, low-cost fuels to the US west coast
The Arco brand

Castrol
Castrol
Castrol is one of the world's top motor oils and specialist lubricants brands
The Castrol brand
ampm
ampm
This convenience shops brand in the western USA has a strong personality
The ampm brand

Wild Bean Cafe
Wild Bean Cafe
Our high-concept cafe offers affordable and fresh coffee, foods and meals
The Wild Bean Cafe brand

[moreForNobody]

01:45 PM on 06/03/2010

Thanks for the list and link.

[studmoose]

02:56 PM on 06/11/2010

It looks like Amoco is on the list too...

http://www.bp.com/managedlistingsection.do?categoryId=9031085&contentId=7014114

[Gayrove]

01:17 PM on 06/02/2010

That's going to be harder than finding a CitCo station!!!!

[Pat W]

12:47 PM on 06/02/2010

Just remember, when boycotting the BP stations, the stations are likely not owned or operated by BP. They're likely owned by a local mom & pop owner under contract for possibly over 10 years to sell only BP gas. If not the local owner, they're one of the chains. If you're not going to buy gas from them, at least stop in and buy your snacks/cigs, etc. That's where a lot of the profit at gas stations comes in.

[peanut2005]

02:01 PM on 06/02/2010

That is a good point. I stopped buying gas from them , but I can certainly go in for other things or a car wash. I would hate to see them go out of business because of what the top dogs do. All of this is just a shame.

[presley1625]

02:25 AM on 06/10/2010

OK, we can boycott Castrol motor oil and the retailers that sell it- Walmart, AutoZone, Target, etc. THis is nuts we need to do something- they are laughing at us!!

[Bonnie Brill]

12:46 PM on 06/02/2010

Beyond Pathetic's Operating Standards...

BP’s systems of governance and management are designed to help us conduct our business responsibly. They reflect our support for global standards for safety, human rights and security.

I guess you could say their standards need a little "tweaking?"

Standing up (ok, sitting down) for our rights!

[Bonnie Brill]

12:31 PM on 06/02/2010

It is harder than you think to boycott Beyond Pathetic as their tentacles spread far and wide into more that just petroleum...

Standing up (ok, sitting down) for our rights!

[magnoliabird]

12:28 PM on 06/02/2010

BP needs to feel the pain. Boycott them...great! Afterall, look at the disaster and the pain they are causing folk in La. who depend on the waters for their livelihood. BP should feel the pain. Let the tears flow. I just hope more cities follow suit. I know I do not drive my car into a BP station any longer. They can kiss my grits.

[Cogs]

12:19 PM on 06/02/2010

BP is a criminal enterprise.

[Binro the Heretic]

12:05 PM on 06/02/2010

Good. Too many stations in Chicago anyway. Tear the BP's down and plant some trees. At least start to reverse the poisoning.

[weirwolf]

12:04 PM on 06/02/2010

As they should....

I understand it's not the gas stations direct fault, but there is no way I could ever buy gas from BP again.

[lisalovesamelie]

12:11 PM on 06/02/2010

Exactly. I will buy a soda or some gum from the store but no gas. They're all better off changing to another gas company.

[Bonnie Brill]

12:42 PM on 06/02/2010

Consider where the aluminum (possibly ARCO) came from if you buy cans of soda...

Standing up (ok, sitting down) for our rights!

[Pat W]

12:42 PM on 06/02/2010

Many of them can't change to another gas company without having to come up with up to $100k to pay back BP for signage, pumps, etc., and then turn around and pay for new pumps / signage for a new gas company because they are under contract.

[pmc617]

12:17 PM on 06/02/2010

Agreed. Sorry to hurt the small business owners, but I stopped using BP when they asked to increase the pollution in Lake Michigan, as if that was an option they deserved.

[angel12]

07:32 PM on 06/02/2010

TRUE! They are going to process that oil slurry from Canada at their Indiana facility on Lake Michigan. This crap is so bad that while the sensible thing to do would be to process it in Canada and then ship the diminished amount to the midwest, Canada will not allow that processing done on their soil. So this entire sludge is going to Indiana. This toxic residue will be legally dumped into Lake Michigan. BP claimed last year that 30 full-time jobs would be created in Indiana, but millions will suffer. WOW! That is BP--and the bought and paid-for Indiana legislature; pals forever!