Reply #31: Not true. [View All]

[backscatter712]

BP gets larger profits from selling gas to BP-branded stations (as well as Arco, Safeway, am/pm and others that use BP gas.) If they're forced to sell the same gas wholesale, they have to cut their prices and take a lower margin.

Also, when you go into a BP-branded gas station, BP gets a 5% cut of all the revenue from the candy bars, slurpees & such that customers buy there.

The boycott will cut into BP's profits considerably.

Besides, the gas-station owners aren't necessarily "moms & pops" - they're corporations that might own dozens or hundreds of stations.

Also note that stations can and will rebrand to a different oil company's gas. A few have already done so in the face of the boycott.