I just enjoyed a Filbert's sparkling water that I bought from a BP station.

[LoZoccolo]

It was refreshing. I asked the guy behind the counter how business has been going and he said it was bad, but it was better than it was just a while ago. He seemed to be reluctant to answer my questions as if I was some undercover wanna-be YouTube videographer that was trying to pry something out of him. Then a BP executive from the Aon building came into the door and I told him he's responsible for death in the Atlantic and the guy behind the counter cheered me on as the executive hid in shame. That didn't happen. But I would suggest that if you are going to boycott your local gas station, that you at least let it be known to them personally why you are taking this action, and if you think they are guilty for selling BP's gasoline for years, it might lend you credibility to explain why you were buying it from them for all those years too.

Also, Filbert's is not some big corporate beverage The label says that they have been Chicago's favorite since 1926.

[hlthe2b]

1. I don't even know where there are BP stations anywhere near me...

So, I'm not even in the "denominator." It is all Conoco-Phillips, Sinclair, Diamond Shamrock, some Citgo, and whatever source Safeway, Costco, and Kings Sooper's sell.

But, I can appreciate your point... I'm not sure what is to be gained by any kind of boycott, given who will be "holding the bag" at the local level... Though I can certainly understand the emotional recoil that many are experiencing, no matter how unproductive.

[Warpy]

4. They all buy gas from whatever supplier is delivering in the area

and it could be just about any of the big refiners including BP, especially if it's an indie station you're going to because you're boycotting BP/Arco.

Boycotting the stations isn't hurting the mega corporation.

[PacerLJ35]

15. Exactly...

The thing that makes gasoline "BP-branded" are the additives, not the actual fuel. The fuel is a mixture of whatever fuels the supplier purchased from a variety of refineries. If you think you're doing good by only buying gasoline from a non-BP branded station, you're probably still buying BP fuel. But since it's got Shell/Exxon/CITGO/etc additives in it, it's not branded as BP fuel.

[NYC_SKP]

6. There probably aren't any BP gas stations, but there's a good chance your Natural Gas came from BP.

BP cleared out of Colorado in 2006, if this article is correct: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20050602/ai_n14660293/

But this 2005 article says that they have 1,100 natural gas wells and are the state's largest provider: http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2005/09/26/daily41.html

Things could easily be different now, but as others have pointed out, BP has many brands, Amoco, Castrol, and BP provided product can be coming out of other brands' pumps.

:shrug:

[XOKCowboy]

8. I passed two BP pickups on I-80 in Wyoming today

Well service personnel obviously but now that BP is in the news it got my attention. They are everywhere.

[hlthe2b]

10. May be the natural gas production NYC _SKP mentioned

I always thought Sinclair had the hold on refining and production in WY. :shrug:

[XOKCowboy]

12. Ya know really they were the only Big Oil pickups I saw all day...

The rest were contractors. No Sinclair, Conoco, Texaco. Guess that's another reason I noticed them. One thing. They were quite dirty and it was hard to make out the little BP green symbol. :)

[hlthe2b]

9. Well, that's interesting... Guess I missed that move...

Twice a week I have to commute 69 miles each way to Fort Collins. I have been amazed at the wide range of gas prices along the way, which can vary up to 30cents/gal for regular. I guess they are soaking the summer tourists, but geez.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Mmmmm, Filbert's sparking water!

And their Cream Soda, too!

And I agree with you that it's better to have a human interaction and some communication than to only avoid the vendor of the product one is boycotting.

Rec'd.

:kick:

[KonaKane]

3. Oh boy are you asking for it

That's become the new blasphemy around here....badmouthing the boycott.

[cherokeeprogressive]

5. "is a shit statement" in 3...2...1...

[fishwax]

7. Filbert's is great -- but your suggestion regarding credibility is silly

Talking to people is a good suggestion, of course. But having stopped at a BP station for gas in the past isn't particularly relevant, and has no impact on the credibility of those who choose not to spend their dollars at BP stations at this point.

[PacerLJ35]

14. Sure it's relevant...

You're bashing small business owners for daring to associate with BP for all these years...they knew about as much about BP's inner workings as you did while you were buying their branded gasoline...

For what it's worth, BP fuels are blended with many other producer's fuels...when you buy gasoline at an Exxon, for example, you're buying a mixture of fuel from a variety of refineries. The only thing that's purely Exxon are the additives.

I'm quite sure that BP additives and royalties from mom-n-pop gas stations don't amount to much at all to BP's bottom line when you consider the vast bulk of fuels, oils and petrochemicals they sell to other companies on a daily basis.

[fishwax]

16. "bashing" is not the same as "not giving money to"

"You're bashing small business owners for daring to associate with BP for all these years...they knew about as much about BP's inner workings as you did while you were buying their branded gasoline..."

The "bashing" red herring aside, the fact that you bought gas from them in the past in no way obligates you to buy gas from them in the future (or, for that matter, to justify the change). So, no, purchasing from them in the past isn't relevant and doesn't need to be explained for the sake of credibility.

"For what it's worth, BP fuels are blended with many other producer's fuels...when you buy gasoline at an Exxon, for example, you're buying a mixture of fuel from a variety of refineries. The only thing that's purely Exxon are the additives."

Yes, I know. But that's also not particularly relevant. The fact that someone can't avoid *all* gas that has anything to do with BP is no reason for them to avoid knowingly giving cash to BP, if they so choose. And BP makes more money off the branded gas that they sell.

"I'm quite sure that BP additives and royalties from mom-n-pop gas stations don't amount to much at all to BP's bottom line when you consider the vast bulk of fuels, oils and petrochemicals they sell to other companies on a daily basis."

Yes, BP will still make money in spite of the boycott. But that's no reason not to boycott.

[PacerLJ35]

19. Cost versus benefit...

You're hurting the local businesses and their employees way more than you're hurting BP. To me, it's not worth it. And yes, the fact that the fuel you buy is mixed with others is relevant because you're STILL giving money to BP by going to another gas station...you just THINK you're giving it to another company. Sure, you might cost BP a few cents, but you're costing a local and his/her employees thousands, and their futures. Good job, now go pat yourself on the back.

[fishwax]

21. but by shopping at BP you're hurting other local businesses

"And yes, the fact that the fuel you buy is mixed with others is relevant because you're STILL giving money to BP by going to another gas station...you just THINK you're giving it to another company."

lol -- no, you actually *are* giving it to another company -- the company whose name is on the sign. Sure, some slice of it, at one or two (or more) degrees of removal, has likely lined BP's pockets, but not as much of it as if you'd bought it from a BP branded station. BP makes more money selling to their stations than they do selling on the open market. And the fact that shopping at stations *other* than BP still contributes to BP's oil sales is no reason to not withhold your money from BP through branded gasoline sales or from royalties on soda, etc.

Sure, you might cost BP a few cents, but you're costing a local and his/her employees thousands, and their futures.

Sorry, but the "you'll just hurt local businesses" argument simply doesn't wash. By shopping at your local BP station, you're keeping money from some other local station. Stop shopping at BP, and the money you would have spent there will be spent at some other local station.

Good job, now go pat yourself on the back.

I'm not patting myself on the back. But feel free to continue with your condescension. :rofl:

[Javaman]

22. I was right were you are, one month ago...

I gave up trying to educate people.

It's a lost cause.

I'm taking the irony route now.

By boycotting BP, people are depriving the people the gulf payout money. ;)

[TexasObserver]

11. Better yet, look up the owner of the BP center and send him or her cash.

You don't help them much with one small purchase, but if you give them cash, they don't have to share it with BP. They don't have to use 95% of it paying expenses and such.

Don't stop your largess at buying one beverage. Send cash to the owner.

[LisaL]

13. People who work behind the counter at BP gas stations are cashiers.

They aren't making a cut of the profit. What exactly is the point of talking to them? Do you really think the guy behind the counter cares how the business is going? What's in it for him? He will be making whatever it is he is making regardless.
And they are as much guilty of selling BP gasoline for years as you are guilty of driving a car that uses gasoline.

[KonaKane]

17. And the station owners didn't cause the mishap either.

In fact I challenge anybody to find one who is happy about the Gulf disaster. That's my point. You have to follow culpability and nail the negligent ones and make them pay. A blind strafing of everything in sight just makes us look like eye rolling idiots and will definitely alienate allies we could have in the run up to November.

[Maru Kitteh]

18. Beat the love drum for the tentacles of the fascist oil fuckwads if it gets you off

- everybody has to get their jollies somehow.

I'll have none of it.

[Wednesdays]

20. Oh, that cartoon is always funny!

Wait...you said "Dilbert," didn't you?