GasBuddy Blog

Message Forum - Read Message

Category: Boycott/Gasout Talk > Topics	Add to favorite topics Post New Topic

Author	Topic: A boycott that worked	Post a Reply Back to Topics

BLTHNDR Veteran Author Chicago Posts:462 Points:174,995 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:47:26 PM Ignore BLTHNDR Report Abuse The mayor in the chicago area suburb of "New Lenox" said to his residents to boycott the stations in his town because of there very high prices and it worked. The stations lowered there prices imagine that.Who says boycotts don't work?

BLTHNDR

Veteran Author
Chicago

Posts:462
Points:174,995
Joined:Apr 2004

Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:47:26 PM

Ignore BLTHNDR Report Abuse

The mayor in the chicago area suburb of "New Lenox" said to his residents to boycott the stations in his town because of there very high prices and it worked.
The stations lowered there prices imagine that.Who says boycotts don't work?

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

BLTHNDR Veteran Author Chicago Posts:462 Points:174,995 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Mar 12, 2013 7:17:59 PM Ignore BLTHNDR Report Abuse A year ago last april nothing since then have heard nothing else
scottyboy Rookie Author Grand Rapids Posts:38 Points:60,755 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 8:40:23 PM Ignore scottyboy Report Abuse when was this?
John_Q_Gotrox Veteran Author Illinois Posts:350 Points:66,600 Joined:Dec 2012	Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 1:19:10 AM Ignore John_Q_Gotrox Report Abuse
maxstar Champion Author Chicago Posts:18,495 Points:811,495 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jan 23, 2013 1:19:13 AM Ignore maxstar Report Abuse I have heard of one boycott that worked from some guy in Iowa.
shootdatthing Rookie Author Durham Posts:2 Points:6,540 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 22, 2013 12:56:11 AM Ignore shootdatthing Report Abuse Shame on the oil companies who are continually making record profits! you could cut the price of gas in half and still make a decent profit. and no there is no oil shortage quit hugging the trees so hard! be responsible but sensible. humans have domain over the wildlife but i do believe you should try to save wildlife within reason.
1OILMAN Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,080 Points:159,980 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 3:42:38 PM Ignore 1OILMAN Report Abuse Don't you go to sleep when it gets dark and go to work when the sun comes up? Those summer days can be extra long but you got to make hay while you can.
rumbleseat Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:22,933 Points:3,531,325 Joined:Oct 2002	Message Posted: Jan 17, 2013 5:59:18 PM Ignore rumbleseat Report Abuse I agree with Mario! The night is coming back! It is already getting dark out.
MARIOWERX Champion Author Vancouver Posts:15,937 Points:1,640,735 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jan 17, 2013 5:33:50 PM Ignore MARIOWERX Report Abuse Give it time wait until 6pm and you will be sorry ,OILMAN, but you are making it shorter.
1OILMAN Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,080 Points:159,980 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 17, 2013 2:08:40 PM Ignore 1OILMAN Report Abuse Last night I boycotted the night and within 12 hours it went away. Who says boycotts don't work? lol
catfish99 Champion Author Wilmington Posts:13,981 Points:2,497,500 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 17, 2013 6:31:19 AM Ignore catfish99 Report Abuse Government in Detroit works so well that gsabe wants to share the benefits with the nation.
djp071158 All-Star Author Detroit Posts:673 Points:293,975 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jan 16, 2013 9:06:27 PM Ignore djp071158 Report Abuse I never know how a gas boycott works. If we don't reduce our driving, all we do is delay our gas from one day to another.
skidsteer85xt Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,654 Points:188,750 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Dec 7, 2012 11:30:02 PM Ignore skidsteer85xt Report Abuse it will if everybody workes together.
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:81,337 Points:3,254,595 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Nov 30, 2012 8:28:07 AM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse "Boycotts do work. I dont & won't bother to argue (under the guise of debate) with individuals who disagree." Looks like someone has taken their toys and gone home!
cayo32 Rookie Author Toronto Posts:61 Points:75,505 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Nov 28, 2012 6:08:11 PM Ignore cayo32 Report Abuse no
qsabe Rookie Author Detroit Posts:11 Points:420 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Nov 20, 2012 5:14:50 PM Ignore qsabe Report Abuse Gas comes over one big pipeline from the Koch brothers refineries in the south. They set the price of gas everyplace. If the economy starts looking good, the can easily kill it with a gas price increase to keep more of your dollars out of the grocery stores. Fuel oil is what powers the machines that produce our food. That is where your attention should be directed, but it easily slides under the radar because we are so concerned with a few pennies on gasoline. People heating their homes are subsidizing your cheap gas. If anything, I'm for the government doing what they do in other countries when one small group has a stranglehold on the population. Nationalize the oil industry.
rumbleseat Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:22,933 Points:3,531,325 Joined:Oct 2002	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 6:42:54 PM Ignore rumbleseat Report Abuse GB4321 says: "Boycotts do work. I dont & won't bother to argue (under the guise of debate) with individuals who disagree." And that is why the average retail price in the USA is now down to 79 cents per gallon! Oh, wait, they aren't, are they? Heck, I remember boycott talks in the late 60s. You would think by now they would actually be paying us to take it off their hands! Maybe rethink that. [Edited by: rumbleseat at 11/19/2012 6:44:06 PM EST]
TxJeans Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,555 Points:370,630 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Nov 18, 2012 9:04:28 PM Ignore TxJeans Report Abuse Gas_Buddy, when he says he won't debate, it is because he can't debate. He has nothing to offer up in support of his contention that gas boycotts work. He can't win, so he picks up the ball and leaves the court.
Gas_Buddy Champion Author Maryland Posts:25,984 Points:3,036,015 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Nov 18, 2012 8:42:23 PM Ignore Gas_Buddy Report Abuse GB4321: You wrote "I dont & won't bother to argue (under the guise of debate) with individuals who disagree." Unless you can say something to explain how they've worked, boycotts against gas stations or gas prices, you're asking us, in the face of demonstrated and substantiated disagreement, to accept your word at face value that boycotts against the oil industry work. I won't ask you to debate (not the least of reasons is because I can't see what you're debating), but you won't even provide an example of such a boycott that worked, or explain how such a boycott could work? If you won't provide anything other than your good word, and expect us to accept your good word on blind faith in the face of all logic, sorry but your comment "Boycotts do work" has no standing.
GB4321 Sophomore Author Victoria Posts:144 Points:28,875 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Nov 18, 2012 6:17:58 PM Ignore GB4321 Report Abuse Boycotts do work. I dont & won't bother to argue (under the guise of debate) with individuals who disagree.
catfish99 Champion Author Wilmington Posts:13,981 Points:2,497,500 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Nov 18, 2012 10:49:17 AM Ignore catfish99 Report Abuse Coincidence does not equal causality, and a grandstanding mayor lacking economic education had nothing to do with fuel prices,
maxstar Champion Author Chicago Posts:18,495 Points:811,495 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Nov 14, 2012 6:12:26 PM Ignore maxstar Report Abuse KELLIE061563 places like New Lenox are not much better than Texas when it comes to public transportation. However, Lew Lenox is a suburb that is elbow to elbow with other suburbs so smart comparative shopping is easy. That competition is likely the real reason those stations lowered their prices.
Mikeyl Champion Author Cleveland Posts:5,159 Points:1,186,745 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Nov 14, 2012 3:51:05 PM Ignore Mikeyl Report Abuse His loud mouth worked. The squeeky wheel always gets the grease. And, not re-elected. [Edited by: Mikeyl at 11/14/2012 3:51:28 PM EST]
KELLIE061563 Sophomore Author Dallas Posts:105 Points:15,525 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 10:12:11 AM Ignore KELLIE061563 Report Abuse Places like Chicago and New York, boycotts may have a larger impact but only because of the great mass transit systems. But places like Texas where mass transit is a mass joke and the average job is over 20 miles from your home it leaves little options.
Alfys007 Sophomore Author Alabama Posts:241 Points:27,085 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 7:33:52 AM Ignore Alfys007 Report Abuse k
1OILMAN Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,080 Points:159,980 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 10, 2012 3:03:11 PM Ignore 1OILMAN Report Abuse Maybe Rham needs to ax da Sous'side to boycott guns?
OilerFan Champion Author Tulsa Posts:14,050 Points:2,447,800 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Oct 10, 2012 8:19:49 AM Ignore OilerFan Report Abuse Boycotts work when you have an alternative source. The blanket boycotts we hear about from time to time, never work.
MertieMan Champion Author Lexington Posts:14,793 Points:2,896,585 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Oct 10, 2012 8:07:49 AM Ignore MertieMan Report Abuse Most of them don't work, and this one might be an exception. They figure if you don't get gas today, you sure will have to tomorrow. They have a captive audience because they have no competition at the present time, all the more reason for electric and other forms of alternative energy.
gougenator Champion Author Dallas Posts:29,862 Points:3,245,900 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 6:45:47 PM Ignore gougenator Report Abuse why on earth is it so hard to utilize the best forum for this? boycott forums
brerrabbitTX Champion Author Houston Posts:1,030 Points:18,285 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 1:34:12 PM Ignore brerrabbitTX Report Abuse Without knowing underlying spot prices in the market during that period there is no way to substaintiate if it worked or not. I price at 3.50 a gallon based on current spot prices, the next day spot prices drop 30 cents and I lower my street price 10 cents. Was it the boycott or was it just the normal day to day movement in the market. Your evidence is lacking.
DucatiRider Rookie Author Maryland Posts:70 Points:1,200 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:41:23 PM Ignore DucatiRider Report Abuse A boycott will work when you actually have the power to cut your demand. If you just stop buying for a week you'll be back. Boycotting a certain brand of stations or a certain geographical area will work but the idea of "no body buy gas today, that'll teach 'em" is going to fail because you'll juat buy tomorrow. Buy a motorcycle, use 1/3 of the fuel.
AFOS Champion Author Chicago Posts:30,406 Points:3,074,115 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:34:18 PM Ignore AFOS Report Abuse The only time I remember public pressure (maybe) forcing down pump prices was after hurricane Katrina. Speedway hiked prices 50-60 cents across much of the Midwest - to $3.31 in my area (first time ever over $3). This was in response to a monster one day spike in wholesale prices. The Michigan governor complained loudly about price gouging and in a day or two all Speedways in all their markets were back under $3. Never seen a universal 32 cents DROP in prices by Speedway at any other time. Other stations stayed high not willing to sell the product in their tanks at big loss. As far as the original post, Speedway tends to drive New Lenox prices with 3 stations (and others nearby). Sometimes they are high and other times low compared to nearby town. Speedway normally won't lower their prices any more than necessary to stay competitive (what a novel business idea!) So it was probably the collective fault of all the indy operators in the market if it stayed high. [Edited by: AFOS at 10/9/2012 12:38:41 PM EST]
hornet17 Champion Author Vancouver Posts:1,323 Points:440,865 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 10:25:15 AM Ignore hornet17 Report Abuse Even if it worked for a day, how long is it actually going to work, people will buy where it is convenient at the prices they have to pay.
deporresd Sophomore Author Illinois Posts:183 Points:140,220 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 10:00:57 AM Ignore deporresd Report Abuse I won't repeat much of what has been said, but I'm skeptical. The news accounts I read indicated that not all stations lowered prices, and that some who did had already raised them, just a couple of days later. I still believe most gas station owners make most of their profit b selling things other than gas. While it is popular to argue against high gas prices (no one ever talks about low gas prices, even when they were considerably lower than now). While big oil might be recording large profits, there are a lot of steps between the big oil companies and a local station.
NickoliMB Champion Author Manitoba Posts:2,513 Points:472,230 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 9:38:39 AM Ignore NickoliMB Report Abuse Sounds good. Anything to get those prices down.
cheap2010skate Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,806 Points:635,535 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 9:30:23 AM Ignore cheap2010skate Report Abuse That's great. It works only if no one goes to those stations and if there are stations nearby in other towns.
_Sparty_ Champion Author Chicago Posts:2,016 Points:691,865 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 9:13:55 AM Ignore _Sparty_ Report Abuse What are prices in New Lenox today?
Jkent1953 Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:2,001 Points:442,885 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 12:11:30 AM Ignore Jkent1953 Report Abuse They never work. You need gas if you want to get around. Sooner or later you buy.
BLTHNDR Veteran Author Chicago Posts:462 Points:174,995 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 10:09:09 PM Ignore BLTHNDR Report Abuse At least somebody is trying once and while ,too bad we all can't get together and run a boycott. Just think what would happen... maybe like winning lotto at the pump even for a few days.
jcpatriots Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,903 Points:600,320 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 9:24:43 PM Ignore jcpatriots Report Abuse Yeah, because they were pressured into it by a big political figure who had INFLUENCE, not a single person who passes a chain letter around talking about some magical 1997 gas boycott that never happened.
Shockjock1961 Champion Author Illinois Posts:20,124 Points:2,186,135 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 9:16:59 PM Ignore Shockjock1961 Report Abuse Prices in my neck of the woods of Illinois have dropped 30 cents over the last couple of weeks. There was no boycott here. Perhaps it was not a boycott that dropped New Lenoxs prices...
WEPSMAN Champion Author South Dakota Posts:10,513 Points:2,024,475 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 8:44:30 PM Ignore WEPSMAN Report Abuse Short term fix. Before you know it, they will be back to where they were.
Gas_Buddy Champion Author Maryland Posts:25,984 Points:3,036,015 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 2:36:18 PM Ignore Gas_Buddy Report Abuse Let's put this "boycott" in perspective. The mayor of the town of New Lenox, Illinois, complained that the gas stations in his village were price gouging (his words) after he noticed that gas station prices were "much, much higher priced" than in neighboring towns, as much as 5 cents per gallon higher than in nearby Frankfurt (seven miles away), and that local gas prices were higher than in some other parts of northern Illinois. [Note: Not they were necessarily 5 cents higher, but, in the mayor's words, "as much as" 5 cents higher.] The mayor subsequently urged New Lenox residents to take their business elsewhere. Several gas stations, as of a week later, dropped prices by as much as 11 cents per gallon; not at all the New Lenox gas stations, but at some. Now the perspective. First, no one has said anything, including the Mayor, about gas prices nation-wide dropping at the time the New Lenox gas stations dropped prices, let alone gas prices dropping at gas stations in neighboring towns. Second, the mayor hasn't said anything about several of the gas stations that dropped prices selling gas at or below cost. [Note: In Illinois gas stations are not prohibited from selling fuel below cost; it is prohibited in 11 other states under "predatory" laws.] That means that several gas stations were not necessarily covering their operating costs, let alone getting a return on investment or making a profit for the people owning the stations. And he hasn't said anything about the possible difference of operating costs such as rents and/or local tax, etc. Third, there was nothing stopping the New Lenox residents from buying gas at nearby Frankfurt (approximately seven miles away) or in other nearby towns. And, in part because of this, it seems that the media coverage was a bigger factor for the station owners than residents’ response. For that matter, I'm pretty sure that most New Lenox residents, before the mayor’s move, didn’t feel forced to buy gas in town and probably did, in fact, look elsewhere to save money. Fourth, this was a no-lose political stand if there ever was one — seizing upon the public’s anger at rising gas prices and skepticism about how they go up so much faster, sometimes 15 to 20 cents per gallon overnight, than they come down, at the same time that nation-wide prices were beginning to drop, and then taking credit for it. Sort of like the old saying that if you want to be a leader and you see a parade, jump in front of it. It seems that's what the mayor did; he's taking credit for local prices dropping, without noting that nation-wide prices have dropped significantly recently. But a side note: The mayor hasn't always shown such concern for the taxpayer's wallet. In 2010, just before he retired as police chief of nearby Chicago Ridge, he was given a $70,000 per year salary raise, which resulted in him getting a significantly higher pension paid out of the town police fund, according to Chicago Tribune reporting and Chicago Ridge public records. That was a $70,000 per year salary raise, not a $70,000 per year salary. So much, in my opinion, for the mayor's concern about watching out for other people's money. Sorry, but I can't really say that a small-town boycott worked when the world-wide price of fuel dropped, and prices dropped - are are continue to drop slowly - across the United States. Not unless you'e also saying the mayor should take credit for those drops.
bluenvoy Champion Author Nashville Posts:14,977 Points:1,877,640 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 9:12:52 AM Ignore bluenvoy Report Abuse They will be high again when the public eyes are not on them.
OilerFan Champion Author Tulsa Posts:14,050 Points:2,447,800 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 7:48:58 AM Ignore OilerFan Report Abuse Individual boycotts haven't been so effective. I'm glad to see that a town was able to band together and do something though.
red_green17 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:1,868 Points:577,350 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 7:41:13 AM Ignore red_green17 Report Abuse I think this boycott worked because it was public, and started by a high ranking official. That said in Canada, I would rather the same mayor go to his superiors in the provincial or federal governments and ask them to lower the taxes on the gas since tat would immediately lower the prices.
MIT05 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:4,172 Points:1,392,300 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 6:45:39 AM Ignore MIT05 Report Abuse I'm with u ,if we boycotted more things it would affect them.
MertieMan Champion Author Lexington Posts:14,793 Points:2,896,585 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 5:26:56 AM Ignore MertieMan Report Abuse Boycotts will not work in large metropolitan areas because there are far too many stations to buy from in an area like this.
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,664 Points:2,361,920 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 12:37:39 AM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse How about one US national gas price? Just a thought. That will give people something to talk about, but not much then for gas postings. However supply and demand except in this case, in general does not work anymore since we are a net exporter of fuels.
maxstar Champion Author Chicago Posts:18,495 Points:811,495 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 12:32:14 AM Ignore maxstar Report Abuse Boycotts do not work. I doubt if the Mayor had any influence on the price of gas in New Lenox. Prices have come down all over the Chicago area in April. "New Lenox" just went along with that trend. April Price Chart