I can't believe I agree with Bill O'Lielly

[quisp]

I heard him suggest last night that everyone stop buying gas on Sundays. I think that's a great idea. And it certainly would get the attention of the oil companies.

What do you think?

[Tace]

1. Would It Make A Net Difference?

Probably not much.

[ET Awful]

If everybody did it? It certainly would make a difference.

If a few people did it half-heartedly and only if it was convenient (as is typical with most boycotts), then it would have no effect at all.

[BlueEyedSon]

10. No, unless they actually DRIVE less, they will buy the same number of

gallons of gas per week. they just will buy it on any day but Sunday.

Think: would people actually DRIVE less if all gas stations were closed on Sundays? No, they would adjust their purchasing routine to support their consumption.

[ET Awful]

14. If no purchases are made for a day, regardless of whether a

purchase is made on a day following, they lose profit. The amount of money in overhead to keep outlets open with no incoming revenue for a day is significant.

[BlueEyedSon]

19. if I spend $100 a week on gas (whereever), does the amount of profit

depend on which day/days I spend it?

If so, this is a new law of economics I am unfamiliar with.

[ET Awful]

22. If it costs the oil company thousands of dollars to function for a day

when no revenue is coming in, they are losing money. If they get more revenue the following day, it does NOT dispel the lost money from overhead for the day they had no revenue.

It's not a new law of economics, it's a very old law.

[tx_dem41]

25. Companies don't pay that overhead on a daily basis though.

So the plan doesn't really work, UNLESS people drive 1/7th less as well.

[ET Awful]

27. Whether they pay it on a daily basis is irrelevant.

The overhead still exists. From electricity to run pumps to paying personnel, the overhead for that day still exists. It is not entirely counteracted by shifting the revenue for that day somewhere else.

[tx_dem41]

36. Let me give an example.

If they normally get $1000 dollars in revenue a day and no one went there on Sunday BUT didn't drive any less...then they would get:

$0 on Sunday
$1500 on Monday
$1500 on Tuesday

totalling the $3000 they would normally get on those 3 days. They don't have to pay payroll daily. They pay it every two weeks or twice a month. They pay overhead once a month.

There is no loss of revenue UNLESS people drive less.

[SidDithers]

29. If they get MORE revenue the following day...

then it does dispel the previous days losses.

Sid

[ET Awful]

31. No, it does not.

They are losing money by paying to keep the entire operation functional, regardless of increased sales the following day.

[tx_dem41]

37. Do you actually run a business?

Because, respectfully, you don't understand the concept of revenue and outlays.

[ET Awful]

38. I have managed two successful business in the past, and yes, I do

understand the concept.

Obviously you won't see my point here, and I don't believe yours is valid, so I'll just end it here.

[tx_dem41]

40. Sorry...didn't mean to be harsh. n/t

[BlueEyedSon]

43. I find that really hard to believe.

[triguy46]

39. What are the fixed costs and variable costs?

In your overhead argument, the only thing a retailer can change in the short term is variable costs, and for most of these that would be staff, and cost of goods sold (gas to sell for instance). So maybe they go from 1.5 FTE per shift to 1.25. The remainder of the overhead are fixed costs such as lights, AC, water, debt service.

So the question is, does one day of diminshed revenue bring them to their knees? I don't think that convenience store gas ops are that dependent on gas sales that shifting sales one day would make a scintilla of difference. For the retailer, gas margins are very thin. They want you in the store buying beer, slim jims, icees, $4 gallon of milk. That is where the profits are.

If they sell less gas, they purchase less gas. The margin on gas stays the same. So only to the extent that other sales are insufficient to meet fixed costs, it don't make any friggin diff.

the only impact is if we park cars for one day... and I can tell you in Okla, it will be a cold day in hell before 18 year old girls stop driving their turbo diesel dually pick ups to cheer leading practice. At 3 bucks a gallon, demand is as high as ever.

[ET Awful]

46. I never said it brought them to their knees. I siad it would efect them

and it will.

As to "convenience store gas ops" without gas, people won't stop at convenience stores because they are overpriced on other items, the potential customer will, instead, go to a larger grocery store, etc.

[AnnInLa]

8. right....if people buy more gas on Saturday to last them thru Sunday,

what diff will it make. Another plan is needed. I heard that truckers may stop delivering necessities to stores.....now, if that happened and all over the country, people couldn't get what they needed and started demonstrated....that may get the attention of oil companies.

[Debau2005]

2. A little late...

If Atlanta does not get some gas today or tomorrow then I will not have the choice of whether to buy gas or not!

[etherealtruth]

3. Cut back use and conserve ...

[BlueEyedSon]

4. No difference. Maybe if everyone stopped DRIVING on Sundays....

[acmavm]

5. I think that pigs will take to the skies before this selfish hedonistic

society ever does anything like that. Sacrifice is not exactly part of the national conscience. Especially since we have so many people in this country who feel they are 'entitled' to the privileges that the good life has to offer.

But what WILL happen is that, except for the wealthy, it will be forced upon them. That is when they'll turn on their fearless (??) leader.

[SidDithers]

6. How about if everyone made Sunday a car-free day...

take a walk, go to the park.

Cut your gas consumption by 1/7 and the oil companies would sure notice.

Sid

[xray s]

7. It would make NO impact

now if everyone stopped driving and shopping on Sunday, maybe someone would take notice

[BlueEyedSon]

11. Will someone please tell the (one day) gas boycott folks this?

[Usrename]

9. Happened to me two days ago - about opening the oil reserve.

I almost made an appointment to get an MRI. Thought I must have a tumor growing in my brain somewhere.

[quisp]

12. it would certainly have an impact

on cash flow. If they had zero income on 4 days out of the month it would definately affect the bottom line. And it would send a powerful message.

[BlueEyedSon]

21. How many days a month do you have "no cashflow"?

Is it a problem?

[quisp]

23. I have positive cash flow

2 days a month, and if I were to miss one of them, yes, it would be a big problem. Even if I got every cent owed to me on the other day.

I know what you're saying. And I would adjust. But the oil market would be affected if people were not buying gasoline on a given day of the week. It would affect not just cash flow, which would be significant, but also inventories and distribution which in turn affect the spot market and the futures market.

[BlueEyedSon]

41. So 2 days out of 30 is enough (as long as the net meets some minimum)?

[K-W]

28. No, it wouldnt, no company breaks down profits by day.

The only people who would even notice would be the gas stations and they wouldnt care as long as people still bought gas before and afterwards.

[triguy46]

35. Even if they did do P/L statement daily

If all that is happening is selling more on Saturday and Monday, its no friggin impact. Shifting the timing of demand is not the same as changing the demand curve, (go to Econ 101). We want to shift the demand curve folks.

[madokie]

13. Of course not, the oil companys are going to get your money

whether its today or tomorrow. They gonna' get it and they know it.

[leesa]

15. What difference does it make if you buy it on Sunday or Monday??

[Inland]

16. At $3.29/gal, I don't need Falafel Boy to tell me to stop buying gas.

Just saying.

[Lerkfish]

17. that would only work if the price of gas were close to the cost to produce

it. In other words, if the margin of profit were thin, boycotting would work.

In case you haven't noticed, oil company profits are obscene. the margin between their costs and what they've been gouging us for is so huge, you'd have to boycott for a decade before they ever felt it.

[Lost4words]

18. No they could shut down stations on sunday,

people would buy on Saturday and Monday instead. Its how much is consumed that would get their attention. And even then they would just raise cost of production to cover any loss.

We have no way to fight back

[SidDithers]

32. Only way to fight back is to drive less...nt

Sid

[Lost4words]

47. Correct! A massive public strike would do it.

No gas, no purchases. but the US could never get that United. So like I said we have no way to fight back.

[MellowOne]

20. Too many people are angry about the gas

Listen to the people at the pumps, they won't stand for much more of this BUSHSHIT!

[ScreamingMeemie]

24. Just buy gas. Don't buy cigarettes, candy, coffee, gum any

of those convenience items. Make them make their money strictly in gas. The gougers aren't going to like it.

[LynneSin]

34. Now THAT is something I can support

:D

[ignatzmouse]

26. It's a pre-emptive deflection to stall calls for a cap... n/t

[triguy46]

30. No...my beer drinking past explains why...

If all you're accomplishing is deferring the purchase to monday, or buying on Saturday, no real change.

Years ago I lived in Kansas, (when evilution was still taught). There was a law prohibiting beer sales on sunday. That just meant I bought beer Saturday evening in preparation for Sunday's holier than thou prohibition. Sure didn't stop my beer drinking.

Same with gas. If all you're doing is filling up Sat at 11PM rather than Sunday at 10, demand hasn't changed, just the timing of demand.

The only way to decrese demand is to drive/use less, not some symbolic day of abstinence.

[LynneSin]

33. Sure, I'll fill my car up on Saturday night and should be fine for 4-5 day

:crazy:

I hate these dumbass "DON'T BUY GAS ON SUCH-N-SUCH A DAY" It's not like I buy this stuff everyday!

[Indy Lurker]

42. How about not driving over Labor Day Weekend.

If everyone cancelled Labor Day weekend plans that involved driving, the price of gas would drop $0.50/ gal

[BlueEyedSon]

44. Yeah, i can see people "wasting" a 3-day weekend by not traveling

[Pretty_in_CodePink]

45. Silly idea sounds like the e-mail I've been getting.

So people buy on Sat and Mon. The only thing that will make a statement is driving less and using less.

[jeffrey_X]

48. I'll start listening to O'fuckhead when he stops being condescending...

towards the people he's interviewing.