Boycotting Bp Wont Work

   If you have been on a rampage lately muttering under your breath swear words and bad things about the BP oil spill in the Gulf, you’re probably not alone. I’m sure across the country hundreds of thousands of people drive the extra two blocks to avoid pumping gas at the local BP, many others have decided to get their drinks and snacks at other franchises. But in recent light of a call for a boycott of BP products, here’s something you should know.

As several major news outlets have noted, consumer protests have no real impact on BP’s bottom line. in fact, it has been publicly broadcast that protesting BP with your money mainly ends up hurting innocent gas-station operators who have nothing to do with the franchise finances or the oil spill in the Gulf. The reason?

BP doesn’t actually own any gas stations.

That’s right my friends boycotting your local BP franchise simply hurts the local franchise manager and store operators who are nothing more than members of your community try to make a profit. BP licenses out the franchise name to Independent business owners in your local neck of the woods, and driving by those local gas stations to go to the next one wouldn’t impact the actual BP franchise even if you could get an entire town to support your cause. and to make the matter even worse, the actual BP franchise can simply sell off its overstock to other fueling stations at or below cost, so that when you pass by the actual BP station and go on to the next little mom and pop station, you may still be purchasing BP gasoline.

so for all of you crazy hot heads following the steps of the celebrities including Lady Gaga, Creed and the Backstreet Boys, who have agreed not to use fuel sold by BP, and who also most likely do not even pump their own gasoline anyway, while the cause seems justified and we all wish we could do something… just know your only wasting your own time and your local economies money.