Service Station Owner Joins Gasoline Boycott

[Mayfly]

http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_134192235.html


What do you all think of this?



WCCO) Ramsey, Minn. There has been some buzz on the Internet and over e-mail about a gasoline boycott slated for Tuesday, May 15. Customers who are upset about high prices plan to refuse to buy gasoline for one day around the country.

A gas station owner in Ramsey, Minn. says he will join the protest and not sell gas on Tuesday.

"I thought it's a good way to protest, not selling gas for 12 hours and tell the people we are supporting them," said Sunfish Express Service Station owner Frank Yamoutpour.

Yamoutpour said all day Tuesday he'll shut off the pumps to send a message.

"I thought it was my duty as a citizen to do my part," said Yamoutpour.

Ben Harris and his graphic arts company next door volunteered to make a big sign that will sit outside the convenience store to tell people about the protest. Harris thinks Yamoutpur is making a pretty bold statement.

"I think that it's something that affects everyone and if we all do something to help it might make a difference," said VA Graphics Art Director Ben Harris.

Some might think that gas stations make a lot of money when they charge $3.16 or more per gallon. It turns out when prices are this high Yamoutpour said he actually loses money.

He showed his bill for Monday's gas delivery. He paid $3.07 a gallon for unleaded, but said after the fee for credit card transactions and the bills to keep his store open, he makes no profit.

Yamoutpour said he makes his money inside the store but when customers spend so much at the pump, his snack sales drop.

His customers have mixed feelings about his boycott.

"It's a good idea and we support it all the way," said customer Ken Kennedy.

"I don't think that's going to save anything. I just think we need to stop using gas," said Christine Gagne of Ramsey.

Yamoutpour said he hopes other service stations will join the protest too.

However, energy experts say that kind of protest likely won't make a difference because people will just buy gasoline on a different day.

(? MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

[Lee Borgersen]

Interesting timing since I just heard on the news today that a local station owner was closing up shop because of the same gas pricing problems.

[Spinach]

This email comes out whenever gas is this high, this is the 3rd year in a row that I have read this.

I agree with the last statement though, if we all boycott buying gas on Tuesday, they will just sell twice as much on Wednesday..... It will never work.

How about everyone avoids buying gas from Superamerica and Holiday for a long time, that could force them to do something.

[Woody]

I saw this on the news this morning-the boycott on May 15th.  For one, the e-mail is a hoax, check out www.snopes.com (There you can check the validity of such e-mails)

2. A one day boycott will not affect the gas companies-because we'll either buy the day(s) before or day(s) afterwards.

3. In order to truely affect and get the attention of gas companies-we'd need to not buy gas nationwide for a week straight-meaning we all either rideshare, or find alternative means.  And even then we'd be back to buy more gas. 

So while the idea in principle is nice, it won't affect the gas gouging moguls one bit if we don't buy gas one particular day-they know we'll be back for more-later. ::

[Big Slick]

Do you know how much gas this country would save if everyone use an electic or old reel type lawn mower?

Or maybe not cut the grass at all?

[iceman]

if you realy think about it ..
it will take more then just one day of not buying gas maybe all week i can go that long too..

the gas compenys will make back what they lost for today and even some more
theres no stoping them !

i was home last week and over heard the state of minnesota guy telling one of the staion owners they have the ok to 4.00$ a gallon that is just plain wrong !
so it's not only the gas compinsys getting rich it's the state on minnesota too..

wheres it all going to stop ??