thats sounds about right...my oil changes havent gone up...and the minute lube down the street still has the same price up on the billboard they had last summer...

The oil companies are still running about a 10% profit margin. The gross sales numbers are driven by oil prices, which are set by speculative traders.

I'm not aware of many retail operations outside grocery with profit margins as low as 10%. What makes this look bad is the sheer $$ volumes involved.

And I agree that the boycott plan proposed above won't work. Reducing overall demand is the only effective solution, not selectively choosing your retailer.

The reason why the oil companies are making record profits is when you produce oil, your actual costs to produce have not gone up but your sell price has.
Also if I buy/produce a barrel of oil for $20 and make my products and sell for $22, I make $2. If I buy/produce at $70 and sell product for $77, I make $7. The more it cost the more you make, if people will buy it. So even the non-producers and refiners are making more money.

The numbers are not that simple but ExxonMobil sold $360 billion gross last year. They only had $36 billion in profit. That's 10% which is really low for most businesses. Would you like to sell $100 just to keep $10? They really have to spend a lot to make their profit. It is just they spend/sell so much more than any other company which makes them the largest oil company. It is really just big numbers that shock everyone. Remember there are years where they do not make any money or even lose money.

ok.... so the first weekend boycott got an effect... they went OMG!!... but see.. what everyone did was topp off thurday night... the fill it up on monday morning..... after that first weekend... they just kept it in holding tanks longer and knew that gas was still going to be used, boght and sold.... no politics.... no wally world.... go with dual fuel vehicles or all electric, try the bus, trolly, and corpooling... riding a bike and walking to the seven11 across the street isn't bad iether... any... thas my 2 cents worth.

The government got 46% without work, or investment.

I think I see the problem, and I see a bunch of other problems.. I am ready to do something about it.

Come with me.


M

Hendrix,

Awesome suggestion. I like it when someone is willing to take matters into their own hands.

But how am I going to get where you are to follow you and how much is it going to cost me.

And is this going to take long, cuz I need to be home in time to watch the World Series as my team is looking strong this year. The Senators from upstate voted to allow my county to increase my property taxes to pay for a stadium that is going to have the best players rushing to join my team!

And do I need to bring my own stuff or is it going to be provided for me? Gee, this is getting difficult. Is my stuff compatible with your stuff? And are the colors right? I wouldn't want to look out of place. Are there going to be Doctors and Nurses available, as I have a condition that needs monitoring. Are we going to be doing a lot of walking. My joints aren't what they use to be and I take Advil anytime I work outside. Can you provide the Advil?

Does it pay well? What does your benefit package look like. Does it support civil union agreements and pay a living wage? Man, this is getting complicated. And I've got make sure the lawn service stopped by this week. They didn't last week and the wife is pissed.

I guess I need to stay home.

Hope you get something done for us, cuz we really need it.

I'm with you all the way,

Fin

Miles, you me and the Ol' Man in the Mountains (SLITS) are gonna change the world!

b

Some of you guys are unbeleiveable. Do you really think the gas companies are the ones proffiting and that shopping elsewhere will solve anything? The gas at your local Exxon is the same gas at your local Nickel-Pumper. Don't let anyone fool you into believing anything differnet.

For "shi%s and grins" let's break down a $3 gallon of gasoline:

Gasoline Retailer $.01 cents per gallon

Oil Company $.08 cents per gallon

Refining $.29 cents per gallon

Marketing/Distribution $.32 cents per gallon

Taxes $.59 cents per gallon

Cost of crude $1.71 per gallon (delivered)

The retailer sells gas as a loss-leader to get you into their station to buy other stuff. Hence, the chain mini-mart style pumps will generally have lower prices than the old-school service stations. So, you can't blame the gas station.

The oil company is grossing less than 3% of the cost/gallon. I don't knwo about you, but every product I sell, oes for at least 40% gross margin. Does that make me a profiteer?

The government is getting 20% of the cost/gallon. While I think the taxes are ridiculous, the government does use those funds for, well, whatever they use them for. But, if they reduced it, shoudl we beleive they will actually pass that reduction to the citizen? No way! They will simply rebalance with a tax increase somewhere else.

If anyone wants to really be pissed about something, think about how unfair the tax on gasoline is to someone who drives a SUV or pickup truck with lower MPG. Someone in a truck getting 15MPG is being taxed at twice the rate of someone driving a Honda with 30MPG.

I don't mean to offend anyone here, but come on... I'm sick of hearing the democrats blame Bush for Big Oil. If you really want to make a difference, buy a hybrid or alternative fuel car which will use less oil, reduce demand and extend our natural resources.

Or, you can be like me and just accept that it is what it is and pay $55/tank to fill up and be happy we're not in Europe where pices are up to $7/gallon (again becuase of socialist taxes).

Somebody please make this a sticky....

On the Rennlist forum....





Twystd1

"I don't mean to offend anyone here, but come on... I'm sick of hearing the democrats blame Bush for Big Oil. If you really want to make a difference, buy a hybrid or alternative fuel car which will use less oil, reduce demand and extend our natural resources."



jeeez.

OK, that's enough.

--DD