As the world continues to watch oil spread across the Gulf of Mexico, social media sites are abuzz with calls to boycott BP stations.
While it may feel like you’re hurting BP, Pam Christenson with the Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association says it’s not really going to affect their bottom line that much.
Christenson says BP owns none of the stations in Wisconsin that carry its name or sell the gasoline it supplies. Rather, she says most are independently owned locally or are family run. Not buying your gas there only hurts their profits and could force them out of business.
Christenson says BP branded stations typically have a long term contract to purchase gasoline from the company and don’t have the option to switch suppliers.
Also, most stations don’t make money off the gas sold at the pump. Their profits come from items sold inside the store, and they’ll lose that income if you go somewhere else.
Christenson says retailers share in the frustration about the oil disaster, but a boycott is not the answer.