Fuel Price Rip-off - Should We Boycott One Brand for A Week?

Misam0810 on 11/07/2021 - 10:16
Last edited 11/07/2021 - 12:12 by 1 other user

Hi All,

Was having a discussion on the rip-off in our fuel prices with a mate. Anyway for those old enough, years ago we tried to make a point to the fuel companies by boycotting for a day. Problem was they didn't care as we boycotted all, but fuelled up the next day. So companies never really lost out, they made it back the next day.

Was wondering though, about taking this process but tweaking a bit.

I think we should be boycotting one brand for a week, fuel up anywhere else. Company will never make that money back. If we pointed it out to them on a targeted boycott, and they took a massive hit, they would lower to compete. But we stand our ground, they don't just get to lower it by a few cents it has to be a decent and noticeable amount, before we return, eg 10 cent margin.

I'm not sure on the logistics, but maybe the good people of OzBargain could suggest ideas.

Anyway just a thought.

Automotive Fuel

closed Comments

  • SF3 on 11/07/2021 - 10:18
    +1

    Get an EV, you don’t need fuel again, you boycott for good. /s

    • Euphemistic on 11/07/2021 - 10:28
      +1

      This. They sell so much fuel for ‘essential’ services they don’t care about retail consumers. Retail consumers are a necessary burden for them.

  • avoidfullprice on 11/07/2021 - 10:33

    National lockdown for a long period. Petrol prices tank dramatically.

  • Misam0810 on 11/07/2021 - 10:45

    Yes, I know the get an EV argument exists. However in the current AU environment, they are cost prohibitive to most, so not a valid suggestion till they are affordable and infrastructure exists.
    Also, its not just the fuel sale they loose, its the little extras we buy inside as well.

  • bobbified on 11/07/2021 - 10:51
    +3

    But we stand our ground…

    This almost reminds me of the people that go on hunger strikes - they won't eat today and they might not eat tomorrow… but we all know that eventually, they're going to have to eat!

    • afoveht on 11/07/2021 - 11:43

      That misses the whole point - eating re-starts when the striker achieves their purpose, or when they are violated with and force-fed which is a different but often calculated political outcome, or death / illness. Hunger strikes are serious undertakings, all-in, and have worked well in the past but they are only suitable for certain situations. The likes of teenagers refusing to eat with their parents for a time are not hunger-strikes.

  • Maglia Nera on 11/07/2021 - 10:53

    ride a bike

  • pegaxs on 11/07/2021 - 10:56
    +2

    Because it worked so well last time we boycotted

    For a day… come on. That's a bit like "student strikes" at school. You think teachers give as shit? It's a day off for them. Same as petrol strikes for one day, it does nothing. What we need is a month long strike, kind of like what the covid lock-down of last year looked liked where fuel dropped down to under $1 in a lot of places because no one was able to go anywhere and didn't need to buy fuel…

    Having a "fuel boycott" for one day to force petrol companies to lower their prices is a bit like trying to save the planet by turning all your house lights off, one day a year, at 8pm, for 1 hour.

    • bobbified on 11/07/2021 - 11:11

      ..trying to save the planet by turning all your house lights off, one day a year, at 8pm, for 1 hour.

      Yep… that's what they already (try) do with Earth hour!

  • Misam0810 on 11/07/2021 - 11:22

    I'll support a month boycott of one.
    No disrespect intended, but the hunger strike is a good analogy if we were forced back to one provider, but we're not, we can stay on a hunger strike from one company as long as we like. But I get your point.
    Pushys out, when you commute 87km one way, but all for it locally, use mine as much as I can.

    • SF3 on 11/07/2021 - 11:26

      Mate, you are only doing a symbolic boycott… afterwards then what?

      Like other have said, this is like doing the same thing and expecting a different result.

      • afoveht on 11/07/2021 - 11:59

        It's not just symbolic. If people held to it it would actually exert pressure on the boycotted party. But that's the thing - most people won't hold to it, or even consider it. Such a shame, it's such a low opportunity cost for most people.

    • Euphemistic on 11/07/2021 - 11:33

      commute 87km one way

      That’s the biggest part of the problem. People have chosen to live to far away from work and therefore have to buy a lot of fuel.

      If it came down to it, I can ride to work but most of the time. I cart tools and stuff to and from which adds complexity. One of those electric postie bikes would be perfect.

  • AndyC1 on 11/07/2021 - 11:36

    Similar to https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/635351

    • petry on 11/07/2021 - 12:01

      the az boycott hasn't worked, why would that if martial law is invoked?

  • Misam0810 on 11/07/2021 - 11:37

    Yea but sometimes the commute isn't actually a choice made by them, its made for them by external factors. Eg looking after extended family so partner is close but bread winner needs to commute.

    • Euphemistic on 11/07/2021 - 12:01

      It’s always a choice at some level.

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