Got this off another forum... may work!
I'm willing to give it a try!

-----------------------
If you have a interest in the price at the pump - read on. If not
please ignore and delete.

I think this could be worth a try.

We are going to hit close to 89p a litre by the summer.
Want petrol prices to come down? We need to take some intelligent,
united action.

Philip Hollsworth offered this good idea:

This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the "don't buy petrol on a certain day"
campaign that was going around last April or May! The oil companies just
laughed at that because they knew we wouldn't continue to hurt ourselves
by refusing to buy petrol. It was more of an inconvenience to us than it
was a problem for them.

BUT, whoever thought of this idea, has come up with a plan that can
really work. Please read it and join in!

Now that the oil companies and the OPEC nations have conditioned us to
think that the cost of a litre is CHEAP at 77p -80p, we need to take
aggressive action to teach them that BUYERS control the marketplace not
sellers. With the price of petrol going up more each day, we consumers
need to take action. The only way we are going to see the price of
petrol come down is if we hit someone in the pocket by not purchasing
their Petrol! And we can do that WITHOUT hurting ourselves.

Here's the idea:

For the rest of this year, DON'T purchase ANY petrol from the two
biggest oil companies (which now are one), ESSO and BP. If they are not
selling any petrol, they will be inclined to reduce their prices.

If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow
suit.
But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of Esso and
BP petrol buyers. It's really simple to do!! Now, don't whimp out on me
at this point...keep reading and I'll explain how simple it is to reach
millions of people!!

I am sending this note to a lot of people. If each of you send it to at
least ten more (30 x 10 = 300)... and those 300 send it to at least ten
more (300 x 10 = 3,000) ... and so on, by the time the message reaches
the sixth generation of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION
consumers! If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten
friends each, then 30 million people will have been contacted! If it
goes one level further, you guessed it... .. THREE HUNDRED MILLION
PEOPLE!!!

Again,all you have to do is send this to 10 people. That's all.(and not
buy at ESSO/BP) How long would all that take? If each of us sends this
email out to ten more people within one day of receipt, all 300 MILLION
people could conceivably be contacted within the next 8 days!!! I'll bet
you didn't think you and I had that much potential, did you! Acting
together we can make a difference. If this makes sense To you, please
pass this message on.

PLEASE HOLD OUT UNTIL THEY LOWER THEIR PRICES TO THE 69p a LITRE RANGE

Action:

It's easy to make this happen. Just forward this email, and buy your
petrol at Shell, Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons (75p)Jet etc.

i.e.boycott BP and Esso
-------------

The Supermarkets get their petrol from BP and Esso anyway, the price of crude went down today did it not?... hold fire and it'll come down on its own

Yeah, if you boycott you'll be cutting your nose off to spite your face really, cos how you gonna get anywhere without putting fuel in your motor?!

And like RPG says prices will come down of their own accord eventually, they'll have to or garages'll end up going down the swannee cos nobody'll be able to afford to fill up at them.

Obviously Rich you haven't read the first post have you :loopy:

RPG I did think that too... but surely there MUST be petrol stations which don't buy from BP or ESSO surely?

Just use those perhaps?

And on the subject of crude oil coming down... that doesn't mean petrol will too!

I agree with boycotting Esso but for wholly different reasons:

http://www.stopesso.com/

Originally posted by DaBouncer
RPG I did think that too... but surely there MUST be petrol stations which don't buy from BP or ESSO surely?

Just use those perhaps?

And on the subject of crude oil coming down... that doesn't mean petrol will too!

Most petrol stations here use BP. Shell are their own company but dont (seemingly) sell off their stock to other names anymore. However, they are more expensive!

The only other places which you are gonna find non-BP petrol are the independant petrol retailers, but prices are skyhigh.

if the crude oil prices come down, the petrol usually falls in line with it, if it didnt the petrol companies would have riots on their hands lol.

Sainsburys (albeit BP supplied) seem to be the cheapest round here, (with the vouchers from food shopping as well!) so id reccomend using them.

we should start a thread whereby people post the current petrol prices at their local/frequently used stations! if we find out whos is the cheapest im sure it'll save people LOADS of money

It's not the same though, as petrol prices continue to rise everywhere.

I cannot remember a time petrol came down in price due to the price of crude oil going down. It just doesn't happen. Remember it's our government that tax petrol so heavily (much in the same way as cigarettes) that oil companies have to put up prices.

If the government eased off 10p in the litre for petrol it would ease things for everyone. I'm just now saving for an LPG conversion for my car.... where the cost for fuel is still lower than 40p a litre!

Originally posted by RPG
we should start a thread whereby people post the current petrol prices at their local/frequently used stations! if we find out whos is the cheapest im sure it'll save people LOADS of money

see here for the cheapest fuel in your area
http://www.aapetrolbusters.com/

Also refers to this thread

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10776&highlight=petrol

Just boycott petrol full stop. Get an electric car, walk, use public transport, cycle... there are so many alternatives.

Agreed Sidla.
Crude oil extraction world wide has plateaued (spelt right?) and will be in decline within 10 years (as D.Cheney and D.Rumsfeld well know)........ those moaning about petrol prices now won't know what will hit them.

If we had reasonable alternatives I would happily.

However when you need to travel by car to places further a field it makes it more and more expensive.

Use the public transport.... well since the government decided to allow the bus / train service to be privatised, the service has been **** to say the least. And in any case I'd still be paying for the petrol one way or the other.

If car manufacturers made vehicles that were LPG (clean fuel) as standard, I'd be all for it. However they dont... so I cant!

Electric car... LMAO... I wont even comment.
Walk... already do... as well as cycle too.

bizarrley it seems this idea is taking off. I have just read a circular in my office which has been banded around various people around the country with the exact print you pasted in at the top DB. I'm in :thumbsup:

Perhaps you could be SF representative DB and contact other nationwide forums. Get some media interest and who knows where it will lead

Ooooh too much pressure for one bloke.

Why dont we all find a forum we use other than SF, and post it on there. We can all do our bit!

Originally posted by DaBouncer
Electric car... LMAO... I wont even comment.
You scoff, but there will have to be an alternative to petrol within the next 100 years or so (maybe less). If people started to take the initiative then it could take off.

I don't agree with your public transport remark either. I find that public transport is more than adequate for my needs. I'd go as far to say that it's improved since privatisation too.

I dont quite understand the assumption in the initial post that "buyers control the market place, not sellers" that may be the way you want it to be, but it is about supply and demand, and necessity.

At the moment most consumers in the "developed" world need oil to live thir day to day lives, and the global supply is pretty much controlled by a cartel (OPEC), and is distributed through giant multinationals like BP and Esso.

Its hard to see how any campaign could have a quick effect in changing this, it would need to be intesnse and ongoing for a very long time.

I'm not saying that's a reason not to do it, just don't have any expectations of it having an effect any time quickly.

Originally posted by Sidla
You scoff, but there will have to be an alternative to petrol within the next 100 years or so (maybe less). If people started to take the initiative then it could take off.

I'm not scoffing at the 'idea' of electric cars, just that suggesting it in this day and age is stupid because there aren't any for sale let alone viable.

I don't agree with your public transport remark either. I find that public transport is more than adequate for my needs. I'd go as far to say that it's improved since privatisation too.
Well you're entitled to your opinion, but I am older than you have been on public transport in sheffield for many many years now and remember how good the service was when it was under the government. These days it's poor by comparisson. And in any case.... with 7 day savers on buses going up and up and up. And the quality of the service... no thanks. I'll stick to my bike or taking the car. Just cant wait till I get the LPG conversion is all!

Biodiesel is a viable alternative, its just an equally expensive one. The Exchequer taxes sunflower oil, grown on our own fair shores, just as highly as petroleum brought from the Middle east or wherever. Mental

Its good for the environment, for the political situation and for your car. Sooner this is duty free, the better. I'd still be willing to pay VAT though.

Originally posted by DaBouncer
I'm not scoffing at the 'idea' of electric cars, just that suggesting it in this day and age is stupid because there aren't any for sale let alone viable.


Well you're entitled to your opinion, but I am older than you have been on public transport in sheffield for many many years now and remember how good the service was when it was under the government. These days it's poor by comparisson. And in any case.... with 7 day savers on buses going up and up and up. And the quality of the service... no thanks. I'll stick to my bike or taking the car. Just cant wait till I get the LPG conversion is all!
There are electric cars for sale, I know a man who owns two of them.

If you never use public transport and stick to your car, how do you know the QOS is poor?

I regularly catch the train to Leicester and then catch a bus home. I find the service is excellent and the reliability outstanding. I don't use busses in Sheffield too much, but what busses I have caught I have found to be comfortable and modern, with regular service (I rarely have to wait at a bus stop for more than 5 minutes), and reasonable fares. Train fairs could be cheaper admittedly; it costs me £11.90 for a return to Leicester and that's with a young person's railcard. Although by comparison, it would almost certainly cost more money than that for the petrol, not to mention the car maintenance, insurance, MOT, tax.

My brother took it further and actually sold his car, and now commutes to Oxford from Reading everyday. He saves a small fortune.

Admittedly, I don't remember the transport too well before it was privatised because I was only young, but what busses I do remember catching back then were old with tatty seat and very noisy.

I'm not saying that everyone should ditch their cars and commute, if everyone did that then the public transport would be crap because it wouldn't be able to cope. I'll be getting a car next year and will drive to wherever I'm working, simply for the reason that I love driving. It just really winds me up when people go on about public transport being dire, when in reality it is actually pretty good.

Originally posted by Sidla
There are electric cars for sale, I know a man who owns two of them.

If you never use public transport and stick to your car, how do you know the QOS is poor?

Where did I say or imply that? I didn't ... what I said was:

"Well you're entitled to your opinion, but I am older than you have been on public transport in sheffield for many many years now and remember how good the service was when it was under the government. These days it's poor by comparisson. And in any case.... with 7 day savers on buses going up and up and up. And the quality of the service... no thanks. I'll stick to my bike or taking the car."

I actually regularly use the tram which I find to be of an outstanding service, although too hot in the mornings and too packed with people. If they were more frequent (although every 10 mins... is very good) they may thin out a little.

The bus service I have experienced is very poor.... many many time (within the last 2 yrs) I have stood and waited for more than 40 minutes for a bus scheduled for every 15 minutes. That to me is down right crap.

Who is this man who owns two electric cars? Are they full size? Are they MOT'd and Taxed to use the roads? I have never ever in my life seen an electric car other than a milk foat. So please send me some more details and I might look into it.

LPG is the way to go at the mo in my opinion. That or vegetable oil.

You implied that you don't use public transport by saying "no thanks, I'll stick to my car".

I don't believe that the problems you have faced with public transport are representative of public transport in general.

The man I know who owns electric cars: I don't think they are full size, but they are fully useable on the road. To be honest they are crap too.

there are at the very least 2 hybrid electric/petrol vehicles on the market. They are quite pricey for what are basically 2 seaters with average performance, but they do average around 90 to 100 miles to the gallon. The electric is provided when braking amd stored to provide extra power when accelerating, thus saving lots of wasted energy.

Energy density of batteries is the main limitation for pure battery driven cars at the moment, but hydrogen power cell or methanol fuel cell electric are the future.

Originally posted by Sidla
You implied that you don't use public transport by saying "no thanks, I'll stick to my car".

You mean when I actually said: "And the quality of the service... no thanks.(notice the full stop?) I'll stick to my bike or taking the car".
There's a subtle difference. However its still the same... what I have experienced on Sheffield Bus service is pretty much generic through most bus routes I have used. And that is it's poor quality. Not the drivers fault... it's the companies. It's over priced too. However that's just my own opinion.

So back to original topic... the government are the ones to blame for the steep tax levels on petrol. America doesn't suufer the same problem so why should we? If the government doesn't want us in our cars then they should ban the production and import of any vehicles that work on Petrol. They should bring in legislation to say that all must be LPG and/or other green fuel.

www.fuelprotest.com

Go and register your email address with them to sign the protest petition.

Originally posted by Cyclone
there are at the very least 2 hybrid electric/petrol vehicles on the market. They are quite pricey for what are basically 2 seaters with average performance, but they do average around 90 to 100 miles to the gallon. The electric is provided when braking amd stored to provide extra power when accelerating, thus saving lots of wasted energy.

The Toyota Prius is a pretty popular model at the moment. It's a proper four seater car, not two. Monty's on Penistone Road should have a demo model in.

Bit more data here (http://www.thermal.demon.co.uk/toyota.htm)

Originally posted by Cyclone
there are at the very least 2 hybrid electric/petrol vehicles on the market. They are quite pricey for what are basically 2 seaters with average performance, but they do average around 90 to 100 miles to the gallon.

I think there is a government grant available to help offset the extra cost of buying a hybrid car. Having said that, I can't find any reference to it on Government websites!

Here is what the Green party thinks:

:D

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3773427.stm

full story http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3791589.stm

"Asda has triggered a petrol price war after moving to cool prices by cutting unleaded and diesel to 79.9p a litre.
BP swiftly followed suit announcing it would slash prices by an average of 2p a litre - cutting the cost of unleaded to 81p and diesel to 82p a litre.

Meanwhile, Tesco vowed not to be beaten "in any location" on fuel prices and Sainsbury announced it would be "undercutting Asda" from Friday"

Merged with one of numerous other threads about petrol prices.

surely though if LPG really took off the government would just begin to slowly tax it more and more?

Originally posted by Lickszz
Here is what the Green party thinks:

:D

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3773427.stm

I though this was pretty cogent actually:
from the article above - Green MEP
Fuel prices don't reflect the huge hidden costs of road transport - its contribution to climate change, pollution-related ill-health and so on, as well as the costs of road building and accidents
and
from the article above - Tranport 2000 rep
Increasing current supply and freezing duty may reduce fuel prices in the short term and take the heat off the situation, but will not address the pressing issue of climate change and the need to reduce our dependence on oil.

Anything there you'd disagree with?

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
I though this was pretty cogent actually:



The only thing that it would be effective in doing is causing a huge backlash and bringing the country to a halt.

Originally posted by Sidla
Just boycott petrol full stop. Get an electric car, walk, use public transport, cycle... there are so many alternatives. All these alternatives cannot take over motor transport or the country would come to a stand still.
Petrol in Ireland when i was there recently was .98e per litre, about 63p.
Its the government thats ripping our people off and something needs to be done.
DaBouncers theory is a good start and i've already sent my emails and lets at least give it a try.
I know crude has recently gone down but the government will keep on raising the price of petrol and big action needs to be taken to remind them that we really do have the power and not them.
The truckers are not going to stand for it much longer and neither should we, and if a boycott of all petrol stations takes place we could find that we all finish up working a 3 day week.
Nice thought but not practical.

I walk to and from work every day

Did Petrol Boycott play for Yorkshire CCC between 1923-1935 :roll: :nono:

Originally posted by Cycleracer
All these alternatives cannot take over motor transport or the country would come to a stand still.
Electric cars could if someone would start mass producing them. As I said, it's about time an more eco-friendly alternative to petrolium is found, and I can't understand why anyone is yet to do it.

They have... it's called LPG

Originally posted by Sidla
Electric cars could if someone would start mass producing them. As I said, it's about time an more eco-friendly alternative to petrolium is found, and I can't understand why anyone is yet to do it. They have, the technology is there and cars can be run on water to but the secret was bought by an oil company and it does not take a guenius to work out why.
Your right Sidla and there should be a mass production of electric/gas or water fueled cars but it would loose the government a large amount of income and if it will run out anyway perhaps this may happen.

Originally posted by DaBouncer
They have... it's called LPG
Don't really know much about it. Are LPG cars affordable? And where can you get them from? How economic are they?

It's a conversion you have done on the cars. The cars remain as exonomical as they were previous... no change (or maybe a slight drop but nothing noticable) in mileage.

Your car remains petrol operated, but it also has a tank for LPG too. It's environmentally friendly, half the price of petrol and fully reproducable (or so they tell me).

Trouble is it costs about £1200 to have a car converted... however you'll soon make that back up in no time.

Just paying some tax and stuff first then that's the next thing to be done on the car.:thumbsup: