U.S. retailer 7-Eleven dropping Venezuela-backed Citgo as its gasoline sup

[sabra]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/27/business/NA_FIN_US_7_Eleven_Citgo.php

U.S. retailer 7-Eleven dropping Venezuela-backed Citgo as its gasoline supplier
The Associated Press

DALLAS Convenience store operator 7-Eleven Inc. is dropping Venezuela-backed Citgo as its gasoline supplier at more than 2,100 locations and switching to its own brand of fuel.

The retailer said Wednesday it will purchase fuel from several distributors, including Tower Energy Group of Torrance, California, Sinclair Oil of Salt Lake City, and Houston-based Frontier Oil Corp.

A spokeswoman for Dallas-based 7-Eleven said its 20-year contract with Citgo Petroleum Corp. ends next week. About 2,100 of 7-Eleven's 5,300 U.S. stores sell gasoline.

Citgo is a Houston-based subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company, and the foreign parent became a public-relations issue for 7-Eleven because of comments by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

[bluedog]

1. bye bye 7-11's...............n/t

[wholetruth00]

117. Just gives Chavez more gasoline to sell to China.

[SenorSanchez]

149. Probably not

They will probably still sell it the US distrubators.

[mom cat]

118. I just dropped 7-11 as my coffee supplier.

[samsingh]

143. good for you

[stop the bleeding]

2. so who do we buy gas from now on? n/t

[T Wolf]

14. Maybe go back to Shell - at least they are Dutch. nt

nt

[noonwitch]

27. I will never buy Shell gas due to their business practices in Africa

Shell supported Botha and apartheid in South Africa for years. They continue to fund murderous activities in places like Nigeria.

I might buy a pop or something from the Shell station near work, because the individual owners are not responsible for such things, but I won't buy any of the Shell products-gas, oil, other auto fluids.

[Totallybushed]

43. And, at least in my area

they and BP seem to be the high price stations.

[6th Borough]

67. Shell is a joint British-Dutch venture...and much of the oil they recover

comes from far nastier places than Venezuela.

[PittPoliSci]

75. aren't they also part of what used to be Standard of California?

[Xithras]

106. I think that's Chevron n/t

[PittPoliSci]

130. okay, thanks! n/t

[MADem]

18. SUNOCO gets a lot of their gas from CANADA

I have a full service one not far from me. There's something nicely retro about having someone else fill the tank for me, AND clean my windows and offer to check the oil.

7-11 is STUPID. CITGO has good wholesale prices, and they're the last to bump up. But no worries--it's not like CITGO will fret losing the customer. When things get tough, though, they might not be so quick to take them back.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

87. There's still someplace in America where you get full service?

[PleadTheFirst]

94. Here in NJ

Not only CAN you still get full service, but you can ONLY get full service.

I may be wrong, but I think we may be the only state where the consumer is still prohibited from pumping his own gas.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

105. nope, Oregon too!

It's mighty nice. :)

[Freedom_from_Chains]

125. I think you may be right as I have never heard of that.

[MADem]

97. Yep, there are a few old places on the Cape that way, too

Often they're small garages, where it's just safer and easier to let the customers stay in the doggone car!

[leesa]

120. It happens. Scared the hell out of me when someone showed up at

my car window at a little place in Wisconsin. Didn't know it existed.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

124. LOL, Yeah I haven't seen one of those in I don't know how many years

[melissinha]

23. You can go to Citgo itself

711 was distributing Citgo gas.... but Citgo will still provide Citgo gas.


I'm going to write them.... now I am down to Citgo and CostCo.

[cascadiance]

73. Except here in SoCal... We only had 7/11's...

I guess now I'll only go to Costco to get gas.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

71. Hess...They donate heavily Dem.

[Wednesdays]

147. How about...

so who do we buy gas from now on?

How about no one! (Hey, now there's a revolutionary thought!) :think:

I know, it's nearly impossible for most of us to go completely gasoline-free, but everyone (including myself) can do better. Walk places or use public transportation instead of driving. Invest in a bicycle. Carpool more often. Consider getting a hybrid (one Toyota model gets more than 60 mpg). Cut down on the use of plastics.

The benefits are four-fold:

1. You'll be cutting down your consumption, saving you big bucks. You can then spend that money on something else, which helps the economy.
2. You'll be creating less emissions, which is better for the environment and helps prevent global warming.
3. You'll be sticking it to * and his oil cronies.
4. You'll be doing all this while you get more exercise and improve your health! :)

[fasttense]

3. What ever happened to the "Free Market"?

I guess it doesn't apply if it is Venezuela. But it is A OK to sell our largest ports to Al-Qaeda money launderers.

[ShortnFiery]

8. The Executive Branch would love to invade Venezuela or help

make a coup successful. They crave their OIL! Therefore, sure A OK to boycott.

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

12. This is the free market at work

They felt it was more of a PR problem having Citgo suply the gas, so they made a switch.

Hate to break it to you, but even among Democrats, there are more people who dislike Hugo than like his antics.

Viva 7-11!

[zreosumgame]

26. and as aprt of the 'free'(LOL yeah right) market

I will no longer buy there. got a problem with that?

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

35. Nope

Your choice.

Less of a line when I stop and get my Slurpee and Skittles on the way home from work.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

91. No, wait, let me guess.

You have a trip to Disney in your plans, but two months ago you hadn't, right?

[MelliMel]

102. I went there last month

It was the usual Disneyland. Crowded.

[Bacchus39]

39. there is no state run oil company in the US, so you are free to

choose another supplier.

[govegan]

68. No, instead the oil companies run the state

How incredibly obtuse amerikan people are, and so poorly informed.

The cozy relationship between "free market capitalism" and fascist states was well established in the 20th century. The "free market" (in quotes because it is a mythology and based on fabrications and distortions) loves dictators and totalitarian states.

As long as the $ is extolled, and the worth of the individual is denigrated, as in the US of A, big oil, big pharma, big hospital, big agriculture, big media and big brother will rule.

Well, hot damn, at least none of the above are nationalized -- or even seriously watched over by the state! (a little sarcasm)

And those who have forgotten the past are condemned to repeat it.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

95. There IS a state-run oil company in Brazil and there's a multitude

of suppliers. There's an Exxon station in front of where I work and a Shell station two blocks down.

[Nickster]

29. No it isn't that they thought it was a PR problem, it was that Citgo

stopped supplying gas to most of the US. Citgo chose not to renew and 7-11 had to find a different supplier.

[zreosumgame]

32. not according to the article or the statements by 7-eleven

so where do you come up with that?

[Paulie]

34. See my response in #20

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2532606&mesg_id=2532671

7/11 is trying to spin this.

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

42. Citgo Branded Stations

I thought this had to do with supplying its own Citgo branded stations. If I read correctly, they will still sell gas on the open market to other fuel retailers, maybe I'm reading incorrectly.

[Nickster]

46. They'll sell the gas that they refine directly to other station "brands"

instead of stations that are branded as Citgo. Every 7-11 that I've been to have been citgo branded gas stations. All they have to worry about is the wholesale end rather than the retail end now. So in other words, their gasoline will be sold to other stations just not their own.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

98. So Show_Me _The_Truth may accidentally buy commie fuel by mistake? GASP!

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

103. Trying to spin spin spin my comments

My comments are about how tin-horn Hugo is such a big deal to some folks around here, and not most others. As long as I don't buy my gas from Exxon, I am happy. But nowadays, you really never know who you get your gas from with all the distributors selling to each other.

Maybe one day I won't have to buy gas from anyone and can have my little bio-diesel still in the backyard.

But alas, Cheney and dare I say Hugo wouldn't like that now would they. Gota keep those oil dollars coming in to keep Rummy and Cheney off on thier little crusades and Hugo can keep a fresh supply of nice red shirts and tin-horns.

Cheney and Hugo, so different yet so similar. One cannot exist without the other.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

113. Had you exercised any kind of comprehension abilities upon my post

you'd realize it does NOT refer to anything you said.

[ScreamingWhisper]

78. Citgo supplied to 7-11...

7-11 is not renewing the contract, which is up next week or whatever.
7-11's choice to be distanced from a crackpot tinhorn leader like Hugo and State-run Citgo.
good choice IMO.
...Citgo stations in my area have had a noticable decline in the last 6 months or so since the word spread
about Hugo's preference to globally lock the price per barrel at $60....

[zreosumgame]

129. finlly got a chance to check it out

thanks for the info

[Nickster]

36. What Paulie said. If you can't get gas from your supplier, why would you

keep the supplier? 7-11 is trying to look like they decided to change suppliers which in a way I guess could be seen as a truth-y statement. You think the person writing the article did more than transcribe a press release from 7-11?

[One_Life_To_Give]

133. Yellow Press

Yellow Press? Not here! Nope! Nothing of the the sort!:sarcasm:

[silverweb]

126. Yup. Pure spin!

I read weeks ago that Venezuela Oil was shedding its U.S. Citgo brand.

[RaleighNCDUer]

37. No, the PR problem was in Citgo offering lower cost heating

fuel to poor US communities. It is a public embarrasment that the US cannot (or will not) provide relief for its own citizens, so US oil companies are putting pressure on Citgo as punishment.

Market forces at work means that you buy from the lowest cost source, regardless of their politics -- that's how the repubs can justify WalMart, the pinnacle of consumer capitalism, buying all its product from communist China.

This flies in the face of market forces. It is a purely political statement. And if they claim it's because they are losing business from people who refuse to buy from Citgo, I would wager they are lying, evidencing the numbers I know who will not buy from anywhere but Citgo due to not wanting to fund the texas oilmen in the whitehouse. Truth be told, I suspect that Citgo has been doing very well because of that.

And, BTW, Bush IS the devil.

[Megahurtz]

96. No, it's the FreeperMarket at work.

:sarcasm:

[hogwyld]

99. Hopefully, you will soon realize how much in the minority you are

And I also hope that some liberal group buys controlling interest in 7-11 and turns it into an anti-devil machine, who's main purpose it to constantly humiliate the bushco family. Fire all of the publican workers, and replace them with Dem workers.

[leesa]

121. But you are too uninformed to know WHY you dislike him.

[pampango]

16. Won't bother Venezuela in the least.

7-11 buys their oil somewhere else, Venezuela sells their oil somewhere else. Total supply and total demand for oil remains the same.

It is just a stupid "loyal to Bush" PR move. I was going to say goodbye to 7-11, but we don't have on around here.

By the way, "free market" means buying from or selling to whoever you want, among other things, so 7-11 and Venezuela can buy/sell however they want.

[Tempest]

31. It actually means the price of oil and gasoline will go up

Bidding on a limited supply from alternative sources will cause upwards pressure on oil and gasoline prices as a whole.

[pampango]

44. If 7-11 shifts to its own brand of gasoline, I don't see why the price...

of gas should go up. Now that the oil and gas that 7-11 buys for its stores will come from another supplier. This increase in demand may encourage this supplier to increase its prices, unless Venezuela sells its newly available oil to someone who used to buy from 7-11's new supplier. I imagine that Venezuela will sell the oil that they used to sell to 7-11 to someone, so the overall supply of oil will remain the same.

[Tempest]

63. You missed the point

The overall supply of oil remains the same, but now less suppliers will have more demand for their product causing upward pressure on the price. The entire market will respond to the pressure since the product is finite.

[pampango]

70. If you mean local suppliers would have more leverage to raise prices

because one of the competitors was out of the picture, I agree with you. Nationally and internationally it won't matter whether 7-11 buys their oil from Venezuela or Saudi Arabia or Canada. Saudi Arabia and Canada can't make 7-11 pay more for a barrel of oil, because it is a commodity and its price is whatever it is. (If Kansas won't sell my wheat, there are 20 other states that will.) So 7-11 is not hurt.

Likewise Venezuela is not hurt. If 7-11 starts buying their oil from Canada, Canada has to reduce its sales to some existing customer, since the country is probably already producing as much as it can, or has agreed not to produce any more than it does to help the price. Venezuela simply steps in and sells what was its 7-11 oil to the customer whom Canada just cut off. (Of course, it is more complicated than this in reality, but that is the principle.) Supply and demand don't change and the global price of oil won't change because of this.

[Nickster]

47. No it won't there isn't going to be a drawdown of supply at all. Citgo is

still refining a certain amount of gasoline and that gasoline is still making it to the US market. You just won't be pumping it out of a Citgo gasoline pump any longer.

[One_Life_To_Give]

57. Can't be certain the gas wasn't refined at Citgo

My understanding is that refining location has more to do with distance/transportation than what brand is on the pump.

And yes, oil companies do buy and sell from one another. Mike Right of AAA Missouri says, "If a company has a station that can be served more economically by a competitor's refinery, they'll do it." snopes

All the brand on the pump tells you is which addative package is in the fuel.

[Bacchus39]

38. 7-11 exercising their options in the free market place

choosing to buy gasoline from another supplier

[TankLV]

145. As usual, you have it wrong. It's CITGO that is choosing not to sell

anymore to 7-11.

But we've come to expect as much from you...

[wakeme2008]

4. bye bye 7-11 and nom

I go there every work day but no more...

[zreosumgame]

24. yup, until today I would stop at one for coffe and papers

every morning. no more...

[twilight_sailing]

48. "I would stop at one for coffe and papers" every morning

When I read that my first thought was that you meant cigarette papers and I was going to say, "Dude, you need cut way back!"

Then I realized you must have meant newspapers.

My bad. :)

[liberalmuse]

5. Damn. Yet another store to boycott.

Oh well. The more places/products I boycott, the easier it gets. My sister travels for work and makes it a point to buy Citgo gass in order to support Chavez. They are going to lose several thousand dollars a year now from her alone.

[ShortnFiery]

6. Then F**k 7-11! ... I'll be sure NOT to shop there. Dumb a**es! n/t

[Benhurst]

7. Screw 7-Eleven. NT

[Nickster]

9. That's odd, I thought Citgo said they'd stop supplying fuel to most of the

US anyways. My 7-11 switched from Citgo almost immediately after that. I think this is 7-11 just doing what it had to do. If Citgo isn't supplying gas anymore, what can they do?

[ShortnFiery]

11. I don't care if 7-11 stops Citgo, I'll get my gas and SHOP elsewhere. n/t

[Paulie]

20. CORRECT! Citgo getting out of the station business in the US

Here's an article from last July:

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060712/venezuela_citgo.html?.v=3

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuela-owned Citgo Petroleum Corp. has decided to stop distributing gasoline to 1,800 independently owned U.S. stations, shedding a lackluster segment of its business while forcing the owners of those stations to find other suppliers.

While it may create some logistical headaches for gasoline retailers in the short term, the move should not have any impact on the nation's overall fuel supply.

Citgo, which is wholly owned by Venezuela's state oil company, currently has to purchase 130,000 barrels a day from third parties in order to meet its service contracts at 13,100 Citgo-branded stations across the U.S. This is less profitable than selling gasoline directly from its refineries.

Instead, the Houston-based company has decided to sell to retailers only the 750,000 barrels a day that it produces at three U.S. refineries in Lake Charles, La., Corpus Christi, Texas and Lemont, Ill., according to a statement late Tuesday.

With the 7/11 contract coming up, Citgo didn't renew.

[mcscajun]

114. They're not getting out of the station business altogether...

the article says they decided to stop distributing to 1,800 independent stations, while still meeting its service contracts at 13,100 Citgo-BRANDED stations across the U.S.

Like any business, they've done some realigning to shed underperforming segments, nothing more.

[Paulie]

128. Then this article from a couple years ago about Citgo selling refineries

Then there is this article from two years ago: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=aP3vwKnY0rNU&refer=latin_america

Petroleos de Venezuela already sold off it's interest in the Houston refinery: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20060815-1031-venezuela-oilrefinery.html

The only news is 7/11 trying to spin this as them dumping Citgo, when it's the opposite.

[mcscajun]

132. Yup. Spin rules in business as well as politics.

We said/They said.

[Bacchus39]

41. you mean this is an overreaction from the Chavezphiles??

no way!!

[twilight_sailing]

49. "I thought Citgo said they'd stop supplying fuel"

Good point

[rockyandmax]

10. this sux

[underpants]

13. First it was the Playboy's now THIS

oh but rest assured they have Maxim FHM and the booty mags :eyes:

[eFriendly]

15. Southland just cut their own throat

I'm surprised that 7-11 is even still around now. 20 years ago there
seemed to be a 7-11 on almost every corner here in Florida. Then
Southland (the company that owns 7-11) lost their liquor license for
selling to underaged individuals, had to sell their dairy company
(Velda Farms), and basically disappeared from all of the street corners.

Citgo was the one thing 7-11 still had going for it.

I believe our Citgo's around here now are mostly independently owned
and operated. At least the Outposts seem to be, anyways...

[Mend]

17. no more 7-11 for us....that was easy. eom

[oasis]

19. I'd rather they drop the supplier of their nasty tasting coffee.

:puke:

[saigon68]

25. Its Nasty Alright

Like the used motor oil it was refined from

[onehandle]

21. So? Someone else will buy their oil.

This means nothing.

I bet that 7-Eleven will have to pay more now. Idiots.

(FYI: I'm no big fan of Chavez)

[rodeodance]

22. French Fries Redux. This gets real OLD>

[Parche]

28. 7-11

You can now get their gas from the 7-11 brand burritos

[Tempest]

30. China says "Thank You" to 7-11

"More gasoline for us."

[kurth]

33. How many terrorists were Venezuelan on 9/11?

[Imagevision]

40. If Bush Bombs Iran 7-11 may re-think dumping Citgo...

[Name removed]

45. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ian David]

50. If you can't get Citgo, then you should get Hess instead! 98% Democrat!

Hess Corporation

$156,250 to Democrats
$3,000 to Republicans
$0 to Others
$159,250 in Total Contributions

Hess Corporation (formerly Amerada Hess) has what it takes. The integrated oil and gas company conducts exploration and production in Denmark, Gabon, Norway, the UK, and the US; it also operates in Indonesia, Thailand, and other countries. Hess' proved reserves total 646 million barrels of oil, and 2.4 billion cu. ft. of natural gas, and it has gained assets in West Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia by buying exploration and production company Triton Energy. It operates a 50%-owned refinery (HOVENSA) in the US Virgin Islands and a smaller one in New Jersey, and it markets gasoline through 1,354 HESS gas stations, chiefly in the eastern US.

More:
http://www.buyblue.org/node/197/view/summary

[Bandit]

51. Just the excuse needed to end all oil sales to America

Venezuela sells America one fifth of all foreign oil products. If they quit do you think that will effect the US economy? Things are starting to get very interesting...

[pampango]

59. Probably would not affect the economy at all.

If Venezuela sold that oil to another country, we would simply buy the oil that that country had been buying from whatever country was selling it.

Now if Venezuela reduced its exports overall, especially if the other oil producers did the same, that would affect our economy, and that of the rest of the world, greatly.

[Toots]

136. It sounds like you believe there is an oil glut going on around the world

China will gladly gobble up any oil they can get from any source and not sell a single bit back to anyone. Both China and India are crying for oil and they are about to get a bunch more at America's expense because of the GOP and Bush* mainly. That really makes America safer doesn't it?

[Semi_subversive]

52. Oooohhhh!! My dad will be so pissed!

My 77 y.o. dad buys his gas from 7-11 because it's Citgo (and the cheapest gas in the area). He thinks Chavez is a bit of an egomaniac, but he likes him. Castro, too.

I recently helped set my parents up with a laptop and DSL and I know that my dad has been checking out DU. I don't think he's registered yet, but it'll happen.

[PeaceProgProsp]

53. IIUC, Citgo actually owns a significant number of 7-11 franchises

so this would only appy to the 7-11s owned by 7-11 and franchises not owned by Citgo. I could be wrong about this.

[alcibiades_mystery]

54. Oh no...I wonder what Venezuela will do with all that oil

:rofl:

[BlueEyedSon]

62. yeah, they'll probably have to drink it

[One_Life_To_Give]

55. From zero to your own brand at 2100 stations in a week, BS

This had to have been in the planning stages for some time.

[NotGivingUp]

56. FUCK YOU 7-11!!! You won't see my money in your store!

[truthisfreedom]

58. i'd like some freedom fries with that.

[NurseLefty]

60. Shite! I was buying Citgo exclusively!

Better that my hard-earned $$s were going into my gas tank to help a 'commie pinko' socialist state (yeah, how inhumane for oil profits to help the poor of Venezuela) than to fleece the pockets of the multi-national mega-rich and the ultra-corrupt Saudis. For once, I felt my gas money was actually doing something worthwhile besides getting me from points A to B and polluting the planet...

EAT POOP, 7-11! The instant I do not see the Citgo brand on your gas pumps, you will no longer see me.

[Strawman]

61. Ridiculous

Wow. Talk about an overreaction. If corporations cave that easily over threats from boycott campaigns, I've got some ideas.

On second thought, never mind. My ideas aren't rooted in mindless nationalism. They'll never get any play in the media.

[NVMojo]

64. assholes! They just lost my business. Venezuela companies own

Sequoia too, does that mean Nevada is dropping them for voting machines??

[NurseLefty]

65. I did this, you can, too-

Go to 7-Eleven's website (http://www.7-eleven.com/default.asp), go to the tab 'Contact Us', which will lead you to options to contact them. This is what I said:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this in response to today's news that 7-Eleven stores will no longer carry Citgo gasoline. For over two years, I have been purchasing Citgo gas from 7-Elevens *exclusively*. Bear in mind that with current gas prices, my gas purchases are a significant portion of my income. I want you to know that if this story is true and I no longer see the Citgo sign at your locations, you will lose my business.


Sincerely,
*****
Seattle, Washington, USA

[w4rma]

66. I'll never shop at 7-11 again for the rest of my entire life, then.

Hate to break it to the idiots running 7-11 but *now* they have an image problem.

[Megahurtz]

69. BOYCOTT 7-11!!!

:bounce:

[roamer65]

72. Speculation is that Chavez will sell Citgo

and I don't doubt it. I think Chavez is reducing his American assets in case of a freeze on them by the American government. If he has no American assets, he can cut off oil to the US or reduce the amount shipped with very little direct financial worry. Remember that Venezuela has already shifted all of their foreign reserves to non-US banks and to the Euro.

[K8-EEE]

74. I Used To Plan To Get Gas There To Support A Democracy

Venezuela being the only democracy in OPEC. Oh well. Guess I'll just stick with Costco now, at least as a retailer I like how they do business.

[Imagevision]

76. In Florida, Jeb announced they would faze Citgo from Fla. Turnpike

out.

[arcane1]

77. I challenge 7-Eleven to name ONE "derogatory comment about our country"

JUST ONE!!!!!!

[populistdriven]

79. This has been in the works for at least 6 months

[ScreamingWhisper]

80. Interesting how...

many on this board would prefer to boycott and cause financial distress to an American business, suppling jobs to workers at 2100 locations across the country, because they as a business are exercising their right in a FREE market to choose with whom they do business. Instead they seem to prefer to support Chavez, a small-minded, politically-oppressive, tin-horn.
Makes me scratch my head.

[BlueEyedSon]

81. Is it not a free market for consumers as well?

Do you think people are going to stop buying gas altogether and/or stop eating hot dogs and cokes (or whatever 7-11 sells), or are they going to just buy from a different but politically preferable "American business"?

[ScreamingWhisper]

138. Absolutely it is.

That's the beauty of the system. Consumers decide where they spend their hard-earned money. My comment was simply pointing out that some within this thread seemed to want to do financial harm to a company employing a couple of thousand employees (many who work just under the 40 hour workweek requirements for health benefits...i might add. 7-11 made this decision many months ago, so the decision had nothing to do with Chavez thuggish retort at the UN last week (as some have also asserted) Why boycott a company exercising their right (PR or otherwise) to find a different vendor for them to utilize? Methinks such a boycott would be sporadic at best, and a failure at least.

[BlueEyedSon]

139. I don't shop at Wal-mart. While my 1-person boycott may not be effective,

it makes me feel better anyway.

[mac56]

84. See above.

An exact duplicate of post #83.

Makes me scratch my head.

The password is: "Astroturf".

[0rganism]

85. if 7-11 can buy gas elsewhere, so can we

That's the "FREE market" at work, right?

7-11 is ditching Citgo for ideological reasons, I don't see why you'd have a problem with people ditching 7-11 for the same reason, albeit from the opposite side.

Your argument to consequences, i.e. that a boycott would cause "financial distress" to a business supplying jobs to workers, holds about as much water as asserting that we have to shop at Walmart because they're a big (the biggest?) employer, too. Try that posting that in GD sometime.

[ScreamingWhisper]

141. Two comments:

1) We're not talking about Walmart, though, are we?
2) If we were talking of Walmart, then let's also weigh the differences between the two entities.
a)Walmart for the most part is suburban based catering to a select market (ie: not many downtown that I know of)
b)Convenience stores, be as what they may be, are located in a more urban environment centered where the people are in cities and such. Many of those who work there are barely scraping a living. Many lower income starting wage families I have known (I was one, btw) actually do their grocery-shopping their because of the convenience instead of traveling the 10-20 blocks to the nearest grocery-store. For them, the local small 7-11 helps on their daily needs.
- not saying that's the smartest way to shop, but circumstances sometimes warrant. I wonder what happens if that store goes out....let's pony up another 20 bucks a week in bus fare, instead of being able to walk.

[0rganism]

150. two replies

1) we're talking about choices in a nominally free market -- whether or not that includes Walmart is debatable, given their business practices, but I bring them up as a reductio ad absurdum to your argument ad consequentiam. People are free to shop or boycott where and how they please, and my point is that raising the spectre of financially damaging a business through a boycott is hardly a reason not to boycott that business -- in fact, that's the intended short-term result!

2) 7-11 is but one variety of quick-e-mart that people may choose to patronize. Typically, in cities I've inhabited and visited, there are many types of convenience stores available. If one local 7-11 goes under, that doesn't automatically mean people have to pay more for access to groceries. The store may be picked up by another chain or even a truly local owner. Or, perhaps, a boycott has its desired effect, and the business changes its policies before a single store is closed.

[file83]

90. You said the exact same thing in Post #83 above...

...http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2532606&mesg_id=2533141

Where did you copy and paste that from originally? Free Republic perhaps? :shrug:

Are you going to copy and paste your answer as well?

[ScreamingWhisper]

137. Correct...I did. Strictly an accident however...

I meant to post the reply from the OP, which I did on the next attempt, but unfortunately had already commited to the posting off of the 2nd thread (# 83).
My question to you: What does it matter?

And on another note...Small minded, responses can be found from both sides, as I've noticed. What opinions I post are mine alone (sans copy+paste) thanks! Nice way to try and deter from my original comment, however.

[otohara]

82. Buh Bye 7-11

there are several Conoco's in my neck of the woods....

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

83. Just heard this headline on NPR 's

All Things Considered show

ADIOS, 7-Eleven !!!!!! I've been buying CITGO exclusively for the past year or so, so you've lost my business

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

86. now they can support the bastions of democracy in saudi arabia

and elsewhere

[bamacrat]

88. That's just retarded. Once again people are dumb.

[Thickasabrick]

89. 7-11 said it had nothing to do with Hugo's Devil comment. Their

contract was up with Citgo.

[hogwyld]

92. I hope 7'11 and every other Chavez hating company

Goes bankrupt and folds it's tent. Then, Chavez can buy these up at rock bottom prices to reassert control. Viva Chavez!

[killbotfactory]

93. Now we have more access to freedom loving Saudi Arabian oil!

Where they behead people in the streets, and would rather watch a building full of girls burn down then let them go out into public uncovered.

Hooray, great victory!

[Stu DeBeouf]

100. Hey 7-11

suck this slurpy....

[DuaneBidoux]

101. Chavez is an idiot. He is isolating Venezuela the way Bush is America.

I will continue searching out Citcos and I won't shop at 7/11 (not sure they have them anyway where I live in Texas).

But you still must admit that from a perspective of looking out for Venezuela and making things work in the international system he has done no better for his countrymen than Bush has for Americans. His big mouth has probably lost Venezuela a seat on the UN Security Council where he really could have had real influence.

[classysassy]

140. More BS

out of Texas,the reason Chavez is called a demon,he looks out for the oppressed people in his country(the non whites),people don't be fooled by the government controlled press in this country.

[DuaneBidoux]

172. Are you saying you can't look out for the little people and still be an...

idiot? I don't buy it. He has done nothing good for the long term outlook of his country. By dealing with Iran he is moving toward isolation for his country from everyone. This does nothing for his people small or otherwise.

[DisgustedTX]

104. Complete spin - decision was made in 2005 to not renew the contract

http://www.csnews.com/csn/search/article_display.jsp?schema=&vnu_content_id=1002984682&WebLogicSession=RQmQOtB6TckvIQ2dl8Vjqd2oC9zB8SD1Yk3p4mVQzhM1sOO6ukHm%7C67918247378881542/168887091/6/7005/7005/7002/7002/7005/-1

DALLAS -- 7-Eleven Inc. is rolling out its own brand of gasoline in anticipation of the expiration next month of its 20-year contract with CITGO Petroleum Corp. CITGO recently announced that it is cutting 14 percent of its 13,000 service-station network across 10 states, including Texas where the c-store giant is headquartered, and selectively in four other states.

Tower Energy Group of Torrance, Calif., an independent petroleum wholesaler that distributes unbranded gasoline and diesel to stations in the Western United States, is currently supplying 25,000 barrels a day to about 800 7-Eleven stores -- both company-owned and franchised -- according to Tim Rogers, Tower's president and CEO.

Come September, that supply will increase by 95,000 barrels a day to approximately 2,500 7-Eleven stores. Forty-two percent, or 2,497 of 7-Eleven's 5,879 U.S. locations sell fuel, according to the 2006 Directory of Convenience Stores compiled by TradeDimensions.

"The agreement is very similar to what CITGO is supplying them. But rather than sell the CITGO brand, it will be the 7-Eleven brand, which is as strong a brand as any other," Rogers told Convenience Store News, adding that Tower has been 7-Eleven's supplier since 1992 in the U.S. Rocky Mountain West region.

Rogers declined to say what other c-store chains Tower currently supplies, but noted that the company is a 76 distributor in five Western states, the Exxon distributor for Arizona, and parent company of Tower Mart, a chain of 40 neighborhood grocery stores in Northern California.

Former 7-Eleven CEO Jim Keyes reported to shareholders in April 2005 that the chain was considering creating its own fuel brand. At that time, Keyes also told The Dallas Morning News that the company had been talking to independents and all the major oil companies, including ChevronTexaco Corp. 7-Eleven began a co-branding test with ChevronTexaco in June 2003 in Texas, California and Florida, with 11 7-Eleven stores selling Chevron gasoline and nine Chevron stores converting to the 7-Eleven format.

7-Eleven spokeswoman Margaret Chabris told Convenience Store News that the retailer is not ready to talk in-depth about its gas branding program until after the CITGO deal expires.

The main advantage of buying unbranded fuel is price. A company's ongoing costs will be lower with unbranded versus branded, said Tower's Rogers, in addition to the benefits of better service and the ability to control its own destiny.

For the most part, 7-Eleven's plans are being met with optimism among its licensees and franchisees. About 3,300 of the chain's more than 5,800 stores in North America are operated by franchisees, and approximately 430 are operated by licensees.

"I think it's a good decision. CITGO is a good brand, but it wasn't the best," said Ed Denario, a franchisee and U.S. senior vice president for 7-Eleven Franchisees in Long Island. "We (7-Eleven) have such a strong brand and a strong logo. We have the strongest brand in the convenience store industry. I think customers will accept it with no problem."

Shell/Chevron were tapped to potentially become joint-venture locations - now dropped.

7-Eleven going back to its unprofitable, bankrupt late 80's strategies.

[aggiesal]

107. 7-Eleven drops Citgo gasoline; cites Chavez

HOUSTON (Reuters) - 7-Eleven Inc. will drop Venezuelan-controlled Citgo Petroleum Corp. as its gasoline supplier, the convenience store operator said on Wednesday, a week after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called President Bush "the devil." ...
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticnews&storyID=2006-09-27T183442Z_01_N27410444_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENERGY-7-ELEVEN-GASOLINE.xml

See what happens when you call our president "The Devil."

[rpannier]

108. Screw 7-11

Everything they sell is overpriced anyway.

[momzno1]

109. guess I'll just have to drop 7-11

Oops, I will buy my overpriced conveniences elsewhere scumbags!
And I will go out of my way to find Citgo gas!

[Kelvin Mace]

110. Well, they don't want my business then

[stepnw1f]

111. Buh Bye 7-11 (nt)

[robcon]

112. Good idea.

I'll never buy from Citgo as long as Fidel's butt-boy is running the show there.

[mcscajun]

115. Rats! Why'd 7-11 have to go and spoil my fun?

I'd just said this in another Citgo-related thread the other day:

There's no CITGO close by me here, but I get great pleasure out of filling up at the CITGO everytime I leave the home of my one Republican friend down in VA.
:rofl:
It IS the little things in life that make us happy. :)

And the Citgo in VA that I referenced IS at a 7-11. Argh.
How did they know? :grr:

[cosmicdot]

116. where was this decision ultimately made?

according to the 7-Eleven website:

"On November 9, 2005, Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd., a company organized under the laws of Japan, announced that through its wholly owned subsidiary, IYG Holding Company, a Delaware corporation, it had completed its tender offer to purchase all of the issued and outstanding common stock of 7-Eleven, Inc. that it did not already own. As a result, 7-Eleven, Inc.'s common stock will no longer be publicly traded, on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise. Thank you for your interest in 7-Eleven."

https://www.7-eleven.com/investing/investing.asp

is IYG Holding Company the same as Seven & I Holding Company?
http://www.7andi.com/en/

SEC filing
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92344/000110465905055467/xslF345X02/a4.xml

I would think the decision would come from the top.
That would be in Japan.

Who/what is sovereign over whom?

7-Eleven Japan
http://www.sej.co.jp/english/company/c_profile.html

[DisgustedTX]

119. Late 2005.

Former 7-Eleven CEO Jim Keyes reported to shareholders in April 2005 that the chain was considering creating its own fuel brand. At that time, Keyes also told The Dallas Morning News that the company had been talking to independents and all the major oil companies, including ChevronTexaco Corp. 7-Eleven began a co-branding test with ChevronTexaco in June 2003 in Texas, California and Florida, with 11 7-Eleven stores selling Chevron gasoline and nine Chevron stores converting to the 7-Eleven format.


I know.

[cosmicdot]

122. and, you don't think Hugo Chavez was a topic of discussion

in these earlier meetings/decisions nor that he may have been the catalyst for the decisions nor that the Bu$h oil team made a few phone calls?

Maybe not.

Of course, Bu$h-Cheney aren't the types to pass up a chance at retribution or retaliation. It's a good ol'boy tactic they've mastered Texas-style, and execute with relish.


The failed Bu$h-coup to overthrow Chavez was in 2002.

Venezuela coup linked to Bush team
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,688071,00.html


edited to an article I just ran across


Iraq oil to sail to U.S.

ChevronTexaco gets contract for crude

Chronicle Staff and News Services

Wednesday, June 25, 2003


For the first time since the U.S. war in Iraq ended, ChevronTexaco Corp. will load a tanker with crude oil from the nation's Persian Gulf port of Mina al-Bakr on Saturday. ~snip~

ChevronTexaco, headquartered in San Ramon, was the only U.S. company to be awarded Iraqi oil. ~snip~

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/06/25/BU264248.DTL&type=business

Probably not related, but I found it interesting.

Of course, one would never know that the US war in Iraq ended in 2003.

[DisgustedTX]

123. No. Read.

http://www.csnews.com/csn/search/article_display.jsp?schema=&vnu_content_id=1002984682&WebLogicSession=RQmQOtB6TckvIQ2dl8Vjqd2oC9zB8SD1Yk3p4mVQzhM1sOO6ukHm%7C67918247378881542/168887091/6/7005/7005/7002/7002/7005/-1

Not at all.

2005 is not September 2006. Consideration change had been in place since 2003 to look for alternate sources. There are a few THOUSAND locations to consider and the costs involved with signs, marketing, etc.

[SenorSanchez]

127. who cares

gasoline is gasoline. Chavez might be a little crazy in the head for coming to this country and start tossing around insults. Citgo gasoline is the same is the gasoline BP, Chevron, and Shell provide. I won't lose any sleep over this one.

[Name removed]

146. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lutefisk]

131. Is it true that employees pee in the Big Gulp machines?

I haven't heard that, but could it be true? That would be bad for business, I would think!

[Lurking Dem]

134. Shouldn't the headline read

7-11 Forces Everyone To Buy Middle Eastern Gas! ?

[CBGLuthier]

135. I guess next they will change their name to 9-Eleven

Repaint all the stores red, white and blue and fire anyone with even a hint of an accent.

The reason for their not using Citgo anymore does not matter.

What matters is they decided to get poitical and are saying it is because of Chavez.

So I am not shopping there any more because I don't support bullshit politicizing of convenience stores.

[samsingh]

142. what will Ven. do with its oil now. 711 idiots.

[SenorSanchez]

148. They will sell it

to another US buyer most likely or put in on the open market. Its really not that big a deal.

[marchcalls]

144. Good Job 7-11

they say its not cuz of the chavez off-the-meds meltdown at the UN .. but i think it is.

[IndianaGreen]

171. You have been duped by 7-11. Citgo decided back in July to drop 7-11

The corporate board of 7-11 decided to score brownie points with the rightwing, when as you can see in later posts on this thread that Citgo announced on July 12 that it was dropping 1,800 independents from its distribution, and there is also a story posted here dated July 13 in which 7-11 was test marketing its own brand of gasoline because Citgo was ending its contract in September.

[Heidi]

151. .

:kick:

[IndianaGreen]

152. Venezuela’s Citgo Says it Decided to Discontinue 7/11 Contract Two Months

Well, what do you know? 7-11 trying to score brownie points?

Venezuela’s Citgo Says it Decided to Discontinue 7/11 Contract Two Months Ago

By Venezuelanlysis.com

9-30-6, 10:17 am

Caracas, Venezuela, September 28, 2006 —Felix Rodriguez, the CEO of Citgo, the Venezuelan-owned gasoline producer and distributor in the U.S., clarified yesterday that it was Citgo that had let expire its contract with the 7-Eleven convenience store chain and not the other way around, as was broadly reported.

According to most press accounts, 7-Eleven spokespersons implied that the discontinuation of the supply contract for its gas stations was at least partially motivated by Chavez’s UN speech, in which he referred to President Bush as the “Devil.”

“(The reports are) a manipulation because ever since the month of July have we announced that we did not intend to renew a contract with (7-Eleven), which was 20-years old and that was part of a bad business deal for Venezuela,” said Rodriguez in a telephone interview with the Venezuelan state TV channel VTV.

Rodriguez went on to explain that the contract forced Citgo to purchase non-Venezuelan crude that it would refine and sell to 7-Eleven at a very low price. “We were losing money,” added Rodriguez.

Headlines in a wide variety of U.S. news outlets reported yesterday and today that the decision to cancel the Citgo contract was made by 7-Eleven.

http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/4162/1/212/

[wakeme2008]

153. Still will not shop at 7-11 they lie just like Bush

:grr:

[rpannier]

163. I don't care which way it happened

7-11 is just a "bush supporting pathetic little company"

[cal04]

154. Rodriguez said his company would demand 7Eleven clarify

Citgo CEO Rodriguez announced that his company would demand from 7-Eleven that it clarify its participation in creating the impression that decision to discontinue the sale of Citgo gas was its decision and was politically motivated.

[Kagemusha]

155. Now that they mention it, I remember that in the news...

And 7-Eleven said what it did anyway. Jerks.

[ShortnFiery]

156. Too Funny! It was 7-11 that was dumped by Venezuela not vice versa

:rofl: Thanks for showing your "ugly American" side 7-11. Now if I have any choice at all (and I do), I'll get my gas and shop ELSEWHERE.

Mission Accomplished 7-11, you shameless Corporate BushWorld WHORE! :P

[kskiska]

157. That's what I thought

I remember posting the article when this decision was made - long before Chavez's visit.

[IndianaGreen]

158. July 12, CITGO announced it was dropping 1,800 gas stations

Citgo Won't Sell Gas to U.S. Stations

Wednesday July 12, 6:33 pm ET

By Natalie Obiko Pearson, AP Business Writer

Venezuela-Owned Citgo to Stop Selling Gasoline to Hundreds of U.S. Stations

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuela-owned Citgo Petroleum Corp. has decided to stop distributing gasoline to 1,800 independently owned U.S. stations, shedding a lackluster segment of its business while forcing the owners of those stations to find other suppliers.

While it may create some logistical headaches for gasoline retailers in the short term, the move should not have any impact on the nation's overall fuel supply.

Citgo, which is wholly owned by Venezuela's state oil company, currently has to purchase 130,000 barrels a day from third parties in order to meet its service contracts at 13,100 Citgo-branded stations across the U.S. This is less profitable than selling gasoline directly from its refineries.

Instead, the Houston-based company has decided to sell to retailers only the 750,000 barrels a day that it produces at three U.S. refineries in Lake Charles, La., Corpus Christi, Texas and Lemont, Ill., according to a statement late Tuesday.

As a result, the Citgo brand will disappear entirely from 10 states and be less common in four additional states by March 2007, when the change goes into affect, Citgo spokesman Fernando Garay said Wednesday.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060712/venezuela_citgo.html?.v=3

[Kagemusha]

159. And the 7-Elevens were independently owned stations...

Like I said. Jerks. This wasn't some secret either.

[IndianaGreen]

160. But 7-Eleven scored points with the Freepers

by pretending to be offended about the truths that Chavez told the UN about Bush.

There is such a thing as the Bush cult, as the documentary Jesus Camp showed.

[leftchick]

162. what a shock

a repuke corporation lied! They will expect to be reaping the benefits of that lie from their freeper patrons. :eyes:

[ngant17]

161. 7-11 is run by rightwingers

this is my gut feeling, I put in a job application recently, mainly out of curiousity, and Southland Corp. (7-11) categorically rejected it almost immediately, like within a few days, even though I have over 4 years of verifiable experience working cash registers and gas pumps at convenience stores.

I am convinced that I am a leftwing suspect on a number of corporate blacklists, as this sort of suspicious reaction has happened to me quite a few times in the various times I have put in job apps over the years.

not a problem, I have too many skills to let them hold me back.

[ooglymoogly]

164. i get gas now exclusively from citgo

and will no longer ever shop at 7-ll even if it means going out of my way

[unkachuck]

165. me too....

....I started buying only Citgo gas last spring when everyone around here was talking about supporting Citgo....and the local station I patronize is ALWAYS crowded....most of the time I have to wait in line for gas....the other brands stations around the area are nowhere near as crowded....

....Citgo either sells excellent gas or there are more politically aware people out there than I thought....or both....

[1932]

167. If you have a choice between buying gas from a company for which the

profits go to giving poor people in Venezuela books, hospitals, roads and hope, or buying gas from a company for which the profits go to bribing the American government to make cars with low fuel efficiency, to invade middle eastern countries, and which go to helping people like the Bush family maintain political power, it seems like the choice is easy.

[Oldtimeralso]

166. New look for 7-11

They have been purchased by the BFEE and will be renamed 9-11

[weeve]

168. So just to clarify ...

As a result, the Citgo brand will disappear entirely from 10 states nd be less common in four additional states by March 2007, when the change goes into affect, Citgo spokesman Fernando Garay said Wednesday.

... does this mean The 7/11's out west ( who were not part of that original 10 states listed ) will continue to use Citgo gas, at least until Mar. '07 , and possibly later ? I'd still like to tank up there, if I knew it was going to Citgo.

[IndianaGreen]

169. 7-Eleven will be marketing their own brand of gasoline (July 13)

posted by bluerevolt at DailyKos:

EnergyNewsToday/July 13, 2006.-John Wright –The biggest marketer of Citgo gasoline, the 7-Eleven chain, said it is test marketing its own brand of gasoline to prepare for the end of its 100,000-bpd supply contract with Citgo in Sep. “We will be buying from independent suppliers,” a 7-Eleven spokeswoman told ENT. She said the pilot program involves about 160 stores in Texas, Florida, Virginia, Illinois and California, out of 5,800 stores nationwide. “7-Eleven has already started on this.” As reported Tues by ENT, Citgo, the US subsidiary of PDVSA, confirmed that it plans to sell terminals and a pipeline as part of a downsizing plan aimed at eliminating purchase of 130,000 bpd of spot gasoline and withdrawing from some regions.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/30/224646/715

[allisonthegreat]

170. figures..7-11 not here anyway

it definitely will be their loss.