Do you feel bad for the franchise owners of BP?
By deemazing
@deemazing (395)
United States
July 21, 2010 10:52am CST
Obviously you all know about the BP oil spill by now. You've most likely seen the people picketing against the BP gas stations. But what I want to know, is how do you feel about the franchise owners?
I see things from a different perspective regarding this issue. Owning a gas station is one of the slowest profiting businesses out there to begin with. From what I've been told by a previous owner, most gas station owners only make about $.02-$.03 per gallon. In the franchise world, you sign an agreement to be a franchise owner for "x" amount of time. To have this BP oil spill has not only affected our environment, water and animals, but also those poor BP Franchise owners who are now having their product boycotted. It has to make for a very tough time for them financially and mentally.
I'm not sure if BP offered them any compensation because of this, but I feel like they should. Also, they should waive any fees and legalities to exit out of the franchise early because it is their mistake and they need to take full responsibility.
What do you think?
2 people like this
10 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
21 Jul 10
I feel bad for the franchise owners, and - I know that I'm in the minority here - I feel bad for BP. It's not like they did anything on purpose to cause the well to blow. They've lost a lot of money and spent a lot of money and have been torn apart by the media. It wouldn't matter what they did at this point, someone would be mad about it.
It would be a nice gesture if BP would offer compensation, but I don't see it as necessary or even a good thing. BP has already paid the price for an accident that should have been treated as an accident and not an attack.
The US government inspected and approved the well, so who's fault is it? Maybe the government should offer compensation to the franchise owners.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
24 Jul 10
peavy, you should do a little bit more research on what caused the rig to blow up, catch fire and sink. BP DID do things that caused the spill which is one of the reasons why people are mad at them. Just because they passed inspection does not mean that they didn't cut corners and use unsafe practices. I realize that blaming the government is the name of the game these days but BP put that rig out there in the Gulf and they had a moral obligation to ensure that it was operating safely. You don't blame the government because YOU took risks, violated the law and didn't get caught until after people lost their lives and massive damage was done. The blame lies entirely with BP.
1 person likes this
@jb78000 (15139)
•
24 Jul 10
it was an accident caused by negligence, and not the first time bp (and other oil companies) cutting corners to cut costs has cost people their lives and devasted the environment and people's livelihoods. of course it is their fault, and you are wasting your sympathy peavey. i will add though that the us government has some responsibility too, it has been letting big oil companies do whatever they want basically for decades.
@skylerm2930 (96)
• United States
21 Jul 10
In a way, I do feel sorry for the franchise owners of BP. They didn't do anything wrong and now they are suffering for it. They're losing some customers so that means they are losing money too, and the oil spill wasn't even their fault! But, I also feel mad at the BP owners. I mean they could post something outside of their store saying something along the lines like "Help us, help the environment." They could give like 10 cents of every gallon of gas sold to a charity foundation that helps wildlife. But they don't do that. The owners are either working off the pity that people feel for them or trying to get people to give them pity. Either way, BP is in a bad position right now, along with all of their franchise owners.
1 person likes this
@deemazing (395)
• United States
21 Jul 10
This is a very good point. I don't think I've heard of them trying to help any wildlife or environmental organization. I think people would have a lot more respect of the company if they did that. I read, though, that it is unlikely that BP will fail, only their franchise owners are likely to fail the most. I think it's because they have so much money tied up in different things - which is a darn shame because they don't deserve to have anything left.
@elmiko (6630)
• United States
22 Jul 10
yes, i feel bad for the franchise owners as they were not directly responsible for the carelessness that greatly increased the changes of the oil rig explosion that occurred. also to the other answer about bp offering them compensation due to boycotts. yes, they are offering at least some of the bp gas stations compensation that i know of.
1 person likes this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
21 Jul 10
Where I live no one is picketing any BP stations. I do know that many people are not buying their gas, but their conveinence stores are still doing business. Gas is only a small part of their business. I do feel sorry for the employees. I think that the other Fuel stations should hire them first if they hand in job applications.
Shalom~Adoniah
1 person likes this
@thedailyclick (3017)
•
21 Jul 10
It’s interesting because here in the UK I’ve not seen anyone picketing any of the BP stations, yet I thought perhaps those in to environmental issues would. But I have to agree with your feelings for those who run these franchise stations because it is them who will suffer thanks to this major problem and unfairly so.
@deemazing (395)
• United States
22 Jul 10
It is a sad situation all around. Now BP needs to be careful because there are some activists and environmentalists who are considered "terrorists". For example, I worked for a science corporation that supplied UV water systems to animal cages and an alarm system. Well, because of that, we had a few months where we had these really insane animal activists literally committed crimes against our company employees. In one instance, they went to the owners home and knocked on his door. Then they showed his 6 yr old kids pictures of puppies being tortured in really horrific ways and telling them he is a puppy killer. So eventually this team got arrested but it's just that some activists do not seem to care about the criminal charge involved. I am afraid it's possible that could happen to BP over the oil spill, but I hope not.
1 person likes this
@linda4ualways40 (35)
• United States
21 Jul 10
deemazing I feel terrible for everyone affected by the oil spill. To see it on the news and just watch all of that oil spill out like that is something to see. I would watch the people cry on tv about losing their jobs or I would see the animals drenched in oil and my heart would go out to them. It is a travesty and BP big shot are going to pay one way or the other. Take care : )
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
21 Jul 10
No, it's not their fault. If we are going to picket the gas stations, might as well picket ourselves for using gasoline.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
24 Jul 10
Yes, I do feel bad for the franchise owners...they weren't responsible for the spill and, as you have indicated, they have contracts and can't simply change to another brand overnight. The people who picket BP stations are hurting innocent people.
@jb78000 (15139)
•
24 Jul 10
yes, it is tough for the franchise owners and none of this is anything to do with them whatsoever. it is bps fault, not theirs, and they're paying the price. i'd said from the start that boycotting bp stations was not the way to make bp hurt. i doubt bp will let them out their agreements early, although they should.
@rhodzptc (1317)
• Philippines
29 Jul 10
As of today I checked their website and BP had explained everything from time to time BP causes a lot of money to from cleaning the beaches of gulf, rehabilitating the wildlife and the least are they paying all the damages that it cause. But of course you need sufficient reason to file for a claims.
