tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281428715366750186.post165008415613196129..comments2023-10-01T07:57:28.204-07:00Comments on This Blog Has Moved to http://www.thestrategicguy.com/: Vendor Relationships, Fair All AroundMarc Hausmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654354560113862550noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281428715366750186.post-1515785547715724832009-02-01T22:13:00.000-08:002009-02-01T22:13:00.000-08:00Y'know, I understand how you feel about the gas pr...Y'know, I understand how you feel about the gas prices, but I think that's really a better example of how media coverage influences people's perceptions.<BR/><BR/>Yes, as you pointed out, Exxon had the largest ever profit. They're also pretty doggone big. So it's a big profit in absolute terms, but what's their margin? How does it compare with other oil companies? (I seem to recall reading that the average oil company's margin was around 10%, versus 35% or so for Google.)<BR/><BR/>So yeah, it's absolutely bad form to brag about your margins (ranks right up there with bragging about your salary), but that's something publicly traded companies are required to disclose.<BR/><BR/>But it's also important to remember that not all media coverage is good.<BR/><BR/>(Over the summer, as often as not, I bought my gasoline from Exxon. Despite all the talk on the news about their profits, they frequently had the lowest prices in my area.)That Blair Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962868902775935380noreply@blogger.com