Sorry, my original point still stands. Exxon and Shell should be competing for my business. Calling me names doesn't explain why competition is not working in this case.
Why should they?
Nowhere in economic theory is it written that companies are required to compete for your business on your terms.
You've noticed how they continue on, making acceptable profits as measured by a cold hearted rational marketplace, without having to give out coupons? That's because they don't have to send out any coupons.
If I was an investor (I only invest in energy companies with higher margins and faster growth rates) and I found out they were needlessly giving hundreds of millions of coupons, I'd take my investment money elsewhere.
This guy earned his money the old fashioned way, by giving his employeer much more than they gave him.
Perhaps YOU owe THEM competition...
No? Of course not. Nor do they owe anything to you.