ATLANTA - BP station owners are becoming increasingly frustrated as Americans boycott their stations and are insisting that BP do more to help them win back their customers, such as by reducing gasoline prices, the Associated Press reports.

In recent weeks, BP station owners from Georgia to Illinois report that sales have dropped as much as 40 percent. Station owners and BP gas distributors told BP officials last week that they "need a break" on gas prices and want help paying for more advertising aimed at tourists, according to John Kleine, executive director of the independent BP Amoco Marketers Association. They also have requested more frequent meetings with BP officials.

"They have got to be more competitive on their fuel costs to the retailers so we can be competitive on the street...and bring back customers that we've lost," said Bob Juckniess, whose sales have dropped 20 percent at some of his 10 BP-branded stations in the Chicago area.

BP owners and distributors voiced their demands at a meeting last week with BP marketing officials. BP's reply is expected as early as this week.

Jim Smith, president and CEO of the Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association, said BP has extended to some owners a one-cent per gallon discount, which "doesn't amount to much." Kleine said the discount appears limited to Florida, and he declined to reveal the size of the discount he requested at last week's meeting.

The biggest impact for BP retailers comes not from lost gas sales but convenience store business, said NACS spokesperson Jeff Lenard. On the other hand, BP earns its income from exploring and producing oil all over the world, including the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Egypt.

"The corner store is the face of BP, but by no means how BP gets its money," Lenard said.