Has anyone else heard about this?

[papad]

 

[jamesb]

Nope.......

 

[papad]

Sorry, I lost what I was trying to link.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...titled-2-1.jpg

 

[travcoman45]

We have both them companies round here, Guess I wouldn't trust either one. I take all my tans ta the bulk plant, them fellers treat me right cause I treat them right. Always try an deal with the smaller local feller when I can. He tryin ta make a livin same as me.

 

[m.m.]

I've never heard or read about that before. I don't use propane to cook but I use it with my Mr. Buddy heater; that sucks.

 

[papad]

Yeah, I'd rather pay a couple more dollars and get a full tank instead of being fooled that the price hasn't gone up and thinking you have a full tank when you don't.

Like buying a bag of potato chips.

 

[papad]

We have a propane co. just 3 blocks from our house, but I haven't been able to find out yet if they will fill the grill tanks for people.

 

[mgnorcal]

I like to stand there and watch the dial as my tank is refilled.

With the trade-in, I guess they could pull off shorting you pretty easy.

 

[hungryjohn]

Never used a trade-in. Have tanks filled at a local store where I know they're honest.

 

[creative rock]

I have never used the trade in to get a full tank. Everytime I have seen them the cost seemed to so HIGH! Now to read this and see they are shorting the customer the amount of propane, which means they need to trade in more often, hmmmmmm

I always go to a propane bulk supplier and have my tank filled as i stand there watching the meter and go in and tell the cashier the amount. I am a local, they know me so they take what I tell them. My small tank will only take a max of 4.5 gallons, not really sure what propane is selling for per gallon, but figure I need it, I pay it. I use the small bottle for both my propane grill, and my clothes dryer.

Fill the bottles up people, I would rather pay more then have to come back more often, which increase my gasoline costs to make a special trip.

Matt
aka Rocky

I take it back... I had used the trade in twice, I had a couple of old tanks when they switched to the new standard valve, and it was cheaper than buying a new tank.

 

[bigsteve]

Yeah, having them filled by Hank Hill while you stand there and watch is best. But like everyone else, there were times when I ran out of gas, and the local place wasn't open. On those days I went down and got a Blue Rhino tank.

Hershey discovered many-many years ago that they could hold prices steady by making smaller chocolate bars. My choice is A) Pay it B) buy something else. Just like with the propane refillers.

 

[que-ball]

At least with Hershey's you knew you were getting a smaller bar!

 

[richoso1]

I quit doing the exchange game, I bought two tanks and have them filled right in front of me at a rental yard about 1 mile from home. These guys are open 7 days a week. It works for me.

 

[papad]

Well, I've been doing some checking and the places that will fill the tanks are few around here. There used to be a place on every corner a few years ago. The nearest ones to me now are still 4 miles away from my house.

The good news is that we are in the area fairly often anyway, so it's not a big problem, but I'm not going to be using the exchange program. It just makes me feel like I'm being ripped off.

 

[coyote-1]

I was forced to do a tank exchange once. The guy took a fairly new tank and replaced it with a clearly older one. When I brought it back to him the next time, he said he couldn't take it because it was too old.

I threw it up onto the top of his greenhouse; it came crashing through. And of course he's not gotten my business again, nor the business of the many many people to whom I've related this story.

Ripping people off is the stupidest business strategy. It may look good in the short term but it ultimately backfires - even for the Bernie Madoffs of the world.

 

[jaye220]

I always felt a little ripped off on tank exchanges too. Thanks to this thread, I just did a quick search, made a phone call and found a place to get tanks refilled a couple of miles from my house...plus, it's gonna be about $10 cheaper than the exchange.

 

[forluvofsmoke]

I never use the tank exchanges. I go to a propane distributor and pay bulk price. I have 5-20lb tanks, and filled them all 2 weeks ago...3 were empty and 2 were 1/4-1/2 full. Costed me $1.90/gallon...was about $35.00 total for over 17 gallons, including tax. I was in and out their door in less than 10 minutes, and paid half the price of the exchange rate.

If you're paying the exchange rates for a 20lb bottle, that's over $4.00/gallon in most places. Seems rediculously overpriced to me.

I'm with Tip on this one. Go with the little guy who won't put the screws to ya. He values your patronage in with his business, and relies on your return visits and your spreading the word about good service and prices.

Eric

 

[papad]

I don't know yet what they are charging to refill the tanks around here. I do know that the exchange price is around $20.00 at all the dealers. But, even if I had to pay $20.00 to get one refilled, at least I know that I would be getting a full tank.