Propane rip-off: big sellers of exchange tanks are not filling them all the way

[Tom Lachance]

Fuel delivery trucks are checked a yearly, at least, by the state with a calibrated device, adjusted, and sealed.

[JKevorkian]

One thing I hadn't noticed in all the replies to this thread was using natural gas. I specifically sought out an outdoor grill that uses natural, and can't be more pleased. No more wondering when the tank was going to give up, no lugging it, and its spare, off to the fill station, and certainly not being shocked at the prices those tank exchanges that proliferate at "convenience" stores charge.

[salty]

No, it isn't. The filling of individual propane tanks at retail also involves labor, which is about the same regardless of how much gas you put in the tank.

People who might worry about this, have two tanks so they never need to get one filled that still has 5 pounds of gas in it.

[Ed Pawlowski]

To clarify, I meant the larger stationary tanks used at the home for heating, cooking, etc.

[Frank]

Tanks do have a finite life and I believe testing is required every 5-10 years so I did not feel as ripped off when I got rid of old rusty tank but will definitely go to refiller next time.

There is a convenience factor in the HD exchange as you can drive up, dyi with credit card and it only takes a few minutes. This versus going to the Shell mart and trying to get someone to fill the tank while people are buying cigarettes and sandwiches ;)

[Daniel Prince]

I nobody is looking, what is to stop him from pumping some of the fuel back into the tank on his truck?

-- I don't understand why they make gourmet cat foods. I have known many cats in my life and none of them were gourmets. They were all gourmands!

[Jim Yanik]

"Stormin Mormon" wrote in news:gva7ca$vvp$ [e-mail]:

I'm half Hungarian. The rest English/Scottish mutt.

[Stormin Mormon]

One fellow I know did just that. Put in a gas line to his outdoor grill. That's fine as long as the natural gas is working. Which is essentially all the time.

[Jim Yanik]

Frank wrote in news:gv9vu4$c9h$ [e-mail]:

An ad in today's Orlando Sentinel newspaper said 15 lbs. for Blue Rhino exchange.

[Jim Yanik]

[e-mail] wrote in news: [e-mail]:

I still like Breyers better than other similarly priced brands. Won't eat Edys,gave me intestinal distress,Ben n Jerry's supports leftist causes.

Breyer's Triple Chocolate,YUM! love that dark chocolate icecream; it reminds me of the Baskin Robbins caterers chocolate,that I can't find anymore.It seems the BR's in my area no longer carry 33 flavors,but only a smaller subset.

[Karla]

As has been mentioned elsewhere in the thread, the labor of full serve gasoline is about the same regardless of how much gas is put into the tank. Yet somehow, gasoline stations don't get away with charging a fixed full price for a partial fill.

Storing an extra full cylinder isn't always practical. The tanks can't be stored (safely) indoors and some places do not allow an extra tank to be stored outdoors or near a building. Storing an extra near a grill is a really bad idea as well.

[Jim Yanik]

Tom Lachance wrote in news: [e-mail]:

but that's not what meters the gas going into your car's tank,and determining how much you pay.

the delivery trucks are the stations concern,not the end consumer.

[Ed Pawlowski]

Great idea. I can have it done for about $25,000 or so.

[Stormin Mormon]

Might be on the English side. My Youngs go back to Germany. Anyhow, Mr. Y, it's a fine pleasure to meet you. And we're not getting ripped off by the propane guys.

[Harry L]

Also, less propane means fewer lawsuits from neighbors hurt in the explosion.

[Robert Neville]

There's a dozen or so dealers around here and the one I use has been consistently the most competitive on pricing, so I'm not too concerned. That said, they definitely make it financially difficult to buy your own tank.

I pay about $75/year for tank rental on a 500 gal tank. If I wanted to buy my own tank, it would cost me in the neighborhood of $1000 installed. With the cost of money, that's close to 15 year break even. I haven't checked, but it wouldn't surprise me if periodic teating of the tank is required. That's included in the rental but would be my responsibility if I purchased.

[Robert Neville]

Well yes, but why do people buy things at convenience stores instead of the local grocery store? There definitely is a price for convenience...

Around here, retail propane goes for about $2.50/gallon, so filling a bbq tank is less than $10. But in this metro area of 750K people, there are only a couple of dozen places to get retail refills.

The exchange places are all over (that convenience thing), but the price for an exchange is about $25. OTOH, when you just fired up the grill, it dies, the steaks are ready to go on and your firends are laughing, where are you going?

Easily solved by having a spare tank and rotating them, but how many people do that?

[salty]

There is no way to do that easily, and if there was, he would more than likely get a lot of sediment mixed in anyway. Then, there is the issue of how would the delivery guy benefit? He generally is just a peon working for hourly wages, not the owner. If he got caught, he would go to jail for theft, anyway.

It simply ain't gonna happen.

[SteveB]

Ditto here. I think it's ignorance (just not knowing that they can go get them filled cheaper) and laziness. When you start looking around, there are quite a lot of places to get them refilled, although on first thought, one might think that they have to drive to an industrial district, etc.

I have three at this house, two at the cabin, and eight at my rental houses. We never run out. I took two and got them refilled the other day, and it was less than $20.

Plus, when you have them refilled at a gas sales place, they just charge you for what you get so you can top them off. At the exchange, I'm sure that people exchange fractionally full tanks, but receive no credit or consideration for the amount they have remaining in the tank.

Steve

[salty]

Entirely different situation that has absolutely no bearing. ZILCH.

Now you are just being silly. :)