SteveB wrote:
"Wayne Boatwright" wrote in message
5.250...
On Sat 23 May 2009 09:32:48p, Ed Pawlowski told us...

"Jessica" wrote in message

There is no reason why propane sales should need to charge a full tank
for a 1/4 tank fill, if propane dealers weren't out to gouge and cheat
their customers. We aren't talking bulk sales here, and charging by
the unit sold certainly adequately includes labor costs for other fuel
sales.

The article cited already establishes the propane industry's (lack of)
integrity and business ethics by providing less product without
informing their customers. It's not surprising they freely engage in
less than above-board practices.
They do it because they can. It has been an accepted policy for many
years.

Propane dealers are some of the worst on the planet. They have widely
varying rates depending on use, they won't fill the tanks of another
company, they rent tanks for years, they make if difficult to let you
buy a tank, and on and on.
If you're talking about the standard tank use for gas grills, there's a
glut of them for sale at any big box store in this area, and any filling
facility will fill them with no problem.

--
Wayne Boatwright

Sounds like you live in a tough neighborhood, Jessica. The gas businesses
here are geared to make people happy, so they will return year after year.
Last trip in, I talked to them about installing a large tank for propane
because we are converting to propane stove. Maybe it's just my attitude,
but I have never had a problem with propane dealers, and I go out there when
they fill the cylinders and make sure I get a ticket for only what they put
in. A chimpanzee could read those simple gauges. If you're the trusting
type who just takes them in and does very little in the way of monitoring
them, then you get what you get.

Steve


Lots of liability associated with being a propane dealer. No dealers
around here will fill anyone else's non portable tank. If you want to
change suppliers you need to have them remove their tank and the new
supplier will place a tank and inspect your piping and equipment before
turning the gas on. The mom & pop guys aren't bad to deal with but
Suburban: http://www.suburbanpropane.com/ is over the top. They are
much more expensive than the other suppliers for fuel. Last year they
instituted a large small use fee "cooking rate" increase and high low
use prices without warning and then billed people $150 more when they
called to have the tank removed. My brothers neighbor worked for them
and he said they couldn't keep up with tank removals.