While waiting for my wife outside a store yesterday, I passed the time
by reading the information on the "Blue Rhino" propane tank exchange
setup. No surprises until I got to the bottom and discovered that the
"Full" tanks contain only 15lb of propane. I thought that the "regular"
small propane tanks held 20lb.

How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they would
if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good price
but getting only 15lb?

Perce

On Jan 25, 3:14*pm, "Percival P. Cassidy" wrote:
While waiting for my wife outside a store yesterday, I passed the time
by reading the information on the "Blue Rhino" propane tank exchange
setup. No surprises until I got to the bottom and discovered that the
"Full" tanks contain only 15lb of propane. I thought that the "regular"
small propane tanks held 20lb.

How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they would
if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good price
but getting only 15lb?

Perce

Downsizing !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll remember that.

Percival P. Cassidy wrote:
While waiting for my wife outside a store yesterday, I passed the time
by reading the information on the "Blue Rhino" propane tank exchange
setup. No surprises until I got to the bottom and discovered that the
"Full" tanks contain only 15lb of propane. I thought that the
"regular" small propane tanks held 20lb.

How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they would
if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good price
but getting only 15lb?


7

On 1/25/2011 2:14 PM, Percival P. Cassidy wrote:
While waiting for my wife outside a store yesterday, I passed the time
by reading the information on the "Blue Rhino" propane tank exchange
setup. No surprises until I got to the bottom and discovered that the
"Full" tanks contain only 15lb of propane. I thought that the
"regular" small propane tanks held 20lb.

How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they would
if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good price
but getting only 15lb?

There's a class-action lawsuit against them over this issue. AmeriGas
recently settled a class-action lawsuit over a similar claim:


A federal judge approved a $10 million settlement against a company
accused of putting too little propane in its containers.

The settlement in the multidistrict litigation ended multiple cases
filed against AmeriGas Propane Inc., AmeriGas Propane LP and AmeriGas
Partners LP.

The plaintiffs alleged that the cylinders -- the type used for grills
-- contained 15 pounds instead of the 17 pounds of the gas AmeriGas
previously provided. The settlement covers consumers who bought or
exchanged the cylinders between June 15, 2005, and Nov. 30, 2009.

Those with proofs of purchase can recover $5 for each propane tank
they purchased or exchanged during the class period, up to $75. Those
without proofs of purchase can recover $5.

The settlement also subjects AmeriGas to a three-year injunction,
during which the company must take measures to prominently inform
consumers of the actual net weight of propane in its tanks and to
refrain from marketing those tanks as "full."

.... The objectors had urged the judge to consider that, under federal
and state laws and regulations, the cylinders should hold 20 pounds of
propane, not the 17 pounds agreed to in the settlement. The objectors'
argument would have vastly expanded the amount owed by AmeriGas.

Both AmeriGas and the other plaintiffs disputed the argument, saying
the objectors had conflated the maximum amount a cylinder could hold
with the amount with which it should safely be filled. Both parties
also said no law requires cylinders to be filled with 20 pounds of
propane.

Fenner overruled the objectors' arguments in his Oct. 4 order.

....The settlement did not affect a related series of lawsuit against
Ferrellgas, the supplier of Blue Rhino propane. Bryan Cave is
defending Ferrellgas.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m.../ai_n56275767/

"Percival P. Cassidy" wrote in message
...
While waiting for my wife outside a store yesterday, I passed the time by
reading the information on the "Blue Rhino" propane tank exchange setup.
No surprises until I got to the bottom and discovered that the "Full"
tanks contain only 15lb of propane. I thought that the "regular" small
propane tanks held 20lb.

How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they would if
they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good price but
getting only 15lb?

Perce

Only those who are in such a hurry that they don't read the sign.

Steve

On Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:14:48 -0500, "Percival P. Cassidy"
wrote:

How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they would
if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good price
but getting only 15lb?

Not many. This subject came up before here. The bottom line is buyer
beware.

?
"Steve B" wrote
How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they would if
they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good price but
getting only 15lb?

Perce

Only those who are in such a hurry that they don't read the sign.

Steve

After not having to read the sign for the past 50 years, it is a sleazy way
of raising the price. Yes, it may be legal, it may be show on the label,
but I don't read the sticker on a dozen eggs either. It has always been
that way.

On 1/25/2011 9:13 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
?
"Steve B" wrote
How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they
would if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good
price but getting only 15lb?

Perce

Only those who are in such a hurry that they don't read the sign.

Steve

After not having to read the sign for the past 50 years, it is a sleazy
way of raising the price. Yes, it may be legal, it may be show on the
label, but I don't read the sticker on a dozen eggs either. It has
always been that way.

I always took my tanks to U-Haul and watched the guy fill them whilst
the tank sat on the filling station scale. :-)

TDD

"Ed Pawlowski" wrote:

After not having to read the sign for the past 50 years, it is a sleazy way
of raising the price. Yes, it may be legal, it may be show on the label,
but I don't read the sticker on a dozen eggs either. It has always been
that way.

Right. Just like 16oz bags of potato chips, two pound cans of coffee and 1/2
gallon tubs of ice cream.

That said, I sort of understand where the manufacturers are coming from. It's
not always about hiding a unit cost increase - sometimes it's the price point.
They have evidence enough that enough people don't look at unit pricing - they
have a set amount they will pay for a product and either not buy over that
amount or will buy a competitive product that sells for less, even if it
contains less.

"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
?
"Steve B" wrote
How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they would
if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good price
but getting only 15lb?

Perce

Only those who are in such a hurry that they don't read the sign.

Steve

After not having to read the sign for the past 50 years, it is a sleazy
way of raising the price. Yes, it may be legal, it may be show on the
label, but I don't read the sticker on a dozen eggs either. It has always
been that way.


You expected something else? It has always been buyer beware. Whole stores
are designed to take advantage of impulse buyers, and hurried shoppers.
Those who take their time and actually read things fare a little better.
Like those smaller "pound" coffee cans.......................

Steve

"The Daring Dufas" wrote in message
...
On 1/25/2011 9:13 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
?
"Steve B" wrote
How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they
would if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good
price but getting only 15lb?

Perce

Only those who are in such a hurry that they don't read the sign.

Steve

After not having to read the sign for the past 50 years, it is a sleazy
way of raising the price. Yes, it may be legal, it may be show on the
label, but I don't read the sticker on a dozen eggs either. It has
always been that way.

I always took my tanks to U-Haul and watched the guy fill them whilst the
tank sat on the filling station scale. :-)

TDD

I have had most excellent service from UHaul in Las Vegas, and their prices
were very good. I get mine locally here at a propane supplier in a rural
Utah town, and it is the same. Plus, in this setting, everyone gets to
stand there and watch their tanks being filled.

Steve

"Robert Neville" wrote in message
...
"Ed Pawlowski" wrote:

After not having to read the sign for the past 50 years, it is a sleazy
way
of raising the price. Yes, it may be legal, it may be show on the label,
but I don't read the sticker on a dozen eggs either. It has always been
that way.

Right. Just like 16oz bags of potato chips, two pound cans of coffee and
1/2
gallon tubs of ice cream.

That said, I sort of understand where the manufacturers are coming from.
It's
not always about hiding a unit cost increase - sometimes it's the price
point.
They have evidence enough that enough people don't look at unit pricing -
they
have a set amount they will pay for a product and either not buy over that
amount or will buy a competitive product that sells for less, even if it
contains less.

And doesn't everywhere have the cost per unit price? Of course, one DOES
have to look to see them.

Steve

On Jan 26, 3:50*am, The Daring Dufas
wrote:
On 1/25/2011 9:13 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:





?
"Steve B" wrote
How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they
would if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good
price but getting only 15lb?

Perce

Only those who are in such a hurry that they don't read the sign.

Steve

After not having to read the sign for the past 50 years, it is a sleazy
way of raising the price. Yes, it may be legal, it may be show on the
label, but I don't read the sticker on a dozen eggs either. It has
always been that way.

I always took my tanks to U-Haul and watched the guy fill them whilst
the tank sat on the filling station scale. :-)

TDD- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

If you ever go metric, there is scope for the most incredible fiddles
and rip-offs. Everything metric is smaller and somehow more expensive.

On 1/26/2011 2:50 AM, harry wrote:
On Jan 26, 3:50 am, The Daring
wrote:
On 1/25/2011 9:13 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:





?
"Steve wrote
How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they
would if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good
price but getting only 15lb?

Perce

Only those who are in such a hurry that they don't read the sign.

Steve

After not having to read the sign for the past 50 years, it is a sleazy
way of raising the price. Yes, it may be legal, it may be show on the
label, but I don't read the sticker on a dozen eggs either. It has
always been that way.

I always took my tanks to U-Haul and watched the guy fill them whilst
the tank sat on the filling station scale. :-)

TDD- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

If you ever go metric, there is scope for the most incredible fiddles
and rip-offs. Everything metric is smaller and somehow more expensive.

Yea, you guys by everything by the litter, puppies, kittens,
children........ :-)

TDD

?
"Steve B" wrote
You expected something else? It has always been buyer beware. Whole
stores are designed to take advantage of impulse buyers, and hurried
shoppers. Those who take their time and actually read things fare a little
better. Like those smaller "pound" coffee cans.......................

Steve

Ice cream has survived as a half gallon for decades, at least 6 that I'm
aware of. It is more costly to pack the smaller cartons. A hundred gallon
batch of ice cream used to take 200 containers. Now it takes 266 containers
for that batch. Given that the physical size and material is changed
little, the smaller containers won't be that much cheaper. As a consumer,
I'm being made to pay for that waste of resources.

On Jan 26, 5:57*am, "Ed Pawlowski" wrote:
?
"Steve B" wrote

You expected something else? *It has always been buyer beware. *Whole
stores are designed to take advantage of impulse buyers, and hurried
shoppers. Those who take their time and actually read things fare a little
better. Like those smaller "pound" coffee cans.......................

Steve

Ice cream has survived as a half gallon for decades, at least 6 that I'm
aware of. *It is more costly to pack the smaller cartons. *A hundred gallon
batch of ice cream used to take 200 containers. *Now it takes 266 containers
for that batch. *Given that the physical size and material is changed
little, the smaller containers won't be that much cheaper. * As a consumer,
I'm being made to pay for that waste of resources.

My favorite hard cider recently changed it's bottle. What was 12 oz
is now 11.2 oz. Unfortunately it's a common stunt.

On 1/25/2011 12:43 PM, Hell Toupee wrote:
On 1/25/2011 2:14 PM, Percival P. Cassidy wrote:
While waiting for my wife outside a store yesterday, I passed the time
by reading the information on the "Blue Rhino" propane tank exchange
setup. No surprises until I got to the bottom and discovered that the
"Full" tanks contain only 15lb of propane. I thought that the
"regular" small propane tanks held 20lb.

How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they would
if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good price
but getting only 15lb?

There's a class-action lawsuit against them over this issue. AmeriGas
recently settled a class-action lawsuit over a similar claim:

snip

The tank exchanges are for people that are either lazy or clueless. You
can take your tank to a gas station that sells propane and get a full
tank for the same, or a lower, price than the tank exchanges. You also
get to give your $ to a local business rather than to Home Depot or
Wal-Mart, or Walgreen's.

The reason there are now signs at the tank exchange places explicitly
stating that the tanks are not filled all the way, is because of the
class action. Prior to that, they were marking on the tanks that they
were not filled to capacity, but they were not really making it clear
before you actually got your new tank.

On 1/25/2011 7:13 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
?
"Steve B" wrote
How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they
would if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good
price but getting only 15lb?

Perce

Only those who are in such a hurry that they don't read the sign.

Steve

After not having to read the sign for the past 50 years, it is a sleazy
way of raising the price. Yes, it may be legal, it may be show on the
label, but I don't read the sticker on a dozen eggs either. It has
always been that way.

The sign is now posted because prior to that it was _only_ shown on the
label. I agree, it's sleazy. It's also annoying because it means that
you have get propane more often.

Of course the best thing to do is to find a local gas station that fills
propane tanks. They fill it as full as is safe, and it will cost the
same or less than a partially filled exchanged tank.

On 1/25/2011 8:10 PM, Robert Neville wrote:
"Ed wrote:

After not having to read the sign for the past 50 years, it is a sleazy way
of raising the price. Yes, it may be legal, it may be show on the label,
but I don't read the sticker on a dozen eggs either. It has always been
that way.

Right. Just like 16oz bags of potato chips, two pound cans of coffee and 1/2
gallon tubs of ice cream.

It's a little different there. The 1.5 quart ice cream cartons and 26
ounce cans of coffee are physically smaller than they were when they
were 1/2 gallon and 2 pounds respectively. Also, at least with the
Breyer's ice cream I usually buy, the price has come down. I used to pay
around $3.50 on sale for 1/2 gallon, now it's often on sale for $2.50.
Even the regular price came down a little. I never buy canned coffee so
I can't comment, but I do notice that 3 pound bags of good beans at
Costco cost less per pound than poor quality canned coffee at the
supermarket.

With propane, before the gas companies started putting up signs
explaining the short weight, you really didn't have any indication of
the weight until you got the tank brought to you from the locked cage or
from where-ever they kept them, and even then it wasn't prominently
displayed. Since the tank size was the same as before, there was little
reason to think that they'd be short-filled.

On 1/26/2011 2:57 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

Ice cream has survived as a half gallon for decades, at least 6 that I'm
aware of. It is more costly to pack the smaller cartons. A hundred
gallon batch of ice cream used to take 200 containers. Now it takes 266
containers for that batch. Given that the physical size and material is
changed little, the smaller containers won't be that much cheaper. As a
consumer, I'm being made to pay for that waste of resources.

When I was in Florida, I was in Publix supermarket, and they make a big
deal of the fact that their store brand ice cream cartons are still 1/2
gallon. It was also pretty good ice cream, especially now that Breyer's
has decontented their product and is adding the same additives that the
cheaper brands have been using for a long time.

http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/clothing-clothing-accessories-stores-stores/279631-1.html

Unfortunately, we have no supermarkets that are the caliber of Publix in
California, and they probably aren't going to expand out here,
especially since the cashiers in the big supermarket chains here are
unionized and make a living wage (last time I heard it was around $17 an
hour).

On 01/26/11 02:14 am, Steve B wrote:

And doesn't everywhere have the cost per unit price? Of course, one DOES
have to look to see them.

Only certain kinds of goods, AFAICS. But they often try to make it just
a little herder to compare because some items show the price per pound
while others show the price per ounce.

Perce

On 1/26/2011 9:51 AM, Percival P. Cassidy wrote:
On 01/26/11 02:14 am, Steve B wrote:

And doesn't everywhere have the cost per unit price? Of course, one DOES
have to look to see them.

Only certain kinds of goods, AFAICS. But they often try to make it just
a little herder to compare because some items show the price per pound
while others show the price per ounce.

Perce

You mean you have a problem being able to quickly comparing same product
different size items that are intentionally priced at say "price each"
and the other is priced at say "per ounce"?

On 1/26/2011 8:57 AM, SMS wrote:
On 1/25/2011 8:10 PM, Robert Neville wrote:
"Ed wrote:

After not having to read the sign for the past 50 years, it is a
sleazy way
of raising the price. Yes, it may be legal, it may be show on the label,
but I don't read the sticker on a dozen eggs either. It has always been
that way.

Right. Just like 16oz bags of potato chips, two pound cans of coffee
and 1/2
gallon tubs of ice cream.

It's a little different there. The 1.5 quart ice cream cartons and 26
ounce cans of coffee are physically smaller than they were when they
were 1/2 gallon and 2 pounds respectively. Also, at least with the
Breyer's ice cream I usually buy, the price has come down. I used to pay
around $3.50 on sale for 1/2 gallon, now it's often on sale for $2.50.
Even the regular price came down a little. I never buy canned coffee so
I can't comment, but I do notice that 3 pound bags of good beans at
Costco cost less per pound than poor quality canned coffee at the
supermarket.

Still sleazy. People are accustomed to buying certain things. If they
need to raise the price on the 2 lb container or 16 oz bag or whatever
then do it. Don't be sleazy about it and package it in a smaller size.


With propane, before the gas companies started putting up signs
explaining the short weight, you really didn't have any indication of
the weight until you got the tank brought to you from the locked cage or
from where-ever they kept them, and even then it wasn't prominently
displayed. Since the tank size was the same as before, there was little
reason to think that they'd be short-filled.

On 1/25/2011 3:14 PM, Percival P. Cassidy wrote:
While waiting for my wife outside a store yesterday, I passed the time
by reading the information on the "Blue Rhino" propane tank exchange
setup. No surprises until I got to the bottom and discovered that the
"Full" tanks contain only 15lb of propane. I thought that the "regular"
small propane tanks held 20lb.

How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they would
if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good price
but getting only 15lb?

Perce

Thats what happens when shopping on price not value at the big box
became the thing to do.

On Jan 26, 5:57*am, "Ed Pawlowski" wrote:
Ice cream has survived as a half gallon for decades, at least 6 that I'm
aware of. *It is more costly to pack the smaller cartons. *A hundred gallon
batch of ice cream used to take 200 containers. *Now it takes 266 containers
for that batch. *Given that the physical size and material is changed
little, the smaller containers won't be that much cheaper. * As a consumer,
I'm being made to pay for that waste of resources.

Yes, but the total number of containers shipped remains the same.

That either means they have reduced batch size to 75 gallons, or they
only make three 100-gallon batches where they used to make four.

Either way, the ingredient cost is reduced by 25%, while revenue stays
the same.

Legally, they can only fill 80% of the stated capacity,
which is 16. And, you still got shorted as 15 is less than
16.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Percival P. Cassidy" wrote in message
...
While waiting for my wife outside a store yesterday, I
passed the time
by reading the information on the "Blue Rhino" propane tank
exchange
setup. No surprises until I got to the bottom and discovered
that the
"Full" tanks contain only 15lb of propane. I thought that
the "regular"
small propane tanks held 20lb.

How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as
they would
if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a
good price
but getting only 15lb?

Perce

On Jan 25, 3:14*pm, "Percival P. Cassidy" wrote:
How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they would
if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good price
but getting only 15lb?

Not me. I've known about this for years.

A so-called "20lb" propane tank can only "safely" hold 17 or 18lbs of
liquid propane. Calling it a "20lb" tank was sleazy marketing from the
get-go. Properly filled tanks have NEVER had 20lbs of propane in them.

There's a lot to be said for downsizing the amount of product you get,
rather than raising the price... As a general rule, your average mook
on the street is a moron.

History has shown that keeping the package size the same and raising
the price causes people to look for cheaper alternatives.

On 01/26/2011 09:37 AM, George wrote:
On 1/25/2011 3:14 PM, Percival P. Cassidy wrote:
While waiting for my wife outside a store yesterday, I passed the time
by reading the information on the "Blue Rhino" propane tank exchange
setup. No surprises until I got to the bottom and discovered that the
"Full" tanks contain only 15lb of propane. I thought that the "regular"
small propane tanks held 20lb.

How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they would
if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good price
but getting only 15lb?

Perce

Thats what happens when shopping on price not value at the big box
became the thing to do.
I believe thats a Federal law so they don't get to full and have
problems. Everywhere I get tanks filled it's the same way.

--
Lets stop giving money to foreign countries and reduce our National
Debt that way instead of cutting benefits for our own citizens.

"Percival P. Cassidy" wrote in message
...
On 01/26/11 02:14 am, Steve B wrote:

And doesn't everywhere have the cost per unit price? Of course, one DOES
have to look to see them.

Only certain kinds of goods, AFAICS. But they often try to make it just a
little herder to compare because some items show the price per pound while
others show the price per ounce.

Perce

Yabbut, you must admit, it's an easy calculation with anyone having an eight
grade education.

Steve

"SMS" wrote

The tank exchanges are for people that are either lazy or clueless. You
can take your tank to a gas station that sells propane and get a full tank
for the same, or a lower, price than the tank exchanges. You also get to
give your $ to a local business rather than to Home Depot or Wal-Mart, or
Walgreen's.

Agreed. Although I do have exchange facilities near me, I take mine to my
local propane supplier, and get a MUCH better price. Why anyone would pay
the rates at the exchange places is beyond me, especially when there are
propane dealers very close by.

Steve

"George" wrote in

Still sleazy. People are accustomed to buying certain things. If they need
to raise the price on the 2 lb container or 16 oz bag or whatever then do
it. Don't be sleazy about it and package it in a smaller size.

I believe that this is a perfect demonstration of the rich republicans
taking every advantage they can of society. So what if they can work a
calculator, and get the best of people who choose to remain uneducated
because they are lazy.

THERE OUGHTTA BE A LAW!

Steve ;-)

"George" wrote

How many people are thinking that they are getting 20lb (as they would
if they took their own tanks to a refilling station) for a good price
but getting only 15lb?

Perce

I dunno. How many people can't work a pocket calculator, read effectively,
do simple math in their head, or even make change for a twenty? WITH a cash
register.

Steve

Heart surgery pending?
Read up and prepare.
Learn how to care for a friend.
http://cabgbypasssurgery.com

On 1/26/2011 12:26 PM, Steve B wrote:
wrote

The tank exchanges are for people that are either lazy or clueless. You
can take your tank to a gas station that sells propane and get a full tank
for the same, or a lower, price than the tank exchanges. You also get to
give your $ to a local business rather than to Home Depot or Wal-Mart, or
Walgreen's.

Agreed. Although I do have exchange facilities near me, I take mine to my
local propane supplier, and get a MUCH better price. Why anyone would pay
the rates at the exchange places is beyond me, especially when there are
propane dealers very close by.

Steve



There are 3 convenient propane places near me all owned by the same
family. They have the lowest price, no club membership required and you
can watch them fill your tank *completely*.

On 1/26/2011 12:29 PM, Steve B wrote:
wrote in

Still sleazy. People are accustomed to buying certain things. If they need
to raise the price on the 2 lb container or 16 oz bag or whatever then do
it. Don't be sleazy about it and package it in a smaller size.

I believe that this is a perfect demonstration of the rich republicans
taking every advantage they can of society. So what if they can work a
calculator, and get the best of people who choose to remain uneducated
because they are lazy.

THERE OUGHTTA BE A LAW!

Steve ;-)


Sounds like you bought into the blue and red stuff?

It is just greed and corruption that is universal. Just consider for a
moment that Congress is the arm of the US government that controls the
purse strings. Remind yourself what "color" was in control who approved
the bailout of the sleazy bankers and brokers and also bought most of
their gambling loses (sorry "toxic assets") . I do have to admit the "to
big to fail" spin campaign was almost believable...

On 1/26/2011 7:50 AM, SMS wrote:

The tank exchanges are for people that are either lazy or clueless.
You can take your tank to a gas station that sells propane and get a
full tank for the same, or a lower, price than the tank exchanges. You
also get to give your $ to a local business rather than to Home Depot
or Wal-Mart, or Walgreen's.

There are areas - particularly urban ones - where one's options for
getting propane are very limited. The tank exchange may be all that's
available.
I live in a city where no one heats with propane, so there are no
large-scale distributors of it. No gas stations that sell it - except
for a few who offer the tank exchanges. I'm lucky enough to have in my
vicinity a small hardware store that fills tanks, and also an RV
repair shop that fills tanks - but in most of the city, the only
option is a tank exchange. If all you're doing with the tank is using
it for a gas grill or patio heater, I can see where it's not going to
be a big enough deal to bother driving a distance to get a tank
filled. Just grab one from the exchange and be done with it.

On 1/26/2011 12:29 PM, Hell Toupee wrote:

I'm lucky enough to have in my
vicinity a small hardware store that fills tanks, and also an RV
repair shop that fills tanks

I forgot to mention that the hardware store charges a flat fee per
fill, per tank. If you bring in a partially-filled tank you pay the
same as if the tank were empty. The RV shop, on the other hand,
charges for only the amount of propane that is pumped into the tank.

"Steve B" wrote in message ...



Agreed. Although I do have exchange facilities near me, I take mine to my
local propane supplier, and get a MUCH better price. Why anyone would pay
the rates at the exchange places is beyond me, especially when there are
propane dealers very close by.

Convenience. It takes us a long time to bar-b-que our way through a 20lb
propane tank, and our local family-owned hardware store exchanges them for
us, it's quick and easy. It would be different if we were going through a
lot of propane, then I'd go to a propane company. But I don't drive halfway
across town just for a couple of nuts and bolts to repair a lawn chair, I
grab them at the local hardware shop, ditto with propane.

"Hell Toupee" wrote in message
...
On 1/26/2011 12:29 PM, Hell Toupee wrote:

I'm lucky enough to have in my
vicinity a small hardware store that fills tanks, and also an RV
repair shop that fills tanks

I forgot to mention that the hardware store charges a flat fee per fill,
per tank. If you bring in a partially-filled tank you pay the same as if
the tank were empty. The RV shop, on the other hand, charges for only the
amount of propane that is pumped into the tank.

That's a no brainer, even for someone who can't read or work a calculator.

Steve

On Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:29:55 -0600, Hell Toupee
wrote:

On 1/26/2011 7:50 AM, SMS wrote:

The tank exchanges are for people that are either lazy or clueless.
You can take your tank to a gas station that sells propane and get a
full tank for the same, or a lower, price than the tank exchanges. You
also get to give your $ to a local business rather than to Home Depot
or Wal-Mart, or Walgreen's.

There are areas - particularly urban ones - where one's options for
getting propane are very limited. The tank exchange may be all that's
available.
I live in a city where no one heats with propane, so there are no
large-scale distributors of it. No gas stations that sell it - except
for a few who offer the tank exchanges. I'm lucky enough to have in my
vicinity a small hardware store that fills tanks, and also an RV
repair shop that fills tanks - but in most of the city, the only
option is a tank exchange. If all you're doing with the tank is using
it for a gas grill or patio heater, I can see where it's not going to
be a big enough deal to bother driving a distance to get a tank
filled. Just grab one from the exchange and be done with it.

Around us, many of the U-Haul truck rental places sell propane (not an
exchange; they fill your tank). It's metered (sold per pound or
gallon; I can't remember), so you don't lose out if the tank isn't
empty. The total price for a full tank is generally less than any
exchange price I've seen.

Josh

On 1/26/2011 11:26 AM, Josh wrote:

Around us, many of the U-Haul truck rental places sell propane (not an
exchange; they fill your tank). It's metered (sold per pound or
gallon; I can't remember), so you don't lose out if the tank isn't
empty. The total price for a full tank is generally less than any
exchange price I've seen.

In my very urban part of Silicon Valley, everyone uses natural gas for
heating (and hot water) and I've never seen a house that uses propane
for anything. Yet within 1/2 mile there is a gasoline station with
propane, and several more places within a few miles. We're not a big RV
area either.