Am I being out of line?

[Chris142]

We always need propane around this time of year. I always order 50 gallons and it will get me through till summer when the price goes down. I called to order 50 gallons. They now have a 100g minimum.

I don't want to spend nearly $400 on propane right now. I told them that and the lady on the phone told me I could freeze.

This really upset me so I told her that they can pick up their tank as soon as it's empty.

I started calling around and the competition will bring me a tank,mount it,hook it up and put 100 gallons in it for $260.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

Nope, you just became a better informed consumer.

 

[FordBroncoVWJeta]

I'm surprised in CA you guys are using propane.
When my parents lived out in an old farm house it only had propane heat. Not once in the 5 years they lived there did they ever fill that bad boy up. They just used those infrared heaters had a few around the house and worked just fine.

But if needed propane sounds like the competition is a clear winner.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted by FordBroncoVWJeta
I'm surprised in CA you guys are using propane.

Why is that? We use it for cooking,drying clothes and heat. It gets down to the low 20's even the teens often.

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted by FordBroncoVWJeta
I'm surprised in CA you guys are using propane.
When my parents lived out in an old farm house it only had propane heat. Not once in the 5 years they lived there did they ever fill that bad boy up. They just used those infrared heaters had a few around the house and worked just fine.

But if needed propane sounds like the competition is a clear winner.


The desert gets cold at night! We see lows in the 30s and 40s this time of year.

 

[billt460]

Well done! You did the right thing. Except I would have called that lady back after you secured the better deal. And then told her you were not only going to be warm. But you were going to do it with a lot more money in your wallet, than she would have left you with after she robbed you. Then mail her a copy of the receipt of the new tank and propane in a Thank You card. I love hearing stories like this.

 

[CT8]

I had propane in California for the last 18 years I lived there. California isn't only the Bay area and LA Basin ,San Diego. there are lots of very Very rural areas. I had a 600 gallon tank

 

[Rand]

propane here was 1.89 in the fall.. apparently TSC sells it cheaper than amerigas does bulk.

 

[Snagglefoot]

You probably did the right thing but the company decided with the resources they had, it wasn't worth their while to deal with a 50 gallon customer. I buy 300-400 gallons at a time for my house up in Canada. With a propane fired boiler and hot water tank with a heat exchanger, I'll use that in two months in the winter up here in Canada. As you found there are companies that do just fine servicing lower use customers. The propane driver comes out to my place and has a certain route. We all get topped up on the same day and he can only make it to so many customers in a day.

 

[Linctex]

No "Minimum Gallon" fee here - but It's like $40 to have them show for small orders.

The best rates (HUGE PRICE difference) come when you buy 300+ gallons at a time or more.

 

[talest]

Originally Posted by Linctex
No "Minimum Gallon" fee here - but It's like $40 to have them show for small orders.

The best rates (HUGE PRICE difference) come when you buy 300+ gallons at a time or more.


Yes, buying in larger quantity yields the lowest price. Very good.

 

[hatt]

Their business their rules. Your money your rules. Sounds like a good spilt.

You should probably look into a bigger tank so you don't need to fill at bad times. Maybe a co-op that locks in a price.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted by Snagglefoot
You probably did the right thing but the company decided with the resources they had, it wasn't worth their while to deal with a 50 gallon customer. I buy 300-400 gallons at a time for my house up in Canada. With a propane fired boiler and hot water tank with a heat exchanger, I'll use that in two months in the winter up here in Canada. As you found there are companies that do just fine servicing lower use customers. The propane driver comes out to my place and has a certain route. We all get topped up on the same day and he can only make it to so many customers in a day.

They have a route and will Be in my area. Seems silly to drive right past my place and not deliver the 50.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted by hatt
Their business their rules. Your money your rules. Sounds like a good spilt.

You should probably look into a bigger tank so you don't need to fill at bad times. Maybe a co-op that locks in a price.

Naw I can't afford to buy a huge quantity. Thats why I wanted 50 and not 100.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

If you only need 50 gallons it sounds like you need to re-engineer your system and increase your capacity about 100 gallons.
Then you can just order in the low cost season.

 

[hatt]

Originally Posted by Chris142
Originally Posted by hatt
Their business their rules. Your money your rules. Sounds like a good spilt.

You should probably look into a bigger tank so you don't need to fill at bad times. Maybe a co-op that locks in a price.

Naw I can't afford to buy a huge quantity. Thats why I wanted 50 and not 100.

Get bigger tank(I doubt the lease is much more) and put what you can in now. Now at least you have options later.

 

[rubberchicken]

I have had a good experience with Ferrelgas . If you lease your tank, your stuck with the propane provider. If you own your tank you can be flexible and use whatever supplier you want. The best propane prices are in May, and many companies charge more for under 100 gallons.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted by rubberchicken
I have had a good experience with Ferrelgas . If you lease your tank, your stuck with the propane provider. If you own your tank you can be flexible and use whatever supplier you want. The best propane prices are in May, and many companies charge more for under 100 gallons.

Here ferrel is very high . not as high as Amerigas who is $4.88 gallon+ $25 delivery fee.

 

[anndel]

Smart move. $8 per gallon vs $5.20 per gallon is a informed consumer's smart choice. Her telling you could freeze is just using scare tactics thinking you'll fall for that BS.

 

[Shannow]

Well done Chris, now tell your friends