I think there is a fine line between informing customers of an issue, and alarming them into a panic to go "stock" up. All that does is increase demand and price, and shorten supply abnormally fast. At a point gouging due to "expected" shortages begin. It happens nearly every time something like this happpens....And the companies supplying the gas laugh all the way to the bank, because the increased sales price, offset the volume drop, and actually reduce costs of operation. While no one planned for this to happpen (what incentive was there to have a back up system?), it is typically an opportune time for some companies to sensationalize an issue for profit. As I said earlier, my local branch guy told me that their supplies have been stable as well as their price, and weren't forseeing any near future shortages even though they were aware of the problem that occurred a month ago. They are a smaller chain, with several dozen stores on the east coast and I use them more frequently for day to day things, and keep my cylinder account with airgas. The lws down the road gives me a great price, but cylinder leasing is a little weird. However the guy assured me he would work out something IF I needed it, even offering to loan me a cylinder if I ran out on a weekend with the air gas cylinder. Now that's service.
I imagine this will spike sales for alternative cutting methods. Propane will likely be the cheapest and most commonly available gas for the customer to get hold of. Some torches are ready to go with propane with a tip change (my smith is) and maybe a hose change. I have my tip and propane cylinder ready to go, should I have an issue with my air gas cylinders. Its times like this that people get creative and come up with an alternative. When they find out they don't "need" something, the market starts to dry up even when the product becomes available again.
One of the problems with propane and other gas substitutes, is that acetylene still ranks best for heating and welding.
There has been a huge spike in interest lately at our company in plasma cutters. I would guess that people are being pushed over the edge to try it now.
