Propane-shoddy business practices

[jpm]

my dealing with my propane suppler has been very good.he sold me the tank
so if he couldn't get to it ,it is my problem. make sure i order before the snow and ice build up

 

[Sigarms]

Sorry this is long, but it's a long story.

Our little country church switched from oil to propane when the furnace died. A guy signed a contract with the supplier on behalf of the church. He didn't check things out very well, didn't read the contract--he's dyslexic.

Honestly, I stopped right there. You Church needs to control it's money better.

 

[Pilot]

Yes, this guy should never have been put in a position where he could sign that contract. Unfortunately, it's a small church and you use whatever help you can get. He works as an HVLP tech, but just on air conditioning and heating systems for large commercial buildings. He knew basically nothing about propane supplier business practices--but neither do very many folks. Because of his HVLP expertise, people figured he knew what he was doing.

 

[Redgoatea]

My dad was just telling me today that Ameri-Gas that does the 5 gallon swap out tanks at the grocery stores is in hot water.

Apparently they've only been filling the tanks 3/4 full and selling them at the full price. I guess it was a company policy and somebody leaked an internal document stating the policy. Oops. 7

 

[bp fick]

My dad was just telling me today that Ameri-Gas that does the 5 gallon swap out tanks at the grocery stores is in hot water.

Apparently they've only been filling the tanks 3/4 full and selling them at the full price. I guess it was a company policy and somebody leaked an internal document stating the policy. Oops. 7

Not saying for or against Ameri-Gas, but those tanks are not filled anyhow. 80% is the max for filling a propane bottle of any size. So, 3/4 means 75%, which is just about right. Now if they were claiming X amount of product and were not delivering what was claimed, that's another story.

 

[bp fick]

Here's the story. Of course, the lawyers will make out well on this deal.

Propane Tank, Deceptive Practice, Lawyers, Blue Rhino, AmeriGas - Class Action Attorneys

Ameri-gas and Blue Rhino claim they stated the reduced amount on their bottle labels. Class action lawsuits now flourish crying foul.

Shoot, cereal companies do this all the time!! Candy bars get smaller too. :laughing::laughing:

 

[Sigarms]

Yes, this guy should never have been put in a position where he could sign that contract. Unfortunately, it's a small church and you use whatever help you can get. He works as an HVLP tech, but just on air conditioning and heating systems for large commercial buildings. He knew basically nothing about propane supplier business practices--but neither do very many folks. Because of his HVLP expertise, people figured he knew what he was doing.

For what it's worth, I still can't find someone who can give me a straight answer on how the LP industry figures it's prices and how it varies between LP companies and how they also can vary on their customer policies and procedures. Sorry, didn't mean to sound so blunt on my first response, but something I learned a long time ago is that when an organization that consists of volunteers are working together, anytime any substantial amount of money is going to be spent by the organization (that amount usually written in the bylaws), or the organization is signing any kind of agreement, you need to make the time and have a board meeting and vote on the course of action and or money to be spent. NEVER leave it to one person to take on the responsibility for spending any substantial amount of money or a contract of any kind without having the majority rule.

 

[MikeD74T]

My vacation home has two 120 gallon propane tanks for winter heat only. Normal fill is 100 gallons each. Were filled in early June. Each tank has a fill gauge. This week they filled again - 1.9 gallons???????????? How stupid does one have to be to try to fill full tanks?
A coworker that used to manage propane deliveries for a major company branch says there's a different price for every customer, whatever the market will bear. MikeD74t

 

[The Dougster]

I'm not certain that I understand why you'd leave any gas in the tank.. it's been delivered and paid for. Why not have the new company empty the tank and get on with life. There's something about this story that doesn't add up.
I have a very close friend that owns a propane company and I'd trust him with my life and everything I own. Extremely honest... yet, he is constantly getting complaints from customers. Almost always, it's a problem with a lack of communication. On the other hand, some folks aren't happy regardless.
This company is the man's life bood. It's in his best interest to be honest and up front. Repeat business is essential.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I called my propane company today to get soem current prices, 1.99 gallon. (last time I filled it was 1.24/gallon. So I said what about any summer time discounts (Used to be the deal the original company had, one that now owns it is the 3rd one.) my original contract was a free tank rental if you filled the tank every year (filled as in used the same or more gallons as the tank volume) mine is 500 gallon tank and I usually only use about 200/year. so there was a 25/yr service rental fee. Now it was bought out 5plus years ago company B bought the co-op out (my first company was a co-op) they first said I had ti fill my tank 2 times a year or pay a double fee per gallon. (rates went up by 50% more than all others in area) I stated I had a contract with the company for my rental fees and only single fill per year. no termination fees ect. now I have company C who sometime? bought out company B. today I get a NEW fee schedule, 100 tank rental per year, 300 cancellation fees out of rout delivery fee 100, low use fees 200/yr if you buy less than 1.5 tank volume, 25 per delivery / trucking fee. 50cent per gallon to pump out and keep any volume left in the tank fees. this was th SHORT version of their NEW fee schedule... simply ridiculous...

mark

It sounds to me like it's time to switch to a corn/pellet stove for heat, get rid of the 500 gallon tank and buy a couple of 25 gallon portable tanks for hot water and cooking.