Tractor Supply and Blue Rhino
Until recently, the least expensive option for getting my 20# propane tanks filled was at my local tractor supply. It was like $10 to fill verses $20 to exchange at Blue Rhino, where I had inherited a...
Forum Discussion
copplecrown wrote:
Thanks. Yes, I definitely agree, you get what you pay for. My tanks were free, I inherited them with propane in them and had the 'white sticker' discussion with a knowledgable employee at the store I had been going to, because they did have a good price/gal of propane. They would have filled the tanks because that was their policy.
The difference in policy at another TS was accidental, I was merely driving to a location that had a new TS and I figured I'd bring the empty tanks. That particular store was totally unfamiliar with those stickers, or at least on that day.
My other 2 tanks are my own and in much better cosmetic shape and are in use, no need to have an aggravating discussion about expiration dates, how they are applied, and whether the policy for filling them is consistently applied within a corporation within a state.
New tanks are about $30 here, but that's New England. The tanks will live out their current E stamp and then hopefully be given back to BR or any neighbor or family member who wants to go that route. My neighbor said people shoot them and then bring them in as scrap metal! I didn't bother to ask whether they used explosive ordinance. That's what Youtube is for.
So, you got them for "free", then COMPLAIN that no one wants to "fill" them :R :S :h
OK, perhaps I need to try a different way to explain this.
You technically DO NOT "OWN" Blue Rhino and any other "exchange" cylinders.
You ARE technically RENTING/LEASING those cylinders.
No other propane supplier is "required" to fill those and in fact back when Blue Rhino started they actually had a special valve setup which would not allow ANYONE ELSE to fill those cylinders. They had a special fill nozzle that had a magnet in the nozzle that no one else had.. No magnet in the right place and the internal tank valve would not allow propane to ENTER the tank.
Quit complaining, you ARE technically breaking the "lease" of those cylinders by having a non Blue Rhino business fill them.
Some businesses will turn you away just at the sight of exchange tanks.
You got them for free, you HAVE gotten your "money's worth" out of them.. Dump the exchange cylinders and BUY the new ones and be done with it. A ONE TIME COST for 12 yrs of use without any hassle, that ought be worth something to you..
The exchange system is for CONVENIENCE, not low cost.
The exchange company had to buy cylinders, has to repair/replace/recertify the cylinders, those costs are built into the "rent" of the tank and they make no guarantee that those cylinders won't expire during your use..
BUT, they (the exchange company) WILL take ANY EXPIRED tank back in for exchange and not charge you for the recert cost.
