โMar-31-2018 05:57 AM
โMar-31-2018 03:58 PM
Dusty R wrote:
Last I knew when you do an exchange with Blue Rhino you get less than 20 lbs. maybe 15.
โMar-31-2018 03:44 PM
โMar-31-2018 03:30 PM
โMar-31-2018 03:14 PM
โMar-31-2018 02:38 PM
โMar-31-2018 02:30 PM
fj12ryder wrote:Gdetrailer wrote:Do some checking before you post information that is not true. This is from the Blue Rhino website: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.
Blue Rhino is not a deposit program. Retailers do not provide cash for the return of empty tanks. When you exchange a tank with Blue Rhino, you walk away with a tank you own and that you can use however you wish.
โMar-31-2018 02:28 PM
copplecrown wrote:
Gdetrailer,
I was attempting to point something out that I couldn't find much information about on the web. I came here because I figured there are people with experience with this, sorry you misunderstood my intention. If I wanted to complain, I'd go to twitter. Instead, ironically, I came to the Good Sam message board. I get your point. It's not a big deal. Sorry to get you all worked up.
โMar-31-2018 02:25 PM
โMar-31-2018 02:17 PM
โMar-31-2018 02:01 PM
โMar-31-2018 01:58 PM
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.
โMar-31-2018 01:46 PM
Gdetrailer wrote:
Trying to point out that TS stores DO NOT HAVE a "dedicated" propane "Tech".
They simply have one of the other coworkers/stock person that is FREE/not busy at the time of sale to do other things like stock the store or deal with things like tank exchanges/fills..
The clerk at the front of the store IS supposed to be the person that the customer deals with.
The coworker goes out and checks your tank then will come back in a tell the clerk to charge you are not..
They are just simply following the rules that the STORE MANAGER HAS GIVEN THEM TO FOLLOW.
If you WANT better service then go to a real propane dealer..
If you don't want better service then keep going to the TS stores, you DO get the level of service that the TS store is paying for which is pretty bad now days.
My suggestion is to ditch the crappy exchange cylinders and go buy NEW as in BRAND NEW cylinders. Costs about $25 per new cylinder for new 20 lb ones. These WILL be good for 11-12yrs depending on the date and you will not have to dink around with the exchange stuff expiring all the time.
You CAN buy new 20 lb cylinders at TS or Home Depot/Lowes, take them to a REAL propane dealer, tell them they ARE NEW and will need "purged". A real dealer will know exactly what to do.
Once done, you are good to go for many years before needing the tanks to be recertified and then you can decide if you want to buy new or pay the propane dealer to get recertified..
Why keep messing around?
You are not saving money if you are running around from TS store to TS store.
โMar-31-2018 12:37 PM
โMar-31-2018 11:22 AM
copplecrown wrote:
Thanks for the responses.
Both Tractor Supply stores were in the same state, and not far from one another. I was pointing out the inconsistency within a small region. I usually buy new tanks, but had inherited the Blue Rhino tanks. Had TS's tech actually wanted to talk face to face, I would have been inclined to buy a new tank, but he chose a clerk with no knowledge whatsoever to inform me that particular store would not fill the tanks. Decided I was done with them at that point.
My understanding was also that the sticker was good for 5 years, as well as the new certification stamp on the side, but apparently not all stores are aware of the sticker, which is admittedly faulty.
I believe our town recycling center charges for outdated tanks. I chose to exchange for newly inspected tanks, and have already found a good local alternative for getting them filled at a nearby hardware store. The newly inspected tanks look fine, but when they are up, I'll be 'donating' them back to BR and buy new ones.