Propane problem--What would you do?

Wile E · Jan 23, 2013

I put in for 250 gallon fill on my propane tank to my local propane supplier. The delivery was supposed to be today, I get home today at 4 pm and no propane fill ticket was present. I looked at the tank and the driver never showed up. I called the fuel supplier and the woman that works there says, "Oh, The driver cant get down your driveway until you trim the trees" (There are several pine trees that overhang) I told this woman that they came down my driveway last summer. (I own my own 500 gallon tank too)

I went out and used a bow saw and cut back a dozen limbs. I called the place back and said, ok, you should be all set, in fact if your driver breaks the mirror off your truck I will pay for it, $100 I am told. A guy answers now and says, well he has to talk to the driver, blah, blah, I said ok fine and hung up the phone.
I called another propane supplier (in another town 40 miles away) and asked for a 300 gallon fill. She will call me tomorrow telling me when she can deliver.

I want to talk to the owner of the place in my town and tell him what is more important, his truck or my house freezing. With the attitude of the driver why would they drive on the road at all, they might run over a nail, dog poo might fly up and hit the windshield, or they might hit a deer.

I am steaming pizzed now and need some answers out of you fellas on what to do or say to this so called propane supplier.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 23, 2013

Just calm down, use the out of town company. Call the local owner and tell him, in calm terms, all the details about why you had to shift your business. That what free capitalism is all about. Tom

oldtanker · Jan 23, 2013

We don't have problems with our supplier like that, WOW.

I do know that a friend who thinks he always gets the best deal had to pay 1.69 a gallon, plus a delivery and hazmat fee just last week (I'm feeding his dog while he's away for 2 weeks so I saw the ticket). I called my supplier, 1.52 no extra fees that same day.

Rick

Chris Jones · Jan 23, 2013

I have no idea how you got that price. I just got a delivery a couple weeks ago that cost me $3.25 a gallon. And yes they added on a fuel recovery fee, a hazmat fee, and of course sales tax.

GeneMO · Jan 23, 2013

Hazmat fee??????? For propane?

Gene

Dr. Walt · Jan 23, 2013

Sounds like it's time to move the old wood-burner from the Shop back into the House.

Wile E · Jan 23, 2013

What I will doing is going in there tomorrow and say it point blank.....Do deliver propane or excuses? I will show this yahoo that I am serious about paying for it, I will wave some money under his nose. If that doesnt do it then a nasty write up in the local paper will give him some bad publicity.

denverslim · Jan 23, 2013

Sit down a moment and take a breath. Try to concentrate on the facts and the task at hand, logically. Don't let the actions of a small group of selfish people turn you into something you are not.
Now, pursue the other company and diagnose the differences in price. Take not only price into consideration but also tell them that you are looking for a long-term supplier/relationship and you are hoping that they can understand how very important this service is to you. After this conversation, your option will be very clear--either go with your new supplier and cultivate a relationship that you can both be proud of, or calmly call back your original supplier and calmly relate how very important this purchase is for you and what will it take to make it happen? Good luck...slim

Dalet · Jan 23, 2013

I paid 1.22/gallon for propane delivery yesterday. I get 6 more cents off if I pay it in the next 10 days. This is my local Co-op, Cenex.

hd6gtom · Jan 23, 2013

got an add in the mail wanting new business last week, $1.39 here, but I wouldn't buy anything from them

Ray · Jan 23, 2013

I just bought my own tank.Our supplier here in ohio now charges 150 dollars extra if you don't use a tank and a half every year,150 bucks if you run out plus a 125 dollar leak test fee and several other fees.They have lost a lot of customers in the last couple years.There's more competition to sell gas this year.I see propane delivery trucks running around that i've never seen before.

Wile E · Jan 23, 2013

Ferrell gas sends out fees, just cause.....delivery fees, cause they made a delivery 3 months ago. Huh? Oh, and dont forget about the "you didnt buy enough fuel charge"
Gouging is bad for business in the long run.

Dachshund · Jan 23, 2013

We have 4 companies that provide "service" here - ranging from excellent to terrible. We "rented" (for free) one company's 1000 tank. They brought it, set it up, and plumbed the house. All we paid was for the materials (right at $100). They filled the tank the same day - we paid 99¢ a gallon. This was Northern Missouri this past (2012) November.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 23, 2013

delivered today for $1.28 no fees of any kind. $.04 off if paid in 10 days. amerigas and ferrell do the fees around here amounts to $.10 a gallon more profit for them.

retired farmer · Jan 23, 2013

Why do you feel there is a great need to talk to the supplier? If their driver is afraid to drive down your road to deliver, I would just dump them and go find another company that will deliver to you. Telling the owner off isn't going to accomplish one thing, you already know that.

Hoenes · Jan 23, 2013

I contracted back in May for 1.78 (Pre-pay for 800 gal.) Always looks good while gasoline is so un-stable. This is the second year in a row I've got burned though. The last ten years it has always worked in my favor! Maybe next spring I will not contract, and hope for the best.

DoubleR · Jan 23, 2013

I wouldn't burn the bridge in the heart of the winter. But I sure would tell them where to go when they don't have you over a barrel. I told my old company their tank would be in the middle of the road if they didn't get out there that day to get it at the end of my drive. That was in the middle of June when it was 85 degrees. It was a hometown company that I dealt with for years then got brought out by a BTO company who changed the rules in the middle of winter.

KCTractors · Jan 23, 2013

What is so hard to make the driveway passable for a truck, sounds to me cut some limbs and you would of had gas! I drove a log truck for 33 years and would run into the same thing. I would not go in, $175, 000 truck and I am supposed to bend the mirrors, break off antennas, bend the joy-sticks for somebody's wood or firewood delivery and then get a$$ chewing from the boss, I don't think so.

wisbaker · Jan 23, 2013

I used Ferrel Gas for a while, biggest challenge was getting them to credit MY check to MY account, they really had a problem doing that. Next winter I had a different supplier.

MSD · Jan 23, 2013

MY neighbor and I use the same supplier. They will come by and fill mine when it gets low. I don't know how they can tell but they know to a percent or two how full it is before they come. Now the neighbor is calling them and they make excuses why they can't be there and the way he talks it is a completely different company to deal with. Throw in the way he tells the story of how he deals with them on the phone and it is no wonder they don't bother keeping him happy. Attitude goes along ways sometimes.

Hay hay hay · Jan 23, 2013

Get used to it. Today guys buy businesses then turn them over to untrained folks that have no skin in the game.

Go into a fast food resturant after 6PM and try to find an adult. $300,000 investment turned over to untrained texting kids.

Call the propane company...no employee has been there over a year and they likely won't be there next year.

Seems like a pattern..don't give a hoot management/owners.

I have decided to give my business to real people who are there every day and try to earn my loyalty every day. I won't switch for 3 or 4 % difference in price, but they must be price realistic.

LA in WI · Jan 24, 2013

Cut the dang trees.

You trying to start a story in the paper is a hoot! The locals will get a charge out of that, so get ready for some teasing.

LA in WI

Sid · Jan 24, 2013

I'd say you need to get over it and clear your drive for the truck. Tomorrow a fire truck may need to get down your drive.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 24, 2013

Can't believe someone would actually post something like this...

Did you ever consider that they wouldn't deliver because the tree's were a problem last summer? Just like you need to have your driveway cleared of snow for the truck, they don't want their expensive truck damaged by your tree's in any way. If you can't have your tank easily accessible then it's YOUR fault if your house freezes, not theirs. Would you want to drive your car down a narrow street and get it all scratched and damaged by branches? You can't blame the propane company one bit and they have every right to refuse service if you don't trim your tree's. The question isn't what's more important, his truck or your house freezing. The question is what's more important, your tree lined driveway or your house freezing.

Propane problem--What would you do?

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