it pays to shop around/and ask

called my usual propane supplier, quoted me 1.79.9. Called another outfit, they asked if I was a regular customer, I said no, I have used you before but it has awhile, she quoted 1.59.9. Called the usual supplier back and told her what the competitor offered and asked if she could match it. She put me on hold a moment, came back and said yes, they will match! That ought to save me atleast a $100.00.

i'm never afraid to ask around to see if i can get anything less that what one's asking,, i will do just like you did, tell them about counter offer price, if they don't want to help, i say bye-bye...

When she called back and said they'd match, I'd told her to stick it. When she priced it at $179.9, if you'd said, ok fill it up, they'd of took your money and laughed all the way to the bank. But as soon as they hear somebody else has lower price, and might loose a customer, sure, we'll match their price.

You did the second company wrong by not taking their offer. You just used them. Also you should have told your original supplier to give you their best price first cause you are shopping around.

This sounds like a Walmart match the price scam

We have a grain elevator that has pulled the same crap here with crop inputs for 40 years. Sad thing is they are successful at it, and that fact only encourages them to keep pulling this crap. They always try to screw ya good with the first quoted price, but in a heartbeat they'll meet or beat their competitors when you go back and haggle with them with a competitor's estimate in hand. Another local elevator spends all year pricing fertilizer and chemicals at prices as fair as anyone else around usually to be beat by 75 cents a ton on urea or 3 cents a gallon on Roundup by the first elevator, which originally quoted $50/ton higher on the urea and $2/gallon higher on the Roundup. Why bother? I don't, but, it's amazing how many farmers brag they got their Roundup for a lousy 3 cents a gallon cheaper than their neighbor, or cheaper than they could have bought it from someone else. They seldom remember how they could have been screwed over at that same business by a much more significant amount.

I price once, and, if the product is the same and the service good, go with the lowest. Whether you are a big or small customer, people either value your business or don't. Most times their pricing and level of service reflects this.

Going back to those who tried to stick it to you the first time around only encourages them to continue this as a business practice to you and the rest of their customers. How many guys paid that extra 20 cents that day just because you didn't? It's your deal, but supplier #2 would have filled my tank that day. That said, they just may play the same game and do what your "usual" supplier did this time when you need gas again.

AG

I would of went with company 2. Would of told company 1 to stick it.

Mark-Mi and Cole in Mo you two are right and company #1 can kiss my gas!!..

I would have used company 2. They offered you the lower price. Company 1 only lowered their price after they found out you called their competition. They should have offered you their best price from the get-go.

You really screwed the second company over. Why should they offer you a cheaper price in the future???? They bet your current supplier and you still ran back to them.

I had guys that would do this to me in the equipment sales business. They only got to do it once. When they took my lower quote back to their regular dealer and sold me down the road. I remembered that. The next time they called for pricing I just quoted them full list. They would cry and whine about how I was unfair to them. I told them they just used me to drive their regular dealer down on price. So let them deal with him only.

I own my own fuel tanks. I call 3-4 local suppliers for fuel bids. The lowest gets to fill the tanks. There is always a check waiting on them when they get it filled. Being able to get competitive bids and maximum cash discounts paid for my tanks in under a year. This is for propane/gas/diesel.

exactly as you said multiple suppliers and when they think they have you locked in they have a higher rate. I used to use company #2 but their rates got too high. So I swithced to company #1 and I actually prefer their service. But they all play this game of offering a lower price for first time customers to try to get your business. I was completely honest, said I had used them in the past but have not for quite awhile. I own my own tank so I am free to shop around.

So basically your supplier was over charging you and you went back to them? So when are they sending you the rebate cheque or giving you the credit for over payment?

A few years back, I was in the market for a new Super Duty. I had a dealer near my house and another dealer near my work. I was upfront and honest with both that this is the list of options I want, I'm also talking to your competition, and I want your best price. Both came back with exactly the same offer. But the dealer near my house took the time to notice my "Veteran" plate and found an incentive program. I ended up buying from them (and 5 years later when I bought my Ranger). But I also did the other dealer a favor by telling them why they lost my business. Sure, you could have noticed the plate, but you didn't.

I would have been happy with the $1.79! Last time I got propane it was $2.39 and they're the cheapest around.