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Post by Ken on Jun 12, 2020 18:55:03 GMT -6
So my 20lb tank checked out right at the end of carbing a batch (good timing!). My LHBS has a 'curbside' thing happening now where you order and pay online and when you get there they bring it out to you. So I order 20 pounds of CO2 ($50). I get there with my old, ragged 20lb tank which is out of date but this place always fills regardless of that. The guy says he can't fill it because of the date but he'll give me an exchange. Okay. He takes my old tank (which is painted red) and brings me what looks like a brand new 20# tank that is full. I said, "Well, that hardly seems fair... I get a brand new tank and you get my old scraggly one" and he says, "It's all good... you already paid so we're all set". What am I missing? AFAIK, I have no obligation to return this brand new tank. You would think there would be a deposit or something. You could say my old tank was the deposit but the thing is old and now needs a hydro test. Weird but I have bubbles so all is good.  |
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Post by jkor on Jun 12, 2020 20:17:37 GMT -6
It's like Blue Rhino, the tank is collateral. It costs them nothing to re-certify it.
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Post by jimdkc on Jun 12, 2020 20:51:26 GMT -6
They've apparently averaged the cost of occasionally hydrotesting into the exchange price.
I have a brand new 5# tank... expired in 2019... never been filled! (I think I got it one of the times that I planned to get back into brewing, but then didn't...)
Fortunately, I have an industrial gas place nearby that I think is homebrewer-friendly.
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Post by jkor on Jun 13, 2020 7:06:37 GMT -6
Yeah, it's averaged into the cost. i exchanged a tank that had been out of test for over 10 years last week. It's from Airgas but they will only take Airgas labeled tanks. My other 5# tank came from a different place so I'll have to get it exchanged somewhere else, it's also out of date but I'm pretty sure it's essentially new. I bought it new filled and I don't think I've ever had it refilled.
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Post by chils on Jun 13, 2020 7:28:28 GMT -6
I have exchanged 4 20lbers thru Welsco over the years. Never paid for a hydro test. $20/20lb fills. We had Airgas as a dealer when I worked in the trailer shop and they had horrible service. I tried to exchange a CO2 tank with them and they refused because the tank was blue and they said it was previously owned by Pepsi. Welsco gave me 4 tanks with Coke stickers on them as exchanges lol.
Airgas wasn't just horrible because of this. Their service sucked. Never had grinding or cut-off wheels on the truck. Gigged the crap out of use all the time saying we had lost welding gas tanks and owed core charges. Horrible, horrible service. We switched to a local company after dealing with that crap for a year or so.
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matt6150
Full Member
Patient Zero
Posts: 142
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Post by matt6150 on Jun 13, 2020 7:44:09 GMT -6
I had the opposite happen one time. Years ago a local brewery would swap out thanks. I sent me wife to swap out a 5# tank. She brought a nicer looking aluminum tank and came home with a rusty looking steel one. She didn't know any better. I had to use it that weekend but brought I back the following week. They apologized and gave me a new aluminum one.
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Post by jkor on Jun 13, 2020 7:47:29 GMT -6
The CO2 in the steel tanks carbonates the same way as the CO2 in the aluminum tank...and you won't get Alzheimer's from the steel tanks! |
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matt6150
Full Member
Patient Zero
Posts: 142
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Post by matt6150 on Jun 13, 2020 8:01:18 GMT -6
But it also leaves a rusty ring on the bottom of my freezer and heavier to lug around.
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