$25/ea for visual on ALUM 80's?

[pawlmawl]

LDS wants $25 for a visual inspection for each of my tanks. Justifiable? I've paid ten with an airfill.

 

[bumcikaz]

Shouldbe closer to $15 for vip

 

[eelnoraa]

In SF Bay area, VIP for AL80 is between $10-$15. $25 seems high

 

[spectrum]

Locally $18 with the fill included, 6351 excluded. A single fill is $8., less with a 10X or 25X card

$10 with a fill in modern time was a wicked bargain.

 

[NAM001]

I know most people charge around 15 for a vis. I also know that from having a PSI ticket that 15 doesnt not even come close to covering the time it takes to do a proper vis. Ive watched shops do <5 min vis that was removing the valve looking for puddles or stains and replacing the valve and filling with air. It takes time and quipment to do checks for thread cracks, and pit depth measurements, sticker scraping ect. Not to even mention eddie tests. I doubt that anyone paying 15, for a vis and fill, would do it at that price, for a living, if they knew what was involved. Many places do not even have a vis trained person doing the work. Could it be that the shop vis's the valve also? After all many stickers say the tank and valve has been inspected. Someone should post a PSI inspection sheet for all to see.

 

[Brandon]

Here ya go:



I've also noticed a trend recently where some shops are dropping their PSI certification, and instead affixing generic stickers that say something like "This cylinder was inspected in accordance with CGA standards and found to be in compliance."

I suspect they don't want to be held liable for not doing everything PSI requires or don't want to pay the recert fee.

Though, it's also not like the PSI inspection or certification is a legal requirement or regulation of any sort, so I really can't blame them...

 

[pawlmawl]

All helpful info. Thank you for the input everyone, I'll wait and see what they claim to have done in the inspection.

 

[Kharon]

Pretty spendy IMO. As far as all the work it takes - really? Yeah, an old beaten tank needs to have more looked at - but if I inspected a newish well cared for tank (or an older well cared for tank) that I had previously vis'ed and had been filling regularly, that the valve had not been removed ... thread cracks, pit depth - seriously? Scraping the label? Should peel off. If not a little Goo-Gone goes a long way.

 

[DiverGuam]

I know most people charge around 15 for a vis. I also know that from having a PSI ticket that 15 doesnt not even come close to covering the time it takes to do a proper vis. Ive watched shops do <5 min vis that was removing the valve looking for puddles or stains and replacing the valve and filling with air. It takes time and quipment to do checks for thread cracks, and pit depth measurements, sticker scraping ect. Not to even mention eddie tests. I doubt that anyone paying 15, for a vis and fill, would do it at that price, for a living, if they knew what was involved. Many places do not even have a vis trained person doing the work. Could it be that the shop vis's the valve also? After all many stickers say the tank and valve has been inspected. Someone should post a PSI inspection sheet for all to see.

This is completely true.

I gladly pay to have my tanks VIP'd, even though I am certified to do them, because it is a serious time suck to do them. It's not like there is a way to take less time when there are a lot of them to do either. Each one takes the same amount of time, regardless of experience.

The right tools and inspection station can certain parts move faster, like a tank vise and a cheater bar, but the visual itself is annoyingly time consuming.

 

[scubastingray]

I pay $3 extra when they're in for hydro. I haven't had any tanks in for VIP only though, so I wonder if they charge more.

This is a fire testing shop btw.