anyone in Grand Rapids with "crossover fill whip"?

[Furner]

I am going to be getting a tank via UPS, and I wanted to see if someone with a few extra minutes could give me about 300psi in an AL80 so that the LDS wont try and sell me on a vis when I take it in to be filled. Itll be a new tank from Scubatoys, with a good vis and all that, so everything will be safe, just want to try and save $10-20.

 

[cnctina]

how will they know its empty.

 

[Furner]

how will they know its empty.

Im assuming that when they hook it up to the bank and the pressure gauge reads no pressure, they would notice that. Never owned a tank before, but I am guessing that they would notice. I hear that many shops will insist on a vis on an empty tank because they will assume that the valve has been removed.

 

[cnctina]

I took a tank on a airplane that was empty with the valve off and when I got to the dive shop in florida it was filled, no problem.

 

[Tiny Bubbles]

You can shoot 100+ psi into an empty tank without using a transfill whip if you have a rubber tipped blowgun and the adaptor to plug into your BC inflator hose (and another tank to supply the air).

Or you could just tell the shop that it's a new tank with a current vip, and it doesn't need another vip. Please put air in it. That always worked for me.

Let us know how it goes after they see the internet vip sticker on your shiny new tank! Will you get an ear full of "life support" this, and "out of business" that? Or will you get service with a smile?

-Tiny-B.

 

[diverbrian]

It shouldn't be a problem. I have to completely vent my tanks most of the time when I need a partial pressure fill. They are obviously empty when I send them in.

As Scubatoys is a dive shop, I don't see their VIP sticker looking like an "internet VIP sticker". Solutions to these issues can be found in the Oxygen Hacker's Companion by Vance Harlow.

 

[Furner]

You can shoot 100+ psi into an empty tank without using a transfill whip if you have a rubber tipped blowgun and the adaptor to plug into your BC inflator hose (and another tank to supply the air).

Or you could just tell the shop that it's a new tank with a current vip, and it doesn't need another vip. Please put air in it. That always worked for me.

Let us know how it goes after they see the internet vip sticker on your shiny new tank! Will you get an ear full of "life support" this, and "out of business" that? Or will you get service with a smile?

-Tiny-B.

I dont really know, nor like, any of the dive shops around here. As a matter of preserving my good image at the local shops, I will probably go somewhere other than the two closest shops, in case I have to make a scene to get my tank filled.
Maybe, if I DEMAND that my tank is in current vis, and I wont pay for a new one, they will fill it. But one can imagine that that sort of encounter could probably get my face reconized in the future around there, and I dont care for the bull**** that goes with that.

 

[Scottri]

The will know right away that the tank is empty. I always crack the valve to see if the tanks has any pressure. If it doesn't I ask why. Take it in to the shop and explain the situation. They should fill it with no problems. If they give you a problem then take it to another shop. I would fill it for you after taking a look inside for no charge just as a matter of customer service.


Scott

 

[Furner]

The will know right away that the tank is empty. I always crack the valve to see if the tanks has any pressure. If it doesn't I ask why. Take it in to the shop and explain the situation. They should fill it with no problems. If they give you a problem then take it to another shop. I would fill it for you after taking a look inside for no charge just as a matter of customer service.


Scott

People like you make me happy. If only there were more of them. I was making phone calls yesterday to all the local shops to check prices on an AL80, and more often than not, I was treated very rudely. The only really nice person I talked to also had the highest price on an AL80 (I could buy a 100cf Steel tank for their AL80 price).

 

[Scottri]

Yeah there are some jerks in this business. I spent 2 years shop hopping until I found one I really liked. The idea of customer service is lost on some shops. My take would be that you didn't buy the tank from me but maybe, by doing you a favor, you would buy your next piece of gear from me.

Another approach would be to tell the shop that the tank is empty because the valve was opened by rolling around in your trunk until you could stop and close it I've had that happen and drained a tank dry before I could pull over and open the back of my truck to shut it off.


Good luck,

Scott