Cost of tank visual inspection...

[carlcz]

Maybe I am getting old and "sticker shock" just caught up to me.

My LDS just charged me $25.00/tank for a pair of aluminum 80's, NOT including an air fill (that was extra).

So I am curious, what do you folks pay for a yearly visual inspection on your tanks?

 

[mike_s]

$25 seems like they are screwing the consumer.

I pay $10 (not including air fill) at one shop and another does it for $5.

 

[Scared Silly]

That seems a bit steep wo/a fill. My local shop charges $15 with a fill. Of course it costs me nothing cause I do my own. They still charge me for a fill .

Did you ask about the price before handing over your cylinders? Sometimes the holy piss look and then mentioning checking a few other places sometimes helps reduce the price.

 

[carlcz]

I would have liked to been kissed first....
I have been going to this shop for years, but lately the prices seem to be going up incredibly fast.

 

[imwright1985]

its 10 including fills around me some are 15 including fills hydros are around 25-45 here

 

[halocline]

It's a little high ($12.50/tank) but not out of line with many shops are charging. As more and more of their business slips away to online sources, expect LDSs to up their prices on fills and tank service. It's one of the few remaining areas of control they have.

Another reason why local air fill clubs are getting to be a great idea.

 

[MikeFerrara]

It's a little high ($12.50/tank) but not out of line with many shops are charging. As more and more of their business slips away to online sources, expect LDSs to up their prices on fills and tank service. It's one of the few remaining areas of control they have.

Another reason why local air fill clubs are getting to be a great idea.

I agree. considering the time, effort and overhead of doing a thorough tank inspection, I'd rather do something else if all I can get is $12.50

IME, those doing it for $5 are investing all of 30 seconds and doing little more than putting a sticker on it. If that's what you want, there are plenty of them available.

 

[LCromwell]

It's a little high ($12.50/tank) but not out of line with many shops are charging. As more and more of their business slips away to online sources, expect LDSs to up their prices on fills and tank service. It's one of the few remaining areas of control they have.

Another reason why local air fill clubs are getting to be a great idea.

I don't know if it is Federal or State Law that governs, but in Texas it's every 5 years for both VIP and Hydro and I just paid $119 for two tanks which included a refill, in Austin. Future refills are $7. I live in NB., so I am closer to SA what are you paying in SAT for all this and where in SAT?? SAN Marcos is even closer and I haven't asked them what they charge.

 

[mike_s]

I don't know if it is Federal or State Law that governs, but in Texas it's every 5 years for both VIP and Hydro and I just paid $119 for two tanks which included a refill, in Austin. Future refills are $7. I live in NB., so I am closer to SA what are you paying in SAT for all this and where in SAT?? SAN Marcos is even closer and I haven't asked them what they charge.

visual is not required by federal DOT laws, except when/where required at the time of hydro. DOT requires hydro every 5 years.

visual inspections is a "self imposed" scuba industry requirement.

 

[carlcz]

"It's a little high ($12.50/tank) but not out of line with many shops are charging. As more and more of their business slips away to online sources, expect LDSs to up their prices on fills and tank service."

I just thought that $50 for a visual inspection of two aluminum 80's, WITHOUT fills (6061-T6 alloy) was pricey considering I just got the hydros done for $15 each tank.

On another note, how do fill clubs work?
Any in the Northeast?