yknot
Guest
Alot has been said about the evils of online purchasing and what it means to the future of your LDS but the following example is why online stores will continue to florish.
I took two tanks to the LDS nearest my house. One tank needed just a fill but the other had an out of date visual. When I entered the store there were three employees present, two doing basically nothing constructive, and I was the only customer in the store. I asked if it would be possible to get a visual done on the one tank while I waited as I wanted to use the tank the next day. I was directed to the price board hanging up in the corner that listed visuals at $10+ an air fill and "instant visuals" at $15+ a fill. Obviously in need of the tank I choose the "instant" option for an additional $5. I did have a discussion with the employee doing the inspection and air fills about what my expectations were to final tank pressures while one tank was filling, but that is another story all together. At some point, tiring at looking at the vastly overpriced merchandise in the store, I stepped up to the counter to pay for sevices rendered. Employee #1 disappeared temporarily to check and see if employee #2 had experienced any issues with my tank o-rings while doing the vis and came back with two of them, the large main at the tank neck and the small one for sealing the regulator and proceeded to write my bill up for an additional $4--$2 an o-ring. LDS employee #1 tossed me the two o-rings removed from the tank with the suggestion that I hang on to them as they still looked good. I certainly couldn't find anything wrong with them. At this point, I asked LDS employee #2 why the o-rings were changes and response was "we always change them". I suggested that they really need to change their price board, as it is obviously impossible to get a $15 visual. I will point out also that this tank was purchased at this store and is only about a year and a half old and has not been used much at all. Also, I am at about $2000 in business with this LDS so it's not like I just walked in off the street. At this point, for the cost of two o-rings, I feel taken advantage of. To add insult to injury, the tank I had inspected and filled was a couple of hundred pounds under full the next day- and this after the LDS employee insisted that I had a good fill. Bottom line-$24 for a visual with a fill, and I feel like I really don't ever want to darken their door again. Next option for an LDS for me is about 6 miles further. One owner there already has told me in no uncertain terms that for us to build a relationship I need to spend several thousand dollars in his store. When you think that online buying means no service, just remember that your LDS may not provide much either.
I took two tanks to the LDS nearest my house. One tank needed just a fill but the other had an out of date visual. When I entered the store there were three employees present, two doing basically nothing constructive, and I was the only customer in the store. I asked if it would be possible to get a visual done on the one tank while I waited as I wanted to use the tank the next day. I was directed to the price board hanging up in the corner that listed visuals at $10+ an air fill and "instant visuals" at $15+ a fill. Obviously in need of the tank I choose the "instant" option for an additional $5. I did have a discussion with the employee doing the inspection and air fills about what my expectations were to final tank pressures while one tank was filling, but that is another story all together. At some point, tiring at looking at the vastly overpriced merchandise in the store, I stepped up to the counter to pay for sevices rendered. Employee #1 disappeared temporarily to check and see if employee #2 had experienced any issues with my tank o-rings while doing the vis and came back with two of them, the large main at the tank neck and the small one for sealing the regulator and proceeded to write my bill up for an additional $4--$2 an o-ring. LDS employee #1 tossed me the two o-rings removed from the tank with the suggestion that I hang on to them as they still looked good. I certainly couldn't find anything wrong with them. At this point, I asked LDS employee #2 why the o-rings were changes and response was "we always change them". I suggested that they really need to change their price board, as it is obviously impossible to get a $15 visual. I will point out also that this tank was purchased at this store and is only about a year and a half old and has not been used much at all. Also, I am at about $2000 in business with this LDS so it's not like I just walked in off the street. At this point, for the cost of two o-rings, I feel taken advantage of. To add insult to injury, the tank I had inspected and filled was a couple of hundred pounds under full the next day- and this after the LDS employee insisted that I had a good fill. Bottom line-$24 for a visual with a fill, and I feel like I really don't ever want to darken their door again. Next option for an LDS for me is about 6 miles further. One owner there already has told me in no uncertain terms that for us to build a relationship I need to spend several thousand dollars in his store. When you think that online buying means no service, just remember that your LDS may not provide much either.
