VIP - Different price for Nitrox than air??

[Zaixon]

This may be a stupid question but I have never encountered it before. Is it common for dive shops to charge a different price to visual a tank for nitrox than air? The tanks are O2 clean already and have been using nitrox for the past few years. I have gotten visuals at other shops and there was never mention of a cost difference for a visual between a nitrox tank and an air tank so this one left me scratching my head. They wanted 5$ more per tank... In the end I called another shop (a bit farther but I use them more often) and they said they charge one fee for visuals with a fill. But has anyone even encountered this?

 

[redacted]

Did you ask the shop why? The answer might be interesting and maybe even reasonable.

 

[Zaixon]

yes I did but the guy on phone said he wasn't the guy that does the visuals so he didnt know and I could come in and talk to the person that does the visuals if i'd like to

 

[James R]

If they have to O2 clean your tank & valve, it'll definitely cost more than just a VIP.

The shop I use does partial pressure blending, thus all nitrox tanks & valves must be O2 cleaned.

 

[markmantei]

Locally all of the shops do partial pressure blending, and tanks are O2 cleaned at each visual if being used for nitrox, hence the difference in price between air and nitrox tanks at the time the VIP is done.

 

[Zaixon]

thats understandable then. all my tanks are o2 clean I didnt realize it had to be done every time

 

[James R]

Yeah, it's a pain. I have 8 tanks, 6 valves, and a manifold to do every year.

 

[redacted]

I can't believe the shop is doing an O2 cleaning for only $5. For that price, they may be hitting it with a light to detect hydrocarbons and will tell you if you can get the O2 OK or not. But I thought the industry standard was an annual O2 cleaning ($50 or more) to get approval for O2 service with the light used to verify the cleaning.

 

[Zaixon]

that is if in fact they are doin the o2 cleaning durring the visual. I will try and find out more information as to their pricing and what is involved with their nitrox vip.
I had 7 tanks to do so I was calling around a few different places and this is the first place that mentioned a different price for a nitrox tank

 

[abyss_scuba]

For $5 might be the difference between an air and nitrox fill.