Amerigas - so unreliable

[tis]

I would absolutely switch. I was concerned about this too so I asked. The new company buys the tank from the old company if it is underground. Above ground ones can be changed. However, the question is what gas company is better? As I said in an earlier post, I had trouble with Rymes delivering. Maybe with the new ownership they are better? I had trouble with Eastern, they couldn't seem to figure out that how to post a payment that had been made when they switched from Wolfeboro Oil. I spend too much of my time on hold. Yesterday it was registrations, today it was insurance and appointments. Why do things have to be so complicated? I liked the old days before voice mail and answering machines!!!!!!

[winni83]

For what it is worth, we got a propane delivery from Rymes today. 241 gallons (a 500 gallon underground tank). So the tank was at something like 40%. Maybe Rymes is looking at the Amerigas complaints and taking notice.

[WillyK]

Originally Posted by tis

I would absolutely switch. I was concerned about this too so I asked. The new company buys the tank from the old company if it is underground. Above ground ones can be changed. However, the question is what gas company is better? As I said in an earlier post, I had trouble with Rymes delivering. Maybe with the new ownership they are better? I had trouble with Eastern, they couldn't seem to figure out that how to post a payment that had been made when they switched from Wolfeboro Oil. I spend too much of my time on hold. Yesterday it was registrations, today it was insurance and appointments. Why do things have to be so complicated? I liked the old days before voice mail and answering machines!!!!!!

Thanks to those commenting on flexibility around tank ownership, that gives me some hope. Our tank is above ground, 330 gallons, old thing from mid-80s.

I had Rymes come out, and they indicated they would install their own tank and move the Amerigas one off to the side, but Amerigas would have to come retrieve it. And by regulation, they can't fill it in the meantime even as a one-off.

My issue with Rymes is that they quoted prices that were *double* what Amerigas is charging (my much fought for delivery in December was $1.739/gal). Now granted, expensive propane is better than a frozen house. But seems crazy that's the choice.

Appreciate this thread exploring new providers, with this second month of no service, I'm definitely prepared to make the switch, this has been horrible.

[bilproject]

Since you have the back channel to management use it again. I would suspect that your problem is the K factor in the degree day system. If your home is new or you are a new owner, a guess K factor or the old home owners K factor is being used. You as a new owner are using far more propane per degree day than anticipated by the guess or more than the prior owner of the home. In my 20 years at Suburban we would not assign a k factor to a new customer until after 18 months of service to the account. Instead we would assign a period interval say 4 weeks between delivery. This system is less efficient in terms of percent of capacity delivered but avoids a costly "out of gas" call on the weekend or night, not to mention a pissed off new customer. The K factor is determined by the number of degree days divided by the gallons used in that period of degree days. The number of degree days for each 24 hour period is entered into the computer. The computer then multiplies the days by the K factor to get gallons used. When your account reaches a percentage of your tanks capacity it is printed out (uploaded to a drivers computer) for delivery.
Based on your known interval of reaching 20% of your tank capacity ask that you be placed on interval delivery for the rest of the winter.

[TheTimeTraveler]

Reading all the delivery issues in this thread makes me wonder if going back to oil may be a better alternative.... At least oil delivery appears to have more locally owned distribution points in the area. Additionally, you never hear of issues with oil delivery.

Would hate to use oil but it appears to be far better than electricity in terms of ongoing expense of use. I like gas because I can run a fireplace, stove, hot water, clothes dryer and of course heat. Some folks (very few anymore) still run their old, old refrigerators using gas!

And, gas is much cleaner than oil.



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[Sue Doe-Nym]

We are going to try riding it out with Amerigas this season, and hopefully they will have their systems under control by fall delivery. That will mean staying on top of propane levels and nagging, which is painful, but changing mid season has drawbacks as well.

[tis]

Nope. Had trouble with oil too. I think these companies get too big!!

[WillyK]

Originally Posted by bilproject

Since you have the back channel to management use it again. I would suspect that your problem is the K factor in the degree day system. If your home is new or you are a new owner, a guess K factor or the old home owners K factor is being used. You as a new owner are using far more propane per degree day than anticipated by the guess or more than the prior owner of the home. In my 20 years at Suburban we would not assign a k factor to a new customer until after 18 months of service to the account. Instead we would assign a period interval say 4 weeks between delivery. This system is less efficient in terms of percent of capacity delivered but avoids a costly "out of gas" call on the weekend or night, not to mention a pissed off new customer. The K factor is determined by the number of degree days divided by the gallons used in that period of degree days. The number of degree days for each 24 hour period is entered into the computer. The computer then multiplies the days by the K factor to get gallons used. When your account reaches a percentage of your tanks capacity it is printed out (uploaded to a drivers computer) for delivery.
Based on your known interval of reaching 20% of your tank capacity ask that you be placed on interval delivery for the rest of the winter.

Thanks, good insights, and makes sense. Unfortunately, even when I call and nag, and update all the tank level info diligently, they still are unable to deliver. I can ask about interval delivery, but it seems like there's a bigger problem downstream in their process, since they can't even expedite a delivery when I'm out of fuel. Amerigas central systems confirm that I'm low. e.g. It currently says my "reserve date" (the date by which they aim to have a delivery en-route) is yesterday. But still no delivery scheduled.

[Sue Doe-Nym]

Okay....news flash...no wonder they are having difficulties. I reached someone at the 800# who couldn’t find our accounts despite my repeating the address, my name, etc countless times. He did, however, give me this # and it was answered so promptly that I almost fainted, and that is 704-527-6972. She promised to expedite this, and we’ll see. At least it didn’t require an eternity on HOLD. Stay tuned.....

[Sue Doe-Nym]

You won’t believe this, but the Amerigas truck just left our driveway, 306 gallons lighter! It must have been my pleas to the person at the last # I posted, the non 800 one. Try it...it worked for me....and lay it on thick about your desperation! 😂

[winni83]

Here is my experience with changing propane suppliers and the tank ownership issue.

With our old house we had two above ground tanks. Changing suppliers was relatively easy. New company came and installed their tanks and disconnected and moved away from the house the two tanks belonging to the prior supplier. Called the prior supplier to come and get the two tanks. Nothing happened for weeks. Called again and said that we had noticed some kids fooling around with them and raised the danger issues. Tanks were removed promptly after that.

With new house, we have a 500 gallon underground tank, owned by the propane supplier. After much dissatisfaction over the propane rates, decided to switch to Rymes, but only if Rymes would buy out, or do whatever the companies do, to transfer ownership of the tank. I did not want to have it dug up and replaced. Much foot dragging by the prior supplier in contacting Rymes. Many E Mails and phone calls later, including one to a corporate higher up threatening to complain to the State that the prior company was intentionally dragging its feet to hold us hostage, the prior company contacted Rymes and the two companies made their deal and Rymes had to do a cathodic test on the underground tank, which came back fine. Tank was only 4 years old at the time of transfer, so I do not know how the age of an underground tank impacts on the transfer issue. Obviously an underground tank complicates the transfer issue. We decided for various reasons that we did not want to own the tank and for aesthetics we did not want an above ground tank.

[WillyK]

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

You won’t believe this, but the Amerigas truck just left our driveway, 306 gallons lighter! It must have been my pleas to the person at the last # I posted, the non 800 one. Try it...it worked for me....and lay it on thick about your desperation! 😂

Congrats Sue, I know the relief of that feeling all too well, hoping I can experience the same euphoria myself in the next 3 days before I run out.

I escalated to my executive contact just now to see if they can give me any advice, but if I don't hear back, I will try your phone number tip in the morning.

Makes me think we should create a whole underground lakes region Amerigas routing system. It'd work like this:

- Set up a Google sheet for everyone who needs propane.
- When the truck shows up at Sue's house, she slips the driver $20 and a note with my address on it.
- When the driver shows up at my house, I slip him another $20 with the next address.
- rinse, repeat

Seems like a better solution than whatever "state of the art" routing and scheduling system they have today, and as a bonus, the drivers would make a small fortune in tips. Win-win!

[Sue Doe-Nym]

The thought crossed my mind, when he handed me the delivery slip.....that if I had your address, seeing if he could divert his route to make a delivery. However, they probably aren’t permitted to do that, although it would make life simpler.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

The thought crossed my mind, when he handed me the delivery slip.....that if I had your address, seeing if he could divert his route to make a delivery. However, they probably aren’t permitted to do that, although it would make life simpler.

Could "serial-bribing" the driver be the reason for delayed deliveries?

Here in Florida, my New York neighbor tips/bribes everybody. The rest of us make a monthly appointment for the County to pick up a discarded computer monitor--while he slips the garbage truck driver a $20 to toss his old sofa in with the neighbors' potato peelings.

[tis]

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

The thought crossed my mind, when he handed me the delivery slip.....that if I had your address, seeing if he could divert his route to make a delivery. However, they probably aren’t permitted to do that, although it would make life simpler.

Well, I know years ago when Irving told me I couldn't possible be out of oil, I knew a driver and he brought me some. I truly think it's all about local vs. "huge" companies. I do all the business I can with locally owned businesses.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

The thought crossed my mind, when he handed me the delivery slip.....that if I had your address, seeing if he could divert his route to make a delivery. However, they probably aren’t permitted to do that, although it would make life simpler.

I leave a 20 under the lid of the tanks. It never is left behind

[Sue Doe-Nym]

Hmmmm....it might be time to hit the ATM.....although I doubt that the drivers control where they go.

[fatlazyless]

Doesn't Amerigas supposedly have a camera mounted within their trucks so management can watch their delivery as it happens? is not unusual for big trucks to have camera coverage by management, from back at the command center. Some trucks have a split screen camera that looks directly at the driver as he/she is driving as well as looking down the road.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Doesn't Amerigas supposedly have a camera mounted within their trucks so management can watch their delivery as it happens? is not unusual for big trucks to have camera coverage by management, from back at the command center. Some trucks have a split screen camera that looks directly at the driver as he/she is driving as well as looking down the road.

Worse than that! Waste Management sent me a bill for excess in a dumpster. The driver said he has no control, they have a front facing camera and they review each pickup he goes to. If they see an overflowing dumpster they send out an additional bill.

Big Brother is watching!