The Blue Rhino Scam
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9260
Printed Date: 13 Jul 2025 at 4:59pm
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Topic: The Blue Rhino Scam
Posted By: jato
Subject: The Blue Rhino Scam
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2017 at 4:17am
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Like many of you I try to be a good steward of the resources my Creator has provided me. One way is by selecting where you purchase your propane. The tare weight (T.W.) of a 20 lb cylinder is right around 17 lbs; this you will see stamped near the top of the cylinder. So a fully loaded tank with 20 lb. propane will weigh 37 pounds. At my local hardware store you pay for what you get; a fully empty cylinder costs me $ 16.50 to fill to get 20 lbs. of propane which is 4.2 gallons. If I only want to top off my tank, say it's half full, I only pay $ 8.25. By going down the road to the gas station I can get a Blue Rhino exchange for 22.95 and for that I get 15 lbs. of propane which is 3.6 gallons. So here is the breakdown. Hardware store $ 3.93/gallon 4.2 gal. or 20 lbs = $ 16.50 Blue Rhino $ 6.375/gallon 3.6 gal. or 15 lbs = $ 22.95 One small way to save money. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Replies:
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2017 at 7:58am
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Thanks for the math. I think tank exchanges are $17.95 now at our local Walmart, but this can vary. Your point is very well taken, but I take advantage of the convenience (not sure "scam" is the right word) of Blue Rhino when I'm on the road if I can't find a place that refills cylinders. (Prices vary at those places too.) It might not be too hard to spend an hour of my vacation time and $5 or $10 worth of gasoline looking for a refill place (that might not be open on Sunday). Plus, the exchange places will usually let you pick the tank you want, so I always get one that looks like new. Tanks expire too. Check the date on your cylinder. If it's getting close, an exchange is a really easy way to get a new one. When I'm around home or when I know where to go when I'm on the road, I do the refill thing, but there can be advantages to doing an exchange too. Just saying. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2017 at 3:07pm
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Good tips!!
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2017 at 8:16pm
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Tars, your point is well taken. I guess scam may be a bit strong, yet they want you to believe you are getting a "full tank" when in truth, you aren't. Since we are never on a vacation for more than 2 weeks at a time I am always with 1 full tank while the other is somewhere in-between; hence I don't need to purchase while on the road. Even at 17.95 for an exchange you are still paying 4.98/gallon. I bet your local fill station sells propane cheaper than I can get it where I live as we live in a tourist area and prices for everything tend to be higher here than in non-tourist towns. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: voisj
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 6:49pm
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Just yesterday I took an old bbq tank to Riteaid to exchange, Had the old style connector on it and they took it. I have never bought or exchanged a tank before, I've always filled my tank at gas station. The cost for exchange was $17.95. I was wondering why their tank said 15 lbs on it and thought it was maybe a smaller tank, nope same size. I put it on the pod on the new dual tank mount and it matched. Now it find out that ( thanks to this post) that blue rhino tanks are filled less and cost more! You learn something new every day! I would say scam except i got a real nice tank in exchange for a useless one i found, with propane for $17.95. I think I scammed them.
------------- http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9426&title=slopod-180-mods-johnsue - SLOPODMODS John&Sue,SLO,CA 2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost 
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 9:00pm
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That would be the one time it is worth it to exchange your tank, when yours expires. Their lifespan is 10 years from date of production. In the meantime I go to the hardware store and save, I rather spend my money on other things beside propane.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 9:15pm
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Only possible issue with exchanging to get a newer tank, is some of the exchange companies have anti-refill valves on their tanks. Impossible for the local hardware store to fill it. I recently had one of my tanks re-certified since they noticed it was expired. Gave me a few more years for not much $ and it can be certified again later. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 9:39pm
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Wasn't aware of that, thanks for the heads up.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 9:41pm
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It isn't just Blue Rhino. AmeriGas does the same thing. If you do a quick search for "Class Action Blue Rhino," you will see a number of web pages dealing with this. It was in 2008 that Blue Rhino and AmeriGas reduced the fill from 17 lbs to 15 lbs. The settlement for the class action that allowed for $7.50 per tank (if one had receipts) or $7.50 total if one did not have receipts closed in 2012. There is one filed in 2014 alleging price fixing between Blue Rhino and AmeriGas. I think that one is still active. The thing that gets me is that we are "purchasing" a tank of gas. It isn't like a deposit that can be refunded. If we get an old tank that is going to need inspection and testing before it can be filled, then it pretty much has to go back to them. The last one I got was at least made relatively recently, so it will have several years before it will need to be tested and requalified. One of the tanks I saw the last time I did an exchange was dated 1999 and I did not see anything indicating that it had been requalified. I left that one alone. The DOT web site has an interesting article on the topic of inspection and requalifiation. http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/requal_propane_cylinders.pdf - Requalification Guidance for Propane Cylinders I don't plan to go back for exchange anymore. Costco fills propane tanks for a very reasonable price. Camping World also has a discount for Good Sam members. There are alternatives that are much less expensive. As for the "useless tank" with the old style connector, Blue Rhino will take that connector off and replace it with a new one with the overfill prevention device. Then they will fill it and "sell" it to Walmart or Lowe's who will in turn "sell" it to you if it passes inspection. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 9:50pm
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Thanks Stephen. I was told by a friend that Costco refills are the same as Blue Rhino's, only 75% of full, that is why their prices 'appear' attractive. I am not aware of the status of Camping World and their refill policy. The best way for anyone to find out is first to ask how much propane they are getting, either 3.6 gallons (75%) or 4.7 gallons (100%). Secondly, weigh your "full" tank; a full tank will weigh around 37 pounds, give or take a few ounces depending on the TW (tare weight) which is stamped on the handle. A Blue Rhino, Amerigas, Costco tank will only weigh about 32 pounds.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 9:54pm
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Both Costco and Camping World near me (and other places I have been) have a gauge and you pay for the amount pumped into the tank, not a flat rate. I am not talking about a tank exchange at Costco. They fill your tank while you watch. The same thing goes for Camping World. That means a partially filled tank can be topped off since the pump will show the amount added.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 10:40pm
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I understand the cost and quantity difference between tank exchanges and refills and if I determine that the convenience of swapping out a tank right now versus driving around for two hours looking for a place that will refill my tank when I'd prefer to spend those two hours enjoying my vacation, personally, I'm glad to pay a little bit for that convenience. And I'll guarantee I can think of real world scenarios where I can swap a tank here, or I can drive 15 miles one way to have my tank refilled. Where is the stewardship of the Creator's resources if I spend $15 or more in gasoline and wear and tear on my vehicle to save $5 or $6 on propane? "Convenience stores" wouldn't exist if the only proper moral choice was to always pay the lowest possible price for a quart of milk. Everyone would take an extra 45 minutes to 3 hours to drive to the best supermarket or warehouse store in the state to buy their milk there. Again, I'm just saying there's more than one way to look at this. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 11:37pm
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I used an exchange tank once, never again, after hooking the tank up, it only took about an hour and my fridge burner was clogged. There was some crap in the tank.
------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: voisj
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 11:47pm
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TT,totally agree convenience Trumps running out of propane while camping,I got a second tank so I could just fill one when I had the chance. A full tank lasts longer than a 3/4 full tank,this way I don't have to deal with it so often.To me that's convenient,and I save a few bucks. ------------- http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9426&title=slopod-180-mods-johnsue - SLOPODMODS John&Sue,SLO,CA 2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost
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Posted By: Bama Pod
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2017 at 5:23am
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Got an empty one recently refilled at Costco for $6.25 appox. So even if not completely filled it's a great price. Also, even though the Pod has a low-pressure adaptor for a grill, I'll likely get a WeberQ and throw an extra tank in the back of the truck for the grill. Then if/when the Pod tank runs out while camping I'll have a back-up to just switch out. ------------- Bama Pod Huntsville, AL 2017 Ford F250 2017 Airstream 26U |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2017 at 3:14pm
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Tars Tarkas. Totally agree with your post. Thanks
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2017 at 4:21pm
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Having a spare tank means that I can take advantage of choosing when and where to refill the empty one. I can wait until I have an errand that brings me close to a place where I can get my tank filled as opposed to having to take the exchange tank which will be overpriced and have potential issues like one of the Blue Rhino ones I got recently at Walmart that was leaking where the valve screwed into the tank (so much for inspecting the tanks).
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |