Steve - glad to see you back on the forum. Hope you stay for a while. 
And I hope to hear an update on your ambitious aluminum boat project as well, when you are ready to give it. 
I must say, all the issues you have stated regarding owner/customer-owned cylinders, are not issues at all where I live, with my local welding supplier. I can totally see these practices varying from one area of the country and perhaps even from one supplier in a locale to another in the same locale. But, here is how the one I use operates:
* They will gladly take an "internet tank" or one that they did not sell you, as an exchange. Even if the tank is not a common size.
* They will gladly substitute a larger tank, charging you the difference in their price they sell the tanks for.
* They will gladly substitute a smaller tank, giving you a credit for the difference in the price they sell the tanks for.
* They don't look at any numbers on the tank at all (at least not when you are down there, doing the tank exchange with them), such as to verify the tank you give them for a current hydro test.
No problems swapping to different gas types, either.
Now I will say it wouldn't be realistic to expect to be able to take advantage of their lenient policies repeatedly, but I think they reason they operate like that is to keep you buying your refills from them. They are happy to keep you as a customer.
Out of everything they sell, gas refills are their single highest profit margin business, according to the manager. Other consumables (like filler rod) next highest, machine sales lowest margin.
Last edited by jakeru; 09-29-2011 at 03:50 AM.
'13 Everlast 255EXT
'07 Everlast Super200P
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