Quote Originally Posted by Big Paulie View Post
Just got home with a 150CF tank of Argon, for $229 out the door (Purshased Tank full) Refills are $30. There is a new Praxair here in Raleigh, and they are competitive, compared to the former Airgas Monopoly. Airgas wanted $365 for the same tank! Also, Praxair said larger tanks were not for purchase but can lease a 300CF for $60 a year.

They also offered to upgrade any airgas tank, so I may use the 150 for Argon for now, and then go to a 200 and swap my 150 in for Ar/CO2 for my mig (currently have an 80 for that, and would keep the 80 for portability).

Airgas caters to the larger pro shops and heavy users of gas, and apparently is not interested helping the part timers or hobbyists. Heck, they lost all the materials and equipment business to the internet already, so they assume that they have you hostage for the gas, and will make us pay for our dis-loyalty.
Thanks to your post, I got suspicious/curious and called all the local welding shops for refill prices on my 150cf tank. When I called around several months back to purchase the cylinder, all the shops locally gave me almost the same price out the door. However, upon checking the refill prices a few minutes ago, refill prices couldn't be more different.

150CF Argon cylinder exchange prices:

Airgas-Quoted $90 w/o tax and fees, and $113 out the door(!!!)

Praxair-$58.54 w/o tax and fees, $63.?? out the door

Mathison-$64.95 w/o tax, around $70 out the door

small Mom/Pop welding store-$83 w/o tax

So to sum up, EVERYONE including the little mom and pop shop are cheaper than Airgas! I should have asked what the refill prices were when I bought the cylinder and got quotes for a 150CF tank (filled), but it didn't cross my mind. Live and learn I guess. Or as my grandfather used to say, "Screw me once, shame on you. Screw me twice, shame on me."