Buying propane..opinions? (Scranton, Tunkhannock: good credit, home, live)

[EnyaGirl]

We have decided to wait until next year for the coal/pellet stove, and so will be primarily using propane to heat our home this year. This will be our first winter here, and first time using propane (we've always had electric or oil heat). My question is...is NOW the time to buy propane? Does it usually increase in price in the fall approaching winter, or does time of the year really have nothing to do with it? We were quoted two different prices by 2 places today...$2.39 a gallon, and $2.79...quite a difference. We don't know whether $2.39 is considered a good deal or not since we've never had to purchase it before. Thoughts?

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

That is a pretty good deal. We were paying $2.84/gallon and then it was going up to $3.04 a gallon. Consider a budget plan, but you have to be a customer for a year with good credit. It can go up but ours was pretty steady, and now we do not use propane.

[nkotb]

My propane co. Ace-Robbins gave me a pre-buy of $2.85. Then I got a REAL early delivery priced at $3.00 !!!! I think that was just a ploy to take the pre-buy !!!
They have NEVER delivered before mid-September. I am going to shop around, I hear Hines is reasonable here in the Lake Winola area. It gets to the point, I don't care if I switch every year !!! That extra dollar is better in my pocket than theirs !!

[thecoalman]

One thing to keep in mind is propane and oil are subject to volatile market values. If the price shoots up 50 cents overnight thats what you're going to pay unless you have a contract for pre buy. Those markets can be very volatile so you don't want to be stuck holding the bag. It's certainly possible that you might get a cheaper price later but with winter approaching the chances of that are slim especially this year. A higher cost is just about a given and a much higher cost is possible given the current energy situation.

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

Originally Posted by thecoalman

One thing to keep in mind is propane and oil are subject to volatile market values. If the price shoots up 50 cents overnight thats what you're going to pay unless you have a contract for pre buy. Those markets can be very volatile so you don't want to be stuck holding the bag. It's certainly possible that you might get a cheaper price later but with winter approaching the chances of that are slim especially this year. A higher cost is just about a given and a much higher cost is possible given the current energy situation.

Coalman, Is it true that many companies are not offering the pre-buy now because of the market? I know that Pocono Oil is not offering the pre-buy....other companies following this?

[thecoalman]

I really don't know, it was always my assumption that they took the money the consumer gave them and purchased in bulk contracts.

You have to be careful though,. there was few companies that went out of business because of the pre bought oil. There was one dealer up in Tunkhannock area, from my understanding the one year he didn't get the contracts and the oil never went up and he made a bundle. Tried it next year and oil shot through the sky and he went out of business in few short months. All his customers that had pre paid were left with nothing. If the company goes out of business you most likely will lose your money. I'd only do it with well established companies.

[notaclue]

Wow - that is a GREAT price. Would you mind sharing the company that gave you that offer? Thanks

[roxxy38]

I called Locklin gas and they told me that propane was $2.29 per gallon. That was 3 days ago.

[John From Scranton]

Originally Posted by roxxy38

I called Locklin gas and they told me that propane was $2.29 per gallon. That was 3 days ago.

How did you get the price of 2.29 a gallon off them??

[EnyaGirl]

Originally Posted by John From Scranton

How did you get the price of 2.29 a gallon off them??

We just filled up our tanks the other day at $2.29 a gallon.