If you like being ripped off this is the company for you!
I am a 20 year customer of Suburban propane and live in Arlington. I have two tanks for propane for a total of about 500 to 600 gallons, one tank for my house and the other for a shop space. Suburban owns the tanks, which I lease from them (and so cannot shop around to other propane suppliers). Due to circumstances that I will not try and go into here (job changes etc), I have been forced to look at my expenses a little more closely these past three to four years. I was surprised (back in 2006) to see how much I was spending on Propane for my household heat. I assumed that Suburban was charging me fair market prices, so to try and cut back I sealed off several rooms in my house and turned my thermostat down to 50 degrees. Any heat over 50 is from my wood stove. Needless to say I have been cold and uncomfortable these past three winters, and worked my tail off to keep up a supply of firewood. On November 24th, 2009 Suburban filled my tank, they charged me $4.37 a gallon. Then on January 24th 2010 I ran out (which, per my service contract, isn't supposed to happen). They came and filled the tank, charging me $4.79 a gallon. That's $1065.60 to heat 1350 sq feet to 50 degrees for two months. OUCH, when I started talking to friends about it I was surprised to hear that Natural gas is just over $2.00 a gallon and other Propane companies were rumored to be much less than Suburban. I called Suburban to complain, they gave me a credit down to $3.89 a gallon on the January fill. Next I checked into Natural gas, the pipeline ends 2000 feet from my driveway, I got a quote of $78,000 to extend the pipeline, that's not gonna happen. So then I started checking with other propane companies. I was shocked when I got quotes from: Enviro Propane- $2.59, American Distributing- $2.39, Amerigas- $2.69, and Ferrell gas at $2.49. These other suppliers were apologizing to me for their "high" price quotes. So, how can this be? How can Suburban charge me $4.79 when the market is at $2.50? Remember, it's not easy to switch due to the tank lease. I called Suburban back and confronted them, they make no apologies and offer no justification for their price gouging. I have every receipt going back 20 years, have they been ripping me off the entire time? I have always paid them in full and on time, yet they are willing to throw away a 20 year customer over their greed, what else can it be???
BUYER BE WARE, these guys are CROOKS, they are stealing from their customers. Only an idiot woiuld buy from them, and I've been an idiot for too long, I AM SWITCHING to someone (anyone) else!!! read more