Lawrence Brewers Guild

Hey all,
I filled up two 5# C02 tanks at Praxair in north Topeka a week or so ago and the cost was insane. They are charging $3 a pound plus a $4.50 HazMat fee. Two 5# tanks cost me $37.07 with tax.

I searched the board and found a post by Chuck in October saying that in Lawrence 20# was less than $20. Has anyone recently bought C02 and have a current price?


***edit, I corrected the price.

Daym. Sean just priced some out a few days ago. He told me the 50# bottle i traded with him cost around $30-35.00. But more is usually cheaper. I still think you took it up the wazzoo friend.

Has the Kirk in Lawrence been bought out by Praxair too? If the price difference is enough I'll bring the 20# with me the next time I head to Lawrence and get it filled there.

Bill wrote:Has the Kirk in Lawrence been bought out by Paxair too? If the price difference is enough I'll bring the 20# with me the next time I head to Lawrence and get it filled there.

News to me. I better check that out. If Praxair is going to be charging these prices, then we need to be pitching a fit.

I just exchanged a 20# CO2 cylinder at Praxair this last Monday. It was less than a $20 bill.

Here is the fairly recent charges for Lawrence:

10/10/08 Praxair 5# CO2, Total Sale $16.46, Haz Charge $1.64, ~$3.30 per #
1/3/09 Drop Zone 5# CO2, Total Sale $24.14 at $4.50 per #
3/2/09 Praxair 20# CO2, Total Sale $20.14, Haz Charge $2.01, ~$1.007 per #

The cost of handling the cylinder gets into the pocket. Luckily, I don't have to refill the 5# that often.

Sounds to me like the prices are pretty similar within a few dollars. I wonder it the guild could set up a commercial account of sorts with them. I know they have better rates for bars and restaurants. Or maybe the guild buys a big honking tank and we do our own fills like the drop zone.

Jensen wrote:Sounds to me like the prices are pretty similar within a few dollars. I wonder it the guild could set up a commercial account of sorts with them. I know they have better rates for bars and restaurants. Or maybe the guild buys a big honking tank and we do our own fills like the drop zone.

I'm down with the setting up a commercial account with them. I'm not sure about having a guild tank though.

What would be our best route for the commercial style discount?

I just had three propane tanks filled at Praxair (BBQ grill size and I told them was from the LBG) for $21.58 a peice. I was at the Presto station on 9th street and asked how much it was to exhange a tank-- after taxes $23.49. Almost wonder if it is worth the time to drive and wait at Praxair for a single fill. Then someone told me Walmart was $17~ish to get filled? Where do you get your propane filled and how much after tax to walk away with a filled tank?

I talked to the manager about pricing. As far as Praxair is concerned, they don't know who we are. Just another person coming into buy gas (propane, co2, beergas, etc), and considered a cash sale.

The only way that praxair is going to see how much money we spend there is to have everyone say they are LBG members. You will prolly still pay normal pricing, but they can at least put the sale under the LBG account.

I am working with them to setup a LBG account, that's a pay as you pickup account. Meaning, there is no way to charge anything on the account, it's just there to track usage.

I usually pay 22ish for a 20# cylinder of co2 and $18ish for a 20# propane refill. I just paid $28 for a 50# refill.

I'll let everyone know what happens. The intention is to get praxair to give us a small discount if you show you current LBG card, and we would recommend them or put their logo on the back of our cards.

Also; it would be in the system, and pricing would be honored at all praxair locations.

This isn't a done deal yet, but still mention you are a LBG member. It only costs you the air in your lungs, and you might get a slightly better deal. Also keep in mind, homebrewers (as with everything else we buy, hops, grain, gas) are a sliver of their business. But we can show them we are dedicated customers, but it will take some time to prove it.

I swapped out a 20 lb. CO2 tank at Praxair in Lawrence for $18.something, roughly $20 with tax. I did mention I was LBG. This was on 3.17.09.

cyburai wrote:$18ish for a 20# propane refill.

You are paying 18ish, but after hazard fees and tax it is costing you $21.58 at Paxair. I would like to gather a list of the "all said and done walk away price" for propane and other gases here in Lawrence and surrounding areas.

It is kinda like when you buy cell phone service, sure the sign says $49 but after all the surcharges, and taxes it is $58!

Propane Ace Hard 6th & Kasold

2 exchanged at $18.99 each ($37.98)
tax $2.77

Total $40.75

I just got 2-20# CO2 tanks exchanged yesterday at Paxair (Kirk).
I flashed my LBG card and my total was $36!
membership DOES have its privileges...

I popped in and talked to the original guy that's been there for awhile a few days ago. I reminded him about LBG and he said no problems, but seems ive been getting a good rate all along from him