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They opened a Praxair in Hartford.CT about 4-5 months back and because they had no walk ins they acutally ran a free add on CL, thats how I found out about them. So I went in and bought a few things including 2 10 lb cans 7018, sure enough, haz mat fee tacked on. When questioned the guy did some mumbo jumbo on the computer and said OK $2.88 a LB for rod, better than the list price. Skeptical but OK Second trip was a Saturday AM and I was in bad need of a CO/2 slash Argon flow meter or guage. Only thing they had was some off brand Pro Star, Manager says its a Victor but cheaper. I said if it was a Victor, it would say Victor. anyway with a hose it comes to $90, When I question it he says it's normally a $105 guage. I'm in need of it so I buy it cause I have a job I have to get done . Then when I ask if he has one for Argon he tries to give me and adapter fitting for another $30. Finally he comes up with the Argon version and I grumble and tell him I won't be back at these prices. Now I'm grumbling because I know and later confirm I can get a knock off regulator all day long on the net for 25-60 bucks depending on who makes it. Moral of the story is I wanted to do business with a local brick and mortar but they are so Phucking greedy you can't. Internet all the way from her out. And if you suppliers are reading these threads, loose the haz mat fees or loose business."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251 Syncrowave 300 30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200 1 short hood SA250 SAM 400
Reply:I deal with terrace supply as they have been great to me, or htp. If I buy online chances are it's cyber-weld.comAirgas and praxiar, no thanks.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:The whole things such a shame. This is how businesses are closing. The problem on the business side is that over time, the government and vendors have figured out how to take just enough from you that you'll still stay in business but profit much less from your efforts. So everyone has to ramp up prices to stay in the game. It's not fair to the consumer nor the business. At least in my business, the property taxes, income taxes, supply and shipping prices with fuel surcharges, necessary insurances, health insurances, etc. have made us start to scratch our heads and wonder if its worth it anymore. We've gone from operating at a 45% overhead to a 65% overhead in the last 10 years. Sadly, all businesses are the same and you get to hear this when you talk to people.I think the problems are worse in the Northeast Kolot. We're pricing ourselves out of the game. Some guy with a warehouse and a UPS account in Bumphuck somewhere is gonna make $10 profit on that $30 regulator. The Praxair guys likely making $8 on the $90 one.Very sad, and very much why I'm against the mentality of our current government officials. Their heads are so far up their a$$es, they cant see what's happening. That warehouse I speak of will move or has moved out of the USA when they tighten the noose a little more.When NY State borrowed too much from the Feds to pay unemployment insurance recipients in 2011, they couldn't afford to pay the Feds back. So what did they do? They added a payroll tax and took payments RETROSPECTIVELY. So I had to shell out $2600 in taxes to NYS as a one time payment ad have an extra percentage added to each payroll because they couldn't afford to pay their debt. This was not optional. I still pay the NYS MTA tax as well. They eliminated it on individuals, but not businesses. So $2500 a year to fund this tax that was deemed to never have actually helped the MTA. But their getting that money now, so why stop it?Seems fair, huh?Sorry for the rant.Last edited by Drf255; 03-18-2013 at 05:25 AM.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255The whole things such a shame. This is how businesses are closing. The problem on the business side is that over time, the government and vendors have figured out how to take just enough from you that you'll still stay in business but profit much less from your efforts. So everyone has to ramp up prices to stay in the game. It's not fair to the consumer nor the business. At least in my business, the property taxes, income taxes, supply and shipping prices with fuel surcharges, necessary insurances, health insurances, etc. have made us start to scratch our heads and wonder if its worth it anymore. We've gone from operating at a 45% overhead to a 65% overhead in the last 10 years. Sadly, all businesses are the same and you get to hear this when you talk to people.I think the problems are worse in the Northeast Kolot. We're pricing ourselves out of the game. Some guy with a warehouse and a UPS account in Bumphuck somewhere is gonna make $10 profit on that $30 regulator. The Praxair guys likely making $8 on the $90 one.Very sad, and very much why I'm against the mentality of our current government officials. Their heads are so far up their a$$es, they cant see what's happening. That warehouse I speak of will move or has moved out of the USA when they tighten the noose a little more.When NY State borrowed too much from the Feds to pay unemployment insurance recipients in 2011, they couldn't afford to pay the Feds back. So what did they do? They added a payroll tax and took payments RETROSPECTIVELY. So I had to shell out $2600 in taxes to NYS as a one time payment ad have an extra percentage added to each payroll because they couldn't afford to pay their debt. Seems fair, huh?Sorry for the rant.
Reply:Praxair has bought two of the chain LWS in the Houston area, AOC, and TX Welding Supply.
Reply:Hazmat fees at $2.88/lb is outrageous!!They aren't national but I have been completely happy with MaineOxy out of Hudson, NH. (Main branch is in Auburn ME).They will deliver to anywhere, ask for Tim the manager, tell them Sean sent you.Make sure to start an account to save more $$They are an employee owned company. Maybe they care a bit more?Arc Source has been pretty good over the years too.Luckily for me there are probably 5 welding supply places within 10 milesBuy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:I had a similar situation with Airgas right after they took over ABCO's (in CT). I bought 3 TIG machines from them in a matter of 3 years and bought all my supplies from them in person. So due to logistics I then was going to a different store. One weekend (when they used to be open on Saturdays) I went there and there was an Airgas banner hanging over the ABCO sign. Even before I walked in I said to myself this out to be fun. I bought some Tig filler rod and it was like double list price. I told dumb and dumber behind the counter, that the price doubled since last month. Then they (same employees as ABCO) said to me well do you have an account here. I told both of them point blank, you better start to get to know your customers. I then told him to scroll down a page or so and see my purchases here. He did that and then his expression was like, oh, oh. Then the price was 50% less. Even though they did that I told them this is the last time I am coming to this strore. I go to another Airgas where I get treated fairly and like a regular customer where I also get the industrial price on gasses.www.tjsperformance.comDynasty 300 DXHTP 240HTP Microcut 380Hyperthem 85JD2 Hyd Bender and HF Hyd Ring Roller all in one =(Frankenbender)Bpt. Mill/DRO4' x 8' CNC Plasma TableInstagram: tjsperformanceYT: TJS Welding and Fabrication
Reply:praxair and airgas are nothing but arrogant. maybe its the "too big to fail attitude". i hope they do because the markup is huge. several years back we looked into buying a small lws and reviewed the books. he was not buying in the huge quantities that airgas and praxair do but the markup was 100% on acetylene (lowest volume item) and eight times his suppliers charges for oxygen (the largest volume item). this did not include the huge revenues from annual cylinder rental charges. the numbers were so out of whack compared to average retail operations, that i could not convince my banker (at that time) that the paperwork i submitted was legit. long story short airgas bought them out 2 months later, and pricing went crazy. (even with those markup #s he was very resonable and competitive in the market area). went out of his way to accommodate customers, with deliveries and hrs. of operation. under airgas that is all gone. nothing but arrogance. all for internet now for all welding equipment and supplies (other than gases and weld wire). its a new world.
Reply:Just to be clear/fair , the haz mat fee was a straight $8 I believe, not 2.88per pound, but $8 on 10 lbs is alot, infact anything is to much. I went to this place because it was a new location and thought I would go in and develop a relationship, It is in my loop coming out of my full time job, I am not a large volume consumer but I spend quite a bit annually on welding in general, I also have been around, talking to the guy behind the counter his location is less than desirable. in a 60% occupied industrial area off the main drags, anytime I have gone there I have been the only one in the place. Coupled with the prices and his attitude, he's looking for a job or a new vendor in under a year at best. I am fortunate, I buy all my gasses from a local plumbing supply that has some welding consumables, he is the only game in the region but he is fare, we have become friends over the years and when I go there I either pay cash or say just bill me, I don't sign anything and there is no computer , truly one of the only old time mom/pop places left. the bill comes in the mail and I or my wife go down and pay it. No hassles, no hidden profit or gouging. I used Forney welding rod on the last job I did that I got from him, the price was as good or better than anyone else , however I did not care for the rod, he says let me know I can order other types. How can you ask for more from a small vendor. I don't mind paying extra within reason, the service is worth all the BS 100 times over. As for Air Gas, Praxair, Kiss Off. And I will be checking that invoice when I walk into these places, excuse me "IF" I do, and if they want to ring it all up and goughe me, I just walk out and they can put it back on the shelf. Will always need some last minute stuff, but Internet will get my business, Although I understand what this does to the brick and Mortar places, I can't help but think there greed is also a major factor.Last edited by kolot; 03-18-2013 at 08:49 AM."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251 Syncrowave 300 30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200 1 short hood SA250 SAM 400
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleI deal with terrace supply as they have been great to me, or htp. If I buy online chances are it's cyber-weld.comAirgas and praxiar, no thanks.
Reply:Do they do five year leases on the big cylinders with the first fill included?I found a praxair place that I get along with the guy great. It isn't a welding store per say it is a gas distribution location but will get me anything I can find in a whole bunch of catalogs they offer me. One of them actually would answer most of the tig torch questions on here as a reference manual. Airgas took my account away and wants all my information again or cash only. Well actually I have two accounts at airgas because of all the places they bought and I still have credit on the other one but it is the more expensive one I returned the cylinders and brought to zero balance.
Reply:All I have within 90 miles of me for "BIG BOX" stores is Airgas, or Praxair. I would rather do business with Praxair. I have a LWS that I do quite a bit of business with, but he carriers Airgas/Radnor junk, so im screwed either way.
Reply:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxLast edited by pneufab; 03-21-2013 at 06:41 AM.Reason: oops!
Reply:I am still doing business with Maine Oxy because Mark the manager takes care of me, I will go to New Bedford Welding Supply when I am in the area because they are the ones I started out with and Jeff and the guys take care of me. I just started to go to Middlesex Gasses because they have a branch in Framingham and because they see me hop out of the welding truck, tell them what I need and pay cash, so far so good. I still hate Airgas, a bunch of pricks, don't know about Praxair yet the plant just switched to them.....we shall see.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:I have a Praxair almost within walking distance of my shop. I don't like the company, too big for their britches and I don't like the cut of their jib, but the guys that work there are great. Brian
Reply:The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia is treating me real good. Picked up a Powermax 30 for $200 cheaper than Harris welding in the U.S. and from Sam Ester an online Cdn. distributor. Just ordered a Motorguard JLM kit for $151, and the only other store in Halifax, Rideout wanted $220. I'm happy enough with them, so set up a Praxair account. Originally Posted by BrianCI have a Praxair almost within walking distance of my shop. I don't like the company, too big for their britches and I don't like the cut of their jib, but the guys that work there are great. Brian
Reply:Originally Posted by kolotThey opened a Praxair in Hartford.CT about 4-5 months back and because they had no walk ins they acutally ran a free add on CL, thats how I found out about them. So I went in and bought a few things including 2 10 lb cans 7018, sure enough, haz mat fee tacked on. When questioned the guy did some mumbo jumbo on the computer and said OK $2.88 a LB for rod, better than the list price. Skeptical but OK Second trip was a Saturday AM and I was in bad need of a CO/2 slash Argon flow meter or guage. Only thing they had was some off brand Pro Star, Manager says its a Victor but cheaper. I said if it was a Victor, it would say Victor. anyway with a hose it comes to $90, When I question it he says it's normally a $105 guage. I'm in need of it so I buy it cause I have a job I have to get done . Then when I ask if he has one for Argon he tries to give me and adapter fitting for another $30. Finally he comes up with the Argon version and I grumble and tell him I won't be back at these prices. Now I'm grumbling because I know and later confirm I can get a knock off regulator all day long on the net for 25-60 bucks depending on who makes it. Moral of the story is I wanted to do business with a local brick and mortar but they are so Phucking greedy you can't. Internet all the way from her out. And if you suppliers are reading these threads, loose the haz mat fees or loose business.
Reply:PraxAir is garbage. End of thread.Miller Dynasty 200DXMiller Spectrum 250DMiller Millermatic 200Bunch of old blue dinosaurs....
Reply:My local Praxair had a sales manager who started at the store when it was locally owned. Then got bought out by prixair. He was old school he would help out the little guy. He retired 3 months ago now I hate going there. If I didn't have an account and 3 lifetime leases from when my old man had a shop I would go else where for gas. My full time job deals with same store they pay 14 dollars for oxy and they tried to charge me 50 bux for same thing.
Reply:Our local Airgas has two ol' timers that are very helpful. They do all the computer acrobatics possible to get you the best price. A one off LWS got bought by Matheson and kept its counter guy, who also pulls out the stops to leave as much cash with you as possible. I havn't dealt with our local Prax.
Reply:I know good and well the brick and mortars can compete, they might not be cheaper than purchasing online, but they could compete if they wanted too.. I went to 3 LWS pricing a HyperthermPM45 and I get anywhere from $1700 to $2000 between the 3 stores, and all were "firm on the price" I also priced Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster52 and get pretty much the same result, except for another brick and mortar store, Indiana Oxygen, and they shoot me a price of $1350 on the cutmaster52, I was told that was their nationally set price and I got the exact same price as they sell online, I did have to pay tax, and thats ok I expected too. These welding stores are just like gun stores, The manufacturers set a price to reflect a certain percentage of profit, "they cant sell for less than the set price" but the stores can mark it up as much as they want, and they do. The stores set price is nothing more than a reflection of the amount of GREED of that certain company. Its simple, just dont buy from them, if they dont want to sell to a walk-in the same as they do to someone with an "Account" move on, take your business elsewhere, some idiot is paying the price to keep their doors open whoever it is, but it doesnt mean you have to be the one.. Also with the internet sales, most places that sell over the internet also have a store front of some type where you can walk in and purchase, they couldnt sell many brands if they didnt, they have just chosen to expand their business with an online presence.. Yes there are some that sell out of a warehouse or whatever but I bet you can still walk-in and purchase directly from them. I cant see why more mom and pop shops dont have an online presence on certain items, its not hard to open an online store, especially if you have a tax number.. I guess its just plain stupidity that a "mom&pop shop" dont want an online sales presence..Last edited by brucer; 11-15-2013 at 10:27 PM.tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:I just changed from Airgas to a small LWS. They will sell you any size cylinder that you want and their prices on gas, welding wire and other items are excellent. Comparison: All prices plus Hazmat and Tax. Small LWS/ AirGasArgon 160 $52/ $65Acetylene 70$37/ $47C02 20#$25/ $35ER70S-6 11# .035$22/ $38ER70S-6 2# .035$6.58/ $12It pays to shop around.Miller Millermatic 252Miller Syncrowave 200Liincoln AC-DC 225Victor O-A Set
Reply:The practice of gouging customers without an account is the number one reason I dispise most lws houses. The excessive hazmat fees is another. Gouged on price... and the gouged again on a "tax". Personally I think the attorney general needs to put a stop to the practice as the state hazmat fund contribution is like a quarter of a percet on gross... like b and o tax.
Reply:Praxair charges $34 to exchange 150cf argon,and filler price is tough to beat if you have to pay shipping . I guess I'm lucky.
Reply:I was told by a manager of a Praxair location that the reason they charge the hazmat fee is because of lawsuits. In the past, guys have sued because they got cancer and claimed it was from breathing the fumes put off by welding. He said, they don't sue the little mom & pop shops because they don't have the funds. They sue the big guys, Praxair, Airgas, etc. I had asked why there was a charge on consumables. It actually makes some sense, but that's why I don't buy the hazmat charged stuff there, unless I have to."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"The hazmat charge is not a "tax" so to speak, it is usually retained by the respective company in order to pay for costs associated with the compliance regulations. Anything with a MSDS may trigger a hazmat charge.
Reply:Praxair china made victor tips, 24$, normal welding supply actual victors 11$. The post about praxair probably only making 8 $ on that regulator is bs, use to work for a school we got great great great discounts, they can compete, they just dont want to, they would rather sell less at higher prices, i left everything on praxairs counter the other day. AIRGAS is a ****in sham **** hole company as well, they both can go **** themselves.I forgot how to change this.
Reply:explain to me how airgas charged 20$ a bottle for hazmat, yet another lws doesnt charge anything at all, and yet another charges .95cents. Its pure profit and deception.I forgot how to change this.
Reply:The major welding supply houses haven't learned modern retail. Either they don't care or their customers don't care...I'm thinking it's the customers...and by customers that don't care I do not mean you and I, I mean companies that buy from them. Much like Grainger caters to industrial companies and hates individuals, same goes for the big supply houses. Unfortunately we have to deal with Praxair and Airgas for bottled gasses, no getting around that except to go with bottle exchanges like Tractor Supply and sometimes Lowes/HD have...which aren't cost effective.Hobart Stickmate LX235AC/160DCRanger 305GVictor 315 O/A rigHope to acquire in the next couple of years: Hypertherm PM45 and Dynasty 200DX
Reply:For the most part Airgas redefines the words dumb, dumber, and dumbest. The mindless CEO thinks he can get away with screwing the world over. It's no surprise the arrogance found behind the Cheshire, CT Airgas counter. Makes you want to puke the minute you walk in. Top down mentality. I will never set foot in that S-Hole again. If for some unknown reason you actually have a decent Airgas counter person - cherish the moment as it won't last much longer....
Reply:Originally Posted by Fab54For the most part Airgas redefines the words dumb, dumber, and dumbest. The mindless CEO thinks he can get away with screwing the world over. It's no surprise the arrogance found behind the Cheshire, CT Airgas counter. Makes you want to puke the minute you walk in. Top down mentality. I will never set foot in that S-Hole again. If for some unknown reason you actually have a decent Airgas counter person - cherish the moment as it won't last much longer....
Reply:I have a total of 10 bottles. Mostly Praxair. They wanted 67 bucks to exchange a c25. The local steel yard is also a Praxair exchange point so I go in there and the guy says " you need a receipt?" I said no. 40 bucks. Guess where I go all the time now.MM252 30AMaxstar 150STrailblazer 301gDialarc 2509100XX Hypertherm PM 30 Milwaukee4 BaldorsKohlswa shop anvilScott truck anvilStonewell farrier rig
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireThe practice of gouging customers without an account is the number one reason I dispise most lws houses. The excessive hazmat fees is another. Gouged on price... and the gouged again on a "tax". Personally I think the attorney general needs to put a stop to the practice as the state hazmat fund contribution is like a quarter of a percet on gross... like b and o tax.
Reply:Originally Posted by Fab54For the most part Airgas redefines the words dumb, dumber, and dumbest. The mindless CEO thinks he can get away with screwing the world over. It's no surprise the arrogance found behind the Cheshire, CT Airgas counter. Makes you want to puke the minute you walk in. Top down mentality. I will never set foot in that S-Hole again. If for some unknown reason you actually have a decent Airgas counter person - cherish the moment as it won't last much longer.... |
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发表于 2021-8-31 23:26:02