Airgas buys out Abco

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Abco was a family owned business since the early 20's.I bought from Abco for the last 30 years and was always very happy with service.Now Abco has been bought by Airgas and I'm wondering if service will change.Never done business with Airgas but I've read both positive and negative  opinionsof them from members here.Also wondering if they will continue selling/supportingMiller.Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite
Reply:IIRC Airgas is Miller's biggest distributor.Millermatic 200Hobart Handler 120Victor O/A & Ramco BandsawLincoln 225 ACSnapOn AD HoodMiller XMT304/22AHypertherm Powermax 1650 G3Lincoln Idealarc DC600 w/Extreme 12 VSMiller Digital Elite "Joker"
Reply:Your screwed, find another local vendor. BTW I hate Airgas with a passion.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:National welders was a great company before airgas bought them out. I don't think to much of the radnor brands they carry now. Just my 2cents.Miller Bobcat 250Westinghouse ac arc welderIts better to be hated for who you are than liked for who your not.
Reply:I get good service from my local Airgas but thats cuz i have a good relationship with the manager but I recently have started switching over to buying my gas from a locally owned LWS for 2 reasons,  one they have better prices than airgas and 2 they will up just about any gas mix I want in any size...  Airgas can't because they don't have a SKU in their systems for those smaller mixes.  I cannot get a Spray Arc mix smaller than 125CF at airgas...   He does give me a good discount on wire/electrodes and hard goods so I will still go to Airgas for that.   I think the last 44lb roll of .045 I got at about $1.55/lbTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Get in touch with the nearest competitor to your new Airgas store. Let them know you are interested in a second source for goods.Airgas bought out my local weld supplier. They were ok for a while then started playing games.If you are in any kind of gas contract, be very, very, careful. It took me a while to let mine expire. In fact send a notice of cancellation immediatly indicating the expiration date of your contract. I now get my gas half the price that my Airgas contract escalated to. Needless to say I am not with Airgas even though they are 5 mins away. I have never even been to my current supplier's shop, they are that good.They might be just fine, but it would be good to have a backup. Like Ronald Reagan said about the Soviets, "Trust, but Verify".Good Luck!Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:yes service will change,  you will hate it.    I would start looking for other places to spend your hard earned dollars.They will come into your area and start driving down the prices on EVERYHITNG until the point anyone else in the area simply can not compete and will be forced to shutter.   Then they will jam the prices back up on everything and have you over a barrel.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Air gas took over my ABCO, and service has changed, the main guys that I dealt with are gone, not sure if they were run out or just left but I have found they all went to Maine Oxy so I will give them a try."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:Which store were you using?I've been using the waterford store(which I think is the first).Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite
Reply:Kolot, I use Maine Oxy and am very happy with them.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:The people on the other side of the counter matter more than the name on the door.If the familiar faces start to disappear, you might consider doing the same.
Reply:well in the case of airgas the people behind the counter are crippled by the over structure of management.  Even the ones with the most give a crap become disenfranchised by airgas corporateVantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:I used the South Windsor branch, Maine Oxy is just down the street on South Nutmeg.      When the good guys get bent over and brain washed we call that " drinkin the cool aid"  one day they are OK but before you know it they start to sound like the corporate monster. Once you sell your soul theres no coming back so I won't be back,  ABCO-RIP    Tozzi, they have a very nice and well stocked showroom, first thing that caught my eye was a reel craft O/A torch hose reel with 50 ft. he quoted me around buck sixty, thought that was reasonable.Last edited by kolot; 10-17-2011 at 12:54 PM."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 hate airgas too . lot`s of change`s . first day they took over they caned 20 former airgas employes
Reply:well look at it this way...............when you walk in the door and the regular folks are not there but you still need something see what happens. if you are not satisified well there is the door and your money is in your pocket, go someplace else and find a place you are satisified with..........real simple you and your money help keep their doors open, if you leave and others do then guess what, they will have to figure out what the problem is................WELCOME HOME TO ALL VIET-NAM VETERANS
Reply:Originally Posted by 2007300Di hate airgas too . lot`s of change`s . first day they took over they caned 20 former airgas employes