The Blue Rhino Scam

Having a spare tank means that I can take advantage of choosing when and where to refill the empty one. I can wait until I have an errand that brings me close to a place where I can get my tank filled as opposed to having to take the exchange tank which will be overpriced and have potential issues like one of the Blue Rhino ones I got recently at Walmart that was leaking where the valve screwed into the tank (so much for inspecting the tanks).

Got an empty one recently refilled at Costco for $6.25 appox.  So even if not completely filled it's a great price.
Also, even though the Pod has a low-pressure adaptor for a grill, I'll likely get a WeberQ and throw an extra tank in the back of the truck for the grill.  Then if/when the Pod tank runs out while camping I'll have a back-up to just switch out.

I used an exchange tank once, never again, after hooking the tank up, it only took about an hour and my fridge burner was clogged. There was some crap in the tank.

Both Costco and Camping World near me (and other places I have been) have a gauge and you pay for the amount pumped into the tank, not a flat rate. I am not talking about a tank exchange at Costco. They fill your tank while you watch. The same thing goes for Camping World. That means a partially filled tank can be topped off since the pump will show the amount added.

It isn't just Blue Rhino. AmeriGas does the same thing. If you do a quick search for "Class Action Blue Rhino," you will see a number of web pages dealing with this. It was in 2008 that Blue Rhino and AmeriGas reduced the fill from 17 lbs to 15 lbs. The settlement for the class action that allowed for $7.50 per tank (if one had receipts) or $7.50 total if one did not have receipts closed in 2012. There is one filed in 2014 alleging price fixing between Blue Rhino and AmeriGas. I think that one is still active.

The thing that gets me is that we are "purchasing" a tank of gas. It isn't like a deposit that can be refunded. If we get an old tank that is going to need inspection and testing before it can be filled, then it pretty much has to go back to them. The last one I got was at least made relatively recently, so it will have several years before it will need to be tested and requalified. One of the tanks I saw the last time I did an exchange was dated 1999 and I did not see anything indicating that it had been requalified. I left that one alone.

The DOT web site has an interesting article on the topic of inspection and requalifiation.
Requalification Guidance for Propane Cylinders

I don't plan to go back for exchange anymore. Costco fills propane tanks for a very reasonable price. Camping World also has a discount for Good Sam members. There are alternatives that are much less expensive.

As for the "useless tank" with the old style connector, Blue Rhino will take that connector off and replace it with a new one with the overfill prevention device. Then they will fill it and "sell" it to Walmart or Lowe's who will in turn "sell" it to you if it passes inspection.