Helping others form a co-op

[Cheryl Atkinson-Derman]

Thank you for saving us so much money! We just had our second full up and it feels so good :)
People in Boulder Creek are asking about starting a co-op there. Who can they contact in this co-op to learn more about the process?

Thanks!
Cheryl

[Bruce Korb]

Hi Cheryl,

It basically seems like the easiest way is to just go to Ferrell Gas
and say, "Here is a copy
of the deal you made with Bonny Doon folks, will you make the same
deal with me?"
They _almost_ will. The 40 cent first fill up discount was taken off
the table. Maybe if
you ask for it. Several of us on Redwood Drive, Santa Cruz signed up.
Thank you, guys,
for doing the leg work (keyboard work?). Perhaps next time I can help out....:)

BTW, you might also suggest a neighborhood Google Group for your Boulder Creek
friends. We've found it _VERY_ handy.

Cheers - Bruce

[Cheryl Atkinson-Derman]

Thanks, Bruce! I have passed along your thoughts.

Cheryl

[gregg schlaman]

yes we have our own google group,  althoguh I find it more awkward to work with than Yahoo- probably a learning curve thing ;-)

On Wednesday, December 5, 2012 2:14:21 PM UTC-8, Bruce wrote:

[gregg schlaman]

I am the person who has started this process with the intent of a co-op for boulder creek and possibly the SLV.  I really appreciate all the work you guys have done and hope you don't mind that I have been learning from what you have done!  thanks

Gregg

[Sigrid Oseberg]

I am pleased! !!
No need to "reinvent the wheel"
In fact, we modeled our group using what Rodeo Gulch had done :)
I paid nearly half what I paid last year in Feb for twice as much propane - a 75% savings! when I first filled in Nov last year.

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[Kim Sterling]

And so it goes.  Ferrelgas was the only one to understand the potential.  They deserve the business. yay! thanks for all your work.

Kim

Sent from my iPad

[Bonnie]

To all
I shared our information with a co-worker who lives up in Boulder Creek. They contacted Ferrell and Ferrell gave them the same deal that we have. Long-term, I think we want to know how many customers have gone to Ferrell.

Bonnie

[gregg schlaman]

This is one reason why I'd like it if people would join one of the groups so that we can try and keep track of this.  to be honest,  MPS and Dassels seem to be pretty reasonable with their prices but in the end I don't think any of them can match ferrelgas right now.  The important aspect of this is to keep monitoring the prices to ensure the lowest price is what you are getting from the company you have.  Yes,  it is a pain to switch suppliers if you rent a tank... so maybe the next discussion should be about how to buy your own tank (if that hasn;t been started yet ;-)

Gregg

[joeysselstein]

Hi Greg,

If you read the RFP the pricing structure that we sent out to bid was a set amount over the "TARGA" price.  This insures consistent pricing and any spikes that would be encountered would be visible to group members prior to receiving a delivery.  I can guarantee that any supplier can beat Ferrell's price, it is a decision not on the part of the other suppliers with SIGNIFICANTLY higher prices at a corporate level.  As for purchasing your own tank, that was discussed and in general based solely on current tank rental (not taking gas pricing into effect)  it would take approx. 35+ years of renting a 500 gallon tank at the current rate of $45/year to pay for a brand new tank.  Most people that I spoke to have decided to rent tanks and agree that the tank transfer process has been pretty easy.  I hope this helps!

-Joe

[gregg schlaman]

Hi Joe,  thanks for the info.  Did you mean "can't guarantee?"

I agree on the tank rental versus procurement.  however, folks renting with other companies aren't paying only $45 a year ( my vendor was trying to charge $90 until I complained and they reduced it to $50) so I can understand wanting to own.  I was more interested in what buying one costs.

thanks again!

Gregg

[Matthew Werner]

I joined the BDoon PUG group, then called Ferrell, and they signed me up at the co-op rate, no questions. I live on Glen Canyon, just outside Scotts Valley, in the county. I am passing info to my neighbor, and would be glad to cooperate with others who want to make sure we continue to get fair prices (and hopefully good service. My one concern with Ferrell is how fast they are expanding. Hopefully they can keep up. They just took possession of a property in Moss Landing, which I believe will become their distribution point for this area. An improvement over Los Banos).

Matt

[gregg schlaman]

I had a long discussion with the Ferrellgas district manager the other day.  Ferrellgas is the number two propane supplier in the country,  behind Amerigas. The main difference between the two ( minus the pricing-LOL) is that Ferrellgas is employee owned.

My only other experience with them is via my parents who have used them for twenty or so years.  They have always had great pricing, and it wasn't until I moved into "propane country" that I noticed the price differential!  for several years my parents have told me how cheap they get propane,  and it frustrated me.  I just assumed it was because of where we live.  I finally got fed up last December,  found this group and started investigating the pricing.  WOW- what an eye opener!  $1.50-$2 differential between the highest and the lowest!  I have since moved to Ferrellgas and have started the Boulder Creek Co-op.  we are in the early stages of our group. 

My main concern is some of the price quotes I have read here regarding dassells.  when you guys first started up someone posted ferrellgas pricing at something under $2 gallon and Dassells at $2.50 something.  This disturbs me.  Right now we have many people jumping ship from Amerigas to Dassells.  I fear in six months they will be charged much more than ferrellgas will offer with their 85 cents over wholesale deal.  has anyone else noticed that dassells was that much out of bed last year?  right now dassells is about 10 cents higher than ferrellgas.

thanks for all your hard work!

Gregg