CO2 is everywhere...why does it cost so darn much? I cover the top 5 most popular CO2 refill exchange programs, but give a much better alternative at the end.
I'm in Northern Ireland. The only gas suppliers to the beverage (or any) industry do not sell to consumers. When I found one that would 2 hours drive away they said that they needed to test the return cylinder AND they needed to have a matching cylinder in stock full. Then I would have to pay the deposit for the full cost of the cylinder until mine is inspected, tested and returned to service, I get it back minus any repair work, like gaskets and a small fee for testing it! The only other suppliers are for welding gas. We are told it's all imported on the same ship, beverage, medical, industrial are all the same source. Welding gas subscriptions are also a fortune. It's like £70 deposit and a £12 a month bottle rental and £50 a refill (20lb tank). So.... I have been using out-of-date fire-extinguishers and for a while was having them refilled or swapped easily. Then the place shut. Took me a while to find another supplier, so I bought 3 full 8lb FEs off him for £30. That should last me a year maybe. Using a siphon tube source bottle comes with risks of course.
I'm in Northern Ireland. The only gas suppliers to the beverage (or any) industry do not sell to consumers. When I found one that would 2 hours drive away they said that they needed to test the return cylinder AND they needed to have a matching cylinder in stock full. Then I would have to pay the deposit for the full cost of the cylinder until mine is inspected, tested and returned to service, I get it back minus any repair work, like gaskets and a small fee for testing it!
The only other suppliers are for welding gas. We are told it's all imported on the same ship, beverage, medical, industrial are all the same source.
Welding gas subscriptions are also a fortune. It's like £70 deposit and a £12 a month bottle rental and £50 a refill (20lb tank).
So.... I have been using out-of-date fire-extinguishers and for a while was having them refilled or swapped easily. Then the place shut. Took me a while to find another supplier, so I bought 3 full 8lb FEs off him for £30. That should last me a year maybe.
Using a siphon tube source bottle comes with risks of course.
Nice metaphor. The razor/blade model is the "nickname" for the business practice used by... well razor and blade sellers.
Thanks! Yeah, it seemed to fit quite nicely 🙌
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Just to give you an idea how incredibly these companies rip you off. At Aldi Germany a new, filled cylinder costs 20 € and a refill 6 €.
Yeah, it’s an interesting model for sure. Not my fav