Cost of Gas on CC Sites

EasyT
EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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edited August 2017 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Let me start of by saying that this is neither a whinge nor complaint of any sort. Just out of pure curiosity.

I use little gas and carry two 3.9kg propane. Probably use one and a half bottles a year and normally exchange on site as one runs out (rare event). From memory have paid around £16 normally. Used more gas on last holiday as our fridge 230v packed in. I ran out one bottle in Henley on Thames site. I normally pay out of my wallet but, as I had replaced one early on previous site that might well have been exchanged come Christmas OH passed e a £20 note and said 'use this'. The charge was £21 which almost caused me to drop cork legged.

What have others paid on site? I took caravan to dealership yesterday to sort fridge and exchanged a bottle for £16. I have no objection on site to paying a little more - maybe £17 or £17.50. Is this charge common now on CC sites? 

I called on a CC site near me last year as I had an empty bottle and the site I was on did not have what I wanted. As I was meeting friends for lunch at a nearby pub I phoned ahead and called at CC site Chester Fairoaks. I don't remember the price but it was unremarkable and so in line with my then expectation of £16 or so.

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  • Unknown
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    edited August 2017 #2
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2017 #3

    The charge for Calor gas on cc sites which is sold by the wardens who have to pay for it out of their own pockets,(the cc only expect it to be sold on sites) is the price that Calor have on their price list and cannot be sold at any other price, and the ammount of "profit" is minimul to the warden ,(i have seen the invoices),so cannot understand how this dealer could do it at the price you paidundecided may be the site thought it was a six kg price

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2017 #4

    may be the site thought it was a six kg price

    Maybe and was just curious as to what others paid on CC sites.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,869 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #5

    Assuming that you have not been charged for the wrong size cylinder? I don't know if this applies in this case but when this issue has been raised in the past the answer has been that wardens have to recover delivery costs charged by their local Calor Agent, although £5 seems rather a lot. We don't seem to have heard from many wardens recently on Club Together but it would be useful to get their perspective on it. I will accept that if Calor will deliver free it seems strange that a local agent won't but they all have their different pricing policies. Whilst we don't expect wardens to profiteer out of the sale of gas equally we should not expect them to be out of pocket so it would be interesting to have some feedback on this. Perhaps also a good point to make in a site review?

    David

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #6

    I would not have a problem if a warden made a few pounds profit ,if it saved me driving miles to find a stockist.

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2017 #7
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2017 #8

    That would be interesting if the site also sold Calor,undecided as it would be the same "franchise" who supplies the sitewink

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2017 #9

    I have no problem with warden staff making a couple of quid out of the deal. A week ago I took our Yaris into my local one man garage to sort out an engine warning. I was pretty sure what it was. Not important but the computer kit he uses is not cheap and neither are the updates. Earlier this year he spent 10 mins of his time sorting a problem. Earlier this year I had a problem that we discussed and he gave me some contact phone numbers to sort. Same charge - nowt. Always happy to help me out. This time I gave him a tenner. Good service should not go unrewarded IMO.

    I value the excellent site staff on CC sites.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,403 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #10

    We're on a CL near Fordingbridge at the moment and have just run out. I drove over to C&CC site at Verwood for a replacement - it would have cost £17.95, which is fair enough, but they didn't have any of that size! Yesterday we drove past Sandy Balls so I decided to pop in there as we didn't have a spare bottle available. They could oblige - cost - £22.99! surprised

    I paid it rather than drive around looking for an alternative, but, lesson learned, must always have a spare on board.

    (I know, safefill would be much cheaper but we honestly don't use enough to make the conversion worth while. wink)

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2017 #11
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  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2017 #12

    I know, safefill would be much cheaper but we honestly don't use enough to make the conversion worth while. 

    At 1.5 bottles a year (around 6kg) would I live long enough and caravan long enough to make it worthwhile when factoring in  the convenience factor? 

  • Unknown
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2017 #14

    I think you are wrong with the stock now pay later on sites,i understand it is pay on delivery from the calor franchise,

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2017 #15

    In the past travelled with single 3.9kg. Spare in garage. Less than half full take full one. In December took both. Present outfit always carry two.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,403 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #16

    Yes normally have a spare but we're only away for a week and I was pretty sure we'd have enough to last.

    Moral of the story is obviously to eat out more when we're away! 

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #17

    purely for comparison....Go outdoors prices (normal retail, not discounted rate)

    3.9kg £15.99

    6kg £20.99

    13kg £27.99

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2017 #19
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  • Randomcamper
    Randomcamper Club Member Posts: 1,062 ✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #21

    Moderator Comment -  inappropriate comments removed. 

  • Unknown
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  • harryb
    harryb Forum Participant Posts: 1,536
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    edited August 2017 #23

    Check prices here. Note no price for 6kg lite bottles now

    https://www.calor.co.uk/shop/gas-bottles.html

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited August 2017 #24

    I used to have different cylinders - Calor, Flogas and Instagas - all three replaceable in Market Rasen but not in various other parts of the country when I ran out - I concluded other brands were not really viable due to difficulty replacing. 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2017 #25

    Not really practical for me. As said use 6 kg max in around 4 months touring. I use 3.9kg Calor bottles as they are easier for me. So normally around £25 a year, available on most sites throughout the UK without difficulty. 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,869 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #26

    Alan

    Have you thought about moving to a BP Light? The 5kgs bottle I imagine would be no heavier than the 3.9kgs, it might even be lighter. Homebase/Bunnings sell and exchange them and they have fair few shops around the UK. I use a 10kgs BP Light in my motorhome which replaced a Calor 13kgs which I found too heavy.

    David 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2017 #27

    I had David. It isn't just the weight though David. I can handle the 3.9kg quite easily. The problem comes with my spine when fitting into the front locker and bending to do so. The BP Light seem bulkier to place. With the 3.9kg I don't have to much faff with undoing the retaining strap and refitting. It simply slides up over the bottle and down when refitting. Having a bottle that is 2'' taller and wider would seem more awkward to place. I discounted the 6kg Calor lightweight for the same reason as it is similar weight to 3.9kg standard but bulkier.

    The only time I have had a problem with the 3.9 Calor was earlier this year when I was stupid enough to walk to reception with the empty and walk back with the full. Probably 200yds but I ached all day afterwards. smile I usually take the car. I can lift a fair weight David and probably more than my eldest daughter. It is body position that makes the difference. 

    The other factor is availability. Calor is available on the door step when on site.