Latest Calor Press Release on Calor Lite
Comments
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Swapped my original Butane bottles (which I acquired FOC) for Propane over 20 years ago at no additional cost and then swapped them over time to the Calorlite as I needed refills, again at no additional cost. Have 3 lite bottles now so hopefully I will not need to swap them until the new bottles arrive so I don't get involved in this confusing debate🤔
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I already had to change one empty lite bottle for a heavier one and was given a refund on the price, but that may have been the dealer being decent rather than calor policy...
had to change the other lite bottle over too as the bit where the regulator goes was damaged so could not fit it at all... changed over and another £3 refunded
I've still got my original paperwork and they said they have been told that once the new bottles are lunched then I just need to show that when changing the bottles over and will be given a new version lite in its place... time will tell...
until then, we are sticking to one bottle in the van, too heavy to carry both 😕 But at least more places stock the heavy ones so changing over is easier
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I have a feeling that when the new lite bottles become available you will not get one without presenting the contract for your old one. We've got 3 Calorlites and like most people I suspect, no paperwork.
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Ditto.
Four Calorlites but no paperwork.
However, if when they are all empty, which might take a few years, I had to pay for a new cylinder agreement, that, even with my relatively low usage, might make the payback period for a Safefill cylinder far shorter and hence more attractive......
To temporarily leave the market (for lightweight cylinders) and then attempt to rejoin with a huge financial penalty to your previous customer base is probably not a good business plan by Calor........is it...??.
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I apologise in advance as I am on my "high horse"......We definitely paid a premium and have receipt from November 2009. We have had no help and no support from either the original caravan dealer or the Caravan and Motorhome club with regards to refunding this premium. I suspect it was max £20 but that is lost in exchanging or returning the bottles for a normal 6kg bottle as there is no separate exchange rate for the lite bottle!
My expectations and principles are clearly too high I expect an environmentally appropriate bottle with longevity.......a stockist who shall not be named, and someone I believe in this discussion suggested Calor has "form" in providing a product and then withdrawing it.
The Caravan and Motorhome clubs advice to me was to open a discussion and see members views on the matter and that there were talks "high up with Calor". Naively I thought the club itself should be collating such views on behalf of its members but here goes........any thoughts
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I am one of those who gave up on Calor but I did get as far as writing to my MP about the Monopoly and he put me onto the next person who deals with such things. It can only do good to lobby our MPs at least when they are back from summer hols!
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I think Calor must have changed their T&C's somewhere along the line. In the link I posted earlier for my supplier it's £5 extra for Lite rental agreement. but on the Calor Site they class the same size Butane, Propane and Lite in the same group, and as I read it you can swap any for any in the same group for no extra charge. There is also a refund policy on a sliding scale down to 25% to leave the agreement (if you had proof of when it started) but you have to claim that back from Calor, not the agent as far as I can see,
Like others, I have no paperwork (wasn't given any or asked to sign anything) and the receipt is long gone?
What I may do is dig out the smaller Butane one I have in and old fire in the shed and exchange that for propane and save my unused Lite for emergencies until this has sorted itself out.
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I'm hoping that my Calor Lite will last long enough for Safefill to sort out their refillers list as I don't want to make the change until I'm sure I can refill locally.
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Have had a reply from my email enquiry to Calor, please see quoted below particularly last paragraph which appears to have been added on in my original email. i am sorry, I had photographed a copy but somehow I can't upload it to this site. I am happy to forward the email to others although I have requested for this additional information to be made more public knowledge. Shame no other formal organisations we subscribe to could not address this and avoid me wasting a morning!
I hope it helps others.
Alison
"Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your online enquiry.
A decision has been taken to replace the 6kg lite cylinder with another lightweight product which we plan to bring to market in the future (Expected 2018). Actual release dates, and exchangeability for current bottles is not yet determined- There will be no ‘new’ 6kg lites entering the market in 2017 - existing cylinders in the market will continue to be available they are not being withdrawn
- To minimise customer disruption, we’ve invested heavily in standard 6’s for 2017 so there will be sufficient availability
What this means to the customer is:
Customers returning an empty 6kg lite should be offered one in return - If no 6kg lites are available the customer should be offered a 6kg in return
In summary the 6KG Lite bottles are no longer being manufactured however the bottles in circulation will continue to be available.
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Please note: we are aware some customers may have brought their original bottle and refill agreement at a more expensive cost then it currently is. If this is the case in your situation you will still get the correct refund provided you still have your original proof of purchase ( Cylinder refill Agreement)."0 -
Well i was one of the original purchasers, and as it was several years ago now I certainly do not have a proof of purchase still available. I doubt if I am alone in that!
It would be a little unfair of me to suggest that Calor must be aware of that, so I won't!
TF
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I wonder how much money is made manufacturers because of people not having their original documents and not just Calor? My original Calorlite paper "should" be with all the other caravan blurb adding weight to my van - but the person who bought it didn't ask for it I don't think - and I am not sure I would look for it for you Charlie you got too good a deal!
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From reading the thread it is apparent that calorlite users fall into two seperate camps, those that obtained their cylinders free of charge as swaps for other calor cylinders (like I did) or those who paid a cylinder rental agreement (CRA) for a Calorlite that was dearer than a "conventional" cylinder.
It is undoubtedly cynical of Calor to request that you turn up with your agreement, I'm sure that they realise few people will be able to find it after years of caravanning, although in the circumstances (of a customer requesting a refund for a returned Calorlite cylinder) I am not sure how else they would play it as many, like me didn't pay extra, they are hardly going to "refund" me are they....??
Looking at ALLY's email above, the critical bit seems to be.....
"Actual release dates, and exchangeability for current bottles is not yet determined"
We will see their decency as a company when their "exchangeability" criteria for the new cylinders is published. I for one am hoping that they will be exchanged on at least a like for like basis, a new lightweight cylinder for a Calorlight. I won't be reverting to old iron clad 6/7 kg cylinders as they are too heavy for me to comfortably handle and affect my payload. I would also be reluctant to pay for a new CRA both on principle and for financial reasons. I would rather put the money to the one off purchase of Safefill......
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How long have the Lites been on the market? It seems totally unacceptable practice for such a huge company. I am so glad I don't have to hold my breath for the outcome and I know where I would place my bet if anyone opens a book on it!
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Just a guess on my part but I would imagine that it is too early for Calor to make an exchange policy decision when they have no firm date for the introduction of the new cylinder. We don't even know what size it will be in terms of capacity, it may even have a different connection. There are too many unknowns yet. Rather than rely of the Club doing anything I would have thought personal representation direct to Calor would have more influence especially if they get enough people write to them.
David
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STOP using Calor, they are rip off merchants,
their gas is over £3.00 per kilo,
I have safefill and pay £1.00 to £1.20 per kilo, and save on nose weight
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It seems a no brainer to me too Dakota especially with the uncertainty that is showing in this thread and the apparent limited availability of the Lites even now. Unless someone is a really light user of course and not concerned with nose weight. The Club should have some clout with Calor since all sites I have been on use it - although I can't help wondering if they could get a better price from one of the many other suppliers of LPG out there. Running my heating for the house on LPG I know the advantages of shopping round - and Calor come back with an even better price when you do! Even so I go elsewhere because of the rip - off element.
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We replaced one or our two Calor Lite Propane cylinders a couple of months ago at the site where we store our caravan with no problem at all. In fact, they hadn't even heard that Calor are withdrawing them in the future. Having read about Safefill and Gaslow by reading posts on CT over the years, I had a look on the relevant web sites, and it seems there aren't any stockists within a reasonable distance of home so, I guess, we haven't a choice but to stay with Calor. Fortunately we don't use much gas, except for cooking.
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There should be stockist Nationwide soon bandgirl now that the big corps have lost their battle to keep Safefill in the cupboard. More garages are coming on line all the time and I know that something is happening with Morrisons at the moment- I would like to think it was because of emails sent by interested parties to Morrisons asking to fill Safefill Cylinders. Suddenly, a major supermarket is listening and I'm very hopeful that they will come on board. There is no excuse not to and once that happens, I think you will see the dam burst!
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Bandgirl I didn't even waste time looking for stockists bought online from Jacksons of old Arley free delivery ( I think it was free or I would have made the trip probably). Now the caravan place in Lincoln stocks and fills them. For future reference now you have a good supply.
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Am I right in thinking that Safefill Cylinders are just that, cylinders. Unlike Gaslow that provide the full insulation kit for a permanent fitting including external filler, etc? Do Safefill have the safety feature of not being able to be filled beyond 80% or is this just done visually?
David
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David, not used a Safefill but my understanding of these, and of the Gaslow equivalent called Direct Fill, is that they are, essentially, the same cylinders with the same protection.
the main difference is that, while Gaslow fixed bottles obviously remain in place in the locker and have an external filler connected by a hose to the cylinder, Safefill (and Direct Fill) have a filler aperture built into the top of the bottle which is designed for removal to a LPG point for filling.
the idea is, no doubt, that caravanners will (generally) not have their van with them, so will take the cylinder while out and about.
Again, in general, a MHer would fill while on travels.
these are just two examples of refillable cylinder systems, you can get a 'fixed' system with external filler for your MH from Gaslow, or Autogas 2000 (lightweight aluminium cylinders) or Gas-it etc..
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Do Safefill have the safety feature of not being able to be filled beyond 80% or is this just done visually?
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Why on earth didn't Calor sort out the new "lite" cylinder before cutting off supplies of the current one? I always carry two Calor "lite" cylinders so if I carry two of the ordinary 6Kg ones, thats a big increase in my nose weight. Poor show and poor planning Calor, its just a pity they don't have any serious competition in the market, otherwise I could see caravanners switching to an alternative Company for their gas.
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Speedwayfan that seems to be the way things are going - VERY bad customer relations by Calor. Not a company I want anything to do with. When there are safe and much cheaper alternatives available they will lose a lot of their credibility - but perhaps they are relying on the low use users hanging in there with them?
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The uncertainty of getting a Lite when you want one EasyT - and weight is pretty important to a lot of people. Those were two of my deciding factors when swapping. I got caught out running out at the Bakewell show (I was staying at the showground for the duration) - and had to take on a Flogas cylinder or Instagas because Calor was in the opposite direction and the town was gridlocked! Another factor was a bit personal in that my home heating was run by Calor and they had let me down several times by failing to deliver when promised!
I do know it isn't for everyone but I do think it's important that people know there is a choice. The number of people who have seen mine and said "oh never knew you could get anything other than Calor" shows that many people are unaware of the choices. Never mind the CTers who have now heard of the options.
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