[I Are Baboon]

We need to sign up for oil service. A guy stopped by the house yesterday and quoted us $1.499/gallon plus $225/year for service (first year free service). Seeing how I've never had to use an oil company before, I am clueless as to prices.

The people who sold us the house were nice enough to leave us a full 275 gallon tank.

 

[douglas]

$1.49 seems pretty good

they "left" you 275 gallons? in NY you have to pay the sellers for watever oil is left at closing time

 

[I Are Baboon]

$1.49 seems pretty good

they "left" you 275 gallons? in NY you have to pay the sellers for watever oil is left at closing time

Well, we probably paid for it. I'm sure it was listed on the final house contract. Have you seen one of those things? (duh, of course you have! ) My lawyer said "Sign here." so I did.

 

[dan-o]

Well, we probably paid for it. I'm sure it was listed on the final house contract. Have you seen one of those things? (duh, of course you have! ) My lawyer said "Sign here." so I did.

If you look on your contract you will see how much the last tank of oil cost. Your tank/burner probably has the name of the former owners supplier. Also, check the burner service tags (affixed by law to/near burner). Most likely a single company has been servicing your burner in the past and there's some merit to continuing with them. Oil prices are generally the same in a given area and service is what sets places apart......man, I know way too much about this, time to move someplace warmer.

 

[splat]

When You sign up with an Oil dealer ,Make sure you "get" at least 100 Free gallons .


don't just jump at the first one. with 275 gallons , in the summer you should easily be able to last a couple of Months , that said. I switched to gas :devil:

 

[MtnBikerChk]

If you look on your contract you will see how much the last tank of oil cost. Your tank/burner probably has the name of the former owners supplier. Also, check the burner service tags (affixed by law to/near burner). Most likely a single company has been servicing your burner in the past and there's some merit to continuing with them. Oil prices are generally the same in a given area and service is what sets places apart......man, I know way too much about this, time to move someplace warmer.

it looks like the last 2 years they were with the same co but before that they were with another - hard to tell I think some of the companies may have merged/changed names etc.

yes, we paid for the oil in the tank

 

[douglas]

If you look on your contract you will see how much the last tank of oil cost. Your tank/burner probably has the name of the former owners supplier. Also, check the burner service tags (affixed by law to/near burner). Most likely a single company has been servicing your burner in the past and there's some merit to continuing with them. Oil prices are generally the same in a given area and service is what sets places apart......man, I know way too much about this, time to move someplace warmer.

hmmm, I switched from one company to another saving almost $0.20 a gallon

about $20-$40 savings per fillup

 

[MMcG]

hmmm, I switched from one company to another saving almost $0.20 a gallon

about $20-$40 savings per fillup

Bring Back the Peace Sign!

 

[N8 v2.0]

We don't use heating oil here.

How much do you typically use in the NE winters?

 

[dan-o]

definately call around for the best price and ask around for recommendations on companies. At my last house we got a great "deal" (.99 oil, service etc) but the company really sucked (delivery scheduling problems..we ran out of oil several times), prices went way up (above others) and the service was a joke.

 

[MtnBikerChk]

definately call around for the best price and ask around for recommendations on companies. At my last house we got a great "deal" (.99 oil, service etc) but the company really sucked (delivery scheduling problems..we ran out of oil several times), prices went way up (above others) and the service was a joke.

we will. but I must say, I was pretty impressed with this guy. First, he lives nearby - gave us his address! 2nd he knew the neighborhood and the neighbors. I may play a little - "can you beat this price?" game. :devil:

 

[dan-o]

www.newenglandoil.com/index.asp

This site gives pricing and company listings for all of NE.

 

[MtnBikerChk]

www.newenglandoil.com/index.asp

This site gives pricing and company listings for all of NE.

it would be a good site if it was updated

http://www.newenglandoil.com/connecticut/zone6.asp?type=0

 

[Borregokid]

I never heard of a service charge. That $225 sounds pretty crazy. The price of $1.49 is pretty good though. There are two grades of heating oil. The higher grade is the same as diesel that goes in trucks only there is no tax. Theoretically it should be 47 cents a gallon cheaper here in Washington than the pump price for diesel, but its not. There are three dealers here in my town. I think they get together once a week and set prices for the coming week.

 

[TreeSaw]

We use propane for everything in our house and it's not very expensive. When we first signed up for service, they gave us an introductory rate of 0.99 for the first year and then it went to the going rate (which I think is now up to about $1.75). We pay a "tank rental" fee (which is our service fee and Ibelieve it's under $50) and that's pennies compared to the $225 service fee your guy wants.

Definately shop around, but there are substantial merits to going with the local guy so give him a chance to meet/beat the competitors!

 

[dan-o]

it would be a good site if it was updated

http://www.newenglandoil.com/connecticut/zone6.asp?type=0

Sorry about that, only checked the Mass page....

 

[Tame Ape]

Not that I can help with rates, but my company works with the oil dealer themselves to help hedge their earnings from season to season.

Interestingly, the only difference between home heating oil and diesel automotive fuel seems to a strong red dye in the heating oil. Why the dye? For tax purposes!

Its there so that when a truck gets checked out and the dye is present they get sacked for using heating oil and not paying the requisite fuel taxes.

 

[dan-o]

I never heard of a service charge. That $225 sounds pretty crazy. .

I bet that's a service CONTRACT not fee. It gets you no charge service visits/labor.

 

[Brian HCM#1]

No oil for us in california, all natural gas

 

[I Are Baboon]

This thread is very useful and I really do appreciate the feedback! (keep it coming)

Now how about someone telling me what they are paying for their oil?

 

[N8 v2.0]

Should be an interesting winter for y'all... with crude oil futures over $49/barrel and expected to hit $50 shortly...

 

[dan-o]

$1.44, salem ma

 

[I Are Baboon]

$1.44, salem ma

COOL. Thanks. (very helpful posts, dan-o )

 

[MtnBikerChk]

We use propane for everything in our house and it's not very expensive. When we first signed up for service, they gave us an introductory rate of 0.99 for the first year and then it went to the going rate (which I think is now up to about $1.75). We pay a "tank rental" fee (which is our service fee and Ibelieve it's under $50) and that's pennies compared to the $225 service fee your guy wants.

Definately shop around, but there are substantial merits to going with the local guy so give him a chance to meet/beat the competitors!

the $225 that you are all referring to is a service contract. It includes all parts and labor for any service we might need and it includes a once a year cleaning. that's pretty standard for CT.

 

[Ian F]

A few years ago I signed up for a pre-purchase agreement for 500 gallons at $.99/gal. I go through about one 250 gallon tank per year (small house; efficient heater; programmable t-stat). I made out like a bandit on that deal... I was paying 99 cents when list price was over $2. neaky:

Last year, I forgot to sign a prepurchase agreement and paid about $1.99/gal during the season peak. Oops.

My service agreement was $200.