I recently went to Mesa Valley Pipe and Supply for propane and pipe. First let me say the manager and I believe an owner have been helpful over the last year I've been buying product from them for a remodeling project. I own a General Engineering Company. I went to fill a fairly new 5 gallon propane tank. The employee hooked it up and told me my tank was defective and I would need to buy a replacement tank at a charge of $25.00.
I agreed and paid for the replacment even though I had Two gallon of propane +- in my old tank. The replacment looked to be vintage WW2. I went directly home and tried to install it in my bbq. Apparently something was different with the base because it would not fit in the base slots properly. I immediately returned to the store, 15 minutes tops. I told the same employee that it wouldn't fit He was argumentative and said they are all the same and then asked me how much fuel I used out of the tank I was returning? (I felt like this guy was calling me a thief.) I was just in the store 15 minutes prior.
I again asked him to try again to refill ny tank he previously said was bad. He did and told me again my tank was bad and spraying propane. I asked for a refund for the replacment tank and was given all but the tax money back. When asked the employee told me this was policy. I'm not an attorney, but pretty sure holding TAX money from a return of defective merchandise is illegal. It was just a few bucks and I had other business to attend too, so not wort the hassle. I immediately took the same tank a half mile down the street to Upside Down Liquor and a young lady hooked up the tank and filled it with no leaks. No mention of bad valves, no rigging, no magic. Just a simple fill 3.2 gallon $13.00 and change. I went immediately back to Mesa Valley Pipe and Supply to let the employee know they must have some type of an issue and I would like my "TAX" refunded. The employee was extremely rude. Instead of trying to listen or help, he got very defensive and told me to read the sign no refunds, he didn't care what the Liquor store "rigged," and I could GET OUT OF "HIS STORE". This is not about a few bucks in tax money. This is about customer service. I've spent a few bucks in this store over the last year. They do have a good selection of pipe fittings and service parts and relatively close to my project. However I find it hard to do business with a company that doesn't train their employees in customer service. Perhaps a little employee training in customer service would go along way. read more
