Propane Tank Exchange Review: Home Depot Gets Two Thumbs Up

We’re having a crowd over for the fourth tomorrow and I realized we were a little low on propane.  The tank on the grill is running a bit low, and I have a second, half-full tank that could run out before the cooking is over.  Our third tank was completely empty.  (Don’t ask why we have three propane tanks… even I can’t remember). 

I tossed the empty container into the back of the Corolla (ensuring, of course, that the valve was shut tight), and headed off to Home Depot to exchange it for a new tank.  I had a good, fast experience that could basically be taken for granted.   In a world where its not always easy to get in and out of a store, this was worth noting.  Here’s what impresses me about Depot’s propane return system:

1. Home Depot exchanges, rather than re-fills, tanks.  Most of our tanks get pretty messy.  We forget to empty our grill’s drain pan cup; it overflows and covers the propane tank with some of the oil from whatever we’re cooking.  I like being able to hand the tank back over to Home Depot and get a fresh tank each time.
2. Home Depot has a kiosk-based self-exchange program now.  You don’t even have to go into the store to exchange a tank [usually].  Simply swipe your credit card at the kiosk, put your old propane tank into the appropriate bin, and the system automatically unlocks a new tank for you to take home.
3. Good customer service (tonight).  The kiosk machine wasn’t taking payments tonight so I had to make a quick trip inside (note: leave propane tanks outside or you’ll be asked to take it out.  I discovered this at a previous visit).  The cashier at the nearest check-out was very helpful, rung me up, came outside and made sure the system allowed me to return my tank, and receive a new-propane filled take. 

The whole process took no more than 5 minutes from the time I walked up to the kiosk, to the time I was taking my tank home.  When something like that happens on an otherwise very busy day, it’s a real treat.

Way to go, Depot.

What do you think?  Have you had a good experience with Home Depot?  Do you exchange your propane tanks or get them re-filled?