Corparation Virus spreading ?

[ptsideshow]

Was just up at the LWS now Airgas from the multi location independent it use to be. They told me they got an email from corporate that in August a across the board 7% increase mostly in hard goods and some gas. As propane went up again locally today they said.

Have the rest of you noticed that Praxair and Airgas are buying up the LWS? Not much any one can do, but hope the prices don't get crazy!:eek:

Praxair bought Wilson welding gas over a year and half. but just got around to changing the signage, And airgas bought out Smith welding Jan 1 08 and just changed the signs.
Is the same happening were your at?

[hankj]

Nope.

The two "small boys" actually have shops in a few cities and are pretty well entrenched around here.

There's an Airgas close, but there seems to be enough business to keep everyone happy.

Hank

[rottsrule]

i used to go through aga also known as linde they were very good to deal with then they were bought out by airgas who also bought out our airtech welding store,wich also was very good to deal with and now we are stuck with airgas,only 1 other supplier left northernwelding wich is okay as long as airgas dont buy them out to.northern has really picked up the ball and ran with it they still care about the little guy and there prices are better than airgas.a friend of mine has a close relative who works for airgas and lets just say its funny to hear about airgases arrogance against caring about the smaller accounts as they really dont.thats our local airgas i cant speak of all locations though.hopefully yours is better.

[ptsideshow]

Airgas fired half the employees of the old company. As of right know things haven't changed to much.

[pipe hand]

airgas bought 2 of the 3 lws here in nc it took a long time for them to change signs here service is down to

[platypus20]

Airgas has a outlet in Syracuse, and is the small fish in the pond, the other 2 LWS are both family owned units, one with 2 stores and the other with 18 stores. Most of the time if you call the local Airgas store, you get the office in Binghamton, as the calls roll over to them, there were 4 people working out of the Syracuse office, the truck driver, 2 outside salemen and a counter guy. Mostly its a order center, they stock next to nothing except gas, call today and pick it up in a day or two. The pricing is on the high side on everything, they seem to rely on major accounts and keep the store open, so they have a place to store their gas tanks. Rarely use them, they are third on the locally bought option list.

Jack