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Show atelier igi a eb Senta sh chair races at Wasatch High reminded. like that’s 57 cents a gallon more or me that I had not yet sent a letter to 39.6 percent more. will be treasured in their memories forever. Unfortunately too many people with. As I’m writing this, it seems a quite bit like some of our “elected” are unable to see beyond the wheelchairs and get to know the unique personalities of those with disabilities. As the grandparents of Jade Murray, we are grateful to those like Officer Lucky who create special moments where the playing field is leveled and the experience of being a winner is possible. We also are appreciative of the other people _at Wasatch High who tend to the spe- officials, once you’re stuck with them they decide they can do, say and ole boys? than any of their competitors. Yet, they still charge the highest pa to the local consumers. _ Their order taker, Debbie told me “to be hones...” (yes, Suburban, we want you to be honest). “Our prices are a LITTLE BIT higher.” No kidding. What’s a little bit higher? 5-10 cents a gallon? Or maybe 5-7 percent higher? Let’s try 57 cents per gallon higher. Let’s be HONEST here...that’s 256 percent higher than Summit Propane out of Coalville or Big T out of Duchesne. Here’s the numbers...We were told by our friendly smoke blower, Debbie that the highest price Suburban charged last winter was $2.15 per gallon. OK. Correction, Debbie, it was a ea ce ms f . ee mm mene Ae | dey ee ee Tren ae Amber Stephens | Circulation/MIS Security PRESIDENT/CEO | . Dylan Stephens Ramona — Michael J. Kearns é oi | i Erin McGuinness Books rir my , | a e Aaron Taylor” Art Director— of their older tanks just get filled up and have small leaks. I had one. I have smelled numerous others. My neighbors had a _ leaker tank and he’s only up here once a month or so. How is he or the other 200 weekender TL’s customers to know. What a great idea...sell the fuel at inflated prices and put some in slowly leaking tanks. You can move more product that way. It seems that the trained technicians are the secretaries who answer the phones; they are trained to put up a smoke screen. _How about another fine example of their superior service. A friend of mine called Suburban from his cabin near the entrance of Timberlakes, which was getting low on propane. It had snowed some 5 inches the night before. This is what I overheard: “Can you come up today and fill our tank on Cedar Bark Lane? Our tank is pretty low.” Your road is not on the plowed route is it?” “Yes it is.” “Well, it wasn’t last year.” “You can get to it today, we just drove in.” “You’re sure? Well how about the black top road that doesn’t always get plowed.” “It’s been done too, and we drove up on that road to get here.” “Is Lake Creek Road clear, | | months and With their should be. at less cost CONTRIBUTORS Sam Allen ¢ Matt Homburser " crisis fears/hype in recent raised prices arbitrarily. “nationwide” system they able to buy their product STAFF WRITERS Kirsten Shaw e Paul Swenson'e Tim Westby — apr kA AP franchised So many . Sa The _ nationally Suburban has played off the energy “better service?” tank, valve and fill the something Suburban’s — a4 Sports Editor LAER look like he’s from Heber. They'll pressure test the and regulators and come tank with propane. Is there we're missing here about Office Manager Education Editor Dan Stephens Derek Jensen Dixie Bishop Paulette Tillman Russ Riggs © ea anal duct your business. Your price gouging that has gone on is nearly criminal. And it’s gone on far too long. Your poster boy in the ad by the way doesn’ te the same _ services. Editor & Publisher Managing Editor a customers until I learned how you con- offer -exactly MEMBER: UTAH PRESS ASSOCIATION/ASSOCIATED PRESS ’ No, I don’t work for: Questar or one of your competitors. I WAS one of your propane companies and they seem to editor@wasatchcountycourier.com we don’t want to send our drivers out GOT \ GRIPE? Let us know. Write to us. We’d love to hear from you. Send your letter to the editor to: arte Too bad you haven’t shown any to us. (435) 654-2661 ° (435) 654-2531(f) ota latest Midway, UT 84049 Wasatch County’s Source for News eh When I asked a they have eo highest prices when their operating costs should be the lowest the smoke 210 East Main, Suite 202 l their Olde Swiss Square do business.” r on “image management” advertisement. Nice piece of marketing propaganda. (See last week’s Courier). “Integrity_ Counts” was the headline. Yes Suburban... Integrity DOES count. WASATCH COUNTY geet are good Ce congratulate Globally. Live Biblically. Act locally. J. Railton Timberlakes world. Let’s start here at home. Think 7 Wasatch County Courier 1) East Main, Suite 202 ¢ Midway, UT 84049 e (435) 654-2531 fax Or email it to: letters@wasatchcountycourier.com tec mney Propane to unwilling to pay for this since 1.) I was the renter. 2.) I was never told I needed one and 3.) I was charged without my aiden want live. Yes, there are bigger issues in the eer Suburban I accountability in the community we new one.” I told them the old regulator seemed to work fine. I told them I was niMeliminemits eatin sree a First tional $100,I called to ask what it was for. “We replaced the regulator with a " boys on two occasions when asked how they justify their rates, “we have a complete staff of trained technicians. We do offer better service: In fact, they (propane competitors) don’t offer NEAR the service that we do.” Oh really? | I called several of the other | Propane propaganda Let me just say thanks to the Couner that they promote freedom of speech and are trying to encourage public input to raise the levels of personal, professional and governmental wee Suburban help to put fun and acceptance Lana B. Riddle, Ph.D. gallons avg. of fill X 57 cents = $171,000.) They boast in their ad, “That s how we started to blow in my face. I was told into our commitment to do our best to satisfy you, everyday.” Not that day. “When you need propane, we deliver.” charge whatever they want and not be held accountable. Maybe some of the cial needs of the disabled students and their school day. ness of “customer satisfaction” as their Would that be OK?” - Hey, let’s go back to the ad: “Just Or how about this one. Last sum- oe authorization. Suburban, af this point, decided to waive the surprise charge. To sum up this pathetic attempt at public image management.. .If Suburban Propane is really in the busiblatantly deceptive ad states, then why. not reimburse the 57 cents per gallon overcharge gouged out during Nov. Feb. Near as I-can tell, that should be about $171,000 (1,000 customers X 300 mer, after receiving a bill for an addi- a 7 had the opportunity to enjoy competing. The ribbons and metals were beautiful and the fun enjoyed by the students ETT sro dents confined to wheelchairs. For those moments they had the center stage and EE halla ox. and excitement into the lives of the stu- EDEN Seen special effort he put into the event. It isn’t often that special events are centered on students with disabilities so when Officer Lucky organized the wheelchair races it brought a lot of fun should call our driver to see if he thinks it’s OK.” “What if we came down to your office with our own plow truck and -escorted you up here? ORE at err ation for Officer Lucky and all of the How can a company continue in business that way? Well here’s how they do it. Once you sign up with Suburban to lease one of their tanks, you're stuck. (And by the way, when you try to dump them they charge you a fee.) They are the only ones who can fill that tank according to the contract they require you to sign. They also five you a 99 cent per gallon teaser first time fill up to encourage you to sign up. Then it seems they can charge you ‘whatever they think they can get away I really want to get some propane to keep my pipes from freezing.” “Well, I ee yeh”, Si entRt tem aterm: Litter the editor regarding our deep appreci- Ri mR mint SAE _Amerigas was $1.60 per gallon. Looks ee a tn fmt petNl tae sa Keita last week sd a ion article me a tela, BOM amaattnle ead 4°21 newspaper there today if it’s not good conditions.” “Yes, I understand your concern, but I just drove up here on those roads and i ee Lhe about Officer Lucky and the wheel- age tn Mn ee — actually $2.17. Remember your ad says; “Integrity Counts.” Highest price charged by Summit Propane or Nb asd FET ge SORA ener Thanks to Lucky a |