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Heating Oil: Delivery Options
The two basic options are Automatic Delivery or Will Call Delivery. Automatic Delivery puts the burden of keeping your oil tank full on the dealer. They monitor your consumption with their computer and fill it on their schedule. Customers need to have an established credit account or a balance with the dealer to qualify to become an Automatic Customer.
This is the most efficient mode for delivering oil, so WE URGE ALL MEMBERS TO STRONGLY CONSIDER BECOMING AUTOMATIC CUSTOMERS. With efficiency being our key selling point with dealers, the more Automatic Customers we have the better it is when we negotiate new contracts.
The second option, Will Call Delivery, puts the burden of keeping your oil tank full on you the consumer. We urge you not to let your tank go less than a quarter of a tank of oil, particularly during periods of cold weather. When you need oil, you are required to call and place your order with your dealer. Most dealers require 24 to 48 hours notice before they will deliver to a Will Call Customer. Unless you have a balance or credit with your dealer, you will also need to be at home when the delivery is made. If you are not there when a truck stops by, you might be subject to a surcharge for them to return.
Being a Will Call Customer is best for consumers who want to monitor their oil tanks, like playing the market, or are unable to establish an account or credit balance.
Minimum deliveries for Will Call Customers are 100 to 150 gallons depending upon the dealer. Cash is required for the first delivery. Some dealers take credit cards and most accept personal checks. Please confirm what the dealer expects in terms of payment.
Please remember that dealers are unable to make deliveries “by appointment” for all of their customers. They make dozens of deliveries each day. Many can give you a time frame within a couple of hours of when they may come based on the route for the day, but they cannot schedule to the hour. Please be aware of that when scheduling a delivery.