Okay, so today I’m gonna share my little adventure of trying to figure out where can i buy helium. It sounds simple, right? But trust me, it turned into a bit of a quest.
First things first, my kid’s birthday was coming up, and you know, no birthday is complete without a bunch of balloons floating around. So, naturally, helium was on the shopping list. My initial thought? Easy peasy, I’ll just swing by the nearest party supply store.
So, I hopped in the car and drove to “Party Paradise,” which, by the way, sounds way more exciting than it actually is. Walked in, bright lights, tons of streamers, the whole shebang. I asked the lady behind the counter, “Hey, do you guys sell helium?” And she just gives me this blank stare and says, “We sell balloons filled with helium.” I was like, “Yeah, but can I buy, like, a tank of helium?” Another blank stare. Turns out, they only fill balloons, they don’t sell the tanks themselves. Strike one.
Alright, no biggie. I figured maybe a big box store like Walmart or Target would have it. So, off I went to Walmart. Wandered around the party section for what felt like an eternity, and nada. Asked an employee, who looked as thrilled to be there as I was, and he said they used to sell small helium tanks, but they stopped. Apparently, some people were doing some dumb stuff with them, and now they don’t carry them anymore. Figures. Strike two.
At this point, I was starting to get a little frustrated. It shouldn’t be this hard to buy helium! I decided to try a local welding supply store. I remembered seeing one on the way to my gym. So I called them up and asked, “Hey, do you guys sell helium tanks?” The guy on the phone said, “Yeah, we do. What size are you looking for?” Score! I asked about the smallest size they had, and he gave me a price that made my eyes water. Like, seriously, for a few balloons? No way.
Okay, new plan. I remembered seeing those small, disposable helium tanks at some grocery stores around holidays. So, I hit up my local Kroger. Bingo! They had these little tanks with a bunch of balloons included. Perfect! The price was decent, and it was exactly what I needed. Finally, success!
Here’s the rundown of my helium-buying journey:
- Party Supply Store: Only fills balloons, doesn’t sell tanks.
- Big Box Store (Walmart/Target): Used to sell, but no longer carries.
- Welding Supply Store: Sells tanks, but pricey.
- Grocery Store (Kroger): Small, disposable tanks with balloons – winner!
So, yeah, that’s my story. Turns out, finding helium isn’t as straightforward as you might think. But hey, at least I got the balloons for the birthday party. And now I know where to go next time. Hopefully this helps someone else avoid the helium hunt I went on!