That's because as long as Charlie's with the company, I will be, too. Why?

Home heating oil is not exactly inexpensive. And I am not exactly flush with frogskins at any given time. But Charlie's earned the kind of loyalty companies spend millions trying to attain. Chalie's way is a lot more effective.

I ran into him one Saturday at the local convenience store--and asked whether he wouldn't mind talking a little shop. I had questions: How could I get my clothes dryer to produce warm air instead of cold? How could I enjoy a hot, not tepid, shower?

"Are you going home now?" Charlie asked. I told him I could. He drove over and met me there.

Even though it was a Saturday and nowhere near an emergency, Charlie adjusted the lever on my dryer and, for the first time, I was able to enjoy the feeling of warm, dry clothes just out of the wash. He climbed down into the basement and adjusted the mixing valve so I could have hotter water. He spent time talking with me about what to replace, and different options for doing so. He wouldn't take the $20 I offered him.

Would you shop around for a better price if you had an oil man like Charlie? I know I won't, no matter what.