Tractor supply CRAP

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Mach23

Member
Dec 8, 2011
39
Upstate NY
so i went with my father this morning to pic up a ton of hardwood heat. We got back to his house and started to unload them and noticed the bags were full of clumped up frozen pellets. I opened a bag up and there were softball sized clumps of icy pellets in it. Started feeling around other bags on the pallet and i would say 3/4 of the bags were the same, some with bigger clumps. We then loaded back on what we had taken off and brought them back, they said it wasnt the first time and they had sold 4 other tons earlier this morning before we got there and ours were under theirs. I would imagine there will be alot more brought back. The guy that took them off our truck put them in their backroom area to dry out and sell them by the bag inside the store! What a chitty thing to do to people knowing that this has been happening for a while now. Needless to say we will never buy pellets from tractor supply again........
 
Was at TSC in Sanford, ME this AM and noticed they had Infernos in side, no way Jose!
 
im sure they arent all like this one, but i thought i would give a heads up
 
My store carries junk pellets and stores them outside. I stay away from them but I also have a lot of choices around here.
 
My TSC stores them outdoors. I look the bags over as I load them into the car, and any that I question the employee removes, no questions asked. Usually it's a ripped bag, but I've seen a bag or two that got wet inside. Inside storage would be better, but the place that does that wants $6/bag for pellets that burn no better.

There's a lumber mill down the road that I'm going to check out next week to see what he carries - if I can get through the mud/snow in his lot.
 
Went thru the same thing,the pellets were from my local stove dealer. They apologized and gave me the same plus afew extra bags. Needless to say from now on I purchase only pellets stored inside. Of course the manufacturer may store them outside. The local TSC has singles stored outside under the overhang. 1 ton pallets stored inside and the brand always changes..
 
So far, we have options. Wouldn't hesitate to exercise them. But.....if you have the space, buy them ahead from a place you are happy with. For me, that means they haven't been sitting in some outside lot for any length of time. That Tractor Supply store person has no idea what he is selling. When our local store started selling pellets, the clerks would tell you all pellets are the same. They are singing another tune now, but they do admit they have no control over what they get in. Our local Lowes has four labels in stock with Greenteams way more expensive. They said they carried pellets all last year and plan to do so again this year. They don't carry Penningtons. They have the two Greens, Maine choice, and one other I've forgotten.
 
manufactorers store hundreds of pallets outside year round.. chances are what you buy in early fall is 2 years old anyways.
 
Do you mind telling us which store it was? I frequent the Tractor supply in Highland and in Pinebush, never bought pellets from them but you never know when I may in the future. These stores are both in Ulster county, not sure where you are exactly.
 
I did not even know what a clinker was until I bought pellets from TSC in Utica NY. Now every 3 hours I have to clean my pot. The clinker in the pic is from burning about a quarter of a bag. I think these pellets are half dirt.

2012-01-15091308.jpg
 
That looks like my brother's meatloaf!
 
Skinn said:
Do you mind telling us which store it was? I frequent the Tractor supply in Highland and in Pinebush, never bought pellets from them but you never know when I may in the future. These stores are both in Ulster county, not sure where you are exactly.
The store was in plattsburgh, clinton county.
 
Are you sure you got wood pellets and not rabbit pellets? :lol:

I've complained about some of the pellets I have burned this season. After seeing that nasty looking clinker, I'm not going to complain anymore!
 
Instant Heat was one of the brands I was looking for theis season. A friend said they were much better than previous seasons. I can't find any loaclly.
 
I have bought all of my pellets from TSC they are the cheapest around me at $175 a ton and every one else is $225 a ton. Lowes and TSC carry the same American Wood Fiber pellets and lowes is $50 more a ton for the same product. I have never had a problem with them as of yet. But this is good to know.
 
This year's Instant Heats are not as good as last year's for me. A little less heat, a bit more ash. Not bad, but a definite drop from last year's. I'm just finishing up the ton I recently bought; now to see what's available around here this week. Being a pellet pig would have its advantages!
 
heat seeker said:
This year's Instant Heats are not as good as last year's for me. A little less heat, a bit more ash. Not bad, but a definite drop from last year's. I'm just finishing up the ton I recently bought; now to see what's available around here this week. Being a pellet pig would have its advantages!

I'm almost under the impression these pellet manufacturers produce what they can get from their suppliers? I've been reading where some people have purchased one type of pellet either last season, or a couple of seasons ago and find when they go back and buy more of the type that burned nice, low ash, and high heat. They are finding these pellets aren't the same anymore. Personally I did purchase some pellets others have said are great only to find they put off a lot of ash and produce rather large clunkers.

I am beginning to see some of the Pellet Pigs do have a big advantage. Not only do they have pellets when the supplies get short. They seem to have some of the better pellets because they purchased them a year or two ago. Ahhh, only to imagine several tons of nice super clean burning, high heat, low ash pellets at your disposal.

I'm not saying all pellet manufacturers are operating this way. Understanding a business only survives when they sell their product. When the good stuff is hard to get, the not so good stuff is mixed together with the good. I don't have any proof other than what I have been reading and experienced in my own stove. But hey, I ain't going to complain about the heat! Even if it means cleaning the stove out once a day. It's cheaper than oil. ;-)
 
les said:
I did not even know what a clinker was until I bought pellets from TSC in Utica NY. Now every 3 hours I have to clean my pot. The clinker in the pic is from burning about a quarter of a bag. I think these pellets are half dirt.

2012-01-15091308.jpg

Les, that pile of stuff looks like my dogs recycled food! If we were to give this clump of what-ever it is a name. I guess we could name it a Clinker Stinker? :lol:
Sorry! It's another poor attempt at humor on my part. I just couldn't leave this one alone...... I guess you could say, I stepped into it!

OK, OK, I'll stop now.
 
I bought 2 tons of Lignetics at the TSC in Highland, NY in November for $219. I haven't had a problem with them though they produce above average ash. Though not a hot burn like Somersets or Hamer's (can easily hit 70 degrees downstairs with them), these burn pretty well (hitting 68 on a low to moderate setting). We haven't had really cold temps with the the exception of a couple of nights. For those cold and windy nights, I dig into my Hamer stash. When those run out, I'll just turn up my settings with the TSC purchased Lignetics a bit and wear a sweater.
 
BillM2 said:
I bought 2 tons of Lignetics at the TSC in Highland, NY in November for $219. I haven't had a problem with them though they produce above average ash. Though not a hot burn like Somersets or Hamer's (can easily hit 70 degrees downstairs with them), these burn pretty well (hitting 68 on a low to moderate setting). We haven't had really cold temps with the the exception of a couple of nights. For those cold and windy nights, I dig into my Hamer stash. When those run out, I'll just turn up my settings with the TSC purchased Lignetics a bit and wear a sweater.

Love that store Bill. I go there all the time. Make the 30 minute drive from beacon. Nice drive up 9W. I also got about a ton from there and I havent had much problems. They burn ok.
 
j-takeman said:
Instant Heat was one of the brands I was looking for theis season. A friend said they were much better than previous seasons. I can't find any loaclly.

This proves all stoves burn differently, for of all the pellets I've tried Instant Heat is the one pellet I wouldn't buy again (see my signature), but I know we all know this about our stoves already. ;-)

1D
 
heat seeker said:
My TSC stores them outdoors. I look the bags over as I load them into the car, and any that I question the employee removes, no questions asked. Usually it's a ripped bag, but I've seen a bag or two that got wet inside. Inside storage would be better, but the place that does that wants $6/bag for pellets that burn no better.

There's a lumber mill down the road that I'm going to check out next week to see what he carries - if I can get through the mud/snow in his lot.

Have you ever been to My Pellet Store in Enfield? Unlimited supply of super premium pellets.
 
And class what have we learned about outdoor storage?

Eric
 
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