Curious: Bulk delivery vs. bag-by-bag

To me, "bulk" delivery means unbagged pellets poured or blown into a large hopper.

Edit: to answer your question, I get them delivered on pallets so that each ton stays wrapped and sealed until I need it.

SwineFlue said:

To me, "bulk" delivery means unbagged pellets poured or blown into a large hopper.

Edit: to answer your question, I get them delivered on pallets so that each ton stays wrapped and sealed until I need it.

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X2

I do both usually order 2 tons of pellets and have them delivered because I don't have a truck that can handle the weight. my son does not like this method because he then has to help me bring 100 bags down to the basement. lol But if I am out and see a good deal on pellets I pick up 5-6 bags at a time to try different pellet brands. to see what i am going to use for the next year.

BigJohnfromCT said:

Hey folks, I'm curous about how many of you get your pellets delivered on pallets and, how many of you do it a few bags at a time? I buy mine on pallets, 4 to 5 tons in late summer or early Autumn. Gets me good pricing but it takes up a LOT of space in my garage and of course I have to pay for delivery. Thinking maybe I should do a little of both. I live just up the road from an Agway and pass a Home Depot at least 3 times per week. Any thoughts?

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It's easier for me physically and financially to buy them by the bag. I usually get 15 at a time. But if there is a pellet I want that I can't get by the bag, I won't hesitate to buy a ton.

Good question
I found in my area it is cheaper to buy by the ton than the bag but the delivery charge is 65 dollars everywhere around here. The Agway down the road from me has a deal where you can buy a ton or more and they store it there for you and you pick bags up as you need them or buy by the bag and pay a bit more
Home depot here ton to bags same price

Most places usually charge more per bag and offer a discount per ton. Also spring usually offers specials from the pellet dealers with a little more savings.

I usually nit pick a ton at a time as I have the room. Very rarely have I ordered more than a ton. But if a killer deal happens I have, and stored em outside under wraps. Once the cover is broken all on the skid have to be trucked indoors. Haven't had an issue so far, But still worry that I could loose some to water infiltration! Definetly feel safer once they are all in the basement.

If space is a minimum for you? Work with your pellet dealer. They may hold em in their storage and deliver you a ton or 2 as needed.

In my area believe it or not it is still cheaper to buy it by the bag or ton verses bulk delivery. Heutz Pellets is advertiseing their pellets as like buying oil at $1.99 a gallon. I can get pellets by the bag here that equate to $1.69 a gallon. Math tells me by the bag its still cheaper and I don't have to have a 3 ton bag in my basement or some sort of storage bin. I know what I buy and put in my basement takes up more space than a bulk delivery but I get that space back in the Spring.

I usually buy by the ton. I have a 5/8 trailer and will load it up with a 25 bags (1000lbs) then get the other 25 bags. Store are pretty good about putting the pallet in a place where I can pull up pretty close. If I buy from a dealer they help me load it up to. Kinda a pain though I think when I get older Ill probably pay to have them delivered.

I buy 15 bags at a time usually at HD. Same price there by the ton or bag. This way I don't have to pay the delivery fee which is around $60.00. Right now they are $3.92 a bag or$196.00 a ton for Stove Chow which is one of my favorite pellets.

chuckster said:

I buy 15 bags at a time usually at HD. Same price there by the ton or bag. This way I don't have to pay the delivery fee which is around $60.00. Right now they are $3.92 a bag or$196.00 a ton for Stove Chow which is one of my favorite pellets.

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you can use the rent a truck that they offer its only $20.00 instead of driving back and forth 4 times

I'd keep doing it what your doing.. One year I wasn't into mass hoarding, major pain in the azz, chasing them down.

I like having my personal warehouse, onsight.

I typically buy 3 tons at a time. We pick up ourselves to save on the delivery. Typically, i can make it through the winter with about $700 of pellets.

I buy 6 tons at a time. I keep the large plastic bag that goes over the pallet from the previous years and double or triple wrap them. I used to go get them but for $56 I get them delivered a placed where I want them. Yes I store outdoors. I haven't lost a bag yet.

glenc0322 said:

you can use the rent a truck that they offer its only $20.00 instead of driving back and forth 4 times

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The HD is only a mile from my house so no big deal. I purchase the whole ton then make my three or four trip tp pick it up. Sometimes I pick up 17 bags twice then one last sixteen.

I get mine by the bag, 4 every 5 days or as many bags as I need, depends on how cold it's going to be in the weeks ahead.

Right now there is a cold front on the way to Maine, so I got a stash of 26 or so bags.

By the ton when I need them. A pallet fits just right in my 3500 GMC work van.

I get mine a ton at a time when I have enough $ saved up in my pellet budget. I bring them home in the bed of my p/u. I also pick up about 5 bags a week from HD, lowes or TSC.

I bought my first ton for the winter from TSC. They give a discount if you buy the whole ton......one of the few places that will do this. I have a 2500 Ram so getting them home was no problem. Only hang up was we had a bout a foot of snow on the ground and I couldn't back the truck around back to the basement. I had to cut a path with the snow blower and take a few bags at a time on the four wheeler.

I'd imagine you can get a good amount in a car even. Figure a car with 5 people is gonna be loaded ~1000lbs... plus whatever is in the trunk.

Most pickups can handle a ton of pellets without trouble. It'd be a bit much for a little 1/4 ton like a Ranger/S-10 I guess but a 1/2 ton and up it's a non issue.

nate379 said:

I'd imagine you can get a good amount in a car even. Figure a car with 5 people is gonna be loaded ~1000lbs... plus whatever is in the trunk.

Most pickups can handle a ton of pellets without trouble. It'd be a bit much for a little 1/4 ton like a Ranger/S-10 I guess but a 1/2 ton and up it's a non issue.

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If you had a trailer that would handle it you'd be surprised at how a 1/4 ton will pull. I had a Dakota with a v6 and I towed a 73 Duster from the heart of Texas back to PA no problem. I've also had 1700 lbs. of gravel in the bed and it did fine. Now when I put a complete 2.7L v6 strapped up against the tailgate the steering got a little squirrely, but I still got it home. If you try to use your car or van I suggest you distribute the weight or else your bumper will be dragging on the way home. Put some on the front seat, throw a jacket and a hat on it, and you can use the car pool lane.

Have been getting our supply (4 tons) delivered in or around May. He puts the pallets in the driveway and I take about 2-3 days
to transfer them to the basement. But, as I get older, I like the sounds of bulk delivery. The link below shows bulk delivery options we have here.
Maine Energy Systems trucks deliver like oil trucks and pump the pellets into the storage bin of your choice.

Links:
http://www.maineenergysystems.com/Pellet-Storage.htm

http://www.maineenergysystems.com/Pellestore_3TX.htm

BigJohnfromCT said:

Hey folks, I'm curous about how many of you get your pellets delivered on pallets and, how many of you do it a few bags at a time? I buy mine on pallets, 4 to 5 tons in late summer or early Autumn. Gets me good pricing but it takes up a LOT of space in my garage and of course I have to pay for delivery. Thinking maybe I should do a little of both. I live just up the road from an Agway and pass a Home Depot at least 3 times per week. Any thoughts?

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Loose bags are usually handled more; and that means the pellets will be broken up and there will be more fines with dust.

nate379 said:

I'd imagine you can get a good amount in a car even. Figure a car with 5 people is gonna be loaded ~1000lbs... plus whatever is in the trunk.

Most pickups can handle a ton of pellets without trouble. It'd be a bit much for a little 1/4 ton like a Ranger/S-10 I guess but a 1/2 ton and up it's a non issue.

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For a few hundred bucks you can add a leaf to each spring on the rear axle of a half ton truck or ranger and effectively turn your half ton into a 3/4 ton. Each wheel would be able to handle another 375 lbs.