Buy now or wait?

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Bigjim13

Minister of Fire
Jan 5, 2009
588
Central Vermont
Options now:

Energex blend- $223/ton. I have no idea about them, never burned them.

Ambience- $241/ton. Have burned them and like them, more ashy than I would expect given the price...

Northern-$247/ ton. Have burned them and really like them, would burn them anytime.

Option 4- wait and see what Home Depot or TSC has available. This year I burned firesides from HD at $209/ton. For that price I was very happy. I don't know if they will be available in fall, last season it was instant heat that I was able to get in fall.

All would have to be delivered at once for a charge of $80.

So, what say you?
 
Thats a tough one. Most of us are in it to save cash. HD has the lowest price, But will they have the FSU next fall?

Can you mix it up? Some Northerns for the cold season and some of the boxstore stuff.
 
Thats a tough one. Most of us are in it to save cash. HD has the lowest price, But will they have the FSU next fall?

Can you mix it up? Some Northerns for the cold season and some of the boxstore stuff.
That might be they way to go. Doesn't seem like there will be any "steals" this year. The VT wood pellet plant is near me too but I can't justify $268/ton. They are good but not $20 more per ton good Vs Northerns.
 
That might be they way to go. Doesn't seem like there will be any "steals" this year. The VT wood pellet plant is near me too but I can't justify $268/ton. They are good but not $20 more per ton good Vs Northerns.

I agree with you with the Northerns vs Vermont's. both are great pellets, but I lean towards the Northerns. They are both the same price but for some reason my stove like the Northerns. $247 is a great price.
 
I have the same flyer that bigjim has. Think i am going to go with northerns. for 247.00 a ton. Great pellet no problems. I get them delivered right inside my garage. Then move with pallet jack. I was also wondering about Energex.
 
I have the same flyer that bigjim has. Think i am going to go with northerns. for 247.00 a ton. Great pellet no problems. I get them delivered right inside my garage. Then move with pallet jack. I was also wondering about Energex.
I love the Northerns.
 
lol- a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush? Do you really think the POSSIBILITY that you might save a few bucks per ton come Fall is worth the RISK of them not being available from the big boxes in the fall? You do realize that some beancounter in Atlanta (who's knowledge of pellets is nil) is making the decision on whats being sold in the Fall in your area of the country, based upon what producer happens to be the cheapest and/or blows smoke up his a$$ the right way on any particular day.....)
 
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lol- a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush? Do you really think the POSSIBILITY that you might save a few bucks per ton come Fall is worth the RISK of them not being available from the big boxes in the fall? You do realize that some beancounter in Atlanta (who's knowledge of pellets is nil) is making the decision on whats being sold in the Fall in your area of the country, based upon what producer happens to be the cheapest and/or blows smoke up his a$$ the right way on any particular day.....)
I do know that. I don't think availability will be an issue either .
 
No doubt they'll have pellets. Problem is they may not have what your looking for and the price might be slightly more.
 
I usually have enough until mid Dec from the previous year. Theres always something new that people are in love with. New company, old company new pellets, or old company new bag.
 
Options now:

Energex blend- $223/ton. I have no idea about them, never burned them.

Ambience- $241/ton. Have burned them and like them, more ashy than I would expect given the price...

Northern-$247/ ton. Have burned them and really like them, would burn them anytime.

Option 4- wait and see what Home Depot or TSC has available. This year I burned firesides from HD at $209/ton. For that price I was very happy. I don't know if they will be available in fall, last season it was instant heat that I was able to get in fall.

All would have to be delivered at once for a charge of $80.

So, what say you?
In Maine, Fireside Ultras are $197 a ton at HD. If you can get your hands on a 10% coupon, like I did, they're $177.20 a ton. There are a lot of pellets at HD around here right now.
 
In Maine, Fireside Ultras are $197 a ton at HD. If you can get your hands on a 10% coupon, like I did, they're $177.20 a ton. There are a lot of pellets at HD around here right now.
That's what I burned this year. I paid $209/ton in September. I would buy them again for that price. Where can I get this coupon?
 
That's what I burned this year. I paid $209/ton in September. I would buy them again for that price. Where can I get this coupon?

Ebay, HD coupons are pretty random if they come in the mail at least they always have been for me.
 
That's what I burned this year. I paid $209/ton in September. I would buy them again for that price. Where can I get this coupon?
I have a Home Depot card. They send them to me because of that.
 
That might be they way to go. Doesn't seem like there will be any "steals" this year. The VT wood pellet plant is near me too but I can't justify $268/ton. They are good but not $20 more per ton good Vs Northerns.
Huh. Vt's have been 240-249 since last April here and I'm 80 miles from the plant????
 
Huh. Vt's have been 240-249 since last April here and I'm 80 miles from the plant????
Well that makes no sense. I go to their website, put in my zip code. I am 18 miles from their plant and there are 3 dealers in my area. Its actually cheaper by $8/ton to go somewhere OTHER than the plant to buy them. The cheapest is $260/ton at that dealer. The plant has them listed for $268/ton and the 3rd dealer is $277/ton.

Now i understand they are a smaller company and their website may not be the most up to date, so I have emailed them on 3 occasions in the last 2 months asking for updated pricing and whether or not there would be a spring pre buy price. No response.

So, while I support local business, I will go to the local dealer down the road to buy. Makes no sense how you can get them that cheap so far away, but whatever.
 
Well that makes no sense. I go to their website, put in my zip code. I am 18 miles from their plant and there are 3 dealers in my area. Its actually cheaper by $8/ton to go somewhere OTHER than the plant to buy them. The cheapest is $260/ton at that dealer. The plant has them listed for $268/ton and the 3rd dealer is $277/ton.

Now i understand they are a smaller company and their website may not be the most up to date, so I have emailed them on 3 occasions in the last 2 months asking for updated pricing and whether or not there would be a spring pre buy price. No response.

So, while I support local business, I will go to the local dealer down the road to buy. Makes no sense how you can get them that cheap so far away, but whatever.

If they undercut the dealers the dealers would stop buying from them.
 
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If they undercut the dealers the dealers would stop buying from them.
I get that but why can one dealer 80 miles away sell for $20 less per ton? And pellets from Canada can also be bad for $20 less per ton.

It doesn't even matter, I will not be burning Vermont's in the fall. They burn nice but fast for me.
 
I do know that. I don't think availability will be an issue either .

you might be right.......key word's MIGHT......of course you MIGHT be wrong as well........gosh, I hate uncertainty......
 
you might be right.......key word's MIGHT......of course you MIGHT be wrong as well........gosh, I hate uncertainty......
It is what it is.

Every year we get the " there might be a pellet shortage" line. Every year for the last 3 prices have gone down and availability has not been an issue in this area. Are there new forces at work now that haven't been in the last 3-4 years that would lead to a pellet shortage or drastic price increase?
 
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