Group Buys

Lumberjack · Mar 2, 2014

Hi All

In light of the current "shortage" of pellets in the northeast I got to thinking about next heating season. What have people done in the past for group buys? Has anyone tried contacting mills directly and getting a truck load to split up? Thinking back on what I burned this year I have come to the following conclusions: I burned a ton more than expected and Somersets were my best bang for the $. Never got to try Stove Chow. Maybe next year.

So back on topic: what can we do for group buys next year? Perhaps this could be a sticky?

Stay warm!

john193 · Mar 2, 2014

Always purchase pellets by the end of spring.

dlavigne7324 · Mar 2, 2014

Lumberjack said:
Hi All

In light of the current "shortage" of pellets in the northeast I got to thinking about next heating season. What have people done in the past for group buys? Has anyone tried contacting mills directly and getting a truck load to split up? Thinking back on what I burned this year I have come to the following conclusions: I burned a ton more than expected and Somersets were my best bang for the $. Never got to try Stove Chow. Maybe next year.

So back on topic: what can we do for group buys next year? Perhaps this could be a sticky?

Stay warm!

I contacted 2 mills this week about buying a load of 22 tons but they won't because I'm not a dealer

greg48154 · Mar 2, 2014

I can never understand why company's decline people on a direct sale, especially a truck load of pellets. Seems like an easy sell to get rid of 22 pallets

Lumberjack · Mar 2, 2014

john193 said:
Always purchase pellets by the end of spring.

The rub for me with that idea is storage. I can squeeze 2 tons in but it's tight. I don't mind loosing garage space in the winter but I wanted it back for the summer. Also, it seems that lots of places don't have pellets, aka Lowes and Somerset pellets.

Thoughts?

dlavigne7324 · Mar 2, 2014

Lumberjack said:
The rub for me with that idea is storage. I can squeeze 2 tons in but it's tight. I don't mind loosing garage space in the winter but I wanted it back for the summer. Also, it seems that lots of places don't have pellets, aka Lowes and Somerset pellets.

Thoughts?

I usually stock up early summer.. Has plenty of room in my 30 by 30 garage

john193 · Mar 2, 2014

Lumberjack said:
The rub for me with that idea is storage. I can squeeze 2 tons in but it's tight. I don't mind loosing garage space in the winter but I wanted it back for the summer. Also, it seems that lots of places don't have pellets, aka Lowes and Somerset pellets.

Thoughts?

Unfortunately that is just the downside of pellet stove ownership. Can you store any in your basement? I would also encourage you to look for local dealers and not rely too much on box stores. For example, when pellet supply's run short, my dealer only sells to his customers. In other words, you should work with someone whom you can built a reputation with.

bmblank · Mar 2, 2014

Lumberjack said:
I don't mind loosing garage space in the winter but I wanted it back for the summer.

That seems backwards... Main reason I wanted a garage is to avoid sweeping snow inches off of my car every morning.

Lumberjack · Mar 2, 2014

BM, agreed. But, I usually need the garage in the summer for various projects.

Really what I need to do is remove one of my 330 gallon oil tanks. That would free up some space for sure.

Lumberjack · Mar 2, 2014

The previous owner felt the need for 660 gallons of oil storage capacity........try filling those baby's today @$4.15 a gallon for #2 oil. I don't think I have every been on Full with my oil tanks.

joescho · Mar 2, 2014

dlavigne7324 said:
I usually stock up early summer.. Has plenty of room in my 30 by 30 garage

X2 I usually keep about 4 ton in my basement

RKS130 · Mar 3, 2014

john193 said:
I would also encourage you to look for local dealers

The only problem there is price. I pay $209/ton at HD for FSU - which has been a great pellet this year and last, but the cheapest pellet at my dealer is $7/bag. Slightly discounted in May, but still well over the HD price. My solution is to stock up as soon as HD gets its first shipment in the fall.

john193 · Mar 3, 2014

RKS130 said:
The only problem there is price. I pay $209/ton at HD for FSU - which has been a great pellet this year and last, but the cheapest pellet at my dealer is $7/bag. Slightly discounted in May, but still well over the HD price. My solution is to stock up as soon as HD gets its first shipment in the fall.

Is it still 7 a bag if you buy a ton? Some places do charge more per bag but offer a discount when purchased per ton. Just wasn't clear on your post. I would think its difficult moving pellets at 350 a ton...

wsar10 · Mar 3, 2014

greg48154 said:
I can never understand why company's decline people on a direct sale, especially a truck load of pellets. Seems like an easy sell to get rid of 22 pallets

Simple;
Territory restrictions, Why would they sale to you and step on your dealers toes....... I deal with it here aswell, I have a pellet dealer at the edge of my property and a mill 10min away !!

I also dont think they are concerned about selling more pellets.........they cant keep up with dealers who they have promised them to.
FWIW; Energex is starting production on there premiums for next burn season on 3-10-14.
Locally they will bring me 3-5 tons @ $180/t and $75/del.

Tonyray · Mar 3, 2014

wsar10 said:
Simple;
Territory restrictions, Why would they sale to you and step on your dealers toes....... I deal with it here aswell, I have a pellet dealer at the edge of my property and a mill 10min away !!

I also dont think they are concerned about selling more pellets.........they cant keep up with dealers who they have promised them to.
FWIW; Energex is starting production on there premiums for next burn season on 3-10-14.
Locally they will bring me 3-5 tons @ $180/t and $75/del.

249.00 ton for Energex down here at the New Jersey end of the Pa turnpike... guess transportation fuel cost is what bumps up the price for my Dealer.
[that was winter prices so exspecting some better prices from Dealer in the spring.
Storage Bldg is half mile away from me..obviously I pick them up rather than delivery charge for 2 minute distance..

john193 · Mar 3, 2014

Tonyray said:
249.00 ton for Energex down here at the New Jersey end of the Pa turnpike... guess transportation fuel cost is what bumps up the price for my Dealer.

plus it is the height of the season. In August energex was going for 235 by me. It is 250 now here as well. The local guy I get my pellets from said he called the barefoot plant in Troy PA and was told they were done with shipping pellets for the season. He is still getting in country boy (white lightening) which is also a very good pellet.

Tonyray · Mar 3, 2014

john193 said:
plus it is the height of the season. In August energex was going for 235 by me. It is 250 now here as well. The local guy I get my pellets from said he called the barefoot plant in Troy PA and was told they were done with shipping pellets for the season. He is still getting in country boy (white lightening) which is also a very good pellet.

Correct about season..
didn't get our Stove till middle of November so was a newbee after my initial free ton.
Bought couple tons of Stove Chows[ distributed by Energex I hear] at HD for 229.ton and ton of Energex from the dealer..
I'm all ready for buying this spring with room for 6 tons in my basement.. 20 bags shy of using 3 tons this winter but will buy 6 tons if price is right.

Big E · Mar 3, 2014

We use to buy NEWP through a distributor for a full trailer =-26 tons, hired a forklift and divided by 6 people. Until we switched to Barefoot. Now we still order together (parents, brother and me) 18 tons at a time. Spring price yet to be determined, and later this year, around May

john193 · Mar 3, 2014

Big E said:
We use to buy NEWP through a distributor for a full trailer =-26 tons, hired a forklift and divided by 6 people. Until we switched to Barefoot. Now we still order together (parents, brother and me) 18 tons at a time. Spring price yet to be determined, and later this year, around May

Barefoot will deliver to non dealers? To give you an idea I paid 255 a ton in August. What does it come out with a trailer?

Big E · Mar 3, 2014

john193 said:
Barefoot will deliver to non dealers? To give you an idea I paid 255 a ton in August. What does it come out with a trailer?

No...bought from a distributor. $235.00/ton. Bought in April, took delivery in May. Never tried mill directly

wsar10 · Mar 4, 2014

Tonyray said:
249.00 ton for Energex down here at the New Jersey end of the Pa turnpike... guess transportation fuel cost is what bumps up the price for my Dealer.
[that was winter prices so exspecting some better prices from Dealer in the spring.
Storage Bldg is half mile away from me..obviously I pick them up rather than delivery charge for 2 minute distance..

Let me clarify, the price I quoted earlier was for BULK delivery (without bags). Our price locally by the ton (in bags) hovers around $220-225.

RKS130 · Mar 4, 2014

john193 said:
Is it still 7 a bag if you buy a ton?

They offer a moderate discount if you buy by the ton, but it is still an expensive pellet. I think it brings the bag price down to about $6.75 or $6.50. Still too rich for my blood.

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