$$$ Pulled the Trigger on the Baltic $$$

So, $999 for the Drolet Baltic, at Menards. Shipping, that's $300. Tack on $75, for Wisconsin state sales tax ...

Was hoping I could skip the shipping and just pick it up at the distribution center. Turns out, it's a special order item, and ships from Drolet, so $300 it is.

So, once I got over not being able to get around paying the extra 30% for getting the stove to my house, I payed them the money, and left with my tail tucked between my legs. I hate it when I can't wheedle my way out of paying something that I don't like paying.

Now, all that being said, I'm crazy excited about getting my stove. After nearly a year of research, I don't think I could've gotten a better match, budget vs. features, as it applies to my situation. Can't wait for it to get here.

WHOOP-WHOOP! BRING ON THE BIG STEEL BOX!

webby3650 said:

Sweet! You won't regret it, even though it was more than you wanted to spend. You'll probably save almost that much in the first year. It would only take me 2 months to get paid back. I'm total electric with radiant heat in the ceiling, our first month here we had a $580 E-bill!! I killed the breakers and got a new stove!

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Thanks, I'm pretty pumped about it. Now I guess it's time to deal with lining the chimney.

Our furnace went out in February, and we ended up heating with electric space heaters through March. About $500, per month!

Woody Stover said:

Congrats! I guess it's time to update your sig. Patiently waiting for pics of the install...

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Beat your kind suggestion by about 60 seconds.

The install (pic heavy) will be covered, here on Hearth.com. At present, I'm deciding whether to line the chimney, requiring a corner install and 4-5 feet of 45 degree or horizontal stove pipe, or running a Selkirk Ultimate One, or similar metal chimney straight up, allowing me to center the stove on the existing wall. leaning towards the latter, as it will reserve the chimney for a possible wood cook stove, in the future.

Well, my Drolet Baltic showed up.

Problem is, it looked like it'd been dragged behind the truck, all the way from the Canadian border.

I refused receipt, and stopped in at Menards after work. They were great, and are ordering me a new stove, so all's well there. Thought you guys would like to see what gorillas with heavy equipment can do, when they out their minds to it.

This is exactly how it arrived. Plastic hanging, the entire right side of the crate just ripped right off, and a bunch of dents and scrapes all along the right side. The stove box is actually hanging out the right side of the crate.

Not a great pic, but the flue collar is actually smashed down into the top, and the 5/16 inch top is buckled. There are also a number deep gouges in the top, making me think that the firebox may have actually slid out the right side of the crate, at some point.

Just another pic showing the right side. The office guy who called to ask about whether he should refuse the drop asked if it was an insert. When I got back to the shop, I asked him why he asked, and he said he couldn't see any legs, or anything. I wasn't there, so I can't say one way or the other, but from what I was told, it sounds like the pedestal may not have even been in the crate, anymore. Again, I wasn't there, so ...

But it's not even June, so I'm rollin' with it. Another one should be on the way, in a day or so. The embarrassed lady at the shipping company has promised to 'expedite' the second one, for my troubles. Let's try for round 2!

BrotherBart said:

Picky, picky, picky.

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Well, I've learned to live with the fact that I ain't ever gonna be pretty. Figure that's no reason my stove shouldn't be, though.

I hear ya. Since I couldn't see what the guy at the office could, I could only go by his description of, "Looks like it fell off the truck, Mike. More than once."

Figured if I accept it, it's my problem. If I refuse it, it's their problem. Nothing's ready for the install, anyway, so I've got plenty of time. Like I said, Menards was great. I told the manager what was up, and thirty seconds later he was typing in a new order. Can't ask for more than that.

Don't stop on my account. Starting to wonder if I got the wrong box. Looks like BB went in to buy a stove, and got himself some good friends, into the bargain.

Me and my Baltic, couple o' ugly ducklings. Not long on looks, but beastly on a cold winter night.

I like the Baltic. Really liked the Legend better, but my lovely wife took a shine to the pedestal. Figured if I could go out and buy a stove, and end up with a smiling wife, then the heck with the pretty cast legs. Bought her a couple 1 karat diamond earrings, for her last birthday. That may have helped, a bit.

stoveguy2esw said:

hey "when momma's happy, EVERYBODY'S happy" a few extra "karots" in the stew makes for a richer broth my friend

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She wore those things 24/7 for about three months. Big smiles and kisses, every time I came into the room. Thought I was blowing a big chunk of money, at the time. Now, they don't seem that all-fired expensive, at all. Think maybe she's trainin' me? Like, the knuckle-dragger-whisperer, or something?

Having trouble waiting for the new stove, though. Once I have it here, to look at, I can get a better idea of what I'm going to do for a hearth, surround, etc. I'm one of those that does better with something right in front of him, to get a feel for things. I'll have a fun project for the summer.

That, and splittin' wood like a madman. It's coming in faster than I can keep up, now that people know I really want it, and will actually show up to get it.

Yea, me too. And the old burn barrel, lately, seems to be leaving me ...

Underwhelmed?

I wanna burn somethin' in somethin' shiny.

Edited to show that I've hereby 'run out' of likes. Gonna have to be stingier, in future.