Need tips on how to pre-order pellets for next year

I emailed the distributor directly to find out what stores they would actually ship to since their website was a little misleading... They of course never responded.

That is a good question, and one for which I would be interested in the answer. The only place within 30 miles that I know of to pre-order has only one kind of pellets and they stunk this year.

It ain't happening at a BB.

Go to a stove dealer or a hardware that deals in pellets. You may not get exactly what you want and it may not be as cheap as you'd like but you will know what you're going to get.

If price is your main consideration you're likely SOL and you'll have to take your chances with the BBs.

F4jock said:

It ain't happening at a BB.

Go to a stove dealer or a hardware that deals in pellets. You may not get exactly what you want and it may not be as cheap as you'd like but you will know what you're going to get.

If price is your main consideration you're likely SOL and you'll have to take your chances with the BBs.

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Still leaves me with one place within 30 miles (a stove dealership that carries only one brand). I got better stuff from the BB this year, so I guess I'm SOL.

Generally, your best bet is to work with a local dealer but that's not a guarantee. I pre-ordered with a local pellet distributor, but when time for delivery came he couldn't supply due to delays at the manufacturer. He offered a lower quality pellet with a price adjustment, but I was not interested. So much for the preorder, and it prevented me from just buying from the dealer in mid-summer. Our dealer would guarantee delivery but at a much higher price, no delivery to our house even for a fee, and you had to pick up the pellets within a week or so of their arrival. Local box stores (HD, Lowes) won't even discuss a preorder except when they have a delivery on its way (i.e., a few days in advance) and in winter some won't even do that.

Personally, I'm going to try to work a deal with our dealer for a June - August purchase, and pack 'em in under cover. I can easily store four tons, but need six for a winter. That means the tractor and snow blower go outside under a cover, but it doesn't seem to hurt them. As for those who complain they can't store enough pellets for most of the winter, you might want to consider a different fuel source. Few dealers will store pellets for whenever you want to pick them up, and most can't lock in their pricing far in advance or guarantee supply for more than a month or so. I don't see this situation changing for any of us as a general rule, so buying a season's worth early and storing them seems like the best idea.

bogieb said:

Still leaves me with one place within 30 miles (a stove dealership that carries only one brand). I got better stuff from the BB this year, so I guess I'm SOL.

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Try Do-It, Ace and other hardwares. Do you have a TSC nearby? Believe it or not their Equine Bedding Pellets work pretty well. Try a few bags if you can.

Whatever you do. Do it in april. Looks like im gonna have 2 and a half tons of junk left next winter ill have to burn. So im either going to be super picky about my next ton of ultra premium pellets and wait till I find it around here because ill have product or ill be waiting till spring 2016 for pellets

Especially good to have time to hold out because this year I ended up finding awf white pines somersets and greenways all at box stores

lagger said:

I did try two bags, not too bad as a shoulder pellet, saw your reply in the other thread, yes they do feed fast, small size.. didn't like the smell much, and except on sale they are 5.99 a bag and there is sales tax on them which adds 8.125% around here... good emergency fuel in a pinch.

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Guess you and Bogieb will just have to move to someplace where you can get pellets. . . .

Seriously, that tax is killer. I'm betting that you could negotiate a better bulk price with TSC though. The problem with BBs as you well know, is that they buy what they buy and that's what you get. I've seen three separate brands there in three separate trips. That's why I won't buy from a BB. Luckily my Do-It has a good supply of Lignetics. I buy for the season in June / July at a discount. Anything else during the season is just for fun.

Like your kitty BTW. Reminds me of one of mine.

Nope, no TSC's I'm out in the boonies - nearest largish town is 30 miles away. I've tried the pine pellet bedding (got a couple of bags two weeks ago). Local hardware stores didn't carry pellets this year, probably because the stove shop moved in and got a lot of their pellet business. I forgot that the local Agway does carry pellets - at $1.50 more per bag, and $40/ton than anyplace else I have dealt with.

still trying to figure out how to pre-order a type of pellet as the OP was asking. So many people seem to pre-order Somersets and other good pellets, or am I just out of luck because NH stores seem to carry mostly crap or middling pellets.

LordmetalZ28 said:

Especially good to have time to hold out because this year I ended up finding awf white pines somersets and greenways all at box stores

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Only once in seven seasons have I found what I'd consider decent pellets at a BB.

bogieb said:

Nope, no TSC's I'm out in the boonies - nearest largish town is 30 miles away. I've tried the pine pellet bedding (got a couple of bags two weeks ago). Local hardware stores didn't carry pellets this year, probably because the stove shop moved in and got a lot of their pellet business. I forgot that the local Agway does carry pellets - at $1.50 more per bag, and $40/ton than anyplace else I have dealt with.

still trying to figure out how to pre-order a type of pellet as the OP was asking. So many people seem to pre-order Somersets and other good pellets, or am I just out of luck because NH stores seem to carry mostly crap or middling pellets.

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Yeah. My Agway was the same. I refused to buy there. This season they don't have any at all. Maybe priced themselves out of the market?

F4jock said:

Yeah. My Agway was the same. I refused to buy there. This season they don't have any at all. Maybe priced themselves out of the market?

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Stopped by ours about a month ago, and they were $7 per bag, minimum (not maximum) 10 bags, for what I consider box store pellets. Did have AWF white pine that I wanted to test burn, but not if I have to buy 10 bags. Just not competitive at all.

Wilbur Feral said:

Stopped by ours about a month ago, and they were $7 per bag, minimum (not maximum) 10 bags, for what I consider box store pellets. Did have AWF white pine that I wanted to test burn, but not if I have to buy 10 bags. Just not competitive at all.

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Wow, just Wow! My Agway carries some brand I've never even heard of (can't remember the name, will have to check on it), so really don't want to buy at their price. Although, at least they aren't saying a min buy amount - at least, not that I am aware of.

bogieb said:

Nope, no TSC's I'm out in the boonies - nearest largish town is 30 miles away. I've tried the pine pellet bedding (got a couple of bags two weeks ago). Local hardware stores didn't carry pellets this year, probably because the stove shop moved in and got a lot of their pellet business. I forgot that the local Agway does carry pellets - at $1.50 more per bag, and $40/ton than anyplace else I have dealt with.

still trying to figure out how to pre-order a type of pellet as the OP was asking. So many people seem to pre-order Somersets and other good pellets, or am I just out of luck because NH stores seem to carry mostly crap or middling pellets.

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There are Agway's, Perkins Home Centers, Ace hardware stores, grain supply stores, etc. I live in southern NH and have no trouble finding pellets of all varieties. I was even checking out a pellet co-op located in Bow, NH where you can pre-order and because the co-op is buying in bulk, they get a good price. I accidentally have found stores that you would never think sold pellets that had them for sale. This year, HD Concord had great pellets, Lowe's had good pellets at times, TSC had good pellets at their Chichester store at a consistently reasonable price. Regarding Agway's, they sell their pellets cheaper in the spring and early summer, and I know the owner of several Agway stores so the info is good. Perkins Home Centers have March Anniversary Sales Days where you can pre-buy and they'll hold them for you and do staggered deliveries if you want. Let us know what town you are in and maybe we can further assist. Some pellet users will write that BBS don't have good pellets but that is too broad a statement and you would do well to check yourself. Much like recent complaints that a pellet shortage existed in southern NH. I took a ride after reading these gloomer-doomer posts and in two hours found 600 tons available for sale at five vendors within 30 miles of each other. No, they weren't Somerset's or Turman's but they will keep you warm at a reasonable price.

bogieb said:

Wow, just Wow! My Agway carries some brand I've never even heard of (can't remember the name, will have to check on it), so really don't want to buy at their price. Although, at least they aren't saying a min buy amount - at least, not that I am aware of.

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I have spoken to the owner of several Agway stores in southern NH, one of them being in Hillsboro. They shoot for quality pellets and presently have a supply of Country Boy White Lightning, a great hardwood pellet and American Wood Fiber Ultras, a great softwood pellet. They also have their own name on pellets, which I believe are LG Granulares out of Canada. $300/ton right now but they have been cheaper off-season.

Peterfield said:

I have spoken to the owner of several Agway stores in southern NH, one of them being in Hillsboro. They shoot for quality pellets and presently have a supply of Country Boy White Lightning, a great hardwood pellet and American Wood Fiber Ultras, a great softwood pellet. They also have their own name on pellets, which I believe are LG Granulares out of Canada. $300/ton right now but they have been cheaper off-season.

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You nailed it. The problem is that people don't just want pellets, they want PELLETS! And they want them for a price they feel like paying. They are the final arbitor of what is fair and what is a "rip-off."

My thing is pellets for heat and atmosphere. If they become too expensive or too much work I go back to oil. It ain't religion, it's heat.

TSC around here usually gets a bunch in during early fall and runs a sale. Same price as pre order, so I grab four ton.

Peterfield said:

There are Agway's, Perkins Home Centers, Ace hardware stores, grain supply stores, etc. I live in southern NH and have no trouble finding pellets of all varieties. I was even checking out a pellet co-op located in Bow, NH where you can pre-order and because the co-op is buying in bulk, they get a good price. I accidentally have found stores that you would never think sold pellets that had them for sale. This year, HD Concord had great pellets, Lowe's had good pellets at times, TSC had good pellets at their Chichester store at a consistently reasonable price. Regarding Agway's, they sell their pellets cheaper in the spring and early summer, and I know the owner of several Agway stores so the info is good. Perkins Home Centers have March Anniversary Sales Days where you can pre-buy and they'll hold them for you and do staggered deliveries if you want. Let us know what town you are in and maybe we can further assist. Some pellet users will write that BBS don't have good pellets but that is too broad a statement and you would do well to check yourself. Much like recent complaints that a pellet shortage existed in southern NH. I took a ride after reading these gloomer-doomer posts and in two hours found 600 tons available for sale at five vendors within 30 miles of each other. No, they weren't Somerset's or Turman's but they will keep you warm at a reasonable price.

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Really, all I want to do is pre-buy for next year (not right this second, during spring or summer).I got plenty of pellets for this year. However have no idea how to go about doing the pre-buy thing or finding out what would be available in my area. I would also like to buy some of what people call "premium" pellets, even if for a bit more if possible. Yes I know HD had FSU's, got a bunch from them (still have 3/4 ton of them in the basement) This does me no good since I can't pre-buy from HD for next year.

Never heard of Perkins (not around me), HD, Lowes, TC etc are all 30 miles away so if I am going to pay for them to haul it here, I want some good stuff. If I have to shuffle it at 10-15 bags at a time when I am in town, I will take my chances at HD and not bother with pre-buy.

Pre-buy, how to go about it, that was the original question, not where it is at now. Sorry, but this is frustrating that the original OP asked a specific question about pre-buying, I reiterated that (twice even) and people are fixated on where to go now.

Dealers have different policies regarding pre-buy. My advice to you would be to call around to pellet distributors in your area and ask them what their pre-buy policy is if they even have one.

bogieb said:

Really, all I want to do is pre-buy for next year (not right this second, during spring or summer).I got plenty of pellets for this year. However have no idea how to go about doing the pre-buy thing or finding out what would be available in my area. I would also like to buy some of what people call "premium" pellets, even if for a bit more if possible. Yes I know HD had FSU's, got a bunch from them (still have 3/4 ton of them in the basement) This does me no good since I can't pre-buy from HD for next year.

Never heard of Perkins (not around me), HD, Lowes, TC etc are all 30 miles away so if I am going to pay for them to haul it here, I want some good stuff. If I have to shuffle it at 10-15 bags at a time when I am in town, I will take my chances at HD and not bother with pre-buy.

Pre-buy, how to go about it, that was the original question, not where it is at now. Sorry, but this is frustrating that the original OP asked a specific question about pre-buying, I reiterated that (twice even) and people are fixated on where to go now.

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I think the pre-order question was answered several times? Essentially if there are too many strictures, both from exterior sources and self-imposed, one can't do what one can't do.

Any feedback on www.woodpellets.com?

Around the first week in March, I start my inquiries for next year's pellets. I usually buy in April.