Massachusetts people (central MA) what do you recommend for pellets?

CdoubleZ said:

Hi there.

In the past 2 years I have bought (3) tons from Home Depot using my 10% moving discount and got a decent deal. Both of my stoves were very sooty. I know that the Home Depot pellets are notorious for having high ash content, etc.

It looks like this year the price of pellets are lower by a bit... I would like to go with a bit of an upgrade for this winter's stash. Anyone recommend a local distributor or brand in MA or NH that you have had success with?

I am located in Worcester, MA, so would be looking for a place that delivers out my way.

Stoves: 2005 Quadra Fire Santa Fe and 2005 Mt Vernon. Both Free standing.

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You didn't say what you burned for HD pellets but assuming it was either Fireside Ultra, Freedom Fuel or one of those type brands, then yes there would be a higher ash content. Lowes is selling Green Supreme and Greene Teams this year which a a better quality pellet. Call around in your area and see what you find.

CdoubleZ said:

ya cool the lowes in worcester has both of those brands for $197 a ton + $65 flat delivery fee.

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buy 3+ tons and get free shipping.
(I can't remember if you have to buy 3 or 4 tons... I got 4 tons and qualified - from the Leomisnter Lowes.)

Is that buy 3+ and get free delivery, a Lowes offer anywhere, or just at the Lowes you went to? When I called they didn't say anything about that. I live in Franklin county (Greenfield area), the Lowes I called is in Hadley.

I'm not exactly sure...
when I went in last week and asked about shipping costs, the person at the customer service desk mentioned that in buying 4 tons shipping is free.
Yet when I actually went back to purchase the pellets - the sales rep did not offer anything to me. I inquired about it, and the store manager who was right there said, yes that's true.

So it isn't something that just comes up in their system.
I would directly ask about it.

ducker said:

I'm not exactly sure...
when I went in last week and asked about shipping costs, the person at the customer service desk mentioned that in buying 4 tons shipping is free.
Yet when I actually went back to purchase the pellets - the sales rep did not offer anything to me. I inquired about it, and the store manager who was right there said, yes that's true.

So it isn't something that just comes up in their system.
I would directly ask about it.

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Thank you very much for this info. This way if they give me trouble I can say the store in Leominster does this. Maybe I"ll save $65.

CdoubleZ said:

dont forget the 10% moving discount. you can get them at the post office. saves 10% off the entire order. i dont step foot into lowes without one.

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well I'm not moving so that seems kind of shady but then again who cares if I'm not moving ...I just applied for the coupon online. Thanks, if I can use that it'll be another $80 off (if I buy 4 tons).

CdoubleZ said:

requin said:

CdoubleZ said:

dont forget the 10% moving discount. you can get them at the post office. saves 10% off the entire order. i dont step foot into lowes without one.

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well I'm not moving so that seems kind of shady but then again who cares if I'm not moving ...I just applied for the coupon online. Thanks, if I can use that it'll be another $80 off (if I buy 4 tons).

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when you walk into the post office they should have stacks of "moving packages" with various coupons in them. there is always a lowes 10% coupon in them.
you dont have to be moving to get one, most post offices will give you a few of them no problem.

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Ok thanks, I hope i can find them. I wanted to get to Lowe's this past weekend but am still waiting for them to send that coupon via email. Much faster and easier to pick it up at the post office if I can find one that has them.

I'm skeptical that I'll get the free delivery on pellets; I hope I do for sure, but if not, the 10% off coupon will cover that, anyway. Hopefully I'll get free delivery plus the 10% off as well!

Well, I got my 10% coupon and went to the Hadley Lowe's. The guy who helped me hadn't heard of the free delivery and he started asking every guy who walked by and one guy was a real snot and just said flat out no, he goes, "We don't make any money on pellets so we can't offer free delivery." What is that to me? I don't care if they make money on pellets or not. Anywho, managers were called etc etc and the bottom line is, the Hadley Lowes "isn't offering that promotion". The guy who was helping me then said, "I don't know if that means we will be offering it later. Or if we never will." He suggested I call other area Lowes. So I will call Ware and S'field. If neither of them are giving the free delivery I guess I will suck it up and pay the delivery. At least I have the 10% off coupon.

The guy who helped me said it's not right if one store can offer a deal like that and the other stores don't/won't/can't. But his hands are tied. He was helpful, but the managers were not.

Oh and as far as brands..they have Maine (but not very many of those left), Green Pellets, and Clear Creek or something like that. He said they keep getting more and more pellets in so they aren't about to run out. Re: the "Greens". They were stacked up high on sealed pallets so I couldn't see the actual bag/name. I wonder, though, do Green Supremes come in darkish green bags? If so, that's probably what these are...which would be great, as I've never heard of a pellet named just "Green pellets".

CdoubleZ said:

$710 for 4 tons of green supreme delivered.

used the 10% coupon and got the free delivery.

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How'd you only pay $710? $197 x 4 = $788. minus $78 = $710 but wasn't there tax??

CdoubleZ said:

i thought the same thing... 0 tax.

maybe in MA pellets are tax exempt? not sure. but it must be true.

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Found this (old) thread about pellets taxable status in various states...

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/13996/#154087


Does look like they are supposed to be tax exempt in MA. GOOD TO KNOW!

I recomend New England Wood Products, because they are local to us. They have a plant in Jaffrey, NH, MA and two in central New York now!

Well, as I suspected, neither the E. S'field nor Ware stores are offering the free delivery either. Bunch of nimrods. All say they never even heard of it. Guess you are lucky to have that deal going on at Leominster. Not happening here, so I'm paying the delivery charge.

At least I have the 10% discount coupon...that's a consolation. Still, it sucks.

what was the charge they were asking for ? I think it was like a $65 flat? Even which the cheaper pellets there, if you go outside of the larger box stores, you'll most likely be paying quite a bit more per ton. And even then, you may or may not get a discount on your delivery charges.

I know there are a number of resellers down around Worcester - in just glancing at their web prices, the pellets are significantly more expensive, and they don't offer free delivery. Well one does if you live in Oxford, and are ordering 4+ tons. Otherwise it's around $60 at that location. And the other reseller Flat fee of $54.

Yea it's not so bad relative to prices going around. I got 4 tons, hopefully of Green Supreme (that's what I said I'd take, but the guy who waited on me was not paying attention at all, too busy socializing w/ people walking by). $65 for delivery for all 4, no tax, with the 10% discount I think I paid $775. I won't go through all 4 tons, either. Burned about 3 last year, keeping a 'cushion'.

Compared to propane forced hot water the first year (when I didn't have a stove), and keeping the house MUCH cooler than I like, and paying $1100 for propane for the winter, it's still a great deal.