Cost of Picking up Your Own Pellets

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Example: Is Paying a service to cut your grass cheaper than doing it yourself [since u don't have to drive somewhere [Cost of driven gas] to get a gas can filled [cost of gas for mower] or is that just for the convenience of not having to do it yourself ? maybe I'm comparing Apples/Oranges here..:oops:

Yeah... It's apples and oranges. :rolleyes:

Dan
 
I've got better things to do then drive back and forth all day throwing half ton in the minivan..lol I do agree that the delivery charge from wp.com is high
 
The thing is even if I had them deliver to my driveway,[70.00 for 2 skids] we still have to cut open the covering, un-load from the Driveway into our basement..
Usually 1 person on the truck drops a bag to 1 person on the ground and hands off thru the basement window[ Picture showing] to a 3rd person that stacks on the floor.
Actually surprised that only takes about 10 minutes or so to store 1 ton with 3 people.
So not worth us paying delivery since the above routine would be the same [minus a person On Truck handing down bags] since skids would be on the ground.

Now on the other hand, if I had a garage that they just forklifted the skids into still wraped and all, Maybe I would have a delivery. Then again, might just un-load Truck and re-stack in the garage to save delivery charge .In the end, Whatever works best for everyone.... >>
 

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The thing is even if I had them deliver to my driveway,[70.00 for 2 skids] we have to cut open the covering, un-load from the truck into our basement..
Usually 1 person on the truck drops a bag to 1 person on the ground and hands off thru the basement window[ Picture showing] to a 3rd person that stacks on the floor.
Actually surprised that only takes about 10 minutes or so to store 1 ton with 3 people.
So not worth paying delivery since the above routine would be the same minus a person On Truck handing down bags.
I unload, move and stack all the pellets with no help. I can usually put away 2 tons by myself over the course of a Saturday. I don't want the remainder of the pellets out blocking up the driveway until I get get them put away. I won't unwrap a pallet in the rain so inclement weather makes this process take even longer. I'd much rather pick them up and put them away at my own pace.
 
I had 4 tons delivered the first year I had my stove. The got them as far as into the garage enough to close the door but I had to re-stack them all at the back of the garage anyway. So I paid for delivery just to have to re-stack anyway, and they took up a lot of space in the garage that I needed. So last year I built racks in the basement to store them (could hold roughly 6 tons if I want). For storage it works out great, but it's all below grade and no window for pass through. So I carry and re-stack every bag myself, through the garage then through the kitchen and down the stairs. It's a lot of work, so this year I'm doing more smaller loads to make it easier on myself.
I also mix up what I buy, meaning that I get my pellets from at least a few different places, so I would either have to get all the same pellets or pay multiple delivery charges...no thanks!
Now, if I had a situation where the pallets could just be pallet jacked into place without me handling them again, I might be willing to pay for that service, I just don't.
 
I unload, move and stack all the pellets with no help. I can usually put away 2 tons by myself over the course of a Saturday. I don't want the remainder of the pellets out blocking up the driveway until I get get them put away. I won't unwrap a pallet in the rain so inclement weather makes this process take even longer. I'd much rather pick them up and put them away at my own pace.
Your a Better Man than me Gunga Din.....
with my setup, I would have to put a couple bags near that basement window, go back in the house, downstairs to the basement, pull the bags in , then go back up the steps, out to the driveway, rinse/lather/repeat about 40x...Not that young anymore
[I see dlehnman has it even harder... Whew!!!!
 
Yeah, I definitely earn my dinner those days! I'm the type of guy that likes to stay busy and have a hard time relaxing, so doing a lot of work gives me an excuse to sit in my recliner with a drink when I'm done :)
 
Your a Better Man than me Gunga Din.....
with my setup, I would have to put a couple bags near that basement window, go back in the house, downstairs to the basement, pull the bags in , then go back up the steps, out to the driveway, rinse/lather/repeat about 40x...Not that young anymore
[I see dlehnman has it even harder... Whew!!!!

Mine is actually alot easier than yours. I have a walk in basement. I load the pellets 5 bags at a time onto a dolly then just wheel them in and restack them. 10 trips and I'm done.
 
Yeah, I definitely earn my dinner those days! I'm the type of guy that likes to stay busy and have a hard time relaxing, so doing a lot of work gives me an excuse to sit in my recliner with a drink when I'm done :)
Hell, if u didn't live so far from Pa, we could hang out here, have a beer or 2 and if u get antsy, there would be a truckload of pellets in the driveway and,,,, oh never mind.:cool:
 
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Mine is actually alot easier than yours. I have a walk in basement. I load the pellets 5 bags at a time onto a dolly then just wheel them in and restack them. 10 trips and I'm done.
AHHHH Tim...
you have one of those basements.. Lucky.....
but, as I posted, 10 minutes or so per skid here.
 
AHHHH Tim...
you have one of those basements.. Lucky.....
but, as I posted, 10 minutes or so per skid here.
A skid takes me about an hour but I have no help.
 
I feel sooo spoiled! The truck backs down the drive way... then 1 ton at a time onto a pallet jack... into the garage... I point to where it goes and all is delivered, unloaded, 'parked' to where I pointed, the garage doors are shut and the truck is speeding away all in about 15 minutes. Before anyone hates... I drive an hour and a half each way to and from work and have for the last 18 years... at least the pellet delivery portion of my life is easy :)
 
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I feel sooo spoiled! The truck backs down the drive way... then 1 ton at a time onto a pallet jack... into the garage... I point to where it goes and all is delivered, unloaded, 'parked' to where I pointed, the garage doors are shut and the truck is speeding away all in about 15 minutes. Before anyone hates... I drive an hour and a half each way to and from work and have for the last 18 years... at least the pellet delivery portion of my life is easy :)
I'm sure many pellet stove owners do the same deal...
Whatever works best in your situation and if u don't mind paying delivery costs then your a happy Pellethead..:)
Regardless of having delivered or picked up,
Most important chore is getting your Pellet supply Now and not waiting if u can afford it.
Got my 2 tons of Energex premium hardwoods on early buy this past May and waiting for 2 tons of Energex Golden hardwoods which should be delivered to my dealer any day now..
[Big Fire at the Plant last winter slowed production down a bit]
 
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I'm sure many pellet stove owners do the same deal...
Whatever works best in your situation and if u don't mind paying delivery costs then your a happy Pellethead..:)
Yes.. and a warm pellethead at that!

So what does it take to be a Pellet Hog? I'm guessing more than the 4+ tones we have
 
From what I have read, I think 6 tons or more? someone chime in here....:eek:
I only have room for 4.... then one of the cars sleeps on the driveway all winter. Talk about a battle I will not be fighting!!
 
I'm a newb, have had a pc45 a few years, basement install. I haul the bags up 4 steps into the house, down 13 into basement and restack. Using 3 tons or so a year this routine gets old. I keep thinking a slide on the stairs would save some time. Also have a basement window that could be used, this would actually work better since it would save the up into the house trip.
Has anyone built a slide to run bags down?
Wondering if the bags and pellets survive,
 
I'm a newb, have had a pc45 a few years, basement install. I haul the bags up 4 steps into the house, down 13 into basement and restack. Using 3 tons or so a year this routine gets old. I keep thinking a slide on the stairs would save some time. Also have a basement window that could be used, this would actually work better since it would save the up into the house trip.
Has anyone built a slide to run bags down?
Wondering if the bags and pellets survive,
OMG my back hurts just imagining your effort! I've read that some bags rip more easily than others... I hope you can find a slide solution long before the temps drop :)
 
I know I saw a post about someone doing that last year with the slide into the basement. Maybe they'll chime in. I would think it would have to be pretty smooth to avoid damage since the bags rip pretty easily.
 
I've already got about 4 tons stashed in the basement this year, so my work is almost done. I'll probably get one more just because I like overkill :)
 
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I normally buy 4. I bought 6 this year because I made room.
 
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sore back? thought i'd expedite things last year and do 2 bags at a trip, i made 2 trips and tweeked a muscle, so much for saving time.
Guessing a sheet of plywood ripped in half and maybe a roll of to cover it so it's a bit more slippery, a few 2x4's for legs and i'll have a 16' slide.
 
I've already got about 4 tons stashed in the basement this year, so my work is almost done. I'll probably get one more just because I like overkill :)
Overkill = Warmth in my book. (my back still hurts thinking of your effort)
 
I'm a newb, have had a pc45 a few years, basement install. I haul the bags up 4 steps into the house, down 13 into basement and restack. Using 3 tons or so a year this routine gets old. I keep thinking a slide on the stairs would save some time. Also have a basement window that could be used, this would actually work better since it would save the up into the house trip.
Has anyone built a slide to run bags down?
Wondering if the bags and pellets survive,
Mine got thru the Basement window [next to the truck]. both windows come out.
can't see it but 2 windows there..
 

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Mine got thru the Basement window [next to the truck]. both windows come out.
can't see it but 2 windows there..
Do you let them just drop to the floor? I thought about it but assumed without trying that i'd just have a bag of crumbs.
I have a similar setup, driveway right by the window. The crap piled below the is another matter.
 
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