Delivery Rates

[movemaine]

Sibs (here in Maine) used to do free delivery to just about anywhere within 100 miles, but that became unsustainable pretty fast. On the opposite end, Rocky's Stove Shoppe here in Augusta (where I bought my insert) charges $50 for the first ton, and $25 each additional ton - which is pure craziness, considering I live 5 miles from them. (if you don't want to deliver, just say you don't deliver - don't price yourself out)

What do you consider fair delivery rates? For those that sell and deliver, how do you determine your delivery rate?

 

[glenc0322]

Fuel is expensive and the driver needs to get paid plus the insurance and if they use a fork lift to land the ton where you want it. I figure 30 per ton and 20 for each additional ton delivered more if they will be hand stacking for you

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

Its a tough call on what is fair. I get free delivery with 4 ton purchase during the spring special from a local dealer. This is why I use them and do the deal.

If I had to pay $20 or more per ton for delivery I would either a) by them by the bag at the box stores or b) buy 4 or 5 tons at once from the box for the flat fee.

I already pay $60 more per ton than I would have to at a box store. Granted they are much better than the usual options but the prices are close to making me go straight box store.
The pellet house prices gave gone up significantly in the three years I have been burning where the box stores gave been pretty much the same.

 

[Harman p-68a]

My stash of six ton was just delivered 60.00 bucks and 3 ton in garage with forklift driver was great lumber yard so very exp operatorAnd it was a 25 mile ride to my place from there yd granted he had a full load 14 ton on so they were making out ok

 

[reallyte]

To be honest most of you guys get it really cheap. Here it 70$ first ton and 25 for every ton more. You guys shouldn't b crying in ur cheerios.

 

[Harman p-68a]

Oh I wasnt crying I have a trl that can haul 3 ton I have put 4 on it b4 but legally hehe and a truck to pull it, at two trips and gas I couldnt do it for 60 bucks so I have no issue paying what I payed to get them to the house

 

[St_Earl]

steve from SIB delivers up here for a flat $75. i'm guessing maybe 150 miles one way. google says 174. but that's dropping down to augusta first.
he can bring me 6 tons at a time

by contrast the local stove shop (10 miles away) charges $50 a load w/ a 2 ton max/ and they send an old guy and a kid to manually offload bag by bag.
i understand these fellas need to be paid and that's why the fee is as it is.
they have a killer price on the crabbe softwoods though.
if i end up liking these pellets well enough, and the price locally stays near the same, i may have to do 1/2 ton runs in the subaru this spring.

*edit to add - i'm somewhat of an old guy myself.
no disrespect meant.

 

[rowerwet]

pellet dealer in sanford was $25 for the first ton, $5 each after that.
Home Depot. is $65 for the delivery, my dad just got 5 tons for that.

 

[NateinMaine]

pellet dealer in sanford was $25 for the first ton, $5 each after that.
Home Depot. is $65 for the delivery, my dad just got 5 tons for that.

I also got the HD delivery for the same price for 2 tons of MWP's. The HD guy said it was a flat fee of $65 for any amount you wanted.

 

[DOLLARBILL]

I got mine from Rockies ( i live in winthrop ) this summer 50 dollars got four tons stacked in the cella ! M thinkin i got a deal but it was off season an i did buy my stove from him ! Years past i did buy from Sib when it was free delivery but last i knew all he had was Maine woods pellets which i do not care for !

 

[Lowarea]

My dealer is a fixed $30.00 fee. No complaints, but their pellet prices help make up for it . In the end, I get a fair deal for a great pellet.

 

[Harman p-68a]

steve from SIB delivers up here for a flat $75. i'm guessing maybe 150 miles one way. google says 174. but that's dropping down to augusta first.
he can bring me 6 tons at a time

by contrast the local stove shop (10 miles away) charges $50 a load w/ a 2 ton max/ and they send an old guy and a kid to manually offload bag by bag.
i understand these fellas need to be paid and that's why the fee is as it is.
they have a killer price on the crabbe softwoods though.
if i end up liking these pellets well enough, and the price locally stays near the same, i may have to do 1/2 ton runs in the subaru this spring.

*edit to add - i'm somewhat of an old guy myself.
no disrespect meant.

The subie will handle it... do you tow with yours? I have a 13 Outback Our first subaru and love it so far!!

 

[Lousyweather]

I guess maybe I think the question....ie: "FAIR delivery rates" is pretty subjective to me.......I sell the pellets and deliver them.....each time I get a fuel bill, price a new truck/forklift, pay insurance for those trucks, heavy highway use taxes, IFTA taxes, excise taxes, the driver, etc, I wonder if we don't charge enough some days......I mean, there's always the option above where you can pick up yourself for free (well, I think we both know it isn't really free).....

 

[St_Earl]

The subie will handle it... do you tow with yours? I have a 13 Outback Our first subaru and love it so far!!

no tow package. drove ours coast to coast loaded from the floor boards to the headliner and with a canoe on top and two bikes hanging off the back.
my wifetook a plane east. so the front seat was loaded in the same manner. there was enough room for me to squeeze in and a sight line to the right side mirror.
i pulled into a gas station in toledo and a guy was laughing and saying that it would make a perfect ad for subaru.

i figure i'll just do 4 bags in front to match my weight, and spread the rest around middle and back to even out the load.
should be no problem.

 

[muss]

My pellet man delivers & puts the wrapped pallets with his floor jack exactly placed where I want them @$20 a ton & a fair price on the pellets

 

[movemaine]

I'm willing to pay a fair price for delivery, but also don't want to feel gouged. I feel my local stove shop, who sold and installed my stove, is leaning towards gouging. Need to get a trailer for my Subaru, might be able to eek out a ton at a time.

 

[Lousyweather]

I'm willing to pay a fair price for delivery, but also don't want to feel gouged. I feel my local stove shop, who sold and installed my stove, is leaning towards gouging. Need to get a trailer for my Subaru, might be able to eek out a ton at a time.

that's kinda what I was alluding to above.....some folks will feel gouged if you charge anything, while others are pretty cool about it...they understand it costs money to deliver. Heck, I'd rather you pick the pellets up yourself.....I'm not sure its possible to make money doing deliveries....

 

[Wooden Head]

I've been charged between $60 to $100 for delivery of 3 tons. The difference being if they bring a pallet jack to wheel them into my garage. Some delivery companies and dealers have been less then honest about what services they supply.