Lowes No Longer Stocking Pellets (or at least not getting anymore in until next season)

[cntbill]

I just called the local Lowes near me where I purchased my 25PDVC last year and asked if they had any pelllets in stock yet, as I've been calling about ever other week and keep getting the same story that "they are on order and should be in next week" and well today I was told they are no longer getting any in (I'm guessing the person meant for this heating season). I ask, "How do you expect to sell any pellet stoves?" the answer was "I know".... Below is a paste of a quick message I sent to Lowes:

Hi,

I bought a pellet stove from you (Shillington PA store) last year, well 2007 now. And since October of 2008 I have ONLY been able to purchase pellets ONCE at this store, and when I called today to see there was any pellets in stock I was told they were not getting any more.... How do you expect to sell pellet stoves? And what about your customers that did buy them?

Bill...

So I am just wondering if this is just a PA thing or what? And this is got to be cutting into the profits of Englander Stoves?

Yea I know.... should have bought a few tons back in the summer.... ;-)

 

[slvrblkk]

The HD's in Allentown and Bethlehem didn't have any pellets until the A-town store received in about 20 ton last week (Future Fuel II and Firesides). The funny thing is they have quite a few stoves in stock at both stores. Hopefully, they will be half pricing them again in February and I'll probably pick up another one for our basement. You definitely need to buy pellets during the off season just to be on the safe side.

 

[cntbill]

The HD's in Allentown and Bethlehem didn't have any pellets until the A-town store received in about 20 ton last week (Future Fuel II and Firesides). The funny thing is they have quite a few stoves in stock at both stores. Hopefully, they will be half pricing them again in February and I'll probably pick up another one for our basement. You definitely need to buy pellets during the off season just to be on the safe side.

I got a 1/2 ton's worth from the local Reading HD last month, they are expecting a delivery later on this week.... Yea I know 8-/ about stocking up in the off season.... I even passed up a $25 off per ton coupon from Tractor Supply in July ($$ timing off).

And I guess I can't complain too much about Lowes since I got my stove for 70% off original price, and like you maybe if they drop the prices on stoves again this year I might pick one up for the garage

But now I am on my way to the Ephrata WalMart... they have a few tons but don't know what kind

 

[derrickp]

I have had more luck with the local pellet/wood stove dealers in the area rather than the big box stores.

If you have one in the local area I suggest building a good relationship with them, many will take care of repeat customers when pellets are in low supply.

(broken link removed)

The owner of this shop is a really great guy, he treats his customers well and really is just a great overall business to work with for anyone who is near his location.

Derrick

 

[cntbill]

I have had more luck with the local pellet/wood stove dealers in the area rather than the big box stores.

If you have one in the local area I suggest building a good relationship with them, many will take care of repeat customers when pellets are in low supply.

(broken link removed)

The owner of this shop is a really great guy, he treats his customers well and really is just a great overall business to work with for anyone who is near his location.

Derrick

Yea I thought that too... but the one place I bought all my Energex from last year, even though I must have bought only two tons from will only sell to his customers that bought stoves from him this year... Time to find a new stove dealer

 

[Skunk]

Our Lowes and Home Depots can't keep pellets in stock for some reason, but Wal-Mart does and they sell the Forest's Pride which are quality.

 

[Garry P]

The Lowes and Home Depot stores near me (Northern Cincinnati) have not even stocked a pellet stove this year. Each only had one small wood stove for sale. They did however have pellets at the beginning of the season, but they only had a few ton each. Unless you got them quick they were gone. Tractor Supply had one pellet stove this year, and it was a left over from last year that they had on clearance. They also had pellets early in the season, but none since.

I am wondering if the run on stoves in the oil burning markets caused the big box stores to shift thier inventory to those markets. Every year prior to this one they all carried one or two models.

 

[GVA]

it's normal for the box stores to stop selling pellets this early, if they had any stoves left then they would be soon put on clearance. it's just the way the do stuff.......
Lawn mowers and patio sets are soon to be on the floor...
They are always a couple of months ahead of the rest of us...

 

[cntbill]

it's normal for the box stores to stop selling pellets this early, if they had any stoves left then they would be soon put on clearance. it's just the way the do stuff.......
Lawn mowers and patio sets are soon to be on the floor...
They are always a couple of months ahead of the rest of us...

Yea they are putting the summer stuff out now... And last year when the stoves went on clearance in Feb. at 50-70% off was the main reason I bought one. But I still think it is shame for them to be completely out of pellets when the heating season doesn't end for at least another 80 days or so. But I am back from WalMart now and they only had about two tons left too. I only picked up 16 bags because that is pretty much that I can haul in the Jeep safely and hope the local HD gets more in next week since they are much closer (3 miles instead of 20) and I can make a couple of trips.

 

[rmac]

I can drive to 5 Lowes in less than 30 minutes from my house. Three of the five did not carry pellets or stoves at all this year, and the other two have been hit or miss.

 

[cntbill]

I can drive to 5 Lowes in less than 30 minutes from my house. Three of the five did not carry pellets or stoves at all this year, and the other two have been hit or miss.

Come to think of it, the Lowes near me only had a two models of pellet stoves on display and what I saw of there stock on the shelves were few too... Also they seem to cut down on the amount of snow blowers as well, as last year they has a slew and good deals this time of year and now I only saw about a half dozen and no mark down yet....hmm make you wonder.

 

[slvrblkk]

it's normal for the box stores to stop selling pellets this early, if they had any stoves left then they would be soon put on clearance. it's just the way the do stuff.......
Lawn mowers and patio sets are soon to be on the floor...
They are always a couple of months ahead of the rest of us...

Yea they are putting the summer stuff out now... And last year when the stoves went on clearance in Feb. at 50-70% off was the main reason I bought one. But I still think it is shame for them to be completely out of pellets when the heating season doesn't end for at least another 80 days or so. But I am back from WalMart now and they only had about two tons left too. I only picked up 16 bags because that is pretty much that I can haul in the Jeep safely and hope the local HD gets more in next week since they are much closer (3 miles instead of 20) and I can make a couple of trips.

Did Walmart have Penningtons or something else?

 

[imacman]

The local HD near me has about 9 Englander pellet stoves, and the Lowes across the street has 3.....but neither of them have had pellets in over a month.

 

[lpgreg]

Our Lowe's here in Midland is out and told me they would not be getting anymore this year.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

biggest reason is they dont want to get stuck with them, if enough requests from enough people maybe they will carry them late in the season. ask for the seasonal department manager when you make late season iquiries on pellets. the "guy on the floor " isnt as likely to mention your request, but managers lunch with "ame"s who do the ordering.

FWIW i'll forward this thread to our lowes account manager who can pass this on to the regional buyer

 

[cntbill]

slvrblkk - Yes they have Pennington's, I bought some from the same WalMart around Thanksgiving and they worked well for me, they had a date code in the corner, however the ones I picked up today have No date code... so we'll see how they work. But one thing they were storing the pellets outside unprotected and I mentioned to the person there, as the fist layer of pellets were sawdust. Guess Walmart or at least that store needs a little instructions on storage of pellets.

macman - Maybe this year I join the Pellet Pig Club ;-)

lpgreg - MI too...

Mike - Keep them on their toes, and good point on letting the department manager know... As there was another person here on the forum that came to my home to check out my stove before getting one himself, ends up he emailed me a couple of weeks ago and decided not to get a stove from Lowes, I can't say for sure if it was because Lowes never seemed to have pellets, but I got a sneaky suspicion that was probably one of the reasons because when he was at my place that was one of the topics. My reply to his email was wait till Lowes or HD have the clearance sale shortly.. ;-)

 

[richg]

North Jersey here.....I have not seen Lowes carry any pellets at all this year (fall 2008-spring 2009). Homies has had Future Fuel in stock at a few locations for $300.00 a ton. Pelletsales is now quoting me $279.00 per ton, and only $5.00 per ton delivery. Agree, big box stores are not reliable as pellet sources of late.

 

[Souzafone]

Wait until they start selling cars at the box stores and you'll wonder why there's no parts available. Moral of the story--don't buy specialized big ticket items at a place that doesn't specialize. Would you go to the Walmart doctor because it's cheaper?

 

[krooser]

I'm so fortunate to have a dealer who has pellets in stock year round...they even bag their own at their facility. Buy by the railcar load. I do feel sorry for you guys out east who are constantly struggling to fine a good pellet at a reasonable cost.

BTW...Wally World has walk-in clinics at a few stores... I think it's $35.00 for a doctor visit.

 

[kinsmanstoves]

Yep we still have them and trucks still rolling as we speak.

Eric

 

[imacman]

....BTW...Wally World has walk-in clinics at a few stores... I think it's $35.00 for a doctor visit.[/size]

Did you take your stove in for a check-up today? What was it's temperature? Does it need 2 Tylenol in the burn pot and call the WallyWorld doctor in the morning? :lol:

Sorry Krooser, but I couldn't resist.....

 

[slvrblkk]

The HD's in Allentown and Bethlehem didn't have any pellets until the A-town store received in about 20 ton last week (Future Fuel II and Firesides). The funny thing is they have quite a few stoves in stock at both stores. Hopefully, they will be half pricing them again in February and I'll probably pick up another one for our basement. You definitely need to buy pellets during the off season just to be on the safe side.

Holy crap...so much for the 20 tons I saw last week. They only had about 20 ripped open bags on two pallets of Future Fuel left and that was it. It still looks like they had quite a few stoves left, though.

 

[cntbill]

UPDATE:

Received an email from Walt (one of the managers) at my local Lowe's. He apologized for the problem and basically wrote that they had a vendor problem and not that they didn't want to carry them. Walt also located pellets at another Lowe's in Pottsville and was trying to locate some closer as Pottsville is about 40 miles away. So I think that is good of him and Lowe's.

 

[OU812]

The Home Depot near me stopped carrying pellets a couple of weeks ago and put a pallet of BBQ charcoal where the pellets used to be. I did end up finding a firewood store not far from the Home Depot. They are a bit more expensive but carry pellets year round.