Pellet shortage?

[midfielder]

Today at W. Lebanon, NH HD - Big load of Chow came in recently on top of the FSUs that have been here for a while. Now about 1/3 FSU and 2/3 Chow. Between these and what they have stacked out front, I'd say they have close to 250 tons on site - quite a lot of pellets:

 

[skibumm100]

That's probably only enough for 50 households. Not that much really. I think people are nervous and hoarding them. Nobody want to get caught short. I picked up a ton today and about 20 bags through the last week. I haven't even fired it up this year. I'll pick up another ton in a couple weeks and another ton or two later.

 

[BrotherBart]

One thing you have is people that froze last year because of the propane shortage snapping up pellet stoves and pellets. A good move on their part because refinery utilization rates are down which means the propane byproduct inventory is going to be down also.

I see more "propane bill" new folks here than any Fall since I have been around the joint.

 

[midfielder]

Just sayin' - seems a little odd that there'd be 250 tons at this site when there are lots of folks who can't find any. I haven't seen any kind of run on this pile.

 

[JustWood]

Let us know in a few days how much is still there. You just let the whole world know where 250 available tons are.

 

[alternativeheat]

Just sayin' - seems a little odd that there'd be 250 tons at this site when there are lots of folks who can't find any. I haven't seen any kind of run on this pile.

There will be now that you advertised it ! Or it could be that the Lebanon section of NH is more of a solid wood burning community than pellets too.

I picked up my Energex Hardwoods yesterday too. The fork truck operator said they are in good shape with the Energex Hardwoods and LG softs. They have a load of Energex Softs coming next. But he said that HD and Lowes are priced lower than them ( literally 3 miles down the road too), when those places run out people panic and then they see them at their lot. I stated ya I see that happening but the pellets aren't as good either, these are hotter at least by specification and by my own personal experience ( 8700 BTU vs 7800 and 8000). It wasn't mobbed there, a guy got a ton while we checked in and lined up our trailer and another guy showed up for a ton while we got loaded. Steady but not a mad crowd of people. $299 a ton there for all three types of pellets. These Energex Hardwood pellets are very decent, moderate ash but clean fire with a blue base to the flame. I burned them last year in the Harman and the flame runs lower for the same heat as some of the other pellets out there that run very high with multi colored flames..

 

[midfielder]

Let us know in a few days how much is still there. You just let the whole world know where 250 available tons are.

Yeah, will do - will be interesting to see. I've seen big hoards here before (not like this though) - sometimes they shunt them around to other stores and the stock goes down in a hurry.

 

[Tonyray]

I think many more pellet owners have jumped on the Early buy this year[ Spring] and many others have been stocking up past month or so.
The manufacturing plants will keep pumping out the pellets due to demand and the sky is not falling..
..They Remember last years winter too and they are in business to make money..
all will settle down in time. The more we talk about shortages the more they exist even when they don't.
Milage may differ in your area with smaller dealers..

 

[Bioburner]

Having had all our fuel needs met by the end of July I asked the propain delivery driver about supply and his # of deliveries, he said he was very busy filling orders and setting tanks, most were upgrading tanks to larger so to get cheaper off season fuel.
Its not just pellets seeing earlier season purchases at least in my area.

 

[Tonyray]

Having had all our fuel needs met by the end of July I asked the propain delivery driver about supply and his # of deliveries, he said he was very busy filling orders and setting tanks, most were upgrading tanks to larger so to get cheaper off season fuel.
Its not just pellets seeing earlier season purchases at least in my area.

Bought 4 tons in May early buy.
2 tons Energex Premium Hrdwoods American
2 tons Energex golden premiums Hardwoods 0.5 ash..
The Energex plant upstate here in Pa had a huge fire at the plant in Miflintown so the Energex Goldens have been slow in coming to the dealers.
The regular hardwoods are in full supply.... also Home Depot's Stove Chows [bagged by Energex] are also in full supply here..
no shortages here outside Phila..

 

[Pete Zahria]

The more we talk about shortages
the more they exist even when they don't.

I disagree with this

Mileage may differ in your area with smaller dealers..

I do agree with this.

Dan

 

[Tonyray]

I disagree with this

I do agree with this.

Dan

Some Dealers large and small order X amount each year and when it's gone, it's gone.. there by Interprited as a Shortage.

 

[CaptSpiff]

I do agree with this.
Dan

Dan,
As a local dealer, how are the suppliers meeting their promises to you?
Are you having trouble getting followup orders filled, or are even your initial primary orders affected?

This whole thing seems more of a logistical issue where a yard full of pallets are getting backed up by transportation choke points.
Is this all part of our new "just in time" delivery paradigm where no one wants to pay for "stored inventory"?
Mike

 

[moey]

Often the supply is not where the demand is. Ive seen a stack of 25 tons of MWP in front of our Walmart for weeks now it slowly goes down each week but not very quickly.

 

[Pete Zahria]

Dan,
As a local dealer, how are the suppliers meeting their promises to you?
Are you having trouble getting followup orders filled, or are even your initial primary orders affected?

This whole thing seems more of a logistical issue where a yard full of pallets are getting backed up by transportation choke points.
Is this all part of our new "just in time" delivery paradigm where no one wants to pay for "stored inventory"?
Mike

First off, to be clear, I am not the owner, I just work closely with him in various capacity.

To answer the question, we have no contracts with suppliers. It has always been,
place the order... pay...take delivery. Never been a problem. Never. Much the way you buy them.
Just that we buy a lot more...
As for not wanting to tie up money, that may be the case with others, not us. We have
Told each of the three suppliers we deal with, send us all you can, whatever the cost.
We stocked up big time compared to last year, in anticipation of problems. Wasn't enough.
We blew out over 700 tons in an eye blink. Begging for more. Reason we get, as you surmise,
trucking issues. During the crunch, I worked on locating another brand, and got it. Glad we did,
we've gone through 8 loads with them. But now... Having big problems getting them.
We have 4 loads sitting at one yard, after that they said no more until??

Look, I understand how some people feel, because in some areas, maybe it isn't like this.
But for us... This is no joke. Neither is it for the people who " thought'" they had orders
in with other dealers, and are being told... Sorry...
Yeah... I saw oodles of pellets at Depot Saturday.... But they were all spoken for.

 

[Big papa]

Why doesn't anyone complain about finding pellets in May or June

 

[Bioburner]

Why doesn't anyone complain about finding pellets in May or June

Probably because there"s no one to listen.

 

[Big papa]

Exactly my point no one is on here or looking for pellets at the time they should be

 

[Woody1911a1]

wishing that those were pallets of 22 ammo . now that would be big news

 

[MikeNH]

Probably because there"s no one to listen.

Because there's nothing to complain about. Me and several neighbors ordered in May and got the brands and amounts we wanted. In May most people aren't thinking about winter anymore. They've been doing it for months and are tired of it.

 

[MikeNH]

wishing that those were pallets of 22 ammo . now that would be big news

They would have sold out even faster.

 

[Big papa]

You don't think having summer to catch up with demand would have helped

 

[Bioburner]

We had one of the coolest and record rainfall and does not help tree harvest this spring.