PJ's Premium Wood Pellets

[Philip]

I went to get another load of Somerset pellets from my local Tractor Supply only to find that they were sold out and wouldn't be getting any more this winter. I asked if I could special order a pallet and was told that they couldn't get any more of anything that had to do with heating "this late in the season". He did tell me that another Tractor Supply about 20 miles away had a large supply of pellets because they had gotten more than they ordered. So I went there to buy half a ton of Somerset pellet. To my surprise they had PJ's Premium Wood Pellets. The bag isn't marked with the NPFI logo and there is no analysis of ash, fines or anything other than "Nothing but 100% all wood." They were selling for the same price as the Somerset ($4.98/bag). They are made by Carolina Shavings in Clinton, SC. I only bought two bags because I didn't want to end up with a 1/2 ton of low quality pellet. When I poured them into the stove I found they have a good bit more fines than the Somerset. I searched the forum and found no reference to this brand, so I'm wondering if any one here has burned or even heard of PJ's Pellets?

 

[pegdot]

This would be funny if it didn't make me see red! TSC did EXACTLY the same thing to me, Phillip. After employees at two different stores assured me that they would stock pellets through the heating season they ran out at both our nearby stores at the end of December and told me the home office wouldn't allow them to even order any more. I'd been told earlier in the year that the Newberry, SC store was sort of the warehouse for pellets in this area so, being desperate, I called that store myself. They had 7 or 8 tons but after talking to the manager of my local store again and waiting two days for her to get an answer from the home office as to whether or not she could get 2 tons shipped from Newberry to her store for me she told that even if they'd agree to let her do that it would likely be several weeks before they arrived so I gave up. Newberry is about a 2 hour drive from me but I needed 2 tons so cussing all the way I took a Saturday and made two trips down there and back to get the pellets I needed. Eight hours driving time and $100 in gas later I had my pellets.

PJ's is all they had and the manager there said that they'd been in the stock room "forever". Those are the pine pellets that I'm having to sift. They burn as well as the Somerset in my stove but they don't seem to throw quite as much heat and they are just dusty as all get out. I suspect that they are at least a couple of years old.

I wanted to contact TSC and complain because I basically felt like they'd lied to me in order to sell me a stove. I decided not to make that call because I was so mad I knew I'd come across as a raving lunatic but hearing that they did the same thing to someone else just tears it. I'll be on the phone first thing this morning bending someones ear! It's just ridiculous for them to stop selling pellets before the coldest months have even begun! It probably won't do a bit of good but it's worth a try.
If I don't get an answer that I like I'll be taking my feed and fertilizer business to someone else. >:-(

I think that the PJ's would be pretty good pellets if they were new. I'm planning on contacting the mill directly to see if I can get some for next season directly from them. If I'm going to have to drive it won't be to buy something from TSC!

 

[Philip]

I just wasn't thinking when I went to Tractor Supply earlier in the month and bought 16 bags (all I can haul in my S-10). They had nearly a full pallet then. If I had known they wouldn't be getting any more pellets I could have gone back and gotten another two loads, but it never occured to me that they would stop stocking pellets in December because our winter weather doesn't really start until January. Yesterday the manager of my local TSC said he could order a larger supply next October if he knows the demand is there so unless I can find another source next fall, I will place my "order" early and find a way to transport a ton at a time.

In the upper left hand corner of the bags of PJ's that I bought it says "LSP 2/06" so if that's a date stamp, you're right about them being old I've burned one bag and compared to the Somerset, they don't seem to put out as much heat which surprised me because I thought I had read that softwood pellets put out more heat than hardwood pellets. This bag of PJ's has considerably more fines than the Somerset but not much more sawdust. (What I call fines won't go through screen wire, but will go through 1/8" hardware cloth.)

I'm wondering if Carolina Shavings is not a member of the PFI because their pellets don't meet the PFI standards or if there's another reason. I would think they could sell more pellets if they had the PFI logo on their product.

 

[pegdot]

That's been my experience with them as well. Lots of fines and they do seem to burn cooler than the Somerset pellets. No real difference in clinkers or soot that I can see though. I'll have to double check my bags but I don't believe they have a date stamp. Not sure about why they aren't certified. I know that their main product is horse bedding. I guess pellets are just a side line.

If I can find a mill that will sell directly to me this summer I plan on borrowing a friends heavy equipment trailer so that I can get several tons in one trip. I could use my horse trailer but the way the doors are the bags would have to be loaded by hand....no fun. It looks like I'm going to have about a ton left over unless we get some really nasty weather before spring.

Sorry, I got hung up yesterday and didn't get a chance to call TSC's customer service department. I can't begin to tell you how disappointed I am with them about this. While I understand the need for them to use their floorspace wisely by keeping seasonal items in stock I still think it's just crazy for them to stop selling heating products in December. That's just going a little too far. Especially from a company that doesn't seem to have a problem with stocking fescue seed in July. Yeah, right! Like planting fescue in July, in the south, isn't a huge waste of money! lol Do you by any chance remember what month it was that you first saw pellets in your local store? Heck, maybe they sell those in July as well. :roll:

 

[Philip]

I began researching pellet stoves in mid October. I found this forum around the beginning of November. I didn't think to check at Tractor Supply until I read on this forum that you and others were buying stoves and pellets there. So about the middle of November, I called my local TSC. I was told they didn't stock pellet stoves and they were sold out of pellets. The manager told me this week that they start getting pellets around the first November.

 

[pegdot]

Well, I called TSC's customer service line yesterday. As expected, I didn't get much satisfaction. The district manager for my area is supposed to be calling me to discuss the problem but I'm not holding my breath. I'd love to see them extend the amount of time they stock pellets but I doubt that's going to happen.

I'd love to know if they stock pellets for a longer period of time up north....anyone?

 

[stampere]

I was looking for wood pellets and I stumbled across this post. I live within 30 miles of the Somerset Pellet Company and drive by it almost weekly. I don't know the situation, but I do know that Somerset (KY) Pellet Company has a HUGE inventory of shrink wrapped pallets loaded with, I would assume, bags of pellets. I'll try to find out what's going on.

 

[Philip]

From what I was told by the Tractor Supply Store manager, he is not able to order more pellets or heating related items after the end of December. If he is aware of the demand in the fall he can order more pellets, but he doesn't want to get stuck with them at the end of February when it typically turns warmer down here, so he only orders what he is pretty sure he can sell.

The PJ's pellets are definately old stock that Tractor Supply bought too much of and can't seem to get rid of. What I don't understand is why they won't allow the store managers to order more of something they have in their warehouse taking up space. Not that I'd buy any more of the PJ's pellets unless the price was reduced about 20%.

From my limited experience Somerset pellets are quite good and when I "place my order" next fall at Tractor Supply I'll be sure to specify Somerset or Country Boy pellets.

 

[pegdot]

Well, the district manager never called me. Big surprise, huh? lol The rep I talked to did give me the number of the corporate office but I haven't called it yet. Maybe if everyone who buys pellets from TSC would call and complain about the short amount of time they stock pellets it would do some good. The number is 1-877-872-7721.

 

[petejung]

I almost don't want to say anything, because I need a ton of pellets and am trying to wait a couple of weeks before I go buy them... Don't want everyone up here in my area running to TSC and buying my pellets from under me But I called the other day and they said they have them in stock yet...

 

[pegdot]

That's part of what I was wondering...do they keep pellets in stock longer in colder climates? In the south the store managers can't even order pellets after the end of December. If they run out that's it for the season and all our local stores ran out this year before the end of December. I know it's not as cold here but still some of our worst weather comes in February and March so it's a real hardship for those who haven't bought ahead or for those who don't have room to store at least three months worth of pellets. Stupid policy!

 

[mike5752]

If anyone is looking for the Somerset Premium Pellets you can call our customer service at 606-678-2842 and ask for Sandy she can help you find our pellets in your area if possible. She can also give you prices and delivery on truckload quantity's.

Mike

 

[earmit]

Somerset, Pike and Greene Team are
good low fine pellets

 

[earmit]

Well, I have to remove Pike pellets from my list,
too much ash. Somerset and Greene Team Gold
are my picks. Low ash, dust in the bag and burn good.
So far Somerset is A++.