The shoratage right now is real, I agree. But is this due to people buying much more as a result of last year early, or is everyone buying the same amount and there are just many more pellet burners and supply can not and will not keep up? I feel the former is the case and the shortage will be temporary, I could be wrong. But what I do know is all the pellets besides the box stores are priced at or above $300 per ton. If this continues to be the case next year I will most likely flip a switch and be warm rather than deal with the pellets.
I could get in my truck and buy pellets from at least 12 place within 12 miles of my location. No sure what each of them carry for brands. I bought four tons for the garage and will buy 12 to 20 bags at a time until the supply dries up, then I'll fall back to the four tons from the garage. Easier to unload directly into the porch then it is to pull them from the garage. In a perfect would, that would be the only way, sort of like groceries. There is one set up here where people have pellet furnaces and get automatic bulk deliveries just as if they were burning oil. Those folks have no choice or idea about what brand of pellet they bare getting.
The word is more than a few new stoves were sold. Wood stove sales also increased. I've heard approx 60% of the sales were to first time stove owners. Much like the 2008 season, Many won't be able to do what we do and get even heat, So they will give up. Being cold isn't what they expected. Many won't do the cleaning chores correctly and the stoves performance will decrease or worse. And lastly having the struggle of getting fuel added into this. IMHO well see many on CL come spring.
I started a shortage thread with my thoughts on it. Mainly to avoid confusion. The prices coming down won't show on a Google search of pellet shortage. I feel a thread with the shortage topic could draw more newb's to the site as we go forward. It might be in our best interest to move or carry on this topic in a thread with a name that relates. I didn't do it to step on toes or do I plan to close this. Just feel its better discuss this in a thread with a name that matches. Carry on!
The hardwood softwood deal is still in play here. Many still think wood stove and they usually get their stuff from the people that think all pellets are the same. Its no wonder that they think the softwoods are bad and should be avoided. The big box and their clients still seem to be in the dark sometimes. A member here has heard it from a TSC rep who doesn't think he can sell them and Another heard an Energex rep say that they can't market their softwoods to the NE box stores. Your dealing with knowledgeable dealers who have already passed on their experience. Not to mention someones test data that got spread around to most of them. I'd probably bet good cash that these dealers still hear it too. Maybe not as often, But I bet it still happens. We still see hits in threads were newb's asking if its OK to burn them or will they hurt my stove.? Really!
This will sound odd, but I don't think a day goes by where we don't hear someone say they only want hardwood pellets....not a day.....no exxageration
You are right about that thought process. Can't figure it out anymore than I can figure why they can't understand why OAK is advisable., or they they don't want to follow the manual for installations and not try to be created. However, I do recall the place I was in when I first started. If I hadn't been on the forum before the install (2008) I think I would have sadly failed. I have to also say that half my misinformation came from the people where I bought the stove and installation. They didn't even leave me a manual, and they declined to do the OAK. I paid $900 for that install that was a t with three feet up then out. Must have had sucker written on my forehead. I now proudly wear a tee shirt that says FHC on it.
LW, just curious did your supply last the weekend? Suppose the weekend's not over yet, for many today is a holiday.
sadly, it doesn't work like that, Jay! Yea, we sold that 100.....still have some of the more spendy pellets available, like North Idaho, but even that's below 100 tons. And yea, for us Columbus day isn't a holiday...we are working. Our next day closed is Thanksgiving day, then Christmas Day, then, New Years' Day (but I have to work to do the end-of-year IT stuff, etc.), then, I think its Easter. Saturday and Sundays are some of our busiest days.
LW....if you are having trouble moving that North Idaho stuff....give me a call....might be able to take it off your hands and help your cash flow....make you a deal...will buy all you want to sell me at say....$240 p/t Monson....that should help you out, cause that is the kinda guy I am...dm
The battle of the DF's do I see a heads up brewing? I might have a week furlow coming. Just about cool enough too! If ya really want to move them. Put a $275.00 price tag on them. The pigs will be knockin ya over to get em! Just make sure you save one for me.
