Yeah I was there Saturday but more like 1:15. Man it was nuts. I tell you wajt though. Those North Americans leave clinkers but burn real nice in my stove. The glass is much cleaner than the Vermonts and other top pellets.
I thought of it when I was there but didn't want to buy just 1 bag. Plus they keep their open pallets by the door and the greeter was driving me crazy trying to impress me with his knowledge of pellets. The last time I was there I pointed out to him that the bags were wet and he told me that wouldn't hurt anything because the bags were waterproof. I pointed out the holes in the bags and said "Oh really!" If I swing by Friday I may pick up a bag or two.
By the time we've trained them, They move on to better things. Start over the next season. (Shrug smiley here!)
You guys are not giving me a warm fussy about getting a pellet stove for next year. From what I've read, I want to make sure that I have the 2-3 tons as early as possible. Then purchase by the bag until supplies in the stores run out. At that point, I would start burning the pellets I purchased before the season. All the while keeping an eye on the store for more individual bags. This way I have enough for a full season. I also have a question. As I am not a big fan of box stores like Walmart, HD, Lowes and so on due to poor quality in a great deal of their products. Such as John Deere producing a different line of mowers just for HD. Which many John Deere dealerships will not touch. Do you get a similar poor quality in the pellets they sell? All things being equal mind you.
Only issue with box store pellets is you cannot rely on what brands they will have in stock. Some times they have top of the line pellets, and sometimes crap.
We kind of make a sport of the pellet hunt. Biggest bang for the buck! No need to run out of pellets if you have the storage space. I have one friend who buys two years ahead. But, to be honest, if you get a really good stove, like a Harman, you don't have much worry about pellets. Get a fussy stove like my first stove and you will regret buying certain brands.
I've been burning for some 16 seasons and only had one season I struggled to get fuel. It was the first and I was late(October) to get them. Since then I have been a "start looking in April" burner and I have had my stash topped off before the start of the season(no later than early September) and haven't had another issue since. So if you buy when others are thinking pools and such. If you start thinking of pellets when your getting your ski's ready you way too late. Unless your a water skier! Get friendly with a local pellet house or lumber yard. Good to have more than one option of getting fuel. Plus, They usually understand pellets a bit better and can get a larger variety of brands. Also some don't have a clue on how to store them. Some seem to think because they are in plastic bags they are water proof. Its not the case as the bags have air/vent holes and water can get to them if stored improperly. Once the outer protective wrap has been remove they must be kept out of the elements!
most here don't realize this, but you don't have to buy your pellets from the Big Boxes. There are plenty of hearth retailers as well....you'd just never know it from the preponderance of posts here about the Big Boxes, and the bemoaning of the fact that in and about March, they stop having product, even though its still heating weather here, so..... As for stoves, get a good one, and plan ahead....A "good one" will depend on you.......are you a guy who can tinker and fix your own stuff? maybe an Englander....cheaper, a good product, supported by the manufacturer. Are you less hands on? Maybe a Harman or Quad....both are less picky of what you burn, giving you more options as for fuel, BUY YOUR FUEL EARLY! Don't wait till it gets cold!
More wrong you could not be. What most of us here do realize is you can get just as good pellets at the boxes for significantly lower prices. Lots of times they are the exact sameones for $50 plus less per ton. We also realize that they stop supplying pellets early and we plan ahead. Those that do not are than forced to buy from their only option, which is the much more expensive hearth shops.
IHP, I haven't bought a single bag of pellets at a big box except when I was playing test a few kinds back in 2008/2009. I have never bought any pellets at a hearth shop.
Lol, well some may have other options. Around here it's boxes, hearth shops or pellet dealers. For example, the hearthbshop near me has Maine Woods for $295 their least expensive pellet. And another place has Curran Blend for $299 I believe as their least expensive pellet. The options only get more expensive from there.
this was what was at TSC this morning. 12 ton and just as much on hand of the big heat pellets. and that's all they had. $5.19 a bag $249 a ton
My local TSC has them priced at $4.99/bag or $249.5/ton. So its the same price with no break on a full ton purchase.
I had two ton on hand but only one ton now. The pellets burn great but the damm ash volume is a bit much for me but I only paid $220 a ton for them so I really can't complain I guess.
They don't even serve my area anymore. But they do have a list of some local pellet dealers. http://www.woodpellets.com/fuel-finder/default.aspx?vacate=1&zip=06098
