So you don't have to use a fork truck (cost of truck, maintenance on fork truck) to load a ton, and pay the guy who loads them. Big Boxes load materials for my wife all the time. I guarantee you could load 20 bags by hand into my wife's car before you could get 3 ton on my trailer. I also consider myself nonbiased but the loading reason for extra cost is bullchit IMHO.
You'd be surprised at what the big box might have ,I've scored these brands AWF hardwood Set's Hamer's as re bagged Clean Energy PTL hardwood and softwood IMO no dogs on that list and at $ 5 to $5.50 / bag not a bad price Kevin you are right you never know what the BB's will have in stock ,
Smokes mentions the regionality of the "shortage".....so, being that I only know my region, I called HD, Lowes, and TS....guess what? NO PELLETS! So, hmmm.......pretty easy to be cheap when you have nothing to sell at those prices, isn't it........ipso facto, ANY dealer who has product is cheaper, aren't they? Digging yerself a hole, my friend.
I "liked" this, but based on what I've seen, its pretty rare you get help...meh, no reason to argue though......no point in it. We do charge more by the bag versus by the ton........works for us. In the end, you vote with your checkbook, and that's great. I do what I thinks right based on my costs and experience...it works for me.....I do what works for me, you do what works for you......and we're all happy! Just wish I could get me more pellets these days.......... I certainly could load 20 bags in your wife's car faster than I could load 3 tons on your trailer, but your argument has a flaw: your 3 tons is 150 bags......and I am fairly certain I can load 150 bags with the lift MUCH quicker than by hand....your results might vary, I guess, but I cant figure out how youd load 150 bags by hand faster than with a lift......
No, any dealer that has product is not cheaper. That is bizarro world logic. We all know that that boxes stop selling pellets this time of year. No secret.
No flaw in my argument ( I would call it a point because I am not arguing)...You said I would venture to guess no one has ever come in to get 150 bags hand loaded...and if they did, my other guess would be you would charge them the per ton price. Time for a beer LW...If you were a drinker, I would buy you one!!
Lousyweather when the boxes stop selling pellets this is one of the times that dealers like yourself can fill a void and provide a service. And you can charge whatever you feel fit. No argument from me here. My argument is that those that have money issues, buying by the bag at the dealer is usually the most expensive option. Especially when it is their only option. As for the shortage. Boxes typically stop selling this time of year. If and when the dealers cannot support the remaining customers needs then there is a shortage. But even Douggie said there would be no shortage of his product, at least for one particular seller. And don't confuse what I say for a disdain for the dealers or what they charge. I have still bought the vast majority of my pellets from dealers and have supported all of them in a 25 mile or so radius from my house in one way or another. And may support them in the future if what they are selling makes sense to me. The boxes can and most likely will in the future provide similar quality products. They are not always a lesser product. This year was one of their best offerings. We won't know if next year will be the same, it's a bit if a gamble.
It's Mr. Douggie to you ProPane. No you can't charge whatever you like...shortages or not....people remember if they got taken or not and what dealer in his right mind would risk his reputation for a few extra bucks....can they raise their price...sure ...can they gouge....not if they have any brains they won't. When the boxes are out and not getting more in till late summer...what the hell good is the box store you then if that is your main supplier... As a rule the boxes will sacrifice quality over quantity every time. Look at a lot of the products they carry, its usually more about price than quality..I know there are exceptions, but boxes are set up to sell volume, turn over their inventory many times in a year and keep that cash moving thru the doors...pellets are no exception. Will there be some stores with a better grade once in awhile...maybe. Do the better dealers stock pellets all year round...most do. That is the whole point and as manufactures, some of us simply won't do business with the box stores. I won't jump thru there hoops and don't know from season to season if I will be dealing with the same buyer or not...there is little relationship value being built, unlike an owner like LW who has serious skin in his business and will be dealing with the stove dealers or owners of their business for years to come.... they look at our business relationship as a partnership, not just a transaction ...boxes will jump from brand to brand depending on who is the cheapest each year and some dealers do the same...but typically not the better ones. You state this was one of their better offering this year, yet I hear just about the opposite...so I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
Don't really disagree with anything here except your last statement. Don't believe everything you hear.........
I have a girlfriend, family of 4, less than $1000 in savings, and they rent, and before the new health care laws they did not have health insurance either. Her husband earns salary plus ~~$25K bonus per year and buys new vehicles for himself. (bonus, ontop of his salary). I have no doubt he would be one of those buying 5 bags at a time picking them up in his new auto. Those are his priorities. Not smart IMHO but not my decision either. (too bad I hear bummer stuff from his wife though).
