Spring buys!

Factor in DELIVERY, or pick up ( gas, time), and no savings.

I argued a few weeks back, Trucking is much cheaper right now, straight from my neighbor who ships steel. Im filling up MY TRUCK MUCH CHEAPER. So is the Mill gouging ?

 

Not sure what is going on with pricing. But if I was saving less than $500 a season I would not be burning pellets with all the hassle. Luckily (sarcasm) I have propane and still save in the ballpark of $2000 a year.

 

Oil still isn't cheaper. It still costs me 250+ a month to run the oil pig for hot water and helping the stove. Without the stove, the oil pig burns easily 500-700 worth of oil at 2.50 prices. I spent 1100 on pellets. I would have spent at least 2100 more on oil, even at the 2.50 price point.

I'm still a pellet buyer at these prices (on both fronts) but let me tell you, every day i'm looking into figuring out how to install a wood stove without a gaudy pipe sticking 25 feet out the back of my house. or solar panels that can power some electric radiators. but then i remember i don't have a truck any more to scavenge and then i remember i'm 'done' investing in my house as i'm planning to move south in 3 or 4 years and there already isn't any ROI on it (probably going to short sale it to get out from under it... bought in 2007. worth 100k less now) and then it's back to just buying more pellets at ridiculous prices and bitching about it on the internet

 

On average, my pellet stove has replaced approx. 550 gallons of heating oil per year. At $2.50/gallon that means I saved $1375 in oil cost this winter. OK, now let's see what $1375 buys us from a pellet point of view...

At $8 per bag, I would have run out on 2/25
At $7 per bag, I would have run out on 3/14
At $6 per bag, I would run out in mid-April
At $5 per bag, my stash will carry me into December of next year

My average price per bag this year was $5.07, thanks to some early buys and creative coupon use at TSC and HD. If it weren't for that, I would be somewhere between $6 and $7 per bag and an unhappy camper right now. So take a look at those early buy prices and see where we are headed at the pellet retailers. Is it any wonder so many folks are shopping at the BB these days? It's becoming cost-prohibitive to buy them anywhere else in this area. If you think the $7 - $8 a bag thing is a joke, think again. Unfortunately, it is becoming the norm at retailers here. I think you guys are right, with these nonsense shortages for the past couple years and prices sky high, this niche area of heating with pellets is not looking nearly as attractive as it once was.

 

Agreed. Another thing most people do not consider is if they were to heat their house like they do with a pellet stove they would use much less oil. That's why I compare btu to btu and not usage/cost.
Not many people close all the registers or baseboards through out the whole house and heat from one room when using oil/electric/Propane. So they use more of these fuels, but the house is evenly heated.

 

Heartlands are still $165/ton here after 11% rebate at menards. I'm burning free fuel but seeing how much cheaper pellets are here than everywhere else almost makes me want to go buy them and save my free wheat till the price of pellets goes up.

 

That's still pretty cheap compared to what we're seeing on the east coast.

 

Where do you live?

 

I would think it definitely would pay to make the trip to belle or sturgis if you have a trailer.

 

That's per ton. I'm not sure now many bags are on a pallet. I only know that the per bag price is $3.29

 

$3.29. That is sweet!!!

 

I was quoted some shipping prices on 22 tons coming from MI going to PA. As soon as the truck crosses into PA shipping cost is almost doubled per mile compared to Ohio and IN. Trucking companies that ship to the East hate PA. You end up paying for that.

Eric

 

I've driven through pa. I understand. lol