Nope, got some a few years back from Lowes and they were dusty, dirty pellets with a good bit of ash. My brother got a ton year before last, I ran out of my Lignetics so he gave me a few bags...they were really nice! The next year I opted for a ton...they were TERRIBLE!! Even my brother who thinks a pellet is good as long as it gives heat turned them down this past year. He still has some left he never burned but drove to the next state to get the Turman's this year.
It's another one on my DNB (do not buy) list and that's sad with the limited brands we get around here! We have railways and waterways...the businesses just won't pay the freight to get decent pellets here
EDIT TO UPDATE BELOW POST: Todd did return my call. Very nice man, very apologetic for the delay. They have been unable to access their computers for over a week They are very concerned that I got such a product and want to make it right. I am snail mailing him the pellets with foreign product/sticks. They are giving me a credit to the 6 bags and will offer me a savings on a ton after I get a few more bags of the new batch just shipped to try out. I'm happy to have heard from him and will give the new bags a try I just called Hamer's direct myself, selected "2" for pellet sales and got the voice mail of a "Todd" and left a message that I would appreciate a call back TODAY . We'll see how this goes Friday I let Farmers & Planters store know I had NOT heard from Hamer's and shortly after a man named Chuck called me from same saying my contact info and the pics were sent to "Todd" and this is the first complaint they have had on these pellets in 5 years carrying them and that they screen for what he called "trash"...well, can't help that! Almost like he didn't believe it. I still have one of those bags sitting in my living room UNOPENED. Any advice/suggestions on my next step IF I don't hear back from "Todd"?
I only can offer this.... 1 - From what I know of Todd Webb, he seems like a good dude, I don't know why he hasn't gotten back to you yet. 2 - You are not the only one that has wooden "shards" in their bags and the other person that I know that has them is at least 250+ miles away from you. 3 - Hamer had been "typically" a good solid pellet. Hopefully just a "bad" batch Just shop with your wallet or in this case your pocket book
I updated my post to show I HAVE spoken with Todd and you are correct - he seems like a good dude I know...hate totin' that dammed pocket book around
Every mill has a bad batch now and again - the first load of bags I got this season were 'different' vs. the subsequent bags picked up.. (Minus the sticks and plastic bits though, just loooong pellets.) We only burn softies, but the hardwood folks I know locally wish the Box Stores (HD) would re-carry Hamer's Hot Ones, in this area. Much different pellet landscape around here than just a few years ago. Well, if Todd says he's crediting you - I'd return the unopened (bad) bag(s) to Farmer's and Planters, and see if/when they are getting you some new, better product to try out this season. Although I don't burn Hamers, the fact that Todd got back to you / that the local vendor is involved would give me some cause for 'cautious optimism'.. Good that you called them.
Honestly, I have a few tons of hards left. I'm going to try and stay with straight softies as much as I can unless some more $99 deals come about. "Usually" less clean up with them unless they are Turman flavor or something of the sorts.
I hope you guys do get some $99 deals down there in civilization land, don't see that happening up here anytime soon. re: softies, stove here not made for hardwood pellets - burn pot is too deep, have to kick combustion air up so high to get the ash out of the pot, it pushes mucho heat ($$$) out the flue.. So yes, we're spoiled by the softies.
At the price you guys paid, it's good to get spoiled.. Props to Joe for hooking you guys up. I wish it wouldn't cost me a couple of hundred dollars in fuel to haul pellets from PA, else I'd be taking a ride, and asking for an introduction.
Highly doubt we see that down here again BB"s got burned last year and cut back on orders , they not sitting on Mts. of product like last year heading into March .
Same here Will, (1) ton of FSUs sitting outside the garden center at the Keene HD, same stack that's been sitting there since December, same tear in the outer plastic that someone (not me) did to see what product was inside.. Absolutely no other stacks in sight.. Complete 180 from previous years.
Correct Steve, $259. *Dunno if they're offering any multi-tonnage discount, I'll ask at the Service Desk when I'm back there in Thursday.
I agree...some I've burned of the same brands have often varied from batch to batch and I get that. I was getting perturbed by not hearing back from anyone hence my direct call to Hamer's today. Wish I had reached out to Todd sooner but wasn't aware of their computer issues being the reason for the delay in communication. I'm usually a pretty patient soul Lucky you...I doubt we'd EVER see a softie around this neck of the woods. I learned there is another store about 30 miles east of me that also carries Hamer's. I touched base with F & P after talking to Todd and was told they didn't want my unopened bag back, to trash it or I can use it for sawdust on ice if we get anymore snow I'm quite satisfied at this time with my dealings so far with F & P and Hamer's with BOTH of them standing behind the product. New batch will be arriving in the next week or so. I'd like to be a long term customer...they ARE nice pellets - less the "trash" from whatever the mishap was. Used the IR gun and got 351 degrees out of the Hamer's versus 249 degrees out of the TSC (lignetics).
No more snow, please. (Keep the sawdust in the bag, Thank You Very Much.) Cool! Well, you know what I mean. Those Hamer's are hot stuff! I'm keeping a good thought / I think it's going to work out well for you.