Look what has quietly happened in Bedford, NH (American Biomass)

That's all us poor schleps, that can't afford a #!? $7.00 cup of coffee.

 

I ran vinegar water thru mine about 6 months ago. I bought it Nov/Dec of 2013

 

I could never out my finger on it, but I think you nailed it Larry. I drink some really bad coffee at certain gatherings but dont have to pay $$$ for them.

Although Sumatra Keurig pods are pretty good. Problem is the price. They are more money and have less cups in the package.

Yup, Ive gone over to the dark side of Keurig and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee whenever I want while at home.

Amen to that brother. Even with a Keurig I dont pay more than 50 cents per cup

 

The horror

 

I use an aero-press at home. Am I the only one here that uses one of these? Makes some of the best coffee. At work I use a keurig. K-cups from BJs - 100 pack.

 

Well, in actuality, many folks do go to the source when they buy NEWPs, Maine, Geneva, Barefoot, Turman, etc......the more "local mills"......but, when you get into distant product like Yellow Pine and Fir, it tends to be have to be railed up. 100 tons at a time. Many dealers just dont want to invest that much money for product which could take a couple months getting to them. And then, it needs to be unloaded at a reload (if bagged), trucked to the dealer....all that costs money and time. Bagged product shipped in boxcars can be VERY damaged, costing the dealer more money. If bulk, the railcar needs to be unloaded, bagged, and trucked to the dealer....again, alot of "stuff" to arrange.
Buying from the middleman could arguably be cheaper if theres damage in the railcar. We once had a car stopped for repair in Chicago for over a month.....thats product I cant sell, and somewhat dated, as Spring arrives.
Its easier for many dealers to grab the phone, call Doug, and tell him to send them a truck. There's a value to that, which is the middleman cost.
We do both. Im not sure what the right move is, but sometimes saving a few bucks just isnt worth the aggravation.

 

What determines whether you call the supplier and ask them to send you a truck vs. you sending your own truck (or hiring one) to pick them up yourself? Are there any suppliers which require one method over the other? Do you, as the retailer, always pay the cost of the trucking from the supplier to you no matter what?

 

Simply answer......very few are willing to commit to the volume of product most mills would require...they are not willing to put up the funds for the packaging, and rail costs (due and payable usually before the material lands in their yards) and the sheer time it takes to manage this 12 months a year. As Lousy said....it's just so much easier to call someone like me ...whose business it is to service this segment of the market and order what you need, when you need it....easy squeezy...

 

Easy....now I can't speak for Blazers, but as far as Okanagan was concerned it was

1....Bad management and having senior staff in positons they simply were not qualified to do....
2...Lack of funds
3...Buying a second pellet mill when they didn't know how to properly manage/operate the first one they owned
4...Very warm NE winter
5...Some really bone headed moves that never should have been made
6...Not paying attention to your business properly
7....Did I mention bad management and lack of funds

Add all that up and there is your formula for making a small fortune........start with a large one

 

Well, it depends on how busy my guys are......earlier in the year, say, Spring and Summer, when there isnt as many deliveries, we will send a truck in to pick up, just to keep them busy. Sometimes we contract our own truckers to pick up....this is more common at this time of year when I am buried in deliveries and cant justify using one of my own trucks for pickups.

As for trucking, we sometimes pay direct, sometimes its factored in to the cost of the pellet.....in one way or another, you always pay for transport. Simply too expensive for someone to "eat" that cost. Its also why we charge for delivery. If someone isnt charging a delivery fee, you better believe that cost is in the pellet already....or the dealer is new, and wont likely be around very long. I figure its better for the folks who come here and pick up their pellets not to pay extra due to the folks who require delivery cuz they dont have a truck, etc

 

It makes no difference whatsoever who does the trucking....if a customer (retailer) wants to send in his own truck, or wants to arrange for a commerical trucker to come in or let us arrange the trucking for them...makes no difference....but since I have yet to find a trucker that will work for free....I don't offer free trucking. I would think that most companies with their own means of picking up product would do so, because I assume it is more economical for them to do so....but most of our larger clients use outside trucks, especially when things get busy, because they are set up for it and do it on a daily basis.....But if they want to come into Upton and only pick up 1 or 2 pallets...that is fine by us as well....I'm in the pellet business, not the trucking business....so I make my money on selling pellets, not trucking.....

 

I think you forgot one , the price of fossil fuels being so cheap oil especially , it was cheaper than burning pellets , couple that with a mild winter only the strong survived .

 

That cup better come with a double shot of Jameson Irish Whiskey for that price .

 

Wow.Intense reading,and thanks Doug for the good info.Price shopped today,no oakies here,for 3rd year.Ones I bought before burned fine.

 

That's me 24/7........

 

Some may remember, a while back, a big pellet outfit was offering "free delivery"
on orders before date xx/xx/xxxx.
I said, I bet right after the free trucking was over, that they would have a "big sale"
But no more free delivery....
IIRC... I hit it!
"free delivery".......

Dan

 

And freedom fuel was a super Primo --


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