I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for HD to have them again this year. I'll be surprised if they ever have then again.
Those prices are. Maine Woods starting at $275 topping out at $290 is ridiculous. My $229 price is looking better all the time.
Why do you think that? AFAIK, various HD stores around NE have sold Blazers for the past 4 heating seasons. Seeing them this year was not a one time occurrence?
If those are the prices the dealers have to sell them to make money it is a bad sign. Not only for us burners but for them as well. Three out of the five regular pellet burners I know are not buying pellets this year. At least not now, they are going the oil route. They also burned very little this past season. I cannot imagine they are the only ones.
I've only heard of(Yup, not even seen in my area!) them showing up during pellet crunches. I'd only expect to see long distance pellets(Blazers, PTL softies, ect.) only if the local mills run short. And even then It still a crap shoot. I have heard some say that the purchasing agents have different codes. Could be the store near you has been able to use one of the codes and has found a way to get Blazers? Just a guess though! Hopefully that purchasing agent gets transferred to my local store!!
I've never heard of anyone getting Blazers at HD prior to last year. I would think if they were available at HD the 2 prior years something would have been some chatter about them on the old site.
OK, so let me rephrase my original statement: I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for HD in Maine to have them again this year. I'll be surprised if they ever have then again.
Well who knows what this year will bring for the boxes. Blazers can be found in many, many dealers this year. First year I have seen them available anywhere besides the place right near me. That being said, I think this year is more likely than any to find them at the boxes. I actually bought two tons during the spring special at a nearby dealer (not the same as mentioned above) for $309. Kind of expensive and more than I usually like to pay. But figured it was a good opportunity to bunker a damm good pellet.
I hope you're right. I'm still sitting on 2.5 tons and would love to add 3 more tons at box store prices.
They are not the only ones. I am hearing and reading similar comments all the time. "Sit this season out with pellets" and "take my chances with oil" are common phrases these days. With home heating oil at $2.30/gal, that puts my break even point for pellets at $5.75/bag. That's not getting ahead or saving money, that's just to break even and doesn't take into account the time, labor, gas money, etc. involved in pellets. I'd optimistically like to save at last $.50 on each bag, putting me at $5.25/bag or less. That rules out all early buy pellet choices around here. Truthfully, 90% of early buy options were already ruled out at $5.75/bag to begin with, and that's a sad statement! The pellet / oil home heating world is upside down right now. If oil stays where it is for any amount of time, we may start to see some changes in the pellet sale landscape. Shortages replaced by overages, and hopefully (praying) the return of reasonable prices. One can wish, right?
I got Blazers last December at HD.. That said it was my 2nd yr of burning and 1st year as a newbie I bought 2 ton Stove chows in October so never went back after that.. they could have had blazer Blazers are being outsourced in New England so they are going to be showing up more now in the Eastern parts of the country. .Bridgewell took over Blazers east coast distribution I was told..
subsailor, you are exactly right. HD lost their azz last year bringing Blazers in. I live within 250 miles of the plant, and I was paying 4.99 per bag. Cheap for Blazers yes, but I am very close to the plant. The price you are seeing on Blazer reflects the "real" price of Blazers.
unfortunately, 9or fortunately for the consumer), HD often loses money on things.....in fact, some things are purposefully sold below their cost, as they are price sensitive, and the result causes the consumer to think that EVERYTHING they sell is also so cheap....called a loss leader......
IMO, just like sub's, I wouldn't hang my hat on seeing those at HD this season. If they do, great BUT make sure your stash is mostly setup beforehand just in case......oink.
like Turkeys at the Supermarkets around Thanksgiving[ loss leaders]... they take a loss but shoppers buy all the marked up fixins at same place.
I was told HD was all done with pellets for this season. When do the CT guys start seeing HD sell them again? I assume they have the good stuff early on.
