RhodyPelletRook
Member
Full disclosure, I'm an absolute pain in the neck to deal with, I'm lucky to have her.
Is there a pellet shortage already!
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and she obviously reads your posts.....
Peterfield
Minister of Fire
Spent some time in the north country within the past month (Maine) and noticed in Skowhegan that you couldn't drive through the town easily due to the parade of logging trucks going through town every which way. It was mentioned that many of the loads seen were on their way to pellet mills which tells me that there will be more pellets available soon. I really think much of the shortage at present is from hoarding (understandable) and if everyone was following their normal buying patterns there would be significantly more tons available. Same thing happened during the gas crisis of 1981 when after it was all over, there was a study and if the normal consumption rates for gasoline stayed the same and everyone wasn't topping off every chance they had, there would not have been a shortage or rationing.
RhodyPelletRook
Member
She has watched me post on this and finds it absolutely stupid. Until I heard great things about Somerset pellets, bought 4 tons for under $1000 at TSC.... So now she thinks it's invaluable... Cite the post above how she can turn it around and declare it's the opposite of what she said a week earlier?!?! I just smile and nod.... Man my old man was right about, "just smile, nod and say yes dear"and she obviously reads your posts.....
RhodyPelletRook
Member
alternativeheat
Minister of Fire
Nah, not me anyway. Been married going on 41 years, not stopping now. We pray together, we raised our kids together and retire together next. Doesn't mean there isn't a quirk to kid about ! I couldn't have a better mate though she is getting a bit shorter !
TimfromMA
Minister of Fire
alternativeheat
Minister of Fire
1 ton of Energex Hards now secured. Now for a ton of something in soft wood and I have my 4 ton stash I planned on for this winter ( already have 2 tons DF). Of which if all goes well I should be overshooting by 1/2 To 1 ton someplace around April ish
While I am seeing signs of constrained supply at pellet stores, I am not seeing the same thing at box stores. In the CT, MA, RI corner, many Lowes and HD stores are showing large on-hand quantities - 60 - 80 tons in some cases. Don't forget, the box stores just started getting their inventories stocked a few weeks ago. Also don't forget about TSC - my local store must have 300 tons out in their yard right now, and they are moving at a very slow trickle. Suspect that will change a little bit this weekend, when everyone runs in at the 11th hour to pick up their discounted layaway orders before October 1st. Anyway, if you guys are having problems finding pellets, hoping this may help you a bit.
TimfromMA
Minister of Fire
RhodyPelletRook
Member
What's a marked up bag of DF?I'll offer my surplus to unprepared locals at a significant markup.
TimfromMA
Minister of Fire
RhodyPelletRook
Member
TimfromMA
Minister of Fire
Really? This whole concept was just a joke. I never expected anyone to actually show interest.
RhodyPelletRook
Member
It's more about availability. 1) They're a harder pellet to come by so-- call it the cost of access and 2) single unit purchasing provides a premium as much as bulk purchasing a discount of a more rare product... I'm not actually interested. I'm just saying if I were a local and wanted a few bags to test burn in addition to my stash to think about next year, etc. That would be a reasonable scenario.
FYI, the learned management at Benny's in RI had Inferno Gold for $7 per bag. Looks like that pallet was going to be there for EVER!
TimfromMA
Minister of Fire
In all honesty, I wouldn't have the heart to sell these for more than cost.
Peterfield
Minister of Fire
TimfromMA
Minister of Fire
Peterfield
Minister of Fire
He said there is a sucker born every minute; all present company excepted of course. What would be great is if we had a mild start to the winter and that all the "entrepreneur dealers" who ordered a lot with the intent to gouge a nervous public will be left "holding the bag", so to speak.
Lots of the same problems exist now that have caused shortages in the past.
3 big factors right now are
Wet weather in major producing areas. Pretty much the same concept as very cold weather last winter. Logging slows when it's wet. Shorter days = less sunlight to dry things out will mean continued low production.
Pallet material, oil industry wood products, and rail ties all sourced from the same low grade logs pellets are made form are at an all time high. 30-50%+ price increases in the last 6 months. Price increases will continue upward for some time. My guess is 2-3 years before it (prices) works itself out.
Infrastructure/manpower. I've been saying this for many years and it's coming to fruition now. The logging/sawmill infrastructure has been decimated for the last 10 years and rapidly in the last 6. Equipment from skidders to mills and knowledgeable manpower to work in the woods are at a premium right now.
Much of the cheap used equipment that has been sold off the last 10 years has been exported or scrapped. Many of the experienced industry workers have retired or moved on to cushy jobs. The ROI in new equipment at todays prices is a middle class wage at best. Not too many people I know are going to risk millions for a small ROI .
If your in the market for a pellet stove . Think multifuel.
3 big factors right now are
Wet weather in major producing areas. Pretty much the same concept as very cold weather last winter. Logging slows when it's wet. Shorter days = less sunlight to dry things out will mean continued low production.
Pallet material, oil industry wood products, and rail ties all sourced from the same low grade logs pellets are made form are at an all time high. 30-50%+ price increases in the last 6 months. Price increases will continue upward for some time. My guess is 2-3 years before it (prices) works itself out.
Infrastructure/manpower. I've been saying this for many years and it's coming to fruition now. The logging/sawmill infrastructure has been decimated for the last 10 years and rapidly in the last 6. Equipment from skidders to mills and knowledgeable manpower to work in the woods are at a premium right now.
Much of the cheap used equipment that has been sold off the last 10 years has been exported or scrapped. Many of the experienced industry workers have retired or moved on to cushy jobs. The ROI in new equipment at todays prices is a middle class wage at best. Not too many people I know are going to risk millions for a small ROI .
If your in the market for a pellet stove . Think multifuel.
RhodyPelletRook
Member
While most people think P.T. Barnum said, "There's a sucker born every minute," this famous entrepreneur actually never said, wrote, and probably never even thought that line. He was too smart a businessman to treat the consumer with disrespect.
The high prices for the Inferno Golds is making me chuckle. I have heard $6.50 a couple times, but this is the first time I have seen $7. Holy crap. TSC has them for $4.80 for crying out loud! Not that I would buy them even at that price
ZBrooks
Burning Hunk
It's too bad shipping costs are so high. I've already seen 1000+ tons of pellets sitting around at local farm supply stores.
Phoenix Hatchling
Minister of Fire
I'm sorry to hear you had a poor experience with them. In my dealings with them I have never had anything less than stellar service! I know on their website they mention that stock changes from one day to the next, and explains the extreme volume they are receiving. I also see many of the brands are listed as out of stock, low inventory, and very low inventory. Did you receive a confirmation email when you submitted online? If not, maybe you didn't fill all fields or hit submit when you were done. If your going to pick up those stove chows you mention, you may want to move quick.
yup, I got the confirmation... note i said 4 days, yes, i'ts after 3:30, their biz hours, so today is gone as far as i'm concerned now...
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I was pretty straight forward in my request.
Said what I want, how much
When I can take delivery/be home
i should be a pretty easy reply, ok, it's $xx to deliver, have a check ready on XX day at YY am.
maybe i'll just go and pick up my self half ton at a time in my dinky truck :/
I was pretty straight forward in my request.
Said what I want, how much
When I can take delivery/be home
i should be a pretty easy reply, ok, it's $xx to deliver, have a check ready on XX day at YY am.
maybe i'll just go and pick up my self half ton at a time in my dinky truck :/
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