All Other States Tractor Supply prebuy offer

[Mr._Graybeard]

I see my local TSC store is adding covered storage in the side lot. Contractors are erecting the building presently. About time actually... Very busy store.

I hope that becomes policy companywide. I picked about half a dozen bags out of my four tons with water damage. The store manager was very nice about giving me undamaged bags, but I'd rather have skids without water intrusion.

I like doing business with TSC as I consider it a forward-looking company. My experiences with soggy pellets are a sore spot, though.

 

[Jack Morrissey]

MWP's = Maine Wood Pellets (not to be confused with Maine's Best) - a nice solid middle of the road pellet. GS = Green Supreme (now part of Lignetics). Some versions of GS are better than others. Ironically, the Northeast blend is not the best and tends to be pretty ashy even compared to other middling pellets.

I picked up a few bags to try, looking good but only burned a few hours

 

[maraakate]

My local TSC unfortunately stores the bags outside. I have to be very careful feeling the bags to make sure they are not water damaged. Some are. I've noticed if it's a fairly fresh skid anything on the top is garbage.

 

[SidecarFlip]

If they are correctly shrouded with a plastic overwrap they seem to be good. Besides, TSC will replace any wet bags, no issue. All you need to do is present the empty bag and use the soggy contents for flower bed mulch.

 

[maraakate]

I haven't gotten back to the house and discovered bad bags... yet. But, since TSC is a large outfit I'm sure they will replace the bags with little hassle.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

I think water damage has a lot to do with manufacturer packaging. I picked up a skid of pellets from a local manufacturer (Dejno's) last spring. It was literally the last skid of the season at the hardware store. There was snow on top -- it had probably been sitting outside for months. I took it home and found zero water damage.

 

[maraakate]

I have no idea what brand TSC is rebadging in my area. I tried looking up both UPC and item numbers on the bags and it just finds the TSC page.

 

[tlc1976]

I think water damage has a lot to do with manufacturer packaging. I picked up a skid of pellets from a local manufacturer (Dejno's) last spring. It was literally the last skid of the season at the hardware store. There was snow on top -- it had probably been sitting outside for months. I took it home and found zero water damage.

The water damage I see is caused by poor handling when they stack pallets. If they’re not careful they tear the plastic on the bottom pallet when setting the top one down.

I know one place that stores them inside, but last year they wanted about $100 more a ton than the local competition. I didn’t even check this year, I just went to the local TSC during a string of dry weather.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Every skid of pellets I've ever gotten from TSC always has a corrugated cardboard slip sheet on the bottom between the skid and the first layer and most pellet mills have automated stacking machines anyway. Human's rarely stack skids. Additionally, every skid I've purchased is double wrapped. First stretch film with a plastic sheet cover, then more stretch wrap covered with a plastic overcover that is fitted to the skid and stapled at the bottom.

All my wet bags have resulted from the hi lo operators piercing the bottom bags with their forks because of not watching where the forks are. Had a couple skids in the barn for a year and no issues with any of the bags. Do the same with my bagged corn. I cover the skids with left over top fitted plastic from used up pellets and then I stretch wrap it on. Stretch wrap is available at TSC by the way.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I know one place that stores them inside, but last year they wanted about $100 more a ton than the local competition. I didn’t even check this year, I just went to the local TSC during a string of dry weather.

Sounds like the lumber mill down the road from TSC. They are substantially more on pellets but they keep them inside. Me, I'll do the TSC ones for substantially less. Just put the last skid in the barn today. Was sitting on the GN trailer for a week in the rain and other than some water on the top, they are fine.

 

[maraakate]

Every skid of pellets I've ever gotten from TSC always has a corrugated cardboard slip sheet on the bottom between the skid and the first layer and most pellet mills have automated stacking machines anyway. Human's rarely stack skids. Additionally, every skid I've purchased is double wrapped. First stretch film with a plastic sheet cover, then more stretch wrap covered with a plastic overcover that is fitted to the skid and stapled at the bottom.

All my wet bags have resulted from the hi lo operators piercing the bottom bags with their forks because of not watching where the forks are. Had a couple skids in the barn for a year and no issues with any of the bags. Do the same with my bagged corn. I cover the skids with left over top fitted plastic from used up pellets and then I stretch wrap it on. Stretch wrap is available at TSC by the way.

I can't answer for my TSC, but it appears they just put the skid outside and remove the plastic film. It then sits outside over night, which lately we have had some light rain and morning dew consistently and then I am assuming the moisture is leeching into the pellet bags. But, as stated before it could just be the manufacturer. I am unsure, but I would think that storing pellets this way outside especially with moisture building up in the early AM is probably not a good way to store pellets.

 

[tlc1976]

I can't answer for my TSC, but it appears they just put the skid outside and remove the plastic film. It then sits outside over night, which lately we have had some light rain and morning dew consistently and then I am assuming the moisture is leeching into the pellet bags. But, as stated before it could just be the manufacturer. I am unsure, but I would think that storing pellets this way outside especially with moisture building up in the early AM is probably not a good way to store pellets.

My tons always have dew or condensation inside the main plastic wrapper. But it’s never a problem. Doesn’t get inside the bags. Only when the operators shred the main wrapper from poor handling do I get bags with wet contents.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Sometimes, but not always, the 'associates' at TSC leave a lot to be desired. I'm pretty lucky in that for the last 3 years, it's been the same very pretty lass that runs the hi-lo and it's a joy for me because I'm a dirty old man anyway and she likes me and knows my name. if she only knew...lol. I always give her a 10 buck tip for loading me and being easy to look at as well.