TSC Early Buy

[imacman]

Got my coupon today.

 

[Harman Lover 007]

I received a 10% off coupon last week and figured I'd stop in to see if they had pellets. Here in Windham ME they had MWP blend and wanted $256/ton. This this the same TSC that sold them for $192/ton last season and historically have been the cheapest in the area. I almost coughed up a lung.

I purchased several tons at the $192 in Windham last year as I drive by it every week on my way back to Mass. Last years MWP was very good for me.

 

[h2ochild]

Purchased 2 tons Lignetics, green label, from the South Hampton NJ, TSC for 219.50 per ton with the coupon today. Took delivery now, with their on hand supply, rather than the deal with the uncertainty of what brand may be in stock come fall.

 

[Lousyweather]

Purchased 2 tons Lignetics, green label, from the South Hampton NJ, TSC for 219.50 per ton with the coupon today. Took delivery now, with their on hand supply, rather than the deal with the uncertainty of what brand may be in stock come fall.

pretty good logic, H2O, although there hasn't really been any shortages lately, and likely wont be an issue anytime soon, but why take chances.....a bird in the hand.......

 

[WoodPorn]

Just called the TSC in Taunton MA, MWP and Instant Heat are the current choice....Base p/bag $$ is 4.89 before any discount.

 

[imacman]

......TSC in Taunton MA, MWP and Instant Heat are the current choice....

AKA "Instant Heat-less"

 

[Chain]

My TSC store here in Lewis County, NY stocks the Instant Heats as well. I told the manager at the store that they're crap pellets and that they should really try and get a better brand. To which she replied, "we get what they send us."

 

[briansol]

the MWP's were pretty good. I burned 20 bags last year.
not a ton of heat, but good enough to warrant their price tag

 

[corkman]

Just called the TSC in Taunton MA, MWP and Instant Heat are the current choice....Base p/bag $ is 4.89 before any discount.

i live 2 mins from the taunton ma store and my advice would be to stay away from the instant heat less.they have been sitting on those forever and they have multiple tons that are swelled up from taking on water.they actually had an uncovered ton sitting outside on the front kirb forever that were bursting at the seams with the amount of rainwater they absorbed.
yes they have MWP but i would suggest you pick out the ton you want.no protection whatsoever from the elements.shame realy.i bet between everything they must have close to 100 ton sitting in the yard

 

[imacman]

.....she replied, "we get what they send us."

She's correct, afaik. Corporate offices do the ordering.

 

[Lousyweather]

She's correct, afaik. Corporate offices do the ordering.

probs right, but maybe with input from some of their regional managers, they can be persuaded to bring in a better quality of product......saying "we get what they send us...." is pretty apathetic. Basically some buyer in an office (who probs doesn't even burn pellets!) is making the decision based on what? Yup, based on who is the cheapest today......which may not be a bad thing, as that's how many folks who DO burn buy their pellets.....

 

[moey]

probs right, but maybe with input from some of their regional managers, they can be persuaded to bring in a better quality of product......saying "we get what they send us...." is pretty apathetic. Basically some buyer in an office (who probs doesn't even burn pellets!) is making the decision based on what? Yup, based on who is the cheapest today......which may not be a bad thing, as that's how many folks who DO burn buy their pellets.....

That can be a good thing HD, Lowes, TSC usually all have different pellets but they sell them all at nearly the same price. Some are bad pellets hence the price, but some are good pellets sold at the same price as the bad pellets.

 

[sandpipe]

Are prices really UP this year over last year or was that the b.s. line I was given by the person at TSC I talked to on the phone? I called regarding the $25 off coupon thinking that $219-$25= $194 per ton of MADE IN MAINE pellets would be a good deal to invest in for next winter's heating season. But no such luck-- the new price is $244 so the super summer special they are running is no different in price than what I paid them most of last year per ton.

This seems to me to be a fairly transparent marketing gimmick which insults the customer, unless there really is an increase in pellet prices this year over last.

 

[Chain]

I don't know that prices are necessarily up, but I do have a very close friend who owns a small hardware store in the town where we both grew up who sells wood pellets. He stocks Curran's out of Massena, NY and another brand called Maeders. The Curran's are sub par in my opinion and I have no idea the quality of Maeders. I've told him for a year or so now that he needs to get a better brand of pelllet and I'd buy all mine from him. He recently told me that he has tried to stock other brands (I strongly suggested he look into Somersets) but every manufacturer he's contacted claims they can't take on new distributors as they're running their mills at capacity as is. I have no idea how many he's spoken with but I would assume that means the demand for pellets is high at the moment or assumed to be once the heating season gets closer. If true, that might mean prices are either high or will be in the near future.

Just so you know, he and I live in upstate, NY near Watertown so this demand could simply be the situation in our general area and not indicative of other parts of the country.

 

[Lousyweather]

*ALERT* Pellet Retailer here! buuuuut, YES prices are up this year, AND they are still going up....

 

[Lousyweather]

I don't know that prices are necessarily up, but I do have a very close friend who owns a small hardware store in the town where we both grew up who sells wood pellets. He stocks Curran's out of Massena, NY and another brand called Maeders. The Curran's are sub par in my opinion and I have no idea the quality of Maeders. I've told him for a year or so now that he needs to get a better brand of pelllet and I'd buy all mine from him. He recently told me that he has tried to stock other brands (I strongly suggested he look into Somersets) but every manufacturer he's contacted claims they can't take on new distributors as they're running their mills at capacity as is. I have no idea how many he's spoken with but I would assume that means the demand for pellets is high at the moment or assumed to be once the heating season gets closer. If true, that might mean prices are either high or will be in the near future.

Just so you know, he and I live in upstate, NY near Watertown so this demand could simply be the situation in our general area and not indicative of other parts of the country.

here's the thing tho, if he got Somersets, THEN folks would want him to sell them as cheap as the local Somerset whooer (well, within a 100 miles or so,anyways), and if he didn't, folks would extrapolate his higher price (of the Somersets) to the fact that EVERYTHING in his store is higher, and therefore, he is a crook.....

 

[corkman]

Are prices really UP this year over last year or was that the b.s. line I was given by the person at TSC I talked to on the phone? I called regarding the $25 off coupon thinking that $219-$25= $194 per ton of MADE IN MAINE pellets would be a good deal to invest in for next winter's heating season. But no such luck-- the new price is $244 so the super summer special they are running is no different in price than what I paid them most of last year per ton. This seems to me to be a fairly transparent marketing gimmick which insults the customer, unless there really is an increase in pellet prices this year over last

see what their policy is on price matching.lowes in raynham has Hearthside right now for $209 a ton.something to throw at them at least.

 

[EastMtn]

Glad I checked this thread. I went to TSC in the next county over and bought a ton of Ozarks. $236 with discount. Shipment won't get here until Sept or Oct. Manager said they sold so quickly that they couldn't keep them on the shelf last season. I was the first to put my order in at that store.
Good price compared to $319 for Lignetics at another mercantile. They had Rocky Mountains last season but won't be available this upcoming season.

 

[subsailor]

I did a search on HD's website for pellets and it came back with a price of $219. Of course they don't have any pellets yet, but if TSC "price matches", then that isn't bad, depending on the brand. I plan to check again tomorrow.

 

[Chain]

here's the thing tho, if he got Somersets, THEN folks would want him to sell them as cheap as the local Somerset whooer (well, within a 100 miles or so,anyways), and if he didn't, folks would extrapolate his higher price (of the Somersets) to the fact that EVERYTHING in his store is higher, and therefore, he is a crook.....

The closest Somerset dealer is about an hour and half away (Central Square, NY....just north of Syracuse). Also, this is a very small hardware store in a very small town where everybody knows everybody. The kind of place where he is the only show in town and people wouldn't necessarily assume all his products are overpriced simply because he has a higher priced premium grade pellet stocked along side his lower quality lower priced pellets. In other words, If he could actually get Somersets, I'm sure he'd continue to sell the Maeders and/or Currans as a cheaper alternative for people not wishing to pay the premium for Somersets.

As an aside, he has a very devoted customer base as the customer service is exceptional and he has a good reputation in the community. He has great employees and is open 7 days a week which is very convenient for the contractors in the area and your average Joe who needs products for their DIY projects. He's built a nice little gem of a small business for himself.

I should probably add that I've already bought 4 tons of what are called Empire Brand pellets from my stove guy back in May. I consider Empire's to be a mid grade pellet but the beauty of buying them from him is that I can pick them up as needed as he has a huge storage area at his business. I can store them there indefinitely and thus have no need to put all four ton in my garage before the heat season. I usually put a ton in the garage in Sept. and just pick more up as I need them throughout the winter.

 

[sandpipe]

Does anyone have any idea whether the TSC pre-purchase special required deposit is non-refundable? They require 25% down to hold pellets until October. I don't see any mention of it being non-refundable in the small print on their flyer. If it is a refundable deposit then it might be a good idea to lock-in a pre-purchase for October and then cancel for a full refund if there are better deals at that time.