Just wondering what your thoughts are on this. Historically, do wood stoves sell better during hard times?
Dan
Dan
ControlFreak said:Just wondering what your thoughts are on this. Historically, do wood stoves sell better during hard times?
Dan
InTheRockies said:Given recent economic data showing that consumer spending stalled significantly last month, I think every sector of the economy is going to perform very, very poorly for the next 3-4 quarters, at a minimum. Although the spot price for crude has fallen, the inflationary impact of it's constant upward march over the past several years is still having a significant inflationary impact that is limiting disposable income for all wage earners (I'm not talking about the wealthy). Now that many people in what were the once "hot" housing markets are actually seeing their homes deflate in value below what they owe, many are struggling just to keep their heads above water. Even if crude was to shoot up, I don't see many being able or willing to invest significant amounts of money for redundant heating systems. So this is a long-winded way of saying the hearth industry will probably suffer along with almost every other sector of the economy. The other thing that may impact it negatively will be regulatory--I'm waiting to see if a newly-energized EPA decides to more tightly regulate the industry or even outlaw the burning of solid fuels, period. In addition to my own budgetary concerns, uncertainty over how aggressive the EPA might be, depending on the elections, was a prime factor in my decision not to buy a high-end, expensive stove. I wouldn't be shocked if we don't see an outright ban on individuals burning solid fuels within the next 4 years.
Custerstove said:Rocky, do you have any evidence that wood burning could be banned in the next 4 years? That just seems absurd. Here in Pennsylvania, some people must burn all there trash on certain days of the week becuase there is no pick-up outside of the cities/towns. At least burning wood is a renewable source of energy - unlike coal or oil.
LONDONDERRY said:Custerstove said:Rocky, do you have any evidence that wood burning could be banned in the next 4 years? That just seems absurd. Here in Pennsylvania, some people must burn all there trash on certain days of the week becuase there is no pick-up outside of the cities/towns. At least burning wood is a renewable source of energy - unlike coal or oil.
I love how some people say wood is renewable. True it is, but I bet I can burn through 3-4 cords faster that what it takes nature to grow back. Take a drive through Italy or Germany, not much forest left there.
Custerstove said:Rocky, do you have any evidence that wood burning could be banned in the next 4 years? That just seems absurd. Here in Pennsylvania, some people must burn all there trash on certain days of the week becuase there is no pick-up outside of the cities/towns. At least burning wood is a renewable source of energy - unlike coal or oil.
bigfish said:The price of fuel and energy seems to drive the hearth industry around here. Last summer when oil was approaching $5 per gallon you couldn't find a stove to buy.
gyrfalcon said:Custerstove said:Rocky, do you have any evidence that wood burning could be banned in the next 4 years? That just seems absurd. Here in Pennsylvania, some people must burn all there trash on certain days of the week becuase there is no pick-up outside of the cities/towns. At least burning wood is a renewable source of energy - unlike coal or oil.
No, he doesn't. It's a silly paranoid fantasy that gets repeated around here every once in a while. The amount of pollution emitted in the course of getting those heating oil deliveries to the tank in your basement certainly exceeds the amount emitted by a modern stove. It's nonsense.
I can imagine a movement towards stricter rules about actual smoke that would affect only pre-epa burners, some of those horrible older wood-burning furnaces, etc., but only here and there on a community-by-community basis, and it will rarely be enforced. We aren't going to be seeing the Stove Police in our neighborhoods anytime soon.
Custerstove said:Rocky, do you have any evidence that wood burning could be banned in the next 4 years? That just seems absurd. Here in Pennsylvania, some people must burn all there trash on certain days of the week becuase there is no pick-up outside of the cities/towns. At least burning wood is a renewable source of energy - unlike coal or oil.
LONDONDERRY said:Custerstove said:Rocky, do you have any evidence that wood burning could be banned in the next 4 years? That just seems absurd. Here in Pennsylvania, some people must burn all there trash on certain days of the week becuase there is no pick-up outside of the cities/towns. At least burning wood is a renewable source of energy - unlike coal or oil.
I love how some people say wood is renewable. True it is, but I bet I can burn through 3-4 cords faster that what it takes nature to grow back. Take a drive through Italy or Germany, not much forest left there.
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