Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Wood pellets: Buy now and hope they arrive

Like everyone else, I've been on the hunt for wood pellets to feed the pellet stove I bought last year. And like everyone else, I can't get them...at least not yet.

After being told for weeks that Lowe's would have a shipment coming in, I finally learned that there was no way I was going to be able to get the pellets even when the shipment arrived. The pellets have already been taken even before they arrive because people way ahead of me were able to pre-buy them. Workers at two area Lowe's gave me the runaround, first telling me that I couldn't pre buy, then telling me that I could, then telling me that I couldn't, and in the end, after I complained that I was being discriminated against because I wasn't allowed to pre-buy like others had, a manager told me that I could, in fact, pre-buy.

So, in the end, I was able to buy three tons of pellets to the tune of about $800 from Lowe's in Seabrook. But even though I made the big buy, I still haven't seen the pellets. I have no idea when they'll be in, but I've been assured that I'll have them before the snow flies. I certainly hope so.

I'm one of the lucky ones who bought my pellet stove last year, and I can tell you it was one of the best investments. It saved us a ton of money last winter and I barely used any oil. I kept the thermostat turned down and the pellet stove cranked up.

If you're considering buying a stove this year, you better do it now because they're selling out fast. In many cases, stoves are backordered and no one knows when they'll be in.

Bottomline: Don't procrastinate if you want to stay warm this winter without taking out a second mortgage to heat your house.

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