Wellington pellet-fire owners - Fuel purchasing Co-op?

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Krullos

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#207247 15-Dec-2016 16:04

Greetings,

I'm a recent convert to pellet fires as a source of heating, as part of our recent renovations.

I've been looking into stocking up on pellets ready for next winter and was wondering if any other local (Wellington region) pellet fire owners have found a good source, or want to join forces to order bulk amounts and enjoy the reduced costs?

Speaking with Nature's Flame they have the following options:

1. Order 1/2 pallet (36 x 15kg bags of pellets) from them for $436.28 delivered (non rural) by MainFreight to the Wellington region (that ends up being $12.12 per 15kg bag)
2. Order 1 pallet (66 x 15kg bags of pellets) from them for $717.59 delivered (non rural) by MainFreight to the Wellington region (that ends up being $10.87 per 15kg bag)
3. Order < 36 x 15kg bags and arrange your own freight/pick up yourself (from Taupo) for $10.43 per 15kg bag
4. Order 36 or more 15kg bags and arrange your own freight/pick up yourself (from Taupo) for $9.03 per 15kg bag

We had our fire installed in the tail end of winter this year so we just bought a small amount of 10kg bags from Mitre10 who were selling them on special for about $8 each, but they're normally more than that.

I don't think I'll be able to burn through (or store) a full pallet of pellets (ha), but would love to maximise the extra discounts ordering a full one would bring.

So, my question is - are there any other Wellington based pellet fire owners interested in sharing the costs of a full pellet prior to next winter, or does anyone know a freight company that may offer a better deal on the delivery from Taupo to Wellington?

Krullos

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#1724538 22-Feb-2017 16:19

Am I allowed to "bump" this?
I'm still hoping to find some other Wellington based pellet fire owners.

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networkn

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#1724539 22-Feb-2017 16:19

I'd like to find a similar thing in Auckland :)

Year one with our Pellet Fire, we paid $6.70 delivered per 15KG bag. We were told there would never be significant price increases.

It's certainly not cheap to have a pellet fire any more by comparison.

Krullos

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#1724565 22-Feb-2017 16:52

networkn:
I'd like to find a similar thing in Auckland :)

Year one with our Pellet Fire, we paid $6.70 delivered per 15KG bag. We were told there would never be significant price increases.

It's certainly not cheap to have a pellet fire any more by comparison.

Wow, $6.70 delivered is amazing!
How long ago was that?
What have you been paying recently?

networkn

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#1725112 23-Feb-2017 12:39

Krullos:
networkn:

I'd like to find a similar thing in Auckland :)

Year one with our Pellet Fire, we paid $6.70 delivered per 15KG bag. We were told there would never be significant price increases.

It's certainly not cheap to have a pellet fire any more by comparison.

Wow, $6.70 delivered is amazing!
How long ago was that?
What have you been paying recently?

About 10 years ago now unfortunately. It rose to $8 the following year, we threw a tantrum, they let us have them for $7.50, every year it's gone up by a dollar there abouts. occasionally we get a special of 11 but mostly it's $13 give or take.

mattwnz

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#1725127 23-Feb-2017 12:55

networkn:
Krullos:
networkn:

I'd like to find a similar thing in Auckland :)

Year one with our Pellet Fire, we paid $6.70 delivered per 15KG bag. We were told there would never be significant price increases.

It's certainly not cheap to have a pellet fire any more by comparison.

Wow, $6.70 delivered is amazing!
How long ago was that?
What have you been paying recently?

About 10 years ago now unfortunately. It rose to $8 the following year, we threw a tantrum, they let us have them for $7.50, every year it's gone up by a dollar there abouts. occasionally we get a special of 11 but mostly it's $13 give or take.

Wow so it has almost doubled. This was the main reason I never suggested them as a heating solution as there is very little consumers can do about pricing for a product that not that many people buy. It is not as though you can use any wood in them. People have also moved to getting heat pumps instead which also cool.

Maybe the op could find a builder who has a trade account and can get a good discount

networkn

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#1725139 23-Feb-2017 13:16

mattwnz:

Wow so it has almost doubled. This was the main reason I never suggested them as a heating solution as there is very little consumers can do about pricing for a product that not that many people buy. It is not as though you can use any wood in them. People have also moved to getting heat pumps instead which also cool.

Maybe the op could find a builder who has a trade account and can get a good discount

I'd have to say I'm almost certain it's still worth-while and super convenient. We would need 2 large heatpumps for our living area (Cost of between 6-8K for both), and in winter the Pellet Fire will heat the entire area, and a good deal of some of the other connected parts of the house. I think last winter we used 10 bags of pellets (was pretty mild winter), so $120. Takes a LOT of $120 bags to make up the cost of the heatpumps and power. It cost us $3k to buy up front. Heavy winter I think we used 16 bags maybe 17.

Krullos

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#1769044 22-Apr-2017 20:50

Resurrecting this thread one last time to say:

I went to Bunnings Warehouse Petone who stock 10kg and 20kg bags of Azwood's Firetime Woodfire Pellets

20kg bags are currently $12.25, which equates to around 61 cents per kg, which is better than the 69.5 cents per kg I would have paid if I'd driven up to Taupo and picked up the Nature's Flame bags directly.

Reading around some people claim that Firetime Pellets are longer and cleaner burning - yet to confirm this, but at that price I bought 15 bags today which should last me through winter - no requirement to form a co-op this winter.