Best time to buy coal?

Only been burning coal for a couple of months and now I'm wondering from you experienced buyers, when is the best time to buy coal at the lowest seasonal prices. That is, if there is a low seasonal price. From your past experiences, is there a preferred time?

Thanks.

Joe

COMING RIGHT UP. ORDER NOW IF YOU LIKE! Delivery in May, June or July.

I went ahead and purchased my coal already. I used to pay $260 per ton loose.I have switched to bagged because its easier to manage and BTpellet's Suffield,ct location is 2 miles away. Per ton bagged I pay $295/ton. I fugured that it might go down( a big might this year) to say $280/ton bagged. I got mine now because we have the money from tax returns so it was a good time.
With the prices of fuel going up rapidly, I find it hard to believe that coal will drop all that much.
Bagged kicks butt because I got 2 people together and loaded it all in my basement. Now all I have to do is fire the stove!

urdahere wrote:Only been burning coal for a couple of months and now I'm wondering from you experienced buyers, when is the best time to buy coal at the lowest seasonal prices. That is, if there is a low seasonal price. From your past experiences, is there a preferred time?

Thanks.

Joe

before this happens

http://www.inquisitr.com/206894/us-nort ... ices-soar/

These guys just dropped their price $20/ton, http://www.ctpellet.com/products_pricing.asp, maybe because they have excess inventory from the mild winter? I bought a whole truckload form them last may and they told me a new price increase was being passed on in July, there was a 1 month lead time. If at all possible I'd get my order in before the end of may.

Around here, I have never seen it drop in price. Sometimes the dealers may reduce by $10 or so early in July or Aug to generate some business.....

Price hasn't gone down in recent history due to high diesel prices and strong demand.

I have read of at least two price increases this year.

Best buy by mid summer to beat next years price increase.

Don't wait until heating season and get caught up in the mad rush to stock up for winter.

Coal doesn't go bad from sitting around a couple of years.

WNY wrote:Around here, I have never seen it drop in price. Sometimes the dealers may reduce by $10 or so early in July or Aug to generate some business.....

That's typically what you'll see anywhere, the price drop has never been that much.

Saving money aside the best reason to get coal in the summer is because you'll more likely get a cleaner product.

Best time for me to buy coal personally is when the ground is hard.

Sucks having a dumptruck bog down in the front yard......

kstills wrote:Best time for me to buy coal personally is when the ground is hard.

Sucks having a dumptruck bog down in the front yard......

That's a consideration too, there was some houses I could only deliver too when it was either dry or frozen. The one year it was so wet during the late summer and early fall I was taking orders in November they had ordered in the summer. I could of had a tow truck following me around that year, I was so stuck in the one place a log skidder couldn't get me out.....that's what you call stuck. We had to attach the arm on the back of the skidder to the frame of the truck and lift the back wheels first. Really had no choice and just to wait until there was some cold days, even then I could only take them first trip.

Right now,before the fuel prices drive up the coal price I was trying to get a TT load but some other things came up so I got 5 tons of Harmony from Boslers for $253.00/ton delivered but as Richard said if you need hard ground then you will have to wait.keepaeyeonit

Now is the time! My coal dealer (in Michigan) just got a truckload delivery and is taking orders for the coming winter. I plan on adding to my stockpile (currently 8 skids) of at least 4-5 more skids. My goal is to have 15 skids on hand, which I guesstimate is about a 5 year supply. I also heat with both coal and wood.

I'd be thinking about getting it now..
The last time I said something like this, some thought it was the
same old "scare tactics".
Shortly after, like a week later, it went up 10 bucks.
Several weeks later it went up another 10.

We plan on getting at least 2 TT loads right now.
For two reasons.
One, we know the price.
Two, we won't use that until winter.
In other words, usual ordering throughout the summer/fall.
The 40 or so ton now, will be insurance in case it becomes hard to get
in the winter, prices go up, or trucking or whatever issues..

Trucking cost to us has been 1,050.
Our guy does his best to be fair, we use him at his convenience.
A call this week to a couple of different outfits..... 1,500-1,600.
And honestly, it is REALLY doubtful the cost would ever go
down enough to make you say "crap... wish I had waited".

Just look at your gas prices.
Do they ever go down as fast as they go up?
No.

Do what you want.
But if your bank is like ours, paying .01-.02% on your money,
you might be better off investing in the coal
that you are going to buy anyway!
You'll have it, you won't have to worry about it,
and you know what the cost is.

Take care, Dan

Funny, I always thought demand created a supply problem. And a supply problem always creates price increases. I honestly believe that prices will stabalize if greed does not overwhelm the market. Buy what you need & keep the playing field level for the working grunts. Just an old farmers thoughts. I have not yet lost faith in this Country's ability to get out of these self created crisis's, it's just about people working together. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.