Are coal stoves in short supply (Fall 2008)?

iowan · By: **iowan** On: Wed Sep 03, 2008 10:23 am

Hi everyone.

I live in central Iowa and have been giving much consideration to purchasing a coal stove or stoker. The few distributors that I have been able to find have told me that they won't have stock until March 2009, at the earliest.

Is this the situation across the country for the supply of coal stoves and stokers?

Thanks.

gambler · By: **gambler** On: Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:22 am

Yes, that is how things are even in coal country. Just about all manufacturers are back logged and if you ordered a stove now you would not see it until spring/summer of 2009.

stoker-man · By: **stoker-man** On: Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:29 am

When you get 5 years of normal production ordered in a period of two weeks in June, you bet we can't keep up. And the orders haven't stopped.

Another thing is that a spike in orders doesn't demand increasing the work force. Anybody in business knows that hiring can be a real "cat in the bag" thing nowadays.

I worked for big business all my life and I always felt ethically that hiring people and then laying them off to suit the business was a form of using people and then discarding them. It might be good business to some, but I have a conscience thing about it, and always will.

SemperFi · By: **SemperFi** On: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:15 pm

Iowan, im sure it wont help you being out in Iowa but I just purchased a keystoker gravity fed stove from a supplier in Bath NY. I searched the Rochester area with no luck when I found a place 30 min. south of me that had stoves in stock. The place is called homestead coal and they had to have about 20 units on the floor just a few weeks ago, everything from gravity fed, stokers to koker furnaces. They carry reading and keystoker units. I think the web site is homesteadcoal.com, or just do a google search for bath ny coal. Best of luck to ya finding a stove, hope this can help anybody looking.

coalmeister · By: **coalmeister** On: Wed Sep 03, 2008 6:27 pm

Wonder if, with oil and gas waterfalling down in price, it will take a little pressure off coal. Both are down like 35%. I will be putting my new Alaska 140 up for sale, I was going to use it for work but nat gas can now be locked in at about the same cost when bought in volume.

sterling40man · By: **sterling40man** On: Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:19 am

Oil would have to be about $1.60 per gal around here to be even with coal. I don't see oil prices dropping back down to that level.

Devil505 · By: **Devil505** On: Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:33 am

I think they are. My daughter & son-in-law lucked out in grabbing the last Harman TLC2000 in eastern Mass about a month ago. Normally, the heating season would just be barely starting for most stove dealers.

coalkirk · By: **coalkirk** On: Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:42 am

I'm starting to wonder if they are in as short a supply as I thought. I've only had a nibble or two on my Harman mark 1. I thought it would sell fast. Maybe only coal nerds like us think about heat until they actually get cold weather and hear the furnace kick on.

Devil505 · By: **Devil505** On: Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:22 pm

coalkirk wrote:I'm starting to wonder if they are in as short a supply as I thought. I've only had a nibble or two on my Harman mark 1. I thought it would sell fast. Maybe only coal nerds like us think about heat until they actually get cold weather and hear the furnace kick on.

I know for a fact that the dealer I bought my stove from in New Bedford always has a number of stoves in stock at this time of year, & now he has none. Just look at the number of new forum members we have here too! I think the word has gotten out & people have been panicking for the whole summer.

CapeCoaler · By: **CapeCoaler** On: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:19 am

Oil is falling in price...
$0.20gal this week...
Some think it is never going back up...
Until it does.
I think much of the early panic that started in June
Were 'nervous nellies' who were/are new to the game.
Coal stoves were not as 'hot' as pellet stoves.
Drop the 'firm price' and you will get some more offers
You put it in craigslist, yes?
If your local coal dealer will let you, post some nice pictures.
Post it further north.
AS you said it may take the next group to see the frost on the pumkin...
to get motivated!
You have a nice stove...
it will eventually sell!

ken · By: **ken** On: Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:10 am

the OPEC countries are dealing with double high digit inflation. Every thing they purchase comes from imports. The ones raking in the cash on high oil are the royal familys. The people are suffering from high costs. Been going on for awhile. The people are getting upset. So in a way they screwed themselfs. Thats why oil is retreating and the dollar going up in value has helped. Buy the ed of the year it will be $60-$70 for sweet crude. Never see $30 again. People will be happy in the USA to pay $2.50 gal.

sharkman8810 · By: **sharkman8810** On: Fri Sep 05, 2008 12:22 pm

I personally think opec will try to hold it at around $100, they don't want to cripple us, because all there imports (food) go through the roof, but need a profit, they will find there sweet spot of inflation vs profit have no doubt they do know money.

Coal Joe · By: **Coal Joe** On: Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:09 am

I put a deposit on a Harman DVC500 in may 2008. Was told delivery was to be December. When I called recently, I was told it was kicked back to March 2009. O well I'm ready with 11.5 tons of coal for the summer.

My Brother has the other 11.5 tons and he ordered a Harman Magnifier that is on the same delievery cycle.

RedRockHunter · By: **RedRockHunter** On: Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:30 am

the place where i just bought my Hitzer 50-93 from , Anthracite Alternatives in Pittston, PA, had about 40 various Hitzer units in stock.

SAU · By: **SAU** On: Thu Sep 11, 2008 12:58 pm

for what it is worth my dealer has two on the floor, a Buck, and a Vermont Castings.

Are coal stoves in short supply (Fall 2008)?

Are coal stoves in short supply (Fall 2008)?

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