When I first got my
AMNPS I looked at all the options for pellets, and read lots of posts in this forum.
Bottom line: buy from Todd.
Why?
1. The cost of shipping, even when you buy small amounts, is less than it costs to drive a car to the mall to buy pellets there. AAA figures that total cost per mile is $0.50 to $0.75, depending on size of car, insurance, depreciation, gas prices, etc. I'm in the boonies, so it is 35 miles, round trip, to the big mall. That's about $14, total cost. We're at $4/gallon here in CA, so that's over $5 just in fuel costs! Yes, I can wait until I have other things to get, but if I can wait, I can wait until Todd has a sale.
2. The cost of shipping from Todd is nothing (i.e., zero) if you buy $50 or more, which is not a lot of product.
3. Todd's pellets taste better than the heating (Traeger) pellets you often find in the local store. Smoking is all about flavor, and if you compromise on flavor, you shouldn't be smoking. There are dozens of posts you can find in this forum which discuss what is actually in the pellets you buy from various different sources. You can also do your own tests. It is pretty obvious that some pellets are not very good.
Todd's pellets are top-notch.
4. Todd provides amazing service, and is a major part of this wonderful site. Even if I spend $5-10 more per year buying from Todd (which I don't), that is nothing compared to what I get in return.
5. As already mentioned, Todd has LOTS of discounts and sales. Stock up when you see those.
6. Todd has LOTS of variety to choose from, whereas most stores only stock hickory and one other wood. I can therefore get what
I want when I order from Todd, rather than simply what the local retailer chooses to stock.
Here is Todd's list of pellets. Can you find ALL of these at any local store?
- Alder
- Apple
- Black Walnut
- Cherry
- Chili Pepper Spice
- Corn Cob
- Hickory
- Italian Spice - Rosemary, Thyme, Basil
- Jack Daniel's ©
- Maple
- Mesquite
- Mulberry
- Oak
- Orange
- Pecan
- Pitmasters Choice - Cherry, Hickory, Maple
- Sassafras
- Savory Herb
- Sugar Maple
I am all for saving money, but I'm old enough now to realize that saving $7.50 on shipping is not going to make any difference whatsoever on whether I can eat my next meal or buy the next thing I need. Put another way, at this age I have learned to be "pound wise" and not care one little bit if I am occasionally "penny foolish."
