Coalpail.com Forum

Last night I noticed my local TSC, Pawcatuck CT, had a pallet of their own brand of nut coal, $5.99 for a 40 # bag. So, just to try it, bought 10 bags. Can't comment on quality yet, but I noticed bringing it in that each bag weighs noticeably less than the 40# bags of Blaschak we've been schlepping for years. I guess we've gotten pretty well-tuned to what 40# feels like! So I weighed one, and it was less than 35#! So I got more scientific:

The average weight of ten bags was exactly 32#, which is exactly 80% of what it says on the bag, sign, and receipt. Paying $5.99 for a 40# bag that is really 32#, you are actually paying $7.49 per 40 pounds. If you bought a "ton" at that rate, you would actually get 1600#. You wouldn't be paying $299.50 per ton, it's actually $374.50!

I'm going back to Tractor Supply tomorrow to tell them, but I wanted to warn folks - so you can check for yourself.

Someone poked a hole in the bag and the gallon of water ran out. Maybe they should be thanked? It won't freeze up as bad this way.

It's funny you post that tonight. I helped a buddy get some TSC bags from his truck into his basement today and I was thinking those bags were easy to move for 40lb'ers. Thought I was just extra strong today!! I'll have to ask him tomorrow if he has a scale to weigh them.

That just ain't right.

SWPaDon wrote:Someone poked a hole in the bag and the gallon of water ran out. Maybe they should be thanked? It won't freeze up as bad this way.

If there was a hole in the bag the water would come out AND all the fines, easily 8 pounds if its like mine

I'll have to weigh a few bags out of curiosity but I would not be happy about being 8 pounds light. Thanks for the heads up piginabag.

Bought 10 bags yesterday and weighed 3 on a good balance scale. 40 pounds exactly. I had cut off the tops and could see a similar quantity in the rest.

I will weigh the rest as they are used.

I just weighed the 6 bags that I have

40.35
39.38
38.76
39.55
40.02
40.12

All that 'glitters', is not gold!

My buddy weighed some of his bags and they were all right about 40lbs so I am feeling strong again!!

titleist1 wrote:It's funny you post that tonight. I helped a buddy get some TSC bags from his truck into his basement today and I was thinking those bags were easy to move for 40lb'ers. Thought I was just extra strong today!! I'll have to ask him tomorrow if he has a scale to weigh them.

Hefty Hefty Hefty !



Whiskey strength !

Actually I would just seek a credit to account for the "loss". If not, call the credit card company and ask about this issue and how they would like proceed.

If your buddy's bags are light, then a simple affidavit from him could help the OP. Then its 2 people's word ~ and 2 independent people.

I have 20 bags. I guess I'll check when I get home.

As a x commerical fisherman and x usps postal employee scales range off alot... a true calibrated scale is hard to find.. most home owners use off the shelf stuff and is usually way off.. like tire gauges..Ha.

I love TSC and so glad they moved into our hood..

captcaper wrote:As a x commerical fisherman and x usps postal employee scales range off alot... a true calibrated scale is hard to find.. most home owners use off the shelf stuff and is usually way off.. like tire gauges..Ha.

I love TSC and so glad they moved into our hood..

You are right about scales and I have been trying to find ways to check and calibrate scales.

I am using a platform balance type scale that I have checked against my doctors scale (which he has calibrated frequently) and it agrees with his. I also weigh a package and check against the post office scale and they have agreed.

Weighing ten TS bags, 8 were right on or just a smidge light. One was 39 and one 38.5. Last year weighing a bag of Kimmels it was 44 pounds.

If the bags are light I would definitely let TSC know and they can weigh them if they want to from their stock on hand. I doubt it is their fault. It would be the supplier’s fault unless they conspired to put less coal in the bag. Most likely something went awry at the bagging facility. Bagged coal is dried before they bag it, no moisture when it goes into the bag.

gaw wrote:If the bags are light I would definitely let TSC know and they can weigh them if they want to from their stock on hand. I doubt it is their fault. It would be the supplier’s fault unless they conspired to put less coal in the bag. Most likely something went awry at the bagging facility. Bagged coal is dried before they bag it, no moisture when it goes into the bag.

Not always.

I had water poring out of Blaschak bagged stove coal bags that came straight from the bagger by enclosed truck and were stored indoors. Some had enough water and fines slurry left in the bottom of the bag to fill a coffee cup.

Every one of the 40 bags of Kimmel's I bought from TSC over the course of last winter - from two different TSC stores - had water and an oil mix in it. The water dries out, but the water and oil leaked out through the thread holes and the oil stained a wood floor where I had some bags standing on end. A year later and the oil stain is still there.

Paul