Siltuma Cena editorial · Published
Compare the delivered order, not just the pellet price
The cheapest goods price does not always produce the cheapest order at your address. Compare the same delivered mass and ask what the driver will actually do on arrival.
Build the total in separate steps
The following example is fictional. For 975 kg at €300/t, goods cost €292.50. Suppose the seller quotes €45 delivery, €10 for the pallet and €15 unloading. The payment is €362.50, equivalent to €371.79/t delivered. A refundable pallet deposit is still cash needed at checkout; show a potential refund separately until its return conditions and transport costs are known.
Another fictional offer at €310/t costs €302.25 for the same 975 kg. If its confirmed delivery is €25 and pallet and unloading charges are explicitly included, the total is €327.25, or €335.64/t. The higher goods rate wins this particular comparison. It would not necessarily win for two pallets or another delivery address.
Unknown does not mean free
A blank delivery field is a missing quotation, not a €0 charge. Siltuma Cena keeps an order total unknown when delivery is unconfirmed. Even when delivery is known, check any separate pallet or unloading fees before treating a displayed goods-plus-delivery estimate as a final invoice. Enter zero only when the seller has confirmed no charge for that item.
Ask whether the quote covers your postcode, order quantity and unloading method. A truck reaching the street is different from placing a pallet inside a dry garage. Access width, a firm level surface and the available unloading equipment can change what is possible. Confirm the destination and handover point in writing. For collection, compare your own transport costs and capacity as well; collecting pellets is not automatically costless.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Goods: 0.975 t × €300 | €292.50 |
| Delivery + pallet + unloading | €45 + €10 + €15 |
| Payment / delivered tonne | €362.50 / €371.79/t |
Questions for the seller
- Is this the full price for my address and quantity?
- Are pallet charges refundable, and how do returns work?
- Where will the driver leave the pallet, and who unloads it?