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Bord na Mona Peat Briquettes - Quality

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  • 26-11-2012 2:21am
    #1
    mathepac
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,991 ✭✭✭


    In winter I enjoy an open fire and am especially fond of peat briquettes as a solid fuel. Lately I've noticed the quality hasn't been great - breaking into small pieces, irregular shapes, with the outer briquettes crumbling while still bound.

    Yesterday I bought two bales bound in green strapping which were particularly bad. Then it struck me that down the years the strapping was consistently an orangey colour and that the poorer quality seems to be associated with the green strapping or is this just coincidence?

    Two grades of briquettes sold at the same price?


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    #2
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Green binding here as long as I can remember. Quality as good as ever - nice solid shiney bales.


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    #3
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    Sounds more like a poorer batch which were not pressed as well which is why they break up so easily.


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    #4
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Could just have been rough handling by delivery/shop staff.


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    #5
    mathepac
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,991 ✭✭✭mathepac


    I did a bit of the "Donal McIntire's" this evening.

    original Centra. green strapping €3.95
    garage nearby, orange, €4.30
    independent shop orange, €3.80
    other garage, orange, €4.25
    hardware shop, green, €4.00

    So a variety of bindings and prices but don't know about the quality of other than the current two bales I bought.

    Now just to change out of my disguise and hidden cameras ...


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    #6
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    If it's such a big deal why don't you contact Bord na Mona about it?


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    #7
    mathepac
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,991 ✭✭✭mathepac


    Vanessa Squeaking Mink wrote: »
    If it's such a big deal why don't you contact Bord na Mona about it?
    Are you suggesting I shouldn't post about a possible consumer issue here? If you don't want to read the thread then don't.

    Now, off about your business before I get really cross with you.


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    #8
    gerrybbadd
    Registered Users Posts: 10,301 ✭✭✭✭gerrybbadd


    mathepac wrote: »
    In winter I enjoy an open fire and am especially fond of peat briquettes as a solid fuel. Lately I've noticed the quality hasn't been great - breaking into small pieces, irregular shapes, with the outer briquettes crumbling while still bound.

    Yesterday I bought two bales bound in green strapping which were particularly bad. Then it struck me that down the years the strapping was consistently an orangey colour and that the poorer quality seems to be associated with the green strapping or is this just coincidence?

    Two grades of briquettes sold at the same price?
    I've noticed both the colour change of the strapping, and lowering in quality in the briquettes myself. Mine all seem to split in half along their length


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    #9
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,346 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Maybe with the last few wet summers they haven't been able to dry the peat sufficiently?

    Before the orange plastic strip, the binder used to be wire and required a wire cutter to open a bale.

    WireCutters.jpg


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    #10
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    mathepac wrote: »
    Are you suggesting I shouldn't post about a possible consumer issue here? If you don't want to read the thread then don't.

    Now, off about your business before I get really cross with you.

    Not at all; I genuinely would contact them and ask if it was a concern/issue for me. So you can quell the temper as no annoyance was intended. :rolleyes:


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    #11
    mathepac
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,991 ✭✭✭mathepac


    Received from Bord na Mona yesterday via email :-

    "Hi mathepac

    Thanks for your correspondence re bale briquettes .

    The briquettes are not substandard as we do not bale any briquettes which are deemed to be substandard . We sell all these briquettes as loose product which is sold at a discounted price at the factory .

    The retail price of briquettes varies from retailer to retailer depending to the margin expectation etc . The product can be a bit crumbly if it is not stored correctly as we recommend that the product is stored indoors.

    The price charged is up to each individual retail outlet and has nothing to do with the impression of inferior briquettes .

    while some of the bales may not break evenly the product will burn giving the same heat as before .

    hopefully this will answer your query.

    Best Regards ... "


    Thanks for the response BnM.


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