D&B Mack
Sawin Wit It!
So last week I get a phone call from a former customer. The woman was wondering if I would be interested in purchasing some firewood her recently late husband had cut up and split. So I explained to her that I would be, but I would not be able to offer as much as an end user. She says ok, and said I can come take a look at it at anytime.
Well, yesterday I get there. As we are ready to walk around the side of the house, she starts to tell me that her father-in-law and brother-in-law told her she has over two cords there and she should be getting $400 to $500 for it. :msp_sad: I said, "Well, let me look at it, and I can tell you what I can give you for it."
Measure the stacks. 1.4 cords. So now, I am going to have to load by hand, haul to my place, unload. Find buyer, reload and deliver. (unless I can find a buyer before I unload)
Now, this lady is in a bad situation. Husband passed away about 3 months ago, house is being foreclosed on, has a kid and a dog with cancer. House was a very nice house, but in bad shape now. So I figure, I am going to try to help her out.
About 90% of the wood is oak. But it is cut to 14" length, which I only cut and sell 16". I figure I'll give her $100.00 per cord and try to find a resell quickly. I explained to her, "Right now I can get a cord of oak delivered to my house for $200..." Before, I can even continue, she says, "It is worth $500, it is all oak, not like the mix hardwoods you sold us. And it is seasoned (which is wasn't, looked like it needed about another 6 months) unlike the stuff you sold us, our house was filled with smoke." Then she stormed back into the house before I could even say anything else.
And FYI, I never sold any wood as seasoned that was even close to being green. All of the seasoned wood I sell sits for at least a year, and I make sure it is well seasoned before sending out (I also burn from the same stock I sell from). And, this was the same person calling and begging for firewood at the end of winter last year because she couldn't get any. (and I was pretty much sold out for last year, she didn't buy from me last year, and what I do have left, I keep for customers who may run a little shy for the same year they bought wood from me)
If her current situation wasn't so horrible, I would have liked to have added a smart ass remark in at the end. I guess she just needed a person to vent on. And if you see 2+ cords of oak for sale on craigslist in SE PA for $500, good luck with it. :tongue2:
Well, yesterday I get there. As we are ready to walk around the side of the house, she starts to tell me that her father-in-law and brother-in-law told her she has over two cords there and she should be getting $400 to $500 for it. :msp_sad: I said, "Well, let me look at it, and I can tell you what I can give you for it."
Measure the stacks. 1.4 cords. So now, I am going to have to load by hand, haul to my place, unload. Find buyer, reload and deliver. (unless I can find a buyer before I unload)
Now, this lady is in a bad situation. Husband passed away about 3 months ago, house is being foreclosed on, has a kid and a dog with cancer. House was a very nice house, but in bad shape now. So I figure, I am going to try to help her out.
About 90% of the wood is oak. But it is cut to 14" length, which I only cut and sell 16". I figure I'll give her $100.00 per cord and try to find a resell quickly. I explained to her, "Right now I can get a cord of oak delivered to my house for $200..." Before, I can even continue, she says, "It is worth $500, it is all oak, not like the mix hardwoods you sold us. And it is seasoned (which is wasn't, looked like it needed about another 6 months) unlike the stuff you sold us, our house was filled with smoke." Then she stormed back into the house before I could even say anything else.
And FYI, I never sold any wood as seasoned that was even close to being green. All of the seasoned wood I sell sits for at least a year, and I make sure it is well seasoned before sending out (I also burn from the same stock I sell from). And, this was the same person calling and begging for firewood at the end of winter last year because she couldn't get any. (and I was pretty much sold out for last year, she didn't buy from me last year, and what I do have left, I keep for customers who may run a little shy for the same year they bought wood from me)
If her current situation wasn't so horrible, I would have liked to have added a smart ass remark in at the end. I guess she just needed a person to vent on. And if you see 2+ cords of oak for sale on craigslist in SE PA for $500, good luck with it. :tongue2:
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It's surprising what some people think firewood is worth around here.
I don't think she would get the point. Rather than getting no calls about her $350+ per cord picked-up oak and thinking 'maybe the price is too high', she will most likely think 'I guess people in this area can't afford good quality wood.' But hey, at least she has an excuse. I have sold to people in the past that make this nothing. Hence why I got out of the homeowner selling, for the most part.
