Price differences on wood

[sb47]

There seem to be more confutation here.

I said I understand the difference between the quality and burn rate of the different woods.

My question is if it takes the same effort and expense to split stack a cord of wood, yet the net yield is vastly different. And unless someone had no option, why even bother selling a soft wood so cheap, if the cost to produce it is the same.

 

[sb47]

He's a capitalist and don't even know it... L-O-L!

If that were true I’d follow your logic and jack my prices up even more and screw anyone who was willing to pay the exorbitant price, only giving a discount to those who were willing to try bargaining.

 

[blackdogon57]

Don't mean to sound rude but given the relatively mild temps in Texas, do people really insist on burning only oak ?

 

[Whitespider]

Next I never said the buyer was a crook, only the seller. You never seemed to grasp that concept in that discussion.

You're correct about the 6-year-old link and international financial statement... it wasn't you... my bad, I'm sorry.
But you in fact did call both the haggling buyer and seller a crook/shyster... let me quote you...

" Occasionally, some A'hole will show up and try to haggle over price. They generally try to tell me that I'm overpriced and they are doing me a favor by offering me less. At that point, our conversation is over and I ask them to leave. Even if they agree to my selling price, I won't sell the item to them. The next guy is always happy to get it.
I refuse to deal with shysters, on either end, buying or selling. "

 

[Whitespider]

If that were true I’d follow your logic and jack my prices up even more and screw anyone who was willing to pay the exorbitant price, only giving a discount to those who were willing to try bargaining.

See... I told ya' he wouldn't see it for what it was... L-O-L !!

 

[Kfd518]

I guess by this standard I will be building the next home out of oak/mesquite instead of pine, since it cost the same to cut, mill and bundle. But in all seriousness, using woods available in my area. Cedar, hackberry, mesquite and live oak.

To cut it firstly is a big difference in fuel used to cut it to begin with. Hauling it to the yard is another issue in weight, vs fuel mpg. Splitting is where the biggest change is between these. Cedar and hackberry nearly explode when in a splitter. Mesquite is quite a bit more work and fuel. Making for increased operating cost of machines. Looking at live oak our "gold standard firewood" run the splitter till it stalls out, turn the round a bit try again… etc. much more time, effort and wear and tear on machine. This equals a much higher operating cost just in the splitting section of the process…

In a world where all things were equal it may truly be the same time effort and cost to produce cord for cord but the assumption that it cost the same to produce seems to be the initial flaw to me in the thought process leading to this question. If it cost the same to produce I would sell for the same amount but it cost more so I will charge more.

 

[sb47]

See... I told ya' he wouldn't see it for what it was... L-O-L !!

To me that’s praying on someone’s vulnerability or desperation.

To take advantage of someone because you can is by my definition is a shyster, a crook, a con man. It’s called “greed”


I prefer to treat everyone equally and offer everyone a fair price, regardless of there ability to chew me down on price.


When you buy from me you get the same deal as everyone else.

 

[CTYank]

Markets do NOT operate on the simplistic logic the OP appears to seek. Humans are involved, and perceptions enter. I live in an area where many of the NY marketeering folks live- divorced from reality.
In any dynamic market, you have to allow some give-and-take, since your precious product may seem so-so to potential buyer.
Some people are cheap- let 'em walk. Meanwhile, stand easy- safeties on.

 

[sb47]

You're correct about the 6-year-old link and international financial statement... it wasn't you... my bad, I'm sorry.
But you in fact did call both the haggling buyer and seller a crook/shyster... let me quote you...

" Occasionally, some A'hole will show up and try to haggle over price. They generally try to tell me that I'm overpriced and they are doing me a favor by offering me less. At that point, our conversation is over and I ask them to leave. Even if they agree to my selling price, I won't sell the item to them. The next guy is always happy to get it.
I refuse to deal with shysters, on either end, buying or selling. "

Your rite. i didn't make myself clear in that statement, but i did correct it later.

 

[blackdogon57]

I split close to 30 cords of red oak last spring. It was fresh cut and I didn't find it much more difficult than other woods to split. Defiantly heavier and hard on chains to cut.

 

[sb47]

We’ve all seen it before.

Salesman waiting for a customer.

Guy pulls up in an old beat up truck.

Salesman knows this guy may not pay a higher price, so he bargains and gets a good deal.

Woman pulls up in an Escalade, she doesn’t know squat about firewood.

Salesman see’s an easy mark, and doesn’t offer the same deal.


That’s a shyster, crook, con man.



But we’ve ventured way off topic.

 

[Kfd518]

I split close to 30 cords of red oak last spring. It was fresh cut and I didn't find it much more difficult than other woods to split. Defiantly heavier and hard on chains to cut.

Live oak is quite a gnarly twisted creature in itself my friend red oak is quite pleasant to split in comparison. Interlocked twisted grain with more gnarly crotches than a house of ill repute. And yes they do insist on oak mostly live oak. Though we have Osage orange and mesquite available as well which can nigh on kill a stove burned on a full fill.

 

[blackdogon57]

I would give the guy in the beat up truck a better deal because saving a few bucks for him might actually mean something. People who buy overpriced SUVs usually don't give a crap about saving 20 bucks.

 

[NSMaple1]

'A cord of wood (any wood) all cost the same to work up and produce.'

'Everyone else in my area is selling cords for as low as 130 per cord. My cords are 220 per cord.'

'And last, there’s nothing ethical about jacking up a price on “anything” then leaving it up to someone’s bargaining power to get the best deal. By your definition, you’ll gladly overcharge a customer if they don’t ask for a discount.'

I don't want to take sides in this sillyness, but I'm having a hard time following the logic. It all costs the same to produce, you charge up to 70% more than the other guys in your area, you refuse to discount - but others are crooks?

 

[sb47]

I would give the guy in the beat up truck a better deal because saving a few bucks for him might actually mean something. People who buy overpriced SUVs usually don't give a crap about saving 20 bucks.

'A cord of wood (any wood) all cost the same to work up and produce.'

'Everyone else in my area is selling cords for as low as 130 per cord. My cords are 220 per cord.'

'And last, there’s nothing ethical about jacking up a price on “anything” then leaving it up to someone’s bargaining power to get the best deal. By your definition, you’ll gladly overcharge a customer if they don’t ask for a discount.'

I don't want to take sides in this sillyness, but I'm having a hard time following the logic. It all costs the same to produce, you charge up to 70% more than the other guys in your area, you refuse to discount - but others are crooks?

Perhaps the other guys can produce wood cheaper and therefore they can charge less.

I can’t imagine selling something and not making at least a small profit.

My production cost forces me to charge 220 in order to make a small profit.

Sure I could charge more and have slower sales and maybe not sell out.

But I have found that by asking more then my currant price keeps sales away.

If I go lower I’ll go broke.

 

[Whitespider]

I don't want to take sides in this sillyness, but I'm having a hard time following the logic. It all costs the same to produce, you charge up to 70% more than the other guys in your area, you refuse to discount - but others are crooks?

Now that there is funny... damn funny!!

 

[blackdogon57]

Nothing wrong with keeping your prices high. I sell for 375 per cord delivered locally. I prefer to sell half cords (210) or 1/4 cords (135). Lots of guys on the net selling for as low as 250. I've been sold out for a month and sell out earlier every year. Problem now is finding cheap logs.

 

[Kfd518]

I agree nsmaple, the average is 175-190 around my part of Tx. But as stated it doesn't all cost the same to produce. Yes I will give a discount to the guy in a beat up crapper truck because the money's ghat mean a meal for his family and clothes on his kids back after not only the $20 but the savings on the high heating gas bills he will reduce by the wood. Have you ever processed hackberry or cedar sb 47?

 

[Whitespider]

sb47,
Just a wild-azz-guess... but do/did you work in, or ever pursue a career in education... or maybe the clergy??

 

[gulity1]

#1 ) IBL
#2) A shyster is a generally preceived as a slang insulting word refering to someone Jewish Not that I care but rather funny when we try to walk around other "words" Read " looking over each shoulder see if of "them" are around " thanks for the fun time