I am not in CT, and am in MO., but wanted to VENT with my recent experience with a dishonest (does not honor his word), wood seller:
I have not been on
www.hearth.com, in a year or so and would appreciate advice and maybe just a little bit of sympathy. Haa, haa.
I was sold a cord of oak firewood by a local Tree Service owner. He had someone deliver it. I completely trusted the owner over the phone, having never met him. He tells customers to write a "check" and he will not cash it for 30 days. If he customer does not like his wood or the way it performs, to stop payment on the check and that will be that.
I preferred paying in Cash ($120.00 plus $30.00 for delivery), and had the deliverer (who works for the owner part-time), sign and date on the Invoice that I had paid Cash.
Because I felt the owner sounded so honest and trustworthy in our phone conversation, I did not use my moisture meter before the wood was stacked. Yes, a stupid mistake that I am hoping I will not repeat for years to come.
After one week of trying to get the wood to light and stay lit, etc., I emailed the Owner and told him what was happening and that I suspected that there was over 20% moisture in the wood and that I wish I had written a check instead of Cash for the transaction.
I was still thinking this Owner was honest and we could compromise. Instead of keeping the man at his word (all verbal over the phone), and having it picked up, etc., I asked for a partial refund and that I would have a neighbor cut up the way-too-big-and-heavy oak wood, to expedite the drying process.
He had no remarks regarding the wood being "wet," and I took it he does not believe in the whole 20% MM stuff, that most of us on this site, do.
Three weeks went by and no partial refund received. I emailed him and asked when it had been mailed. Said he lives rurally, and the mail takes extra days, that he put a "little" bit of cash in an envelope for me, that he mailed "last week." I asked what he meant by "a little" and he was sending me $50.00. Note that the money amount was not the issue. I wanted good, dry wood for my wood stove. That was the whole motivation for buying it in the first place.
I said that I was paying $70.00 for wood that does not burn for me now, after the partial refund and not including the delivery charge? AND, that I would like him to come and get his wet wood and issue me a complete refund.
Long story short, he got very, very offensive in his emails when I told him that I did not think he was a very good business man if he was sending me cash in the mail? That it should have been a business check.
He said that if someone pays him in cash, he returns cash. If someone pays in a check, he will return a check, if they do not like the preformance of his wood.
I wait nearly another week and nothing.
He also stated in his email that maybe I needed to buy a MORE EXPENSIVE WOOD STOVE, and that's why the wood did not burn for me.
I was so upset and did not want to keep the game of emails back and forth with him. I told him that I was being honest about his wood and that there is nothing wrong with my one-year old EPA Drolet stove, or the way in which I light a fire.
I had to tell him to not email me back because I was so upset at how I was being treated. This guy totally sells you over the phone BECAUSE he assures you more than once that he would not hesitate to refund the transaction IF the customer is not happy and that he has his "reputation" to protect.
He is about 30 years old and has been in business for about 5.
Please, ... no lectures on the fact that I should have checked the wood before it was stacked with my MM. I told you. I am still a trusting sort of gal even in my young 50s, but could kick myself now, for not using it.
Still have not received the partial refund and do not know who to go to in order to file a Complaint. I live in the Springfield, Missouri area. Thank you for listening and I appreciate any constructive comments out there.
I am also considering (now) getting a Mikita chainsaw and a BOSS wood splitter and the hell with buying any future wood from any wood sellers.
t have run into another dishonest wood seller and wanted to tell my experience that began in November:
I did not stop for more.
