Last year was my first burning year and I got three cords of nice wood delivered. This year I scrounged and hoped to scrounge more but a few of my options burned out. So, I ordered two cords from a guy and while the wood is nice it is not a cord at all. I stacked it well and measured it out. Now I'm going to get another cord from my last year supplier because I know it is a real cord. My question is: Did I get small cords because I am a woman? Would it have been a different measurement if my husband had called? Should I have my husband call in the future? And, I am just being paranoid? The guy who brought the small cords was really nice but maybe he thought I wouldn't know the difference? If it had been a real cord it would have been a good deal.
Small "cord"
- Thread starter Nokoni
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seems to be common to all sexes to get shorted. typically they dump the wood into a 128cf contaniner and the dump that in the truck for delivery,. when you stack it takes less volume then when piled in their container. It stinks IMO.
I hope gender is not a consideration among people who rip other people off, but who knows?
Call him back and tell him that there must have been some mix-up, since the wood he delivered didn't measure out correctly. Explain that you buy wood all the time, and have never been shorted before. If he doesn't offer to make up the difference, say you'd like to recommend him to your friends and neighbors, but really can't under the circumstances.
Some states (Maine, for example) have laws requiring that anything called a "cord" contains a full cord of wood when stacked. If that's the case in your state, pointing the shortage out to your supplier is all that should be required for him to make good. Otherwise, about all you can do is try to shame him into it.
Call him back and tell him that there must have been some mix-up, since the wood he delivered didn't measure out correctly. Explain that you buy wood all the time, and have never been shorted before. If he doesn't offer to make up the difference, say you'd like to recommend him to your friends and neighbors, but really can't under the circumstances.
Some states (Maine, for example) have laws requiring that anything called a "cord" contains a full cord of wood when stacked. If that's the case in your state, pointing the shortage out to your supplier is all that should be required for him to make good. Otherwise, about all you can do is try to shame him into it.
- Nov 21, 2005
- 827
I think that's more common than not. My supplier has a dump truck where he built the sides up so he can only fit 128 cf which is a "loose" cord. After he dumps it, and I stack it orderly it never ends up as a true cord.
But, he gives me almost all oak. I'll take a short cord of oak over a long cord of white birch, pine, and cedar anyday.
But, he gives me almost all oak. I'll take a short cord of oak over a long cord of white birch, pine, and cedar anyday.
Call wood guy up tell him the exact same thing you told us. Asked for the difference in wood, or ask him to come and get it. I am sure he does not want the work of reloading it.
But, take pictures and measurements. Let him know you do know the exact volume of a true cord and face cord. I know of many wood sellers that don't know what a cord actually is, and sell a "face cord" or a "rick" as a "cord".
But, take pictures and measurements. Let him know you do know the exact volume of a true cord and face cord. I know of many wood sellers that don't know what a cord actually is, and sell a "face cord" or a "rick" as a "cord".
I've bought a few cords of wood from 3-4 different suppliers and none came to a full cord stacked. Typically 10-20% short. Unless you go & pick up the wood yourself and stack in your own truck, I guess it's to be expected. What can you do? Call the guy back and undo all your hard stacking labor?
It is stacked in and surrounded now by wood from other sources. Also, I got this wood a few months ago. I just won't buy from him again and I'll take everyone's advice about calling the seller back and complaining if it happens in the future.
In the past, when I've bought wood, I asked "How much (money) for how much (cordwood)?" It is amazing at some of the answers. Most of the time it was "a pick-up load." Then came my next question. "What type of pick-up? An S-10, or F-250?" The most decent guy told me he stacks the cordwood (that has been cut to 18 inch lengths and split) in the bed of a fullsize pick-up truck neatly to the top of the bed. Front to back. Most of the time I would get very close to a "face cord" or "rick".
I've had it happen to me a while back. Then the state transportation commission made a regulation that a cord must be a full cord and put some teeth (fines) into it. You might want to check what your state's regulations are on this.
Nokoni said:
Just tell the wood man that the last thing he wants is to PO a member of the Comanche nation.
BeGreen said:
Bingo...around here the Dept. of Agriculture keeps tabs on firewood dealers. If you complain about a short cord they will check it out as there are State regs on what a standard cord is (and fractions thereof).
My understanding is that a cord is measured "as first stacked." If the wood is stacked green, which I assume most are, would the shrink not account for some or most of the "seasoned" stack size? Am I wrong in believing that a cord is measured by the intitial volume?
If anyone orders a cord of wood "128 cubic feet" and it comes up short you should call who you recieved it from. They need to rectify it immediately. Say you order 200 gallons of heating oil and the company pumps in 175 gallons and charges you for 200, you would immediately call. The same goes for wood! A reputable firewood dealer is going to give you 128 cubic feet when stacked. A loose cord thrown into a truck averages 170-185 cubic feet in the truck. If you pay for a loose cord thrown into the back of a truck and it measures 128 cubic feet in the truck, it's not going to be 128 cubic feet when you stack it. If it is stacked neatly (not just thrown) in the truck and it measures 128 feet then you should get 128 feet.
I agree with Earth...I would explain the situation straight up, same as you did here...doesn't matter if you are male/female...your money is as green as the next person's...ALL THE BEST.
jabush said:
Hardwood shrinks between 6 and 8 percent when going from green to 20% moisture content.
If you are willing to accept less than you paid for, then consider how happy you would be to get 80% of every gallon of gasoline you purchase
I wish I knew. They ought to put a corn liquor pump and a gas pump side by side and just trust ya to mix it in the tank.
"Sir, was that a fruit jar I saw in your hand out at the pump?"
"No ish wush not. Jush ssshutt up n rrring up the shale."
"Sir, was that a fruit jar I saw in your hand out at the pump?"
"No ish wush not. Jush ssshutt up n rrring up the shale."
I am a new woodburner this year and my first delivery of wood was 1 cord short on a 3 cord order. I was expecting to have a tough time with the supplier when I called him because its hard to belive that being short by 1/3 on a delivery of wood could be a mistake. To my surprise, he appologized and delivered an additional cord. No questions asked. I'm not sure if he was intentionally short or if it was an honest mistake, but he made good on the delivery. You have nothing to lose by calling and asking for what you paid for.
I'm telling ya' Most people that try and pull these rip-offs off, will come clean and tell you they made a "mistake" if you call them out on it. (At leaste this is my experience on this.)
Eric Johnson said:
It doesn't seem like much, but I stand corrected. Your cord might look short after that much shrinkage. By my calculations the row would be closer to 4x4x7' rather than 4x4x8'.
My wood guy is delivering 2 cords to me unsplit as his helper hasn't been around much this summer. He did tell me that he doesn't usually sell it this way and he will throw some extra in to make sure I got a full two cords. He went on to say that when I got it split and stacked...if the cords are short then call him and he'll make it right.
I know I know...jabush doesn't buy wood, right??? I couldn't pass this up. He only wants $150 for both cords, mostly cherry, oak and some locust. Average price around here now is $180-$200/cord split & delivered.
Nokoni,
From the Ohio Department of Agriculture:
http://www.ohioagriculture.gov/pubs/divs/wght/frms/Firewood.pdf
It's a publication that tells you how they are allowed to sell, how it is measured and what to do if they short you.
From the Ohio Department of Agriculture:
http://www.ohioagriculture.gov/pubs/divs/wght/frms/Firewood.pdf
It's a publication that tells you how they are allowed to sell, how it is measured and what to do if they short you.
daninohio said:
Thanks Dan! I'm getting a new delivery tomorrow and I'm going to measure it out as soon as it is stacked and call right away if it is off. They guy bringing it tomorrow is my supplier from last year and it seemed like a good measurement (although I didn't get out the ruler). But, I'm definetely not getting any more from the guy who brought some earlier this summer. Honestly, I don't feel like I can call him back because I've got everything kind of mixed together in my garage and it was months ago. But, now I know for the future! Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm not feeling singled out cause I'm a woman now. It's too bad that people don't give true measurements.
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