Wood Buying stories

[nate379]

I was on Craigslist about a month ago and saw cords of birch, cut, split and delivered for $165/cord.

Good price, so I called the guy and asked for a cord. I wanted 2 but I figured I'd just get one for now and see how the wood is first.

It was a Thursday and we agreed for him to some on Sunday.

Friday he calls me 8 times leaving messages. (I was sleeping, work at night). Call him back and he is all pissed, he had the wood now and wanted to offload. Told him, no, Sunday!!

His nephew shows up Sunday and offloads. This was after he tried to come out and couldn't find the place. I gave directions that a blind 4 yr old could figure out, but he couldn't. He tried calling but I was cutting the lawn on the tractor and didn't hear the phone. His nephew came later in the day.

Right away it looks like it's short. It was just thrown in the truck so I couldn't tell for sure. He said it was a "heavy" cord, but I didn't think so. I cord it that Monday and I end up with 3/4 of a cord. Call him and ask for 1/4 of a cord, plus I will buy another cord. The wood I got wasn't the best, some punky wood, some really soaking wet and alot of shorts and uglies, but for the price I could deal with it.

We agree he will deliver a cord and a rick on Saturday morning. Call him Friday to make sure he is coming and won't answer the phone.

Wait for him, never shows. I was going camping so it ruined my morning. Was supposed to be at the house between 9 and 10. I waited until almost noon. Called him many times and left messages. I guess same problem with other people cause his voice mail was full after I left 2 messages. Finally Monday get ahold on him. He will come Wednesday, had someone get hurt and was at the hospital. Never shows.

Call, Call, Call, Call... Finally... ok Sunday. I told him no one would be home, dump it on the front yard. He said will do, don't worry on the money we can figure it out later. I get home and no wood. Call him and he said he is on his way, will be able 20-30 mins. Never shows.

Call him the next day and he will be out on Wednesday. Never shows. Friday, never shows. Sunday, never shows.

That turns to this week, Wednesday morning first thing, and the cord will be $140 cause he dicked me around so much. Tells me that he is really busy and there is a backlog, but I am #1 on the list. His truck is loaded and ready to go.

Calls me 2 hrs after he was supposed to be here, will be here at 5PM. 6PM I call him, leave message. 7PM call him again. He picks up says "Your a folking poophead" and hangs up on me. I call back and the phone is turned off.

NEVER would I thought that doing business with a guy would make ME an poophead!

The guys name is SCOTTY IVANHOFF of TWIN LOGGING, WASILLA AK.

DON'T BOTHER WITH HIM!!

I'm going to pick up 1.5 cords in rounds from another advertised on CList tonight for $250, if I wait on TWIN LOGGING I'll have a cold house this winter!

I am considering contact the attorney general because he owes me wood or about $40. Mainly out of principal at this point.

Here is an ad:
(broken link removed to http://anchorage.craigslist.org/for/2474207956.html)

He's got time to put an ad nearly everyday, but he's too busy to actually deliver wood??

 

[Delta-T]

..but did you say "pretty please"?? Makes ALL the difference.

 

[Thistle]

I'd go flatten his tires. Just out of principle.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

The wood was expensive, when you count in all your waiting and work.

 

[billb3]

$165 is a lot of beer.
You're probably going to have to wait for him to be out.

 

[gregoolman]

I just started burning last winter because someone gave me a free stove, but I had no wood, so went to craigslist and found someone who would sell a pickup load for 100.00 delivered and stack, sounded good until he showed up in a shortbox s-10, and to make matters worse it was so wet there was a river of goo running down my roof. Lesson learned went and bought a good chainsaw!

 

[ramonbow]

You have a lot more patience and persistence than i do. Strike one - he leaves eight messages in a day. Strike two he is pissed because you could not fit his schedule. In my book that would be a favor not an obligation. Strike three he doesn't show up or call. A frustrating lesson to learn but you might as well move on. Its not worth stressing over for $40.

 

[fishingpol]

Chalk one up on experience here. I would say cut your losses and move on to the next guy. Ask to see the wood in advance if you can and once you establish your expectations with the supplier, order a cord. No shorts, no punk, etc... If it is good, order another. Get ahead a year if you can. It has been mentioned here time and again, especially from Dennis and others. There is wisdom in his words.

I just got next seasons wood delivered today. I am officially a year ahead now and it feels good. I did pay a premium for a truly seasoned cord last fall. I will never make that mistake again. Storage is at a premium for me, but I will find a place for the new wood.

It is also very sad to see what certain "businessmen" have turned into. A good one would meet up with you look at your pile apologize and make things right. That is no way for him to get future business from you or anyone that you know. Sometimes there is just no integrity and honesty.

 

[BrotherBart]

Yeah if you are buying c/s/d ya just have to be buying far enough ahead to dry your own. And an old business rule of thumb of mine is after a deal goes south the second time, get the hell out. It won't ever get any better. I know. I learned it too many times. Just make sure you get full measure.

And yes, in forty years of business not involving firewood, I have had many customers that were assholes.

 

[loon]

Nate, maybe the great wood selling guy fell off his pile of crap? and broke an ankle ;-P

just thinking!! :lol:

loon

 

[Backwoods Savage]

You have a lot more patience and persistence than i do. Strike one - he leaves eight messages in a day. Strike two he is pissed because you could not fit his schedule. In my book that would be a favor not an obligation. Strike three he doesn't show up or call. A frustrating lesson to learn but you might as well move on. Its not worth stressing over for $40.

+1 I don't think I could have taken as far as you did Nate. I'd have wrote that fellow off pretty fast....and I would not have paid full price because it was short. Rather than asking for more wood, methinks it is better to short the guy on dollars like he shorts you on wood.

 

[nate379]

I paid full price when his nephew dropped it off. I didn't cord it till the next day. I should have put a stop payment on the check right away, but he wanted to make good on it, so I didn't expect there to be a problem! By the time I went to the bank to have them cancel it, he had already cashed it.

I was raised where a guys word and maybe a handshake is all that is needed, I guess this guy didn't get taught that. You all know, your won't stay in business long if you are forking over the customers!

I have enough wood for this year, the stuff I bought from him is for next year.

Went and picked up about 1.5 cords this evening, it's in rounds but it's VERY dry. The guy said it was there when he bought the house last year. It was cut and corded really nice, but never split. I was worried it would get punky, but it's top notch wood.
Glad I took my 3/4 ton diesel too cause it was a heavy haul to the house. I started loading my trailer from the front and ran out of tie down straps after 8 or 9 rows so most of the weight is on the tongue, plus the rest of the wood went in the bed of the truck. Have 80psi in my air bags and it's still sagging!... I haul a 275 gal tote that weighs ~2300lbs and it sags the truck maybe 2" at most.

 

[soupy1957]

It's interesting to me how many have used "Craig's List" (wonder if it really was a "Craig" who started it?) as a source. Wonder why that is? I know I did the same thing, my first year. I understand the reason of course, but why that particular list, instead of checking the paper, or simply contacting a landscaper for source info.?

Anyway, the FIRST guy I ever bought wood from, proved to be a fella who was very "it's my way, or not at all" in his approach. I didn't find him flexible; I found his one-on-one contact to be lots of one sided conversation (his, mostly), and I refused the second cord he brought over, because it was obviously a lousy load.

Sometimes these wood sources can be a pain. I like the idea of going to their location, looking over the wood they have, and getting to know them and their operation before I buy. Saves me a lot of grief.

-Soupy1957

 

[ChrisNJ]

You have a lot more patience and persistence than i do. Strike one - he leaves eight messages in a day. Strike two he is pissed because you could not fit his schedule. In my book that would be a favor not an obligation. Strike three he doesn't show up or call. A frustrating lesson to learn but you might as well move on. Its not worth stressing over for $40.

+1
Hell I got aggravated by your persistence

 

[smokinj]

If your buying its never enough if your selling your never making enough! Oh and if your ss="spellchecked_word">doining</SPAN> it yourself its triple what it really is..... :cheese: Its a bit in the @ss anyway you go. Mother nature will straighted any crooked buts up in Jan. :lol:

 

[Bigg_Redd]

This one time I never bought wood in my life.


The End.

 

[nate379]

Yes Craig's List was started by a guy named Craig. Craig Newmark to be exact.

It's what everyone in the area uses, that or Alaska List. The paper, hardly anyone reads that anymore. I grab a few copies once in a while for starting fires or masking off things when painting, but I never read it.

Have bought ALL sorts of stuff on C List and AK List. Guns, car parts, building supplies, tools, cars, hell that's how I got the dog I have now even!

 

[Ubookz]

:lol:

 

[WoodPyro]

Gee, as soon as he knew he could get some money he wanted to dump it fast so he could get the cash for either beer or drugs then he was too lazy or intoxicated to bring you more, big surprise. Moral of the story is get yourself a saw and a maul and make your own firewood, it is half the enjoyment of heating with wood.

 

[Woody Stover]

It sounds like the guy may have at some point let the percentage of alcohol in his system drop too low, and sustained frostbite damage to the brain. :roll:

 

[firefighterjake]

Up this way Uncle Henrys still seems to have more pull than Cragslist . . . then again it's been a Thursday tradition to swing by and pick up the week's copy of Henrys for many folks for years . . . and it seems that there are far less folks out to scam you. I know I still sell and buy more stuff off Uncle Henrys than I do on Craigslist . . . even when I look or "advertise" at both places.

Oh by the way Nate . . . I thought of you recently when I ran across this . . .

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/07/...bon-makes-merry-with-moxie-during-3-day-fest/

 

[nate379]

Maybe for you, but not for me.

I have 2 saws and a splitter but also the back of a 90 year old (fell off a roof this winter and broke my back). It was hard enough on my back just carting wood to my backyard with my tractor and cording it. I could barely walk the next day after I did 2 cords last weekend and I am still not doing too well.

Gee, as soon as he knew he could get some money he wanted to dump it fast so he could get the cash for either beer or drugs then he was too lazy or intoxicated to bring you more, big surprise. Moral of the story is get yourself a saw and a maul and make your own firewood, it is half the enjoyment of heating with wood.

Swap Buy Sell is what we used when I lived in Maine.