Need help in a hurry....

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mwhitnee

mwhitnee

Minister of Fire
Jun 10, 2015
586
Central Mass, USA
20160509_170338.jpg View attachment 178646
Hi everyone,

I got a firewood guy off of craigs list and he promised me 2 cords first delivery. I got .37 cords (stacked and measured)- paid him $120 bucks so far- on his honor he is coming back tomorrow.

After stacking this miniscule amount of wood I was pissed. He estimated it at 3/4 cord which I even knew it was light and I'm not good at guessing yet. So everything is looking shady right now.

I always like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I called him and left a message saying how much he brought and I expect him to make up for it. Nicely.

Anyway, looking for the best way to possibly cut my losses with this deal. He also said the wood was Locust, bragging about it, which I'll show you with this picture.

So anyway, would like the wood ID and a possible good way to deal with this. Everything might work out fine, but everything so far has pointed in the other direction. Thanks everyone!
 
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I can't help with the ID, but it sounds like you've handled it fine so far, giving him a chance to make good. If he doesn't come across, it depends on how far you want to go with it.

Did you both agree on the size of a cord? Some local areas still go by the "face cord" and if that's what your dealer thought the deal was, then that may explain it all.

Playing hardball as a last resort may involve calling the AG's office since most states agree that a cord is 128 cf volume stacked. But you may just want to go as far as you can with the guy and cut your losses.

There is a lot of "buyer beware" in this business, but I had luck with just being "nicely firm" when we first moved here and before I found my own supply.
 
Far right looks like Locust, but the other splits are two other types of wood, which I can't ID.
 
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Ya' got some Black Locust there , as for the middle one, just a guess " looks like white oak "
As for how to get a full cord that's another story, I had a similar situation years ago and got luck they came back with the missing 1/3 cord. All the Best !
 
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Sprinter said:
I can't help with the ID, but it sounds like you've handled it fine so far, giving him a chance to make good. If he doesn't come across, it depends on how far you want to go with it.

Did you both agree on the size of a cord? Some local areas still go by the "face cord" and if that's what your dealer thought the deal was, then that may explain it all.

Playing hardball as a last resort may involve calling the AG's office since most states agree that a cord is 128 cf volume stacked. But you may just want to go as far as you can with the guy and cut your losses.

There is a lot of "buyer beware" in this business, but I had luck with just being "nicely firm" when we first moved here and before I found my own supply.
Click to expand...

We spoke about what a cord was before delivery, yes.
 
had similar problem in fall of '14. this guy agreed to deliver 2 cord @$240 ea. when all stacked came out to 1 1/2 cord. after a back and forth he never made good on the missing 1/2 cord. I called wts and measures in town to look at it. long and short, his wife dropped off $120.00 to make it right. call your town hall or the state office.
 
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I hope he didn't advertise that as seasoned wood, due to the lack so any checking, that's nice wood for the winter of 2018.
 
Happened to us all. You will get better at judging what a cord looks like when it's in a pile. The good news is, After this experience , you are in a good position to not allow this happen to you again. And , I agree that the wood is fresh cut.
 
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Here's a good rule of thumb (for guys delivering your wood in pick up trucks) - a face cord (1/3 cord) will be humped / rounded above the bed if thrown in there and not stacked, and I'm talking an 8 foot bed, there's not many 8 foot beds out there any more due to all the 4 full door pick ups out there now, those are 5' 6" to 6' beds.
I sold and delivered many many many face cords (1/3 cord) 25 years ago in an 8' truck bed.
So when they roll up your driveway in a 5' 6" extended cab pick up delivering your wood, let them know right away you expect about 4 loads to equal a full cord.
 
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On the wood id...

Top left and right pieces are black locust. Is the center piece not honey locust?
 
peakbagger said:
I hope he didn't advertise that as seasoned wood, due to the lack so any checking, that's nice wood for the winter of 2018.
Click to expand...

Let's hope he comes back today and brings more. That is the plan, to burn this wood in 2017-18. I have some nice dead wood right in my woods I believe I can supplement the 16-17 season. I also have Envi blocks as well.
 
center piece sure looks like elder to me.... that is about the only wood I can ID!
 
Definitely locust in there, tho not all is locust.
 
As expected, the guy did not return with any wood so I'm out 60-70-bucks. Whatever.

What's even worse is that he asked way too many questions, so many that I went to the police and gave them a statement of what happened in my town as I felt that he was scoping my property out, what was on it, and trying to find times that there was no one there. Yesterday I saw a car parked in front of my house (strange place to park, no one parks there except my neighbors and that is rare). I just happened to zip home for lunch and when I came out down the driveway they left. The cop I talked to agreed about my concerns. I can call and have them patrol my house more if I'm not home at night.

I'm kicking myself that I didn't get his plate number. Next wood order will be from a reputable company (maybe on Craig's list) and I will be getting a receipt. If I feel my load is short I won't pay them more than I feel is right.

Lesson learned, learn from my mistake...
 
velvetfoot said:
This getting what you pay for thing is a plus with log truck load deliveries. More work, yes. :)
Click to expand...

My next haul is coming from *my* property. Then I can deal with myself, if I get shorted. :)

I mean...I know where I live. If the load's short, I'm going to march right over and have a talking with myself. Maybe throw a punch or two. :)
 
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real hard on the mirror though.
 
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mwhitnee said:
As expected, the guy did not return with any wood so I'm out 60-70-bucks. Whatever.

What's even worse is that he asked way too many questions, so many that I went to the police and gave them a statement of what happened in my town as I felt that he was scoping my property out, what was on it, and trying to find times that there was no one there. Yesterday I saw a car parked in front of my house (strange place to park, no one parks there except my neighbors and that is rare). I just happened to zip home for lunch and when I came out down the driveway they left. The cop I talked to agreed about my concerns. I can call and have them patrol my house more if I'm not home at night.

I'm kicking myself that I didn't get his plate number. Next wood order will be from a reputable company (maybe on Craig's list) and I will be getting a receipt. If I feel my load is short I won't pay them more than I feel is right.

Lesson learned, learn from my mistake...
Click to expand...
Very sorry to hear about the outcome. But if this guy was "casing" your place, that is no fault of yours and you did nothing wrong. He's probably doing the same thing to other places too, and now you have made the police aware. The more uninviting you can make your place, the more likely he will move on. Lots of activity, lights, etc. I'm sure the police can give you good advice on that score.

Best of luck.
 
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Our 3 boxers keep the visitors at bay. If they make it past the dogs I have the next step covered. The new UPS driver won't even come up our driveway, the old one kept dog treats with him ;)
 
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I always come out with a tape measure and measure the LxWxH of the box (or the wood pile in the box if it's not a full load) to get a general idea. If it's not at least close I show them the math and send them on their merry way.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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Well going with a tree company this time, they are coming today to deliver 2 cords. I'll have my tape measure and cord calculator ready.

I also talked to the tree warden in town and he has my number for some free wood in the future.

I just found a Craig's list post in my town that has 16" rounds @$65 a cord which is great as I have a splitter. I took this picture off of the post- can anyone identify this wood? I know it's a long shot...
firewood.jpg
 
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