What Do you Say When Calling The Tree Service?

I've heard approaching them with a case of brew, or box of Joe helps, but it really depends on your area.
I've had no luck as all of the bigger stuff is hauled off to a saw mill, and the smaller stuff is chipped and sold. There is a farm near here where it looks like trees are dumped, but they sell firewood, so I can't get any free stuff there.
Around here it seems that the wood fired power plants have made firewood expensive, and hard to get for free.

Just ask -what they going to do to you other then say no. The city is going to cut trees here in my town in the next few days. From what they are going to cut will be coming to my house. 2 LARGE maple trees and a LARGE oak across the street from me and ALL but the large trunks on the maples will be coming to my house. Then 1 block north of me they are taking 3 sweet gums out about18-24 inch that will be coming my way. That is about all I see marked on my end of town. If the cutters drop it off they will get something from me in return.

I found my tree guy giving away wood nearby, on C's list, he charged me $20 for 1/2 cord of unsplit rounds delivered to my driveway. You just have to try and reach out.

i just say "hey.... feel free to dump me wood in my yard, there's beer in it for you. "

I found a tree service guy that I call and say I'm ready for more. He tells me where he's taking down a tree, and then he only drops it and takes away the branches. I show up and cut/remove the rest. He returns and grinds the stump.

He's a small operator, which helps, but I've still had to prove that I'm reliable so he doesn't get stuck with a no-show who leaves an unfinished job. Bigger guys probably wouldn't entertain this arrangement.

My point is that it helps a lot if you contribute something to make their lives easier.

I found one smaller operation on Kijiji where they were giving some wood away as they cut it. I told them I'm always looking for wood and they put me on their call list. Since then I've tried to be reliable and they've given me a few truckloads but I get the impression they don't cut down all that many trees.

Most of my stuff is from a local place that just dumps all their wood in a pile in their yard and doesn't mind if we check out the wood pile from time to time(or every second day if I'm in the mood). With them i just called and asked if they have any wood and they said to come take a look.

Here if a tree cutting place doesn't have anybody take the wood they have to pay to dump it at the landfill so its a win win if I can snag some. I did try calling the city landfill to ask if they have a spot where wood gets dumped and could be picked up but it connected me to the landfill contact at city hall who seemed to have no clue what i was talking about but seemed justified to tell me unequivocally that 'no, they don't do that at the landfill'

If you're not sure about what to say or nervous about it just dial the number anyway and see what happens. If they tell you no then just try a different place, don't give up. And when you do find a place that'll give you some wood do more that what's expected to help em out and they'll want to call your again.

Yes there are all personality types everywhere but there's about 2-3 "good ol' corn-fed country boys"
that are just plain nice when I drive up and ask if they need anything to make their day better.
A round of breakfast burritos (McD's), or a box of coffee/ dozen doughnuts later They are tossing drops
in the truck or letting me act like part of the crew. I just take the clean shorties and stay clear of the liability
zone. IE. Stay outta their way.
They would do it anyway but I get them snacks/ drinks now for a thank you, or have twice actually. It's going
to become standard practice. I need to give them my phone number and see what crops out of that.

It really helps if they've done some work for you or your friends. My last free load came from a guy who I previously bought wood chips from. Load before that came from another guy who I hired to clean up my power lines when I first moved in. They are definitely more willing to help out someone who is a customer or who refers them business. It also helps that in my area, they have more wood than they can profitably sell so they end up paying to dump a lot of it.

Lcback said:

Thanks guys. I guess I'll just start calling all the tree service listed in the phone book. See what they say.


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That's the spirit! Let us know how you make out.

there was an add on craigslist this past spring posted by a smaller tree service, they were looking for someone to come haul away the wood they dropped, however they expected you too have a truck or trailer with a certain capacity, and remove the wood quickly. This also was for the whole north shore area of Mass.
It really looked like a great oportunity for someone wanting to get into or in the firewood business, but not for someone like me with two jobs and a small trailer.

First call and ask if they sell firewood- if they say no - then ask if they are looking for a place to get rid of wood. - its easy - the guys I get wood from pay to take it to the land fill if I dont take it.

It sometimes helps to partner up with another guy or few that burn wood. I have 2 guys that I split wood with - we have dump trailers so when they take a tree down they load it into our trailers with crane or grapple and we leave. We are only getting oak from them now and its usually more than we need.

Here is the down side ! Be careful what you wish for - there are times im running out of places to put it and I have several acres of ground to store it hahah

captjack said:

First call and ask if they sell firewood- if they say no - then ask if they are looking for a place to get rid of wood. - its easy - the guys I get wood from pay to take it to the land fill if I dont take it.

It sometimes helps to partner up with another guy or few that burn wood. I have 2 guys that I split wood with - we have dump trailers so when they take a tree down they load it into our trailers with crane or grapple and we leave. We are only getting oak from them now and its usually more than we need.

Here is the down side ! Be careful what you wish for - there are times im running out of places to put it and I have several acres of ground to store it hahah

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Good advice but I would hesitate before asking if they sell it. There's a lot of greedy people out there and it's better not to give them ideas. Be polite, don't assume, ask them nicely if they have wood to get rid of but unless you're willing to buy it don't ask if they sell it. If they are selling wood they'll let you know. If they think there's some money in it they could try and take advantage that they wouldn't normally if you didn't ask.

Am I being too cynical?

Lcback said:

Lots of guys on here have mentioned ever since they got in contact with a tree service they almost never look for wood. I don't know anyone who works for one. Although I have been kicking around the idea of finding one I could work week ends for. Have you just called and told them you burn firewood?
It seems a weird thing for me to ask them to give me firewood if they have it. Around here in Pennsylvania I would think they sell it for profit before giving it away.


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I started by asking tree guys doing work near my house. Didn't offer them money, just said, "hey, I live three doors down. If your dumping the wood, feel free to dump it on the left side of my house." It's worked with multiple companies, and finally one very local one told me to let him know when I was done with this load, and he'd drop off more. All hard wood. Last time he came around for a big job, I bought them donuts in the morning and pizza for lunch--I know exactly how much $$$ they're saving me, and I appreciate him for it! I have so much wood that it's cut into rounds waiting for next season to chop! I live in a city in Mass, so firewood goes for a premium.

It's a lot of work for these guys to go off to the dump site two towns away AND they have to pay to use it! Win-win.

Good luck!

JabaduGarfunkle said:

Good advice but I would hesitate before asking if they sell it. There's a lot of greedy people out there and it's better not to give them ideas. Be polite, don't assume, ask them nicely if they have wood to get rid of but unless you're willing to buy it don't ask if they sell it. If they are selling wood they'll let you know. If they think there's some money in it they could try and take advantage that they wouldn't normally if you didn't ask.

Am I being too cynical?

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No, you're not being too cynical. I agree that if you ask about money, they will come up with a price.

The reason you ask if they sell firewood is because if they dont then have to be getting rid of the wood on each job. I understand what you all are saying about bringing up money - but its really a non issue, trust me. My guy would pay to get rid of the logs in a land fill.

captjack said:

The reason you ask if they sell firewood is because if they dont then have to be getting rid of the wood on each job. I understand what you all are saying about bringing up money - but its really a non issue, trust me. My guy would pay to get rid of the logs in a land fill.

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2 important points would be that
1. they're getting rid of wood on each job whether or not you bring up money. If you ask if they sell it you're getting free rolled since they either a) will give you the wood for free which they would have anyway (neutral) or b) will realize there's profit to be made and will decide in that moment to charge (negative). There's no positive to bringing up money so long as you're polite and don't assume either way. It's not like somebody who would normally charge will think "this guy is so willing to pay that I'll just give it to him for free."
2. Not every guy is as good as your guy. If you bring up paying for wood expect some percentage of people (even though they may have otherwise paid to dump it) to realize there's profit to be made.

If you are actually willing to pay for their wood then by all means ask but if you're attempting to appear willing to do something that you're not actually willing to do in order to have them look favourably towards you then I think the risk outweighs the reward since their is literally no reward (positive) scenario here.

JabaduGarfunkle said:

2 important points would be that
1. they're getting rid of wood on each job whether or not you bring up money. If you ask if they sell it you're getting free rolled since they either a) will give you the wood for free which they would have anyway (neutral) or b) will realize there's profit to be made and will decide in that moment to charge (negative). There's no positive to bringing up money so long as you're polite and don't assume either way. It's not like somebody who would normally charge will think "this guy is so willing to pay that I'll just give it to him for free."
2. Not every guy is as good as your guy. If you bring up paying for wood expect some percentage of people (even though they may have otherwise paid to dump it) to realize there's profit to be made.

If you are actually willing to pay for their wood then by all means ask but if you're attempting to appear willing to do something that you're not actually willing to do in order to have them look favourably towards you then I think the risk outweighs the reward since their is literally no reward (positive) scenario here.

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I guess I am good at dealing with people cause it took me two calls and I have more firewood than I can handle - I guess you can do it any way you want and i hope you are successful