What would you pay for "premium" DRY firewood?

The "Ripped off by a firewood dealer" thread http://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/...ealer-any-tips-for-drying-wood-quickly.94495/ got me to thinking.

What would you pay for premium, packaged, guaranteed kiln dry (16.5%) wood? What would it cost a person to produce?

I got to searching the net and it appears to be quite common in Europe, particularly Germany. I found several companies doing it. Great I thought... Then I got a look at the prices.

How does 249 Euro ($325 USD) for 1.7 cubic metres (0.47 cd) sound? ( $690 USD/Cord)




These are the kind of prices you'd have to get once you see the machinery, work involved and quality of packaging. But, to most of us, thats crazy money.

I encourage you to check out the website of one of the companies, its very well done. Some unique packaging options, including GIFT BASKETS!! http://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.timber-macpom.de

Some video of their production process (in German, but its easy to understand without speaking the language):

That is a huge price. How much is fuel oil there? I wonder.

I know Gasoline and diesel is very expensive (in the $2.00/Liter area). No real idea on fuel oil.

I wonder how much "non-premium" firewood sells for?

I'm sure there are some members from there hopefully they will chime in. Makes the five dollar bundles at gas stations here sound cheap. Interesting to get a worldly point view.

Diggin' the metal bins they handle via fork truck. I could use a few of those.

+1
Like the metal bin idea.

Cool ideas there
Maybe some one on here will get a similar set-up going.

Crane truck for deliveries, deposit on the bins. Be like the old milk deliveries, drop off new full bin/(s) & pick up the empties

Actually that's less expensive than the $5-6 kiln dried bundles here.

Bundle = 0.75 cu.ft.
128 cu.ft / .075 = 170.67 bundles per cord
170.67 bundles X $5 = USD$853.35

Another issue, according to my understanding, is it's difficult to get permission to cut firewood in many places in Europe. That likely drives prices higher.