I did receive my second of 4 cord of wood yesterday and stacked it all in 90 degree heat and humidity today. The amount was 18.62 cubic feet shortof a full cord so I called the seller. He came by and tried to prove that the original cord was over sized.He proceeded to explain his math calculations to me; armed with a calculator, pencil and raft of paper. Once I looked at his calculations it was apparent that he had been using 1.4 feet as a multiplier for a 16" cut log.I tried for an hour to explain that feet and inches needed to changed to a decimal equivalent,ergo, 1.33 feet. We went round and round and he insisted that when figured in inches the amount came to more than 128 cubic feet. I was very patient with the guy, an 18 year old young man. I tryed to explain that base 10 equations needed to be put into base ten terms. Apparently he , his partner and his father had been using the same formula to calculate cord wood. Unfortunately the poor guy was still baffeled as to why 4" on his tape didn't equal 0.4 as a multiplier. So I tried to give him a mini math lesson with 1/4's, 1/2's, 1/3's, etc. It was very frustrating.
I did tell him to check with a 3rd party that was somewhat conversant in math. He just came by to complete the missing section of my 2nd cord. He was still saying how his calculations added to more that 128 cubic feet, until I pointed out to him that the start of the pile was 4" high and it tapered down to 3-1/2' at the end. The pile is 26' in length. I then tried to explain the process of interpolation, but the poor boy was lost again. I told him I would buy no more wood from him if he thought I was taking advantage of him...because if I was to sell out it wouldn't be for the price of a few feet of cordwood. He finally said I was much smarter in math so he would take my word for it. Again I said no, and that he should understand the precision and honesty of simple math. He did finally admit that I was getting a square deal for the offered price. I guess I got my fair deal, but I wonder if other people buying his fire wood will be so lucky.
Just a slice of life
I did tell him to check with a 3rd party that was somewhat conversant in math. He just came by to complete the missing section of my 2nd cord. He was still saying how his calculations added to more that 128 cubic feet, until I pointed out to him that the start of the pile was 4" high and it tapered down to 3-1/2' at the end. The pile is 26' in length. I then tried to explain the process of interpolation, but the poor boy was lost again. I told him I would buy no more wood from him if he thought I was taking advantage of him...because if I was to sell out it wouldn't be for the price of a few feet of cordwood. He finally said I was much smarter in math so he would take my word for it. Again I said no, and that he should understand the precision and honesty of simple math. He did finally admit that I was getting a square deal for the offered price. I guess I got my fair deal, but I wonder if other people buying his fire wood will be so lucky.
Just a slice of life