Too Good of a Deal... UGH

[BCC_Burner]

He started the mess by initially stealing from you (yes, charging some $450 for 1.33 cords when you claim to be bringing 3 is stealing in my book), I wouldn't send him a penny until he contacts you, my bet is that you never hear a word from him again.

It's on him to collect if he's so inclined.

 

[Applesister]

My guess would be that he doesnt make any further contact. If he bitches tell him to come get the wood. lol. I had a dealer tell me that once. I paid for a cord and got 2 facecords instead. They guy told me if I didnt like it to put it back out in my driveway and he would pick it up. And his wife worked with me at our school. So tell the guy he can come pick it up. lol.

 

[Applesister]

450.00 for 1 1/3 cords is some pretty good money.

 

[bryankloos]

450.00 for 1 1/3 cords is some pretty good money

Especially given it was recently split and half of the wood was 12-14" long.
One stack was normal sized, as I throw all the shorties aside when stacking. Seemed I had so many shorties after the first stack that I stacked the second row of entirely 12-14" splits.

I particularly loved his response when I asked on the phone if the wood was split last November, as he advertised... "Well, some of it was, it all depends on where in the pile I pulled it from."
This guy is clearly a crook and not to be trusted. It's a shame, as the price was certainly good, and the wood was super clean. Not at $338/cord though....

I'll keep you all informed as things unfold.

I just hope I don't get home from work today to find a fresh dump in my yard...

And most importantly, I hope he doesn't start any issues when he realizes the check was stopped.

 

[KD0AXS]

I'm certainly not saying the guy isn't shady, but $300-350/cord seems to be the going rate around here, and even then you're probably not getting full cords, and it's probably not dry either.

 

[Shawn Curry]

This thread is really making me appreciate my decision to go with the smaller house with the big mature woods. I got 2 years in the books, another in the wings, and enough fallen and standing dead in the woods for several more.

Also makes me nervous about trying to sell any, once I get far enough ahead. Everyone in my family burns, so it looks like they'll end up with some nice clean wood too.

When I was a kid, we always got our wood from the farmer down the road. You bought it by the face cord, and loaded it yourself. It came pre-stacked between stakes, up off the ground, and seasoned at least a year. Then it would sit in my dad's wood shed for another year. Didn't know how good we had it, aside from always being soft maple (still love the smell).

 

[HatCityIAFF]

sooooo how did it turn out??? i'm from that area and hope i never get this guy on the phone for wood!

 

[HatCityIAFF]

sooooo how did it turn out??? i'm from that area and hope i never get this guy on the phone for wood!

 

[bryankloos]

Still no contact from the guy...
Its clear at this point the guy is snubbing me. If he planned on delivering the wood, he would have called me. Monday was the make up delivery. Monday came and went.
I figure I'll hear from him when he realizes the check was stopped. I'll probably tell him to come pick up the wood if he demands any money...
I have not made attempt to pay him for the 1.3 cords, and I'm still on the fence as to whether I will or not...
After a few more days of giving him good faith hope that he makes right, I will divulge his name and contact info.
Lets just say for now to avoid Mike from Danbury CT selling wood on CL.

 

[Pennsyltucky Chris]

At this point, I wouldn't pay him either. He's probably to embarrassed/ashamed to contact you since he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar..... unless he's a sociopath. Do you have a big dog?

 

[Beer Belly]

Bryan, sorry to hear of the issues you are having......I will remember the name, and will be making a trip to the garden center this weekend

 

[Bagelboy]

He knew what he was doing the whole time. He's a scammer! When you work with wood for a while, you know what a cord of wood and 3 cords of wood look like. He knew from the beginning he was going to try and screw you, and he's doing it now to others less apt to know cord sizes. Don't give him a penny, and if he comes by, which he won't, tell him to load the wood and leave. Parasite!

 

[dougand3]

I'd give him the option: Pick up the wood or I'll cut you a check for 1.3 cords = $200.

 

[smmjam12]

Last year I needed dry wood, I had plenty of green wood. I called a wood guy that advertised DRY seasoned wood, orded two cord. The guy arrives with large dump truck, dumps the wood on my lawn, it loked good as far as the quanity goes, it was easily two cord. So gave him a check and he left. As I started to move and stack it, I took a closer look and relized it was far from dry seasoned wood. Got out the MM and got readings in the 30s. I took a couple pics of the mm reading and called the guy back. I told the guy that his web site claimed the wood wold be less than 15% mostuire. I told him to come back and get the wood as I needed dry wood, I had enough green wood already stacked for next year. He said that he would not come back to get it, I told him I was going to stop payment on the check. He never came back, so I stacked the wood and let it dry all summer and will use it this year.

I did stop payment on the check and sent him one for tyhe price of green wood that he had on his website less the $25 dollars I had to pay for the stop payment.

I think you did the right thing.

 

[bryankloos]

Hey Guys,
Just an update for those interested.
I have heard nothing from the seller, and at this point don't expect to hear from him. Who knows what will happen when/if he realizes I put a stop-payment on the check. I've decided that if he does contact me wanting money I will tell him to pick up the wood as it was not what he advertised and not what I paid for.

For those in the area that may buy wood on CL, please avoid Mike Silva who is posting $170/cord in the Danbury area. He also runs a trucking company that may be wise to avoid...

(broken link removed to http://nwct.craigslist.org/grd/4633270333.html)

Buyer Beware.

Thanks again for all the opinions. It's a shame we have to deal with these types of people.

Best,

Bryan

 

[bryankloos]

Update - Part 2

The guy called me last night and left a message telling me he was out of town for 2 weeks and that when he returned he noticed the check bounced. Yeah, right!
I spoke with him today and gave him a pretty clear and concise perspective of how I saw the deal go down. Told him I don't like being stolen from, and I don't appreciate being taken advantage of. He says he makes 3 cord dumps with his trailer all the time and has never had a problem. Yeah, right!

I offered to pay him $200 for the wood delivered and he says he will just come pick it up.
I then told him to not go onto my property without me being home, and that I will call him to arrange a time for him to get his load.

My concern now is that he will go to my house and take his load, and more of my other wood which is stacked immediately next to his crap.
I'm telling my babysitter who watches the kids to call the police if he shows up unannounced.
Thoughts?

 

[Shawn Curry]

That's about all you can do. Maybe you could have given him the opportunity to dump the remainder of the 3 cords if you didn't? Oh well.

My advice: buy a house with some woods, and grow your own heat!

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Roughly 33% the amount of the wood you ordered and paid for was delivered.

More like 44%

 

[bryankloos]

I'm on 2.5 acre with family on 2.5 acre with PLENTY of woods around us. I started burning last year, and this is my first full season. I have about 9-10 cords of oak seasoning but needed wood for this year.
Rest assured, this wont happen again, as I will work up all my own wood. This guy was a crook, claiming 1.3 cord was 3. No way around the fact that he took me for a sucker and tried to take money out of my pocket.
The good news is I found another guy in the area with good wood at a fair price. That said, as long as this guy doesn't try anything shady, I'll walk away ahead, minus a couple hours of stacking..

 

[Shawn Curry]

I went with softer stuff for this year and next - mostly soft maple, and some poplar for shoulder season, or when I'm home and can tend the fire often. Starting from zero after last winter. Had the stuff I'm burning this year c/s/s since spring/early summer, split in the small side, and its all ready to go.

If that oak isn't going to be ready, that could be a way to go. I love the soft (red) maple - it's a good "mid range" IMO. Its not oak, but its pretty decent for heat and burn time, and you can use it the same year if you get it split early enough.

 

[KenLockett]

Update - Part 2

The guy called me last night and left a message telling me he was out of town for 2 weeks and that when he returned he noticed the check bounced. Yeah, right!
I spoke with him today and gave him a pretty clear and concise perspective of how I saw the deal go down. Told him I don't like being stolen from, and I don't appreciate being taken advantage of. He says he makes 3 cord dumps with his trailer all the time and has never had a problem. Yeah, right!

I offered to pay him $200 for the wood delivered and he says he will just come pick it up.
I then told him to not go onto my property without me being home, and that I will call him to arrange a time for him to get his load.

My concern now is that he will go to my house and take his load, and more of my other wood which is stacked immediately next to his crap.
I'm telling my babysitter who watches the kids to call the police if he shows up unannounced.
Thoughts?

Yeah, like never had a problem making 3 cord dumps at half the actual quantity promised with unknowing individuals never questioning it...

 

[prezes13]

This is why I don't buy wood. If I had to I would rather buy compressed wood bricks. All the guessing games are out. You know exactly what you paying for.

 

[KenLockett]

On Saturday, I bought a pickup load full of kiln dried overs (16-20") already split from the renewables plant near my house. based upon dimensions of truck bed should be roughly half cord. took me an hour to select the best and densest splits (oak, black locust, etc.) and tightly pack in my truck bed. Cost me $100. Benefits here are (1) I absolutely know the quantity I am getting (stacked measured out at 70 cu ft (more than half cord due to my tight packing) (2) guaranteed dry wood (3) able to select the best species (4) no mess in my driveway and (5) picked up and selected on my terms without the headache and stress of not getting ripped off. The cord and half I intend to buy will be for the coldest winter period overnight burns and the remaining 5 cords I have of some softer stuff I have collected via my property and scrounging will be my primary supply. Will never have it delivered split again.

 

[jrems]

Can you message me the contact that you found for good wood and the price per cord? I'm in Danbury. I found a guy that actually had seasoned wood but it was expensive at $240 a cord delivered. It was mostly hickory measuring 15%-17% when resplit.

 

[bigbarf48]

Can you message me the contact that you found for good wood and the price per cord? I'm in Danbury. I found a guy that actually had seasoned wood but it was expensive at $240 a cord delivered. It was mostly hickory measuring 15%-17% when resplit.

Man, I'd jump on that if I were you. That's primo wood, and a pretty damn good price at that